Advise from the grilfriend

[Anonymous]

William

I understand and have done the same things including forget birthdays (even after being reminded), appointments, etc. etc., etc.

I have been accused of the selective hearing as well. What I try to do is ask questions for clarification, if I sense I didn’t catch something I ask too. It sounds repetitive but I find that I am starting to improve my recall and also realize that there is nothing wrong with clarifying what has been said.

All of these new ways of handling things is since i became aware of my ADD. It is hard work for me to change and then do things consistently. I am entering a new job and I want to be successful…. for me it is very important.

Also in my relationships I want to do better and try to be a better listener. It also is helping me feel more connected to people.

The medication (Concerta) has helped me with all of this. I have confidence I am being managed by my doctor well so I have a better chance of managing some of these things.

Right now each day is very mentally tiring because i am trying to work on a lot of things (hopefully not to many). I slip up and I am also putting a daily plan together (the night before). in the plan is not just appointments and things to do. I also include reminders of behaviours I want to change

I have high hopes but I haven’t done these changes over a long time. Also when I start my new job I hope when things get stressful (which they will) I don’t revert back to old ways of coping.

I don’t have any specific advice on remembering names. For some reason I can remember names very well. I do make sure when I meet someone new that I make sure I ‘hear’ the name correctly. Then I verbally say it back for confirmation

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[Anonymous]

Scattybird,

Thanks for the comments. I am going to use your paper system and adapt it to something electronic (laptop or Blackberry). Managing paper is a nightmare for me (even paper planners).

At my last job (before ADD diagnosis) I had piles of paper all over my desk. Then the directive came down from senior management that desk had to be clean. My solution was to hide the paper piles in the desk drawers and cabinets…..NOT A GREAT SOLUTION.

When I left the job, the piles were still there (hidden in drawers)… The person who had to clean up the office must have thought I was the worlds most disorganized person.

I don”t think I am the world’s most disorganized because I do get things done. I may be the world’s most disorganized paper manager though 🙄

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[William]

Has anybody heard of the drug Guanfacine XR and it’s use for ADHD?

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[Anonymous]

Yes, I have heard of it and researched in when i was educating myself on ADD treatment.

Guanfacine XR is an alpha-blocker that is indicated for use in children and adolescent for ADHD

It is not in the same category as stimulants (Ritilan, etc.)

It is not considered first-line (first choice) therapy by physicians.

Generally speaking ADHD specialists would look to prescribe a stimulant (1) first, non-stimulant Strattera (2), followed by antidepressants (Wellbutrin) or Guanfacine XR

Guanfacine was first indicated for hypertension. Then it was found useful for other indications like ADHD.

You should ask your doctor his opinion and you could also go a website like Mayoclinic.com or WebMD to get more information.

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[Anonymous]

Just as an additional side note on guanfacine. It has received a lot of press lately as a “cure for senior moments” (memory) 🙄

Please see link below

http://news.yahoo.com/could-pill-cure-senior-moments-215010058.html

As with any drug that reaches the consumer media it is important to use a little skepticism. Even IF the drug works to cure people of senior moments – it would only work for certain patient groups

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[nellie]

Scattybird,

Interesting idea about the extra day at a glance thingy for a to do list. Will have to think about that. I have one big Agenda that I use now although I’ve tried everything known to man – i swear I could be a time-management sales person – just can’t manage myself

Since last April I have reverted back to the paper Agenda so that I don’t suffer from out of sight out of mind issues. As a techie type person I love the idea of syncing my iphone and mac and ipad but the reality of it was that I still forgot everything. The minute something ended up in the bowls of the operating system it ceased to exist for me. I forgot to check stuff far too often. Although I think better when I type that didn’t seem to apply with time issues. Somehow the tactile aspect writing it down on paper must connect with the memory functions of the brain.

I must say I impressed myself – I just looked back on the my Agenda for 2011 and I actually wrote in it every week. Usually I would skip weeks or months at a time but this system is really working.

No-dopamine – tried the “get right to work” thing today as well as leaving myself next step notes and today was very productive.

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[Anonymous]

Good for you, nellie! I got away late, so the day started late, but I did work on a previous commitment that I’d put off for a long time, so I guess it was productive, albeit frustrating!

scattybird, I used to use a daytimer years ago, but gave it up as I was just carrying around a lot of paper! I like the single page hand-written approach, I can use that for about 2 days before it starts to get messy, then I just transfer the tasks/errands that haven’t been finished onto a new sheet and add in what I need to do the next day. I just don’t go to bed until I’ve planned the day. I’m getting better at doing what I’ve planned, but I do find that errands take up a lot of time, so I need to be more realistic about carving out space for them, otherwise I get very frustrated and cranky.

nellie, I agree, I’m a touch typist so can get stuff into the computer fairly quickly, but it’s the writing down by hand that somehow gets it into my mind. If I don’t turn on the computer, I’m doomed, but if I have a piece of paper, I have half a chance of remembering (I always put a posty note on the bathroom mirror if I have an appointment or something unusual to do the next day).

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