Do I have ADHD?(read on)?

Question

I am always hyper, and it's not from sugar or anything, I just am. I have trouble getting to sleep at night because of this, and because my lack of sleep I am hard to get up in the mornings. I go to school and I don't drink anything with caffine but I am still gittery and I get in trouble because teacher are forever calling me down to consentrate but I make strait A's is this ADHD or am I just naturally hyper I need to know whether or not it seems like I have ADHD so I don't go wasting my money getting evaluated. What do you guys think? Oh yeah I have been asked by teachers and friends if I do and I not sure.

Answer 1

Hello:
Based on the information you have given me, I do not really think you fit the medical criteria for either Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
You should be evaluated for other medical conditions before entertaining the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD.
It depends on your age also, age of onset of symptoms, whether you are an adult or not.
I treat a lot of ADD/ADHD in both adolescents and adults.
If you are making straight A's it is highly unlikely you have the attention deficit component required to make this diagnosis.
Here are the DSM IVR (Diagnostic and Statistical criteria Manual 4th edition revised) necessary components:
six or more of the following symptoms of inattention which have persisted for more than six months and are maladaptive and interferes with normal routine:
1. failure to give close attention to details and makes careless mistakes in school work or other activities.
2. difficulty sustaining attention
3. does not listen when spoken to
4. failure to follow through on instructions and does not finish tasks given at school or work
5. difficulty organizing tasks undertaken
6. avoids, dislikes, or reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort
7. often loses things necessary for tasks such as pencils, books or tools
8. very distracted by extraneous stimuli which interferes in completing assignments especially tests at school
9. very forgetful in routine daily activities
Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity:
1. fidgets with hands or feet and squirming in chair, cannot sit still for more than a few seconds at a time
2. often gets up from seat in school and wanders around
3. runs about or climbs excessively in inappropriate situations
4. cannot engage in play or leisure activities quietly
5. often acts out as if driven by a "motor" or constantly "on the go" in inappropriate situations
6. talks excessively in situations where one should be quiet or will not let others talk when called upon
7. blurts out answers before questions have been completed
8. difficulty awaiting his or her turn
9. interrupts or intrudes on others, ie. butts into others business or conversations or games.
Hyperactive or impulsive and inattentive symptoms causing impairment in social skills were present before age 7
Impairment from above symptoms must be present in two or more settings (school, work, home).
Clear impairment in social, academic, or occupational functionality.
So, as you see, you really dont fit the criteria. I would get a medical workup for other things like thyroid disease, avoid anything with caffeine (chocolate, teas, some medications over the counter have stimulants in them especially cold preparations,
And you could be right. You could just possess a natural "wound up" feeling.
Try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, yoga, progressive relaxation.
Do you exercise? You could have a lot of pinned up energy that needs release. Exercise is a great way to do that and it will help your sleep cycles get back on track.
I hope this helped.
Good luck,
regards,
Warren Shaffer, M.D.

Answer 2

Okay, First, if the school thinks you are ADHD they can have you evaluated there, talk to the counselor. Most kids with ADHD cannot get good grades no matter how hard they try. I know, I am ADD. You could just be high strung. My friend is like that. She is always hyper, jittery, has trouble sleeping, talks really fast and alot. and is a straight A hononr student getting ready to go to Ferris State. She is not ADD or ADHD. But she did get put on some med's for anxiety that have calmed her down a bit. LOL But if you are worried talk to your counselor or doctor. but in my opionion you are probably not ADHD.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas!

Answer 3

You are not going to know for sure unless you get evaluated. Does your school system have a counselor that can do this? Both my sons have ADHD and neither one is jittery. Are you able to concentrate once you settle down after the teacher yells at you? If you have ADHD, you still won't be able to concentrate. I suspect you are just natually hyper. By the way, there is some belief that people with ADHD are helped by caffiene.

Answer 4

Try having coffee in the morning before school, like two big mugs, and if it doesn't make u more jittery, but calms u down, then u probably have adhd. Stimulants relax ppl who have adhd, that's why they give them rittalin and adderall. I take provigil for narcolepsy, it is a non-stimulant stimulant, if I had adhd it would worsen the narcolepsy.Perhaps if the coffee doesn't make u less jittery, but more jittery, you may just need a mild anti-anxiety medicine, like klonopin, or a very low dose of a benzodiazepine. Sometime we have anxiety for no reason, it is a chemical imbalance you have no control over, but medications help. Good luck!

Answer 5

You did not mention your age or grade, but I would say your symptoms definitely merit some investigation. Perhaps your folks could take you to a doctor who specializes in this particular disorder. Whatever the outcome of testing remember that schoolwork is hard to focus on even without ADHD and that the diagnosis is not an excuse to do less than your best in each class.

Answer 6

School counselors usually have some type of behavior screening test/scale (a checklist or questionnaire) that teachers and parents can complete and forward to your family doctor for further evaluation.
Here's a link to a simplified online example: http://www.trustyguides.com/adhd6.html
FYI: Teachers/schools can be held liable (in my state) for suggesting that a student has ADHD!
Best of luck to you!

Answer 7

What do you do to relax? You should consider finding something that makes you sleepy, like one certian video game that is so boring that you start to yawn.

You might also want to see if you could use an anti-depressant, a mild one that could make you sleepy. I am adhd and I do that.. use Zoloft cause it makes me sleepy, so I can sleep well.. If you are not getting proper rest, that is a sign of depression too..
just to let you know.

Answer 8

How have you lived your life... has much time been used to meditate and ponder deep questions, or a more modern insanity?

If you haven't done much to cultivate awareness, attention, and peace... then, why is it so mysterious that you have "ADHD"

Answer 9

adhd. you can't concentrate and you have more energy than a young person who has energy to live a full life. people who have adhd are put on medication to concentrate better and be more mellow in their energy.

Answer 10

no. You have to stop and take beep breth to come down.I have the same proeplem.