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dithl

dithl2012-11-13T13:00:41+00:00

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 151 total)
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  • in reply to: vyvanse Not effective anymore #127791

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    @ns2016 – I keep trying to post a response but it’s not sticking! Short version – you are really great at articulating about how your meds are working. Keep that up, jot notes if it helps to talk to doctor, and be persistent. I can’t recommend anything in particular, but also keep in mind other things also effect meds and symptoms (hormones – yay!, food – orange juice can cause meds to be used up faster, balanced meals with enough protein and not too much carbs/sugar can help, exercise is a proven ADD treatment – anything that gets your hearty pumping).
    Good luck!!

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    in reply to: Struggles as a DSP with ADHD #127702

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    Some thoughts:

    What about using visual schedules with clients for some of the more mundane tasks? Eg. doing the dishes – a set of pictures and word prompts that break the task down into steps. It would be good for them and for you – something visual to help them fo the task more independently, and to help you pull your attention back to the task.

    Similarly, is there a behaviour plan in place for dealing with the client that argues? If you have a protocol or script to follow, that can be far more effective than simply being told to ignore the arguing. Put it on cheat sheets for yourself if you want a quick reference.

    If you are going to work on how your ADHD impacts your work and what accommodations will help, don’t try to “fix” everything at once – just analyse a couple key issues and work on strategies to help with those issues. I am not familiar with ADA law and the workplace, but what about asking for regular check-in meetings to evaluate how the accommodations are working and to set new goals as needed or problem-solve issues?

    And – don’t forget to celebrate the good qualities you bring to your clients too. You didn’t mention them in your list, but I imagine you are caring, imaginative and flexible to respond to the interests and needs of your clients, to mention a few ADHD positives πŸ™‚

    Good luck!

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    in reply to: Adhd and dreams #127699

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    @mustachkitteh – yep, sometimes I feel like I have hardly slept because of vivid dreams. When I first went on Adderall, I had no dreams and woke up feeling so refreshed. They came back though.

    Are you taking any stimulants? I found Wellbutrin sometimes interfered with my sleep – so it was more like torture – half-asleep, half-dreaming, waking up a lot.

    I guess on the plus side, they are outpourings of creativity??

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    in reply to: Android App Suggestions for ADHD House #127696

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    @kseniiaadhd Try Wunderlist – good interface, and it has to-do lists that you can share.

    As for the cat litter – take a listen to this (Vinyl Cafe – toilet training the cat)

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    in reply to: lost my keys #127643

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    @larynxa I do the caribiner thing too. A big huge one with lots of keys on it. Plus a key hook just inside the door, they get hung up there as soon as I walk in. It has worked like a charm for eight years – haven’t lost my keys in that time. (Note to Universe – I am NOT bragging, please don’t make me eat that one, too!)
    On the other hand, I have done a great job of losing the spare set of keys to our other car. πŸ™‚

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    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    Update: Or “The Cure to a Bout of Hubris is Monday Morning”

    So ‘scuse me, Universe, for bragging a teensy bit. Did you *have* to be so prompt to throw it right back in my face?!

    Monday morning I forgot my meds AND my lunch bag with my back-up meds.

    Yup. A day of noisy chaos sans meds.

    Well-played, Universe. That was funny. πŸ˜€

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    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    The deer sound so peaceful, @Evelyn . I haven’t seen one yet on my way to work – they usually come out closer to the highway this time of year. Maybe warmer weather is keeping them in the forest. Plenty of wild turkey about, though.

    I just popped on here to celebrate an ADD “win” – something seemingly small but with layers if complexity – like so much in our lives. It goes like this:

    Taking medication in the morning – easy to forget unless you “hook” it onto another task. On weekends, it gets “hooked” with eating breakfast. Not before breakfast, because I lose my appetite.

    Weekdays – I like to delay it until just before I leave the house, so it takes longer to wear off. Once in awhile, I forget.

    Spending a day in a classroom with up to 27 lovely, noisy, demanding 3-5 year olds without medication to help make sense of the chaos is not something you want to do very often. Like – ever.

    So – I have back-up medication stored at work, in my lunch bag. Which I have been leaving at work, filled with food for the week so that I don’t have to add “make a lunch” to the morning slow-motion rush. (A genius idea if I say so myself, it’s awesome when I actually do it!)

    So, this week, I remembered medication when I was already on the road. Drat – but I knew I had my back-up at work, so I just had to remember to take it as soon as I got there, and it would kick in a little bit after the school day began. The day will not be a write-off.

    I get to work, and of course, forget to go get my medication. I am walking down the hall, mesmerized by the shiny accessories on a supply teacher’s shoes as she walks ahead of me. “La, la, la,” I think to myself, “Just following the flashy shoes —- oh ya! Brain needs meds, or you will be following flashy things all day!” U-turn, meds taken, all good.

    I love that the reminder was The ADD trait:)

    That is all. I see a little snow out the window, which reminds me I had better go find a good song for the little ones for our Christmas concert.

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    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    @lollibyte that is such a vivid description of some of the “less visible” effects of ADHD and ADHD medications, it would be such a good read for anyone new to adult ADD.

    Your experience makes sense. Meds can be a subtle change, but multiply that little change by every moment in your daily life, and it really can be a ground-shaking change.

    Maybe you’re regulating yourself more – instead of regulating to other people’s emotions.

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    in reply to: Key Tracker #127355

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    Haha! This has been the summer of lost keys around here! I left our spare car key on a beach while on vacation, fortunately some kind soul found them and turned them in. I shared that story on Facebook…and received a “sponsored ad” from TrackR bravo (the tracker.com). I don’t know a lot about them…hopefully you would be able to use more than one phone to track things with, because often it’s the phone that goes missing!!

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    in reply to: Controlling your senses #127121

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    What kind of instrumental music? Have you experimented with different types? Maybe something more classical / less noticeable beats? What about just good headphones to block noise?
    Good idea to check with doctor about how long your meds are lasting. Or – can you study at a different time of day and do less cognitive stuff in the evening once your meds have worn off?
    I am finding lately that I have days that I am more sensitive to noise than others – and there doesn’t seem to be rhyme or reason to it. That’s the fun part of this whole experience – some days you know why you have “off days”, some days are just because.
    Good luck!

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    in reply to: Nutritious snacks & tips for combatting appetite loss? #126794

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    I eat a big breakfast before or with my meds – when I still have a good appetite. And if I’m having trouble eating, I watch my coffee intake. Sometimes I have to cut it out completely.

    Good snacks:

    Greek yogourt (check for higher protein, lower sugar)
    Nuts, sunflower seeds
    Hard boiled eggs (boil a dozen and keep in the fridge — and mark the box with a B so you don’t surprise yourself)
    Cheese
    Sometimes pepperoni sticks, but not the healthiest source of protein
    Some breads or crackers have higher protein (lately it’s been hemp/quinoa bread for me sounds awful, but it’s actually good – from Loblaw’s / Superstore in Ontario)
    Sometimes those powdered protein drinks – again, watch out for high sugar
    Hummus
    Peanut butter and toast

    That’s all I got for now

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    in reply to: Neuroplasticity – A Different Take #126793

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    Whoops – that should have said #4 made me laugh – the M&Ms game:-)

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    in reply to: Neuroplasticity – A Different Take #126792

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    Wow! Really great thinking! Interesting – focusing specifically on those skills in isolation means you can attach positive emotions to them. (Unlike my attempts to motivate myself to deal with tax issues this week. Unless you count dread as a positive emotion). #3 made me laugh:-) Might try making something up for “tackling a task I have been putting off”.

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    in reply to: Do adult ADHDers commonly talk in higher voice? #126789

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    Voice problems are common – too loud, too quiet. I believe it’s due to a problem with not being able to self-regulate – maybe not processing how loud our voices are and / or not responding accurately by raising or lowering our volume? Me, I tend to talk too quietly, even when making an effort. It gets worth with fatigue or overwhelm.

    It would make sense that our perception of the pitch of our voice could be problematic too. When I get surprised or excited by something, I tend to go up an octave. Would be embarrassing if it wasn’t so funny πŸ™‚

    Neat observation. Maybe you were responding more to meds than you realized?

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    in reply to: Having ADHD Co$T$ Money #125614

    dithl
    Participant
    Post count: 158

    laughing out loud @fabulous, just read thru the older posts. Love the reverse GET CATFOOD!! tattoo. @marr: dunno if this fits the bill, but I just spent 1/2 hour looking for it after reading your post and vaguely remembering seeing it in an email some time ago. http://www.weekdate.com/ I was a little intrigued, but not enough to buy it…yet.

    and yes…I also put down all those fines and NSF charges because I forgot to check the bank balance to the cost of ADHD.
    Or…some people pay thousands of dollars to get away for one week’s vacation for relaxation. I pay thousands of dollars to relax by not worrying when I forget to keep track of every single little detail – and that’s 365 days a year, so I call it a bargain πŸ˜€ That’s kind of stretching the point though.

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 151 total)