Hello, I know that this website isn't a substitute to a psychiatrist in getting advice, but I thought I would ask here before going to see my psychiatrist because it's something I find quite difficult to talk about with other people.
Firstly, I don't really have any of the physical symptoms of ADD/ADHD. I don't fidget, squirm or get restless sitting at a desk for hours on end. However, I find it very difficult to concentrate mentally, especially to audio, like people talking. From the age of about 9, I developed a habit of flicking my pen, because I found that it helped me concentrate a bit better, but at school I rarely could pay attention because as soon as the teacher started talking, I would just completely switch off. I was a major daydreamer: I built an entire world in my head, full of characters and events (sounds weird, I know), and every day when I got to class I would just drift off into thinking about it. Thankfully, I worked hard at home, so I was still able to get okay grades. I remember from a young age I would spend hours in my garden kicking around a football on my own. My parents thought I was bored, but actually, I was deep in thought; I would write whole novels in my head, and I found activities like pen flicking/kicking around a football seemed to help me focus on these ideas.
However, this way of thinking has its downsides. I am awfully organised, and although I have a very good visual memory (know all the worlds flags, know all the first/last names of a class of 300 from 4 years ago), my memory of conversations/orders is terrible. I can read a book and 5 minutes later recall nothing at all; same thing with listening to others, because my mind just drifts off. I did a mindfulness course last year, and I achieved absolutely nothing because even when I tried, I couldn't concentrate or focus my mind.
The reason I am worried about this now is because the symptoms are more problematic. I have been accused of being rude because when I am sitting at a table with two friends having a conversation I'll quickly zone out and then when asked something not know what they were talking about. Likewise, my inability to pay attention in seminars etc. can no longer be deflected by simply studying harder outside of class. It's also beginning to affect my mood as well. I don't really seem to have worlds/novels in my head anymore, instead its just constant rapid thoughts about various things, that start as soon as I wake up and are with me when I am trying to fall asleep.
What I want to know is, should I go and see a psychiatrist about this? It's inhibiting my life and I want to get it resolved, but I'm not sure if it truly is ADHD/ADD, or if its just an overactive imagination! Any help would be greatly appreciated. 