[koishi]

First of all, don’t frame it as having adhd. You may be able to find help without using that label, as it can trigger some unwanted consequences such as what you have already noticed yourself. Talk about the symptoms you want to address. Ex. No matter how hard I try, I can’t focus, even when I know its important and want to do well. Mention the strategies you’ve tried so far, and what hasn’t worked. If you are told that your father does that all the time, gently suggest “I’d like to overcome this obstacle. Maybe we can find a way together”. When I did that myself, with my family, it led them into a trap. My father had no interest, so his response was… no thanks, but you do whatever you want. and there it was! I had permission to seek out help 🙂
You might need to think on it, but perhaps a similar strategy could work with your family.

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[koishi]

I would strongly suggest that you don’t. Not yet anyhow. Speak with your doctor first.

The reason is that in order for Concerta to work, it needs to be titrated in your body. That means you need to take the drugs at each level for one or two weeks before bumping up to the next one. Otherwise, your body won’t react properly when you do take the proper dosage.

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[koishi]

I hear the appetite loss only lasts a few weeks. Definitely snack throughout the day, and maybe try a protein shake if you are forgetful to mind your eating. Also make sure ya have a great breakfast!!

I always start my day with a glass of water and lemon. It seems to help.

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[koishi]

I have the same problem. It is the reason I don’t have kids at all! I put myself through college and then university but in college it was a game for me. Study study just to prove I could do it. Then Uni was much harder, I was a direct entry which means I went into third year directly. Had no good friends there. Barely graduated because I spent so much time playing games on the computer. Now, because of my focus issues I can’t hold a job (waiting on meds) and I can barely get myself fed in the morning. My place is a mess and yet I can’t be bothered to clean because gaming is more interesting. Right now I am all about this tower defense game called bloons. At 33 yrs old. I feel like an immature failure…

I really hope someone has some tips. Also exercise is good yes yes I know. But with my anxiety issues and motivation issues, it just hasn’t been something I can do. (the idea of family watching me is very unsettling, and I have no privacy. Someone is almost always home. So if I do it when they aren’t home, the idea of not knowing when I can do it gives me more anxiety… and I have a bit of agoraphobia, plus motivation issues mean I don’t go to the gym I pay for! That said if I am going out anyhow and there is time, I always try to go to the gym but that amounts to about once every week or two when I am unemployed. When working, the structure of the day and access to a gym near work does me fine)

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[koishi]

Oh and another thing… my anxiety/motivation issues  have led to intermittent agoraphobia. Now I find that one incredibly annoying haha

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[koishi]

@Cassatt

I wish that would work. Tried every variation of that suggestion and nothing works. My brain comes up with 100 excuses and reasons until I just give up… I know it should do the trick, but it doesn’t :/

thanks for the idea!!

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[koishi]

@hullupoika

LOL that sounds like a place I would love to work. But with so many scatterbrains, how do you keep things organized?! I guess if most people are on meds it isn’t so bad. It is definitely comforting though, to be connecting with others who have my issue. For years I thought I was defective. Especially since I had been tested for adhd or an LD of some kind and results were inconclusive. Credit to my parents for doing what they could, but even then you can only do so much without doctor intervention (cbt would have been effective as a kid, so I hear). Ah and now I’m gonna have to take another gander at Monk! finding tv shows that interest me has always been a gamble 🙂

Funny, most of my friends are like that in one way or another. Either ocd, adhd, or a combination of other things. Most have exceptionally high IQs, I think I may be the lowest of the group actually. Not that IQ has any relevance in the modern world!!

 

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[koishi]

@blackdog

Oh goodness, yes the family visiting is awful. I live with my parents, and I’m so grateful for that or else I’d be on the streets (33yrs old and nothing to show, I feel like such a failure). But sometimes I think that living with them is part of what holds me back. I could be more productive within my own space, ya know? but HOW much more productive I am not really sure. As for the meds, here in Ontario there are five medication options to play with. I hear you just need to try them and figure out what works. Sometimes it needs to be a combo of two.

Regarding the motivation, I spoke with my family doctor for the first time the other day. Turns out his daughter has ADHD so he knows all to well what I am going through. When I mentioned motivation issues, he also said that meds should help, though he wants me to see a psychiatrist who will take over writing prescriptions. The way the psychologist put it, he said that medication is NOT supposed to treat motivation issues. But… when you find the meds that work, competency issues are resolved and brain function is enhanced so motivation will just come naturally. I guess when doing things right, without any screwups doesn’t come with anxiety, triple checking everything and the ability to actually focus(thus getting things done faster – dunno about anyone else but I move like a turtle more often than not) the world is a lot more approachable. That would be my dream come true. I just wish it didn’t come with so much hoop jumping to finally get the meds!! – but that is another story heh

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[koishi]

Wow that is crazy. “Free” healthcare for you!!

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[koishi]

I myself have struggled in coming to terms with my diagnosis. It has taken years, but I’m starting to accept it. What really helped me is researching the condition. Learning EVERYTHING I could about it. People fear what they don’t know, and I don’t know about your husband, but that is often why I stubbornly refused to accept certain things as applicable to me. Also, finding out that scientists have been searching for natural, non pharma treatments and have yet to find anything that is reliable. Fish oil, B-complex, and Thiamine supplements certainly do help, as well as meditation and a few other herbs etc. Still, none can do what drugs like vyvanse can.

Something else I learned is that ADHD is not a learning disability. It is a neurological disorder in which brain chemicals fail to reach their needed destinations in the quanity required. So there really is no reason for any stigma, not that there is anything wrong with an LD of course, but you need to use the tools available right? 🙂

ADHD medication is very straight forward and they know exactly what it does, unlike with SSRI meds that can treat depression and the like. His doctor can elaborate on this more. This is all from the research I’ve done, so don’t take my word for it, I’m not qualified as a doctor or therapist. Good luck and kudos for beating cancer!!!

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[koishi]

Yup. Don’t get me started. I’m unemployed (due to previously undiagnosed adhd, partly) and even still I can’t motivate myself to clean the house. Doc says that once we find the right meds this should change but I am skeptical…

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[koishi]

I was speaking with my Doc about this, more broadly (not your condition specifically). He mentioned that often when ADHD is treated, any underlying learning disabilities and the like often disappear. If they don’t, docs tend to address it afterwards. So it could be that he was going with that theory?

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[koishi]

This has happened to me, when I was young and dieting foolishly. Not saying you are of course!

All I know is that after an intense workout I got super nauseous and dizzy. Had to sit down for a good ten minutes. I was hydrated but hadn’t eaten nearly enough. At the time, I was NOT on any medication.

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