Do I have ADD?!

Do I have ADD?

I had taken a noticeing on how much dificulty I have with paying attencion, Evan if it doing somthing i love doing (martal arts..). an example will be my instructor will be teaching me how to do somthing and i will payattencion for half of it than be like..that tree is so pretty..than i will try to catch myself and try as hard as I can to refocus but cant. its the same with me trying anything algebraic, or reading for too long. (and i love to read)
this may have somthing to do with it, I was born a premature baby (2 pounds 3 ounces) and my mom had me when she was 39 or 40.
help...??

It sounds like you have a few ADD symptoms, but many people do. In order to know for certain, you must be tested and diagnosed by a doctor who specializes in ADD or ADHD. The diagnostic testing is usually an all day event.

My ADD was so severe it was ruining my life... I was finally diagnosed in my 30's... but I truly wished I had learned what was "wrong" with me earlier... From the age of 4-5, I knew I did not think like other people, and had a very hard time in school...although I always tested high, I could not stay interested in anything, or focused, to save my life. I managed to maintain decent, though inconsistent, grades, most of the time, in spite of it...(but inconsistent grades are a symptom of ADD).

I could have accomplished so much more and if I had stopped trying to "be like everyone else." In the 60's they thought ADD was a behavioral problem, and kids were punished for not paying attention... which was so very wrong. They (teachers) had no idea it was a brain issue.

Thank God it was finally figured out.

DO NOT WAIT... get diagnosed as soon as you can, one way or another you need to know, so you can manage it, or find our if it's something else, like depression.

A good doctor will interview you about your childhood grades, social activities, etc... it is a life-long issue. I'm not sure, but I don't think it has anything to do with being premature...

There is a good book you should read... "Driven to Distraction"... Personally, I tried, but I never finished it... (ha).

By the way, ADD can be a real gift, not a curse... many very successful creative people, expecially actors, entertainers, etc., have ADD. (Nicholas Cage, Ellen Degeneres, Robin Williams, Jim Carey, David Letterman,
Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder), Richard Branson, etc.) some even say Bill Clinton and George Bush both have ADD... although this is not confirmed (and probably never will be).

You need to know how to channel all the creative energy that comes with the gift of ADD into what you love to do. Don't suppress it or try to be something you're not.. you'll only end up overly medicated and miserable. (Although some meds do help).

Most important, don't beat yourself up over it... try to meet others like you... there are support groups for ADD people.