What do i do about ADD/ADHD?

What do i do about ADD/ADHD?
i'm 21 and i cant help to realize that i have ADD or ADHD. the symptoms that ive read all applies to me. for example, i always say that im going to study/do hw and i never get to it...or anything that i plan on doing. i always do a lot of tasks and most i never finish, when i was younger i use to be very hyper, i sometimes forget things, i have trouble concentrating, my mind wonders and i always daydream, i always start an exercise program and eventually stop (usually anything), i get easily distracted, and SOMETIMES cant stay still, im always late for school and work, IF i in fact have this (i haven't gone to the dr) its affecting my life in a bad way....what do i do about this?...i've also heard that the meds for this have some really f***** up side effects. i don want it to change my personality completely.

It's not a good idea to self-diagnose yourself. There are some people in this world who are hypochondriacs; they read about symptoms online, and think they have whatever condition those symptoms add up to.

You need to see a doctor and be properly diagnosed. If you do have Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, there are many treatment options including medication, stress therapy, etc.

It's not an automatic thing that you have to take meds if you have ADD. A lot of the treatment has to do with behavior modification. You can teach yourself to pay attention, focus, and follow through. Even if you do take the medication, you still have to learn how to manage your behavior.

Good! Don't try to self-diagnose yourself. Taking meds will not magically turn you into a highly organized person. You will still be disorganized, just with altered personality. You need to learn how to organize yourself, meds or no meds. Push yourself. Split your tasks in steps and reward yourself for compleleting each step. And consider taking bigger challenges. Your mind may wander simply because you are bored. Try something that you really want and that is really hard, that will require all your energy, and all your concentration. Something which is of vital importance, and something for which you will not get partial credit, which is all or nothing. Sort of like going to the army and getting killed or surviving. You'll have no time for daydreaming :)