Hello

[Patrick]

Hello, I am a 20 year old college student and well I think I may have ADD. I have thought this for some time now. After reading up alot on ADD I tend to have alot of the symptoms well most that I read about anyway. I would like to get diagnosed except I fear that I wont be diagnosed with ADD and then well essentially either have to find some other way to deal with these problems that I have. I dont have as much expeirence in life and such so I kinda think the doctor will just brush it off as normal 20 year old behavior, which I know it not to be. Also I absolutely am afraid of medication I just fear it will change me for the worse since I am so used to the way I act and how I handle work and people. I also was tested several times in Elementary school for ADHD however it was never from a doctor that i know of they would just sit in my classes and observe me. Which well seems counter productive if I knew they were there wouldn't I act differently.

I dont know I guess I am looking for suggestions/advice.

Patrick

[Sarah]

Hi Patrick,

I would go to your Student health center or other doctor soon! I'm 22 which isn't that much older than you and they believed me. Usually, colleges have great mental health centers so you could try there too. I was kinda freaked out by medicine too and believe me it doesn't change your personality at ALL. I was worried that I wouldn't be as creative or able to daydream once I got medicine to help me focus, but this didn't happen. I can still daydream when I want to but now I feel more able to control my urges to daydream when I should be accomplishing something else. The way you interact with people and your personality stay the same. If they do change especially for the worst, then it probably means you are having an adverse reaction to that particular medicine and should try something else. Hope this helps.

Sarah