I have ADD/ADHD but don't believe in meds...

---

I am 23 years old and have never taken meds for add/addhd. I feel that these medicines will change my personality and take away from who I am as a person. I have always had trouble focusing for long periods of time and always fidget (like my legs or crack my knuckles) and I have a very short attention span. What I mean by this is I am inpatient. I also have trouble falling asleep in normal hours. My biggest problem is I always worry and stress and I can not just relax. It is like there is a motor in my brain all day long worrying and spinning about things. I also have ticks but not as bad as when I was a child. I used to always tie my shoes really tight when I was a kid and look at my shoelaces for example but now it is like making sure my alarm is set at nights 10 times or repeating things in my head a million times of what I have to do. Thank god I don't smoke weed anymore it's been 6 months but for sure I can feel I have ADD. Are there special doctors for add? I have always felt that I am strong person who could control my ADD but it has definitely impacted my life but I have been reluctant to go on meds because it will change my personality to someone who I am not. Does ADD mess with your sleep cycle too?

I think this needs a professional diagnosis. There are some aspects that seem to me to be more like OCD or generalised anxiety disorder.

I gotta say I respect the fact you don't want to be medicated.. Alot of people just want a pill to solve all there problems.

You should at least get diagnosed..I am not saying you should get medicine.. but, I tend to agree with what was said... It never hurts to get it confirmed.. Besides the doctor might be able to recomend exercises or something to help..

I agree with Ineligible. A psychiatrist is probably who you want to see. He/she will help you figure out what is going on. And just so you know, not all medications used for treating ADD/ADHD keep you from having your own personality. And each one effects idividuals differently.

Not to be a dick; but a psychologist should be his first choice if the OP is trying to avoid medication.

WTF are you talking about? A psychiatrist CAN prescribe medication, but he/she doesn't have to prescribe anything at all based on what is the best treatment for the patient. "Psychiatrists are physicians to have specific training in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses." Taken from here:http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/f/psychvspsych.htm

I think he meant that a psychiatrist is less predisposed to prescribe meds as opposed to a psychologist. Is that what you meant Hawk????

You win the golden prize...that is what I was trying to say. (I don't recall ever saying ANYTHING about psychiatrists at all, actually)Also from my own personal experience, psychologists do tend to try cognitive and talk therapy before looking at physical problems (And thus medication)

That really sounds like OCD. OCD is usually caused by high ammounts of stress, and having seen a few doctors for it myself they can't force you to take medications. It's your choice. From what I've learned, the obsessions/compulsions are a way of dealing with stress you have and has to do with your coping ability. The repetition of tasks in your head sounds like obsessions, where-as the checking you alarm is set is more of a compulsion. Just wondering here, do you check your alarm clock because your just fidgety, or is it more of a, I just have to, kind of thing?

Ah, sorry for posting in an old thread, heh.