It seems to me that the diagnosis and treatment process of ADD is a little counter-intuitive to the symptoms of ADD.  I don't know about anyone else, but when I thought that this might be what my issue was, I called my insurance company for a recommendation of a doctor that specialized in adult ADD.  They gave me a few names (none of which worked anywhere near where I live or work).  I called each practitioner on my list, and the first appointment I could get was with a LSW.  She never gave me any tests, or tried to ascertain any particular disorders.  She seemed more interested in counseling me on how to get my life together by exploring my past. (i.e. Mother Issues). 

After 5 or 6 visits, she finally conceded that I wasn't hung up on my past so much as I was just trying to figure out how to get through the day without losing my car keys.  She gave me the name of a psychiatrist (again, nowhere near where I work or live) who gave me forms to fill out, which were complete with scratched out answers because I am horrible at forms.  She diagnosed the ADD, and provided me with a prescription, and an appointment to come back in a month. WHAT?  I'm going to have to try and remember another appointment, and try to get there on time? EVERY MONTH???

Well, the first medication didn't really seem effective to me (Adderall).  At my next appointment, well nothing happened because I missed it and got charged $50 for missing it.  But, at the NEXT appointment, she changed my meds to Concerta.  These worked o.k., but I would get the worst dry mouth and stomach upset near the end of the day. 

I'd been ADD all my life, but only knew it for a brief time, and yet not one of these practitioners who supposedly specialized in the treatment of adult ADD gave me any advice on how to change the habits I'd formed over a lifetime of just trying to cope and get by.  No one addressed the problem of self esteem.  No one told me that I could have work accommodations.  In fact, anything and everything I have learned about ADD has been from books and the internet.  In other words...I diagnosed and am currently treating myself...for free.

This isn't the ideal solution clearly, but I simply don't feel that the "system" is or will ever be designed to REALLY help us.  Throwing meds at us and expecting us to suddenly be "normal" and be able to handle life is very presumptious.  Treatment should be all-encompassing.  I can't afford the prices life coaches charge, because I have screwed up my finances so horribly because I forget to pay bills on time. lol

I have a dream that some day there will be a facility/site/organization that will treat the WHOLE person with ADD.  I have the perfect vision of it in my head, but of course, I know the task is daunting, and I will never make it a reality.