[mitchell_pgh]

What medication would you recommend for someone having trouble concentrating (adult ADD/ADHD specifically)? I'm curious if anyone in the forum takes anything for such problems. I'm coming to terms with the thought that I may have ADHD and am considering seeking medical treatment.

I just want to know what I should expect... minus the commercialization of some of the medications. I'm not expecting day/night changes, but would like to have a first hand perspective.

[phantomdragonz]

My friend was on a drug called straterra ??? it was a non-stimulant drug. It allowed him to actually read, and comprehend what he was reading. He did have side effects, he got cold really easly and if he missed a pill or so he would feel like **** when he took it again.

it worked, but he did not like it. My mom ended up suggesting diet changes, and other stuff (She works in natural foods, so she knows all about the natural/holistic remedies. He never really caught on to her suggestions though, he is too stubborn.

Zach

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by phantomdragonz

My friend was on a drug called straterra ??? it was a non-stimulant drug. It allowed him to actually read, and comprehend what he was reading. He did have side effects, he got cold really easly and if he missed a pill or so he would feel like **** when he took it again.

it worked, but he did not like it. My mom ended up suggesting diet changes, and other stuff (She works in natural foods, so she knows all about the natural/holistic remedies. He never really caught on to her suggestions though, he is too stubborn.

Zach

I've been down the diet road... I also go to the gym a few times a week. It's not helping :-( It's not horrible, but at times, I just can't focus.

[stevesnj]

Being a profesional in this area it seems just recognizing you may have one of these conditions is a great first step. Therapy seems to work great for adults moreso than medication in my opinion. I deal mostly with teens and going through life changes and having one of these two conditions usually requres meds. Get more than one opinion if your insurance allows. To me add/adhd is greatly over diagnosed and over and under medicated. Counseling works great for adults with maybe some meds. Good luck and hope things work out for you.

Steve

[mitchell_pgh]

I really didn't think about counseling... perhaps that's the first place I should look. I'm not a big fan of medication, but if it does the trick without making me feel brain dead, I'm at the point where I'll consider it.

I'm a riddlin kid from age 7-10, but I felt like a zombie when I was on it.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

I really didn't think about counseling... perhaps that's the first place I should look. I'm not a big fan of medication, but if it does the trick without making me feel brain dead, I'm at the point where I'll consider it.

I'm a riddlin kid from age 7-10, but I felt like a zombie when I was on it.

There's definitely a lot of other medications these days. Mostly variations on the stimulants, but Strattera is the first non-stimulant medication available.

That said, you should go to see a psychiatrist that has experience in treating both adults and children with ADHD. I say children because that is where the medications are used the most. The best combination of treatment (in my opinion) is one that combines therapy with medication (and then only the minimum amount of medication necessary).

So, look for a psychiatrist's office that has therapists (psychologists, etc) as an available service.

I too, have ADHD, and take Adderall XL for mine. I only take it during workdays (not on weekends or on vacations), and it works out great for me. Strattera worked pretty well, too, but there was one particular side effect that I didn't like (and without coming right out and saying it I will say it is one that many men do not like-- hint). Otherwise, it's a good medication (especially for kids, where that side effect is not much of an issue).

[phantomdragonz]

Originally Posted by Person Man

Strattera worked pretty well, too, but there was one particular side effect that I didn't like (and without coming right out and saying it I will say it is one that many men do not like-- hint).

Well... maybe THATS why my friend diden't like it so much...

Zach

[mitchell_pgh]

Question: Referencing the "male issue" did it just not "stand at attention" ? This seems to be a regular issue regarding many of these medications. :-(

[synthfiend]

ask ca$h?

Altho, I didn't appear to work for him...

[OwlBoy]

You get ADD from toilet seats, so use a protective sheet!


-Owl

[BoomStick]

Stelazine or thorazine works wonders!

[wdlove]

The first and most important thing is to visit your physician. You need to get a definitive diagnosis, so that you know the actual problem. Then medications would be suggested by your physician.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by wdlove

The first and most important thing is to visit your physician. You need to get a definitive diagnosis, so that you know the actual problem. Then medications would be suggested by your physician.

I agree. I'm not going to walk in and demand a specific medication. I just want an idea if anyone else here has taken such medication.

[stevesnj]

I beleive medication should be used only as a last resort. Phsychologists can offer focusing techniques that will do wonders. Most ADHD students of mine that have ADHD also have some obsesive compulsive thing they do. Do you have any OCD? I am asking because I don't deal with adults and I am just curious. But demand by your doctor to refer to a qualified Pshchologist who specializes in adult ADHD. Remember ADHD is not like ADD they are very different and demand different types of treatment. Don't label yourself either just yet.

[mitchell_pgh]

I don't have OCD (to my knowledge). I think the Psychologist route is worth exploring.

[wolfen]

Always see a counselor and clear up the crap that you have some control over. I mean emotional crap, not just cognitive-behavioral therapy. It's all tied up together in your brain, it's not so concretely and separately organized as we might like.

Secondarily, the meds will help some things and cause problems elsewhere. The stimulants help me focus LIKE MAD, but they also make me a little paranoid. I'm always wondering what other people are thinking, and it makes me a little wierd. But you wanna talk about intellectual pursuits? I can suddenly sit down and read like 10 books in a row.

I am no longer taking medication. I learned a lot while taking meds and found they helped me learn skills. Now I don't really NEED them. And I'm never "perfect" with or without them. I'd recommend trying Ritalin -- and be patient with the dosing. It can take a while to get that perfect. Make small, slow changes. Don't decide the first week that you need to double the dose. Take time.

Strattera was a miracle cure. It was perfect in every way but one-- it was messing with my johnson. I mean wrecking me down below. Pay close attention if you try it. There are several forums full of men who complain it creates all kinds of wierd symptoms below the navel. So I had to stop.

Good luck with whatever you do. Make sure you GET ALL YOUR SLEEP and take vitamins. Sounds silly but I can tell a difference. Stay away from sugar, caffeine, etc. Anything that gets your nervous system hopping is likely to encourage the inner shakes. If you have ADD, you may know all about that.

[bradoesch]

Originally Posted by OwlBoy

You get ADD from toilet seats, so use a protective sheet!


-Owl

[gururafiki]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

I beleive medication should be used only as a last resort. Phsychologists can offer focusing techniques that will do wonders. Most ADHD students of mine that have ADHD also have some obsesive compulsive thing they do. Do you have any OCD? I am asking because I don't deal with adults and I am just curious. But demand by your doctor to refer to a qualified Pshchologist who specializes in adult ADHD. Remember ADHD is not like ADD they are very different and demand different types of treatment. Don't label yourself either just yet.

As a former ritalin and welbutrin user for ADD, I found that medications did not work the "wonders" they say they can do. I came to realize that I just have to deal with it. I have never tried a therapist or physiologist, although it sounds interesting. I really do believe the diet thing works, but you have to be really strict with it and that for me was/is hard.

[ghporter]

gururafiki's results are not typical. My son has ADD/ADHD, and ritalin helped him immensely. Some people simply respond to the various meds differently. In fact coffee helps my symptoms-just not so much that I can't sleep!

Welbutrin supposedly has "male side effects," but taking it for a different issue did not manifest them in me. But then it isn't supposed to have a lot of counter ADD effects, either.

The real answer is to GO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST WHO IS QUALIFIED TO DIAGNOSE ADD. Not your general practitioner, not some online forum (me excluded ), but a shrink who is trained to diagnose this issue. In addition to knowing one way or the other, your shrink will be able to point you to treatments and management strategies that could help without meds.

[Zimphire]

Originally Posted by BoomStick

Stelazine or thorazine works wonders!

Not for ADHD

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by gururafiki

I found that medications did not work the "wonders" they say they can do.

The problem is that most people want a "quick fix." Give the kid (or the adult, for that matter) a pill, and problem magically solved! Well, let me tell you... I'm currently on medicine for ADHD. The medicine helps, but that's only half the picture. The medicine helps me focus when I need to, but I also need to make sure I'm focusing on the right things, for one, and what about the balance between good and bad effects?

I still need to work hard to make sure I stay on task throughout the day. Does that mean the medicine isn't working? Does it mean I'm not getting enough? NO! It's only going to work as much as it can. If I increase the dose then I become hyperfocused, my blood pressure goes up, my heart rate goes up and I go from nice and friendly guy into the jerk from hell.

Johnny has behavior problems at school. He gets diagnosed with ADD and put on medicine for it. He stays on task more often, but he still has behavior problems. Does that mean just increase the dose until he is a zombie? HELL NO! He still needs to be taught proper behavior. The medicine (if he even needs it) will help him to control his behavior, but he needs to be taught that, through parenting, discipline, therapy, etc.

Many people these days only get half of the treatment, which, in my opinion, is much worse than no treatment at all.

[mitchell_pgh]

Great replies... keep em' coming.

I'm not looking for a quick fix. In fact, I'm not looking for a fix as much as potentially some medication that can help a little. I'm more nervous that I'll become like a zombie. In my youth, when I took ritalin, sure I could focus, but I felt emotionally empty.

I guess I just don't want my coworkers thinking I'm

[Randman]

Don't your co-workers use pcs? They'll never notice.

[OwlBoy]

Dude, look at this skin on my elbow it's extra flabby!!

-Owl

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by OwlBoy

Dude, look at this skin on my elbow it's extra flabby!!

-Owl

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

I'm more nervous that I'll become like a zombie.

Well, if the doc's worth his salt, if he thinks medicine is good to try, he'll start you off low and bump up the dose slowly. That's what we did with me.

"Ok, we'll start you at 5 mg of Adderall XR for a week"

"Doc, I can't tell the difference."

"Ok, go up to 10 mg"

"Ok, I think it's starting to work a bit."

"Ok, go up to 15 mg"

"Hey, it's definitely working, and I don't feel bad."

"Ok, go up to 20 mg"

"OH MY GOD! This is terrible! I feel like sh*t, and the littlest things make me so mad, and my heart is racing..."

"Ok. Now we know that 15 mg is the right dose for you..."

[Cody Dawg]

Well, here's my two cents - from the opposite sex.

Whenever I've had a lot of stress in my life I've noticed that my brain sometimes doesn't function correctly. Sometimes I have difficulty concentrating and other times I have memory lapses. Just feeling overwhelmed and fidgety and way out in mental left field.

Do you have any stresses that you can think of? Some that might have suddenly just appeared? Or did you just go through a significant life change? The three biggest stresses are: Death of a loved one, divorce, and moving. Did any of those things occur? Or, are you threatened with any of those things?

Therapy might be the way to go.

Other than that, you might try exercising more and cutting down on stimulants (caffeine) and depressants (alcohol is one) if you are taking any.

Getting more sleep would also help.

After you have made those changes you might find that you don't need a pharmaceutical intervention.

On the other hand, if you have some major stresses then I recommend that you find a therapist to talk things through with.

I know that exercise and more sleep have always helped me a lot. I think people underestimate the importance of getting enough sleep and getting enough exercise. Both are extremely important. I don't take any drugs at all and I feel better for it, actually.

Good luck!

[screamingFit]

ADD is the result of the American lifestyle and how you're wired to cope with it.

That being said, Cody's advice was pretty solid, too.

[Zimphire]

Originally Posted by screamingFit

ADD is the result of the American lifestyle and how you're wired to cope with it.

No. Please stop spreading FUD and misinformation PLZ. THX.

Your brain produces natural stimulants that keep it active.

People with ADHD or ADD has a brain that DOESN'T produce enough stimulant.

Therefore there brain is in constant activity looking for something to stimulate it.

This is why speed, or amphetamines (What Ritalin and Dexedrine and Adderall are)

Slows the mind racing down in someone with ADHD or ADD, but speeds it back up (Creating too much) with those without it.

[screamingFit]

Originally Posted by Zimphire

No. Please stop spreading FUD and misinformation PLZ. THX..

(Sorry. Damn smiley face didn't make it in there. Post edited for clarity.)

One thing is that ADD needs to stop being looked at like a disease and more like a personality and be accepted and not coined a "problem".

And hell, I'm hyper, I can't concentrate, my mind wanders...you know why? I am bored and uninspired!!! If I went to a doctor, I'd be labled with ADD (and have been).

[ghporter]

There are far too many people who think they know what's going on and label others "ADD," when in fact those others are simply "different." Many of the labelers are overworked and overwhelmed teachers who don't have the skills or temprament to deal with overly active (not hyperactive) children who don't get the discipline they need at home. It seems natural for these teachers to assume that all kids have the same sort of home life the teacher did, so the kids that act out must have some sort of problem. It's an insidious thing, really, since the teacher is genuinely trying to help, but doesn't have a clue about what they're basing their opinion on. They particularly miss that true ADD sufferers have problems concentrating on the right thing, but when they are interested in something, they can concentrate so deeply on that subject that it is VERY difficult to get their attention. Teachers see kids that don't bother to try paying attention and say "that kid has a problem," but don't figure out the RIGHT problem.

My son was diagnosed by a pediatric psychologist when he was 5. That's awful early for such a diagnosis, but the doctor was very careful to explain how she came to that conclusion (and I spent the whole time nodding-"yeah, I'm like that. And I do that too. That one too. Hmmmm" There's strong evidence that ADD can be hereditary.) Once he was diagnosed, we went to his pediatric clinic and the doc we saw put him on ritalin. That worked very well, but the psychologist still followed him for behavioral treatments-he needed to learn how to concentrate, and how to choose what to concentrate on. It took BOTH kinds of treatment for him to function better, and that treatment has continued until just recently. He has learned to channel his ability to "hyperfocus" to his advantage, and he no longer has trouble dealing with boredom. He gets good grades and has fun-what's better for a high school student?

All in all, I think that the advice I gave Mitchell earlier-see a good shrink that's trained to diagnose ADD-is still spot on. And if you haven't been in the world of ADD, with teachers that can't cope, clueless administrators, and doctors that don't understand what they're treating, kindly step back and phrase your opinions as opinions. Those of us who have had to live that get a little edgy when the uninformed and inexperienced chime in-we've heard it before, and it's still wrong.

Cody, stress is a big problem for everyone today, and it can hurt your ability to concentrate. Absolutely correct. But while it aggravates the ADD symptoms, it does not bring them on. Zimphire nailed the mechanics of the disorder; it's a chemical thing within the brain, it's something you're born with, and it stays with you forever. Of course ADD sufferers need to learn how to handle stress, and more so because of how it affects more severely than "normal" people, but it's just another external challenge to folks who face so many all the time. Good thought, though...

[mitchell_pgh]

For the record, I do have stress in my life, but I've always had this feeling that I need constant stimulation. The little research I've done basically tells me that adult ADD is the most likely culprit. The reason being, even when I'm in low stress segments of my life, I still feel like the ADD has a hold on me. I've made an appointment with a dr. for next Monday, so I'll see what he has to say. My preference is to use a combination of counseling and medication. Perhaps with counseling, I won't need medication.

[forkies]

my partner thinks he suffers from add/adhd and has yet to make the steps for a diagnosis. it is interesting to read the replies of people at different stages of dealing with their situations. thank you.

[BLAZE_MkIV]

I have ADD also, thankfully not ADHD. I was on desipramine(sp?) during hish school. Only helped a little.

My stance is that the name is a nisnomer. Its not that you can't pay attention its that you can't tune anything out so you have to pay attention to everything going on around you. My coping strategy has a perfect computer analogy, process schedualing. I have/am continiously training myself not to pay attention to one thing but to pay more attention to one thing than everything else. In my busy workplace with meating, conversations, email, and doign 3 things at once there is no way I could pay attention to just one thing at a time. I doubt a "normal person could either. Another coping strategy is to limit the number of things going on around you to allow you to get back to the high priority item quicker, but don't eliminate all of them or your brain will make them up.

As for my "normal" earlier how many animals have you seen that are not easily distracted? It seems to be that having to pay attention to what is going on around you is a good way to keep from being eaten. Go ahead and try to sneak up on me. It only happens when I can't see or hear someone.

[nickw311]

Blaze, you nailed it right on the head for me. I have ADD also and take Ritalin and Metadate and they really work well with me. When I need to concentrate I need to go somewhere very quiet and dull because otherwise I am always trying to catch what is going on around me. I have the same problem when I am sleeping, if there is activity going on outside my room it will keep me up and I can't get to sleep even though I fully realize that nothing out there concerns me.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by nickw311

Blaze, you nailed it right on the head for me. I have ADD also and take Ritalin and Metadate and they really work well with me. When I need to concentrate I need to go somewhere very quiet and dull because otherwise I am always trying to catch what is going on around me. I have the same problem when I am sleeping, if there is activity going on outside my room it will keep me up and I can't get to sleep even though I fully realize that nothing out there concerns me.

My fiancé likes to keep the TV on and it drives me totally crazy! Even if it's an infomercial... I can't tune it out.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by ghporter

And if you haven't been in the world of ADD, with teachers that can't cope, clueless administrators, and doctors that don't understand what they're treating, kindly step back and phrase your opinions as opinions.

True that teachers and administraters that do not understand these conditions are not given any training on students with these conditions. Fortunately Paraprofessionals like myself have specific training to deal with such students. At least a crash course for regular Ed. teachers would be nice.

Zimphire nailed the mechanics of the disorder; it's a chemical thing within the brain, it's something you're born with, and it stays with you forever. Of course ADD sufferers need to learn how to handle stress, and more so because of how it affects more severely than "normal" people, but it's just another external challenge to folks who face so many all the time. Good thought, though...

Knowing freshman students with such symtoms at the begining of High School and dealing with them when they graduate I say that 40% of them totally are off medication and some have been de-classified as ADD or ADHD. Though the 'chemical thing' may stay with you forever I have to say that these conditions are reversable from their original diagnoses before High School. I wish I had the chance to see these kids five years from graduation to get an idea if their conditions ever re-surfaced.

[Cody Dawg]

Let me say something very important here.

At the age of 5 our 12-year old son was having severe problems in kindergarten. Restless legs, counting, drawing invisible designs on the desk, just not paying attention and always in action. They recommended testing him for ADD. We said fine, though we were about 100% sure it was going to be ADD and we were also 100% sure that we wouldn't medicate him and we were sure we'd be facing a quandarry.

Well, they tested him.

A month later they tested him again.

As God is my witness they called us in for the evaluation results and said, "You're son is extremely bright. They call it 'gifted.' He belongs in advanced classes. He is doing poorly in school where he is at because he is bored."

Do you know, we skipped him a grade and he's been in gifted classes ever since. He is a straight-A student and this year he finished 2nd at the National Academic Games in Baton Rouge. He is in 9th grade Honors math - and he's in 6th grade. He's extremely bright. He figured out a way to put clouds (regular white fluffy clouds on a blue sky background) slowly move away from the screen, leaving a clear blue sky background, when you blow into a microphone plugged into his laptop. I don't know how he did it, but he did. He's just very bright.

I would say that for some ADD is misdiagnosed. It is a certainty. Just think if we'd labeled him "ADD" and left him in that regular class where he was stagnating 7 years ago? I can't even bear to think of it.

GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE. ASSUME THE BEST.

[forkies]

god, i wish you were my mom

[wolfen]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

As God is my witness they called us in for the evaluation results and said, "You're son is extremely bright. They call it 'gifted.' He belongs in advanced classes. He is doing poorly in school where he is at because he is bored."

I enjoy stories like this one. I'm very happy that your son goes to a good enough school that they were able to properly address the issue. This is not the case for many kids, as you alluded.

[Cody Dawg]

I remember the little guy coming home from school every day, hand dog with his head hung over, a note in his hand. "Your son would not sit still today." Or, "Your son insisted on counting the ceiling tiles." Or, "Your son kept drawing invisible figures on his desk in front of him no matter how many times I told him to stop." Or, "Your son kept swinging his legs and distracting the entire class all day long."

It never stopped. His self esteem was really being damaged and we were angry and upset. When the school wanted to test him I said yes because I felt that perhaps he needed to be moved into classes with similar children and testing was the way to open that door. I never, in a million years, thought that good would come of it.

I ended up having to go see a psychologist anyway and it helped. I had to learn how to accept him and his actions and his impulsiveness. He and I went to the psychologist for an entire year and it REALLY helped.

The one lesson he learned? He learned, at the age of 5/6, to recognize when he was not acting in control or like others. The psychologist said, "I know you don't feel like you're in control, but I want you to try something...do you know how to pretend? (My son nods his head yes.) I want you to PRETEND to be acting like the others, to PRETEND to be in control. So, whenever you feel sort of itchy inside or feel like you want to do something, just PRETEND to act quiet - even though your brain isn't quiet."
Gosh, just teaching him to pretend to control himself taught him to control himself. It was amazing.

Anyway, I don't push our children with anything at all. I just tell them to do their own personal best. Our kids have no bedtimes and can eat what they want, when they want, and they do pretty much what they want. I never pushed our son to get good grades. I have always told him to do his personal best. The entire house is full of their little projects here and there (three boys in the house) or things that they're involved with. I think sometimes I'm a bad parent because I don't make them eat certain foods or make them sleep at a particular time. I encourage them to do certain things and of course, I'd put my foot down if they wanted to do something harmful or destructive, but they seem to make the right choices all of the time, at least for now.

Strangely enough, though, they all seem to want to sleep at the right times and they all want to eat good foods and they all seem to have good values. I hope they are successful in their lives. Otherwise I'll blame myself for not having more rules.



Like I said, I just want mitchell_pgh to give himself a chance. If he can see that maybe he is more normal than he assumes or understands that seeing a therapist to modify his thinking processes, like we did, or to help discuss issues that he may be confronting, then maybe that will help.

The other thing that I learned was that ADD is sometimes confused with stress or depression because the mind tends to wander and become unfocuses with both of those issues also. I didn't know that until we did see a psychologist.

I hope he sees a trained professional who focuses on non-pharmaceutical solutions for these types of issues.

The other thing I'm worried about is if he has something else going on that he's overlooking, a physical problem or disease process that should not be ignored.

Mitchell_pgh, if this issue has suddenly arisen and seems to be getting worse as time goes by, PLEASE go see a physician and get a complete evaluation along with an MRI. It's very important to rule out other causes.

One thing is for sure: We all wish him the best of luck.

Now, who said they want me to be their mother? I don't think so! I've got enough worries with my own...and my little dog too!

[Randman]

Dark dog on a white sweater? Living la vida loca, eh?

[Cody Dawg]

Mais, oui, Randman. C'est la Floride! Nous portons le blanc toute l'année. En outre, le chien ne jette pas. (He is a Yorkie...he does not shed and he just had his coat clipped short for the hot summer weather.)

[Randman]

Mon Français est pauvre. Je suis meilleur chez l'Espagnol ou le Hanyu Pinyin. Le blanc est bon mais vous avez besoin d'un bon nombre de nettoyage Ã* sec avec un chien foncé-haried. Remerciez les cieux du widget de traducteur pour

[Cody Dawg]

Mon Français est pauvre. Je suis meilleur chez l'Espagnol ou le Hanyu Pinyin. Le blanc est bon mais vous avez besoin d'un bon nombre de nettoyage �* sec avec un chien foncé-haried. Remerciez les cieux du widget de traducteur pour

C'est...whaaaat?

[ghporter]

Cody, when my son was in kindergarten, I got calls from the school EVERY DAY because of his behavior. Their handling of the kids was substandard, to say the least, and they had no clue whatever how to deal with a little kid with ADD. It was so bad that they tried to expell him for his behavior instead of even trying to work with him-which is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, by the way. We forced them to graduate him from kindergarten, then found a different school for first grade-and that school put him in a gifted group. Not at all dumb! Of course not, not when you have teachers who actually bother to try to teach.

It all has to do with engaging the child, particularly when the child is young. With a room full of kids, the distractions are immense. Put that same child in a situation with only a few other kids and a teacher who makes them think, and you'll find that even kids with extreme ADD symptoms calm down and focus wonderfully.

By the time a child with ADD has reached late high school, he or she should have learned sufficient "attention management" skills to function well in society without the need for meds. My son is DAYS away from graduating, and has been off medications of all kinds since January. It hasn't been easy for him, and that's true for most such kids, but he chose to be independent and make it work.

As an undiagnosed ADD sufferer, I can tell you that it is horribly difficult for a kid to get things done in the way parents and teachers expect, because the kid's brain actually works differently. The rest of the world just needs to accept that.

[Cody Dawg]

Wow! I hope that your son continues to do well in school. I don't remember having ADD when I was little, though I hear that it's highly genetic.

[nickw311]

Yes ADD is genetic and it is closely related to Tourettes Syndrome, which my brother unfortunately has had since he was very young.

[Cody Dawg]

Tourette's, wow. My neighbor has Tourette's. He is THE nicest guy. He says whatever he wants and somehow he's learned to just shut his lips when he's saying things that he thinks he should not. How does your family cope with it? It's a very interesting disorder.

So many people have disorders nowadays. It's kind of sad. The good thing is that medicine and psychiatry are more equipped to help people.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by nickw311

Yes ADD is genetic and it is closely related to Tourettes Syndrome, which my brother unfortunately has had since he was very young.

Well, ADD and Tourette's syndrome tend to be associated with each other, but ADD by itself is far more prevalent than Tourette's syndrome.