[Cat Alberts]

All the stimulant medication are reuptake inhibiting, so you are already taking it, just for a different neurotransmitter, dopamine. Strattera would influence the reuptake of norepinephrine (sorry forgot the nor- in previous writing). Maybe you have used it- it is a NRI, not a SNRI- I just read the wikipedia page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strattera

The stimulants have had a more negative effect on my libido than strattera. Wellbutrin is known for enhancing libido, but that is an anti-depressant, so I guess it works on serotonin as well. It just made me feel high and spacey.

Strattera had no physical side effects for me as far as I can remember. I can’t find the notebook I used to record my symptoms, but other than more impulsiveness, I can’t remember. I started making stupid decisions in traffic, like crossing the street after thinking: no that car is going too fast for me to cross now, and then crossing the street anyway. That was my reason to go back to methylfenidate.

I hope you get through this okay. The amount of different meds is staggering for me, living in Europe and a reasonably healthy person.

As for the sugar, maybe up the protein and fat and slowly reduce the sugar? That insulin roller-coaster had me completely out of whack, and I only have to cope with ADD.

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[Cat Alberts]

Yes the definition of normal!

Until I took a statistics class in university, I thought normal was average, or the same as most other people, but that is not the definition. Statistically speaking there is a Normal Distribution Curve in a population, and when you measure one aspect (say ability to focus? or maybe intelligence?) and the population is normal, there is a wide difference in measurements.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distribution –

Halfway down is a nice blue bell curve, the best visual cue, to understand what I am trying to explain.

And everything inside that bell curve is called normal. Because to have some geniusses in a population is normal, and to have some people with low intelligence in a population is normal. To have extremely tall people is normal, and to have extremely small people is completely normal. And for every seperate aspect of your life, you can be above or below average, and still within completely normal range. I guess you have to look at which population are you comparing yourself to- everybody, family, collaegues, other ADD-people.

Or look at who is calling you abnormal? What is their reference point?

My dad told me I wasn’t normal, but he was using a very small definition of normal.

Only the top of the bell curve was normal to him, and above ofcourse for intelligence, and grades.

Two different things, as we all know.

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[Cat Alberts]

I have noticed an influence on my sleep as well.

Regular methylfenidate made my sleep less deep, and dexamfetamine kept me awake longer, and I woke up earlier. So I tried Strattera and I felt and slept wonderfull! But it gave me more impulsiveness, so I went back to methylfenidate at a lower dose, which does give me clarity, but less trouble sleeping.

Have you tried Strattera yet? It works on the epinefrine system, not so much on the dopamine.

Have you tried cutting out sugar/coffee/alcohol to avoid the rollercoaster of high-low energy?

Michael Ellsberg wrote a piece about how he controls his bipolar II symptoms by staying away from those.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelellsberg/2011/07/18/how-i-overcame-bipolar-ii/

I recently reintroduced coffee and yes, my thoughts are more scattered.

I should take the hint!

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[Cat Alberts]

Nice one, miscellaneous…

Way too empty for an ADHD-forum, since we are kings and queens of miscellaneous information retention.

Is this a good place for a link to a lovely drawing I found online?

http://www.gapingvoidgallery.com/gallerycubegrenades-noteverybodysred-p-1946.html?osCsid=0q53ha9d9trbdbojeki9b6o1v3

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[Cat Alberts]

kc5jck, Thank you for explaining some more. It sounds like a difficult situation. How does she describe the anger she experiences?

Maybe Wolfshades has a point. I know someone with borderline, and the completely unfair fighting, together with extreme and intense anger, were certainly present. She was my neighbour and at one point it was directed at me, for offending her in some way. We both moved away and are no longer in contact. From what she had told me about the things she had done in the past, it scared the shit out of me when it became directed at me. Thankfully she told me I wasn’t worth stalking! Yey!

But I think her decision not to was more motivated by me telling her previously that I had no qualms of immediately calling the police if she would ever do any of that stuff to me (stalking, anonymous phone calls, threatening with bodily harm, breaking windows, etc).

K, I can’t tell if this is a contributing factor for your fights, ofcourse.

Separating her anger from her personality seems like a reasonable way to get to grips with it, but maybe there is another cause.

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[Cat Alberts]

Since being diagnosed last year, I have followed some ADHD-workshops with other ADHD people and it is a joy to experience, for the first time in my life to be in-sync with everyone in the room. Our national support organisation supports local meet-ups and it was such a relieve to walk in. So yes, the circulair reasoning, the jumping from subject to subject and without any trouble returning to the first one. Or with trouble remembering, but then the other person would remember. Or not and no worries about it. The energy that builds because ideas feed of each other and the train of thought can run for a while, without stops to explain in more detail to people lost along the way.

And more information to share about medication, job hunting, insurance etc.

The local meet-up is just a relatively quiet place, coffee tea and an ad on a website, to meet once a month for a few hours on a Monday evening. My local is relatively homogenous, most have only ADHD issues and no history of addiction or more serious psychiatric issues, other than depression or anxiety.

And I am really looking forward to October when a national gathering is organised. If all goes well and the weather holds, about 1400 ADHD (and family) will come together. In a ZOO!

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[Cat Alberts]

kc5jck, I am not sure your latest post is a helpful contribution.

Anger is not a sign of a devil, but an expression of defense when personal boundaries are crossed, an expression of despair or sadness, of personal needs in a relationship not being met, or many other normal human emotions. Maybe an attempt to coerce the other to change. Trying to figure out which of these are at play in that moment can shed a light at what is going on inside the other person.

Please don’t dismiss them by seeing the devil in them, it will widen the gap between you untill it is too wide to connect across.

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[Cat Alberts]

Interesting thread! I don’t have narcolepsy, I think, but I have had years of fatigue. Maybe I should get tested…

I read the wiki entrance and clicked through to the Delta Wave sleep info.

Interesting as well, because fybromyalgia and ADD are mentioned, as result of disrupted delta wave sleep.

And the fact that a low carb diet can help increase the Delta Waves.

I recently switched to a Paleo/primal diet, so who knows… maybe some improvements!

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[Cat Alberts]

@geoduck. Yes it is a bit like the teenage brain development-fase that doesn’t stop But frustration and low grade depression were a factor as well.

@larynxa, yes all those extras were present! A lot have fallen away after being diagnosed. I have to take care now, a year later, that some of them not make a come back. I always thought that if I knew what the h*** was wrong with me, I could solve it. A year later I find that I can solve a few, but certainly not all of the problems. I noticed myself getting frustrated again. Hmmm… time to take another look at how I organized my life.

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[Cat Alberts]

Nathan, I have that too!

I often feel very foolish when I am in a conversation and can’t recall the key word for what I want to say. Somehow it happens especially when the subject is something I am passionate about or have read a lot about. I recently thought it might have to do with the fact that I read a lot but don’t really talk a lot. So the word is in a passive memory, not in an active memory. Again, there are specific words to refer to those memories that I can’t recall at the moment!

I used to limit myself in social outings as well, out of fear of shutting down.

What does help is my (small) doses of methylfenidate, because now at least I don’t lose the rythm of the conversation, even if I can’t find the right words.

I am considering doing the NaNoWriMo in november, just to get over my fear of writing. A month of just busting out 5000 words a day, no editing, no reading back to see if it makes sense, just throwing it all out. Who knows, maybe after that the active recall memory is a bit more operational…

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[Cat Alberts]

I think that most, if not all medicine or drugs, can influence the development of a baby.

Wellbutrin as well is contra-indicated for pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Try and give the small one the best start, and the healthiest brain by staying clear of everything.

Some extra omega3?

I heard that during pregnancy ADHD-symptoms are less, so the time to deal with symptoms is during trying to make the BB.

Which can be fun…

Maybe clear your schedule, take a holiday together, and keep trying?

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[Cat Alberts]

I wish I knew I had ADD when I was at university. I messed it up…

Recently I bought 2 rolls of flipover-paper.

When I need to plan something I write on those and hang it on the doors to look at, add to and remember.

Very helpful.

Maybe good for studying as well: to learn standing up, or use it to memorize facts/dates/etc.

And plan ahead, visualize what a finished product looks like (paper, project).

And really look at what needs to get done before you start.

Don’t get overwhelmed and dive in, but plan/chop/divide, schedule breaks with fysical activity and some fun.

Eat healthy stuff, some protein and do sleep. Short nap in the afternoon if its going to be a late night.

Not too much cafeine, because then nerves and cortisol are more likely to take over.

This is how I would do it, with the knowledge I have now.

Go for it, make us proud!

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[Cat Alberts]

Carbs and coffee.

And chocolate, nicest combo of both.

Instant energy, and necessary to stay awake.

Detoxed from coffee during burn-out, which gave me a chance to sleep until I wasn’t tired anymore,

Recently switched to paleo/primal diet and eat very little carbs, because I came from 95% carbs.

This gives me a more even energy, and no hungerpains-light headedness when hungry.

My stomach isn’t bloated anymore and I am losing weight. All good!

And imminent deadlines – the adrenaline rush made me focus.

Doesn’t work long term though, the burn-out from longterm stress was a result.

Oh and alcohol, but that was maybe more to justify the unproductiveness while being hungover.

I was trying to write my thesis for BSc.

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[Cat Alberts]

I don’t know if it will help you, but I recently set up a high desktop for my computer.

So now I am standing while I surf, read and write.

Better for the veins and all, but I also noticed that when I get tired I walk away

(and sit on the couch watching TV, but still, the absorption is less than on the internet).

For me it had the result that fysical tiredness meant a loss of interest in standing behind a computer.

And more fysical tiredness earlier in the evening (10pm) because I am standing a couple of hours a day, instead of sitting.

I had my first varicose vein pop out 3 weeks ago, right where the edge of my chair cuts into my leg, so it scared me into this.

And yes Sugargremlim, be kind to yourself.

Go from small success to small success, much better than 100 things all at once.

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[Cat Alberts]

Are you taking any ADHD medication?

I heard that the peace and quiet in the brain when taking it, gets tired ADHD people to sleep.

That might help.

I have ADD so I was always sleepy…

Looks like a complex issue, with brain and body and sleeping-pill addiction.

I hope you find a way out and into sleep.

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