(((((HUGS))))) Thank you for your honesty. It’s a rare thing. I have self-medicated, long term, using codeine based pain killers at a dose that’s available over the counter here, just to shut my brain up enough that I can sleep, as well as to ease off my restless legs. I hate how thoughts race through my brain constantly and stop me from sleeping. Codeine helps because I have inherited my grandmother’s sensitivity to it (as well as her restless legs!) and it makes me quite foggy/sleepy. I would take a dose at tea time to begin the wind-down process, another dose at bed time, and often a third partway through the night if I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep. Not good for a med that’s supposed to be for short term use only. I have managed to cut right back now I have medication to treat the restless legs (and man, it wasn’t easy to cut them back!!), but I still find a single night time dose often helps shut my brain up when I wake partway though the night. But it’s certainly an improvement on the amount I was taking. It’s not easy to make a change though, especially if a drug is “working” for you. I am hoping that I can get ADHD diagnosed and treated when I see a psychiatrist later this year (it’s a long wait for an appointment 
). I score 9/9 for the inattentive traits (5/9 for hyperactive/impulsive), and I am certainly aware that it impacts my life massively and to a degree that I am not happy with. I am encouraged by the fact that my ADHD son says that his Ritalin helps keep his brain quiet without making him sleepy/foggy, and it certainly helps his focus and concentration, as well as his mood (less likely to get frustrated/angry). There is hope for me out there!
Re: Alchohol/illegal drugs treating ADHD2011-07-10T01:53:17+00:00