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@Fabulous, hyperactivity does hog all the attention. I would likely have been diagnosed sooner had I been obviously hyperactive rather than tired.
Inattention certainly deserves study but I consider it more of a symptom. It’s really clear to me that the brain organization, if we can call it that, leads to inattention. But, still, it’s a handy hook to hang a study on, I understand that.
Thanks for the info.
REPORT ABUSE@Takingbacktyler, yes, yours a familiar story, but it is your own. Allow yourself time to sort of your medication, your life and, yes, even to mourn a bit for the life you could have lived had you only known sooner.
I hope you take some comfort in having found out now rather than 20 years from now, like many of us.
It’s not easy to be patient (ADHD, duh), but it can take a while to work through finding strategies that make your life better. Don’t get discouraged.
Rumination is a horrible thing. In our house, we call that the Vortex of Doom. Medication helped me with that so much, enough that I’m able to fight it off most of the time (and I know I’m lucky in that regard).
Before I knew I had ADHD, my therapist suggested a strategy for dealing with rumination that helped some. He said, when you notice yourself ruminating, focus on what is right in front of you. It works especially well with words. If you’re reading or have print in sight, read each word as slowly as possible. Do this for as long as possible, really stretching it out.
I thought he was insane (well, he is a little), because I’m a fast reader and that sounded incredibly painful. But it really does work to break the cycling thoughts. It also aids in for refocusing when your mind drifts. (This is a form of mindfulness, which Rick mentioned in the webinar Jan 10th.)
REPORT ABUSERick, what happens to the webinars after they’re finished? Will they be archived?
REPORT ABUSE@Fdavis47713, you sound a lot like me and what you describe sound very much like classic ADHD symptoms. Although I’m not much of a true fidgeter or pacer, I do some other things that are similar. I’ve also struggled some with impulse spending, and all of that’s definitely an ADD thing with me. Even though it has never been totally out of control, I don’t like it and have been working hard on eliminating that.
REPORT ABUSEHow long have you been taking these meds? Has it been long enough that you feel you’ve gotten to a point of maximum positive effect?
REPORT ABUSE@fdavis47713, ah, I see. It’s certainly likely that your hyperactivity symptoms are related to ADD, but I’m 100% on board with what @Fabulous said. For me, focusing on my areas of deficit in executive function has been an effective strategy.
A plan for improvement is great, but I definitely encourage you to focus on the things that trouble you the most.
REPORT ABUSEWhat a simple question you’ve put forth, @Robbo! Ha! Medications are so tricky. It depends so much on personal physiology, degree of problem, etc., etc. I am no expert, to be sure, but I would say that getting your ADHD meds working at optimum would be important. For me, the right dosage of ADHD meds made a huge difference in mood.
I understand that’s a challenge when you don’t have a good professional at hand.
But if you think you might be bipolar or that mood is of a greater impact, then focus on that, for sure. Many years ago, I had some situational depression and tried Zoloft (didn’t like), then Paxil (which did the trick). I know people who’ve had good success with Viibryd and Wellbutrin and have used both of those in conjunction with ADHD meds.
I think the meditation and support from your faith are good things if they are helping you. I see nothing wrong with that, and I speak as someone who is not religious.
Who is making fun of you for being a Christian? I mean, is it someone in particular in your life, or is it just a sense in general that Christianity is mocked?
REPORT ABUSEAre you concerned that you will have difficulty getting a correct diagnosis because you don’t have sufficient hyperactivity?
I meet all the diagnostic criteria for the inattentive subtype, and have no debilitating hyperactivity symptoms (although I have some annoying, albeit mostly subtle hyperactivity).
REPORT ABUSEWhat kind of mood stabilizers–things like Prozac (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or something else?
Are you thinking you need something or are you taking something already that you’re wondering about?
REPORT ABUSE@MRMcKay, I’m part of the gang? Does that make an outlaw? I certainly hope so.
And no doubt, Rick is the hippest cat in the joint!
REPORT ABUSESure, @Larynxa, yes, exciting! That’s the ticket. Joking aside, it’s a very ambitious list and I applaud Rick and the gang for tackling these difficult subjects.
REPORT ABUSEWell, that’s a depressing list, for the most part, since I have an interest in all of the topics.
But, forced to choose, foremost on my mind lately is self-esteem, and I see that as a running thread through many of the conversations here: “I’m a loser;” “Bad parent;” “Don’t fit in.” “Not a good friend and/or have no friends.”
And a lot of other items on the list get pulled into that issue (although they can sometimes be separate, of course): Anxiety, depression, relationships.
I also think we have a lot of struggles with finding a good fit in a career: How do we figure out what’s right for us? How do we trudge on through the dreary parts and the petty tyrants?
Of course, I’m very “fond” of overwhelm and procrastination, which, OMG, ties into self esteem soooo much.
It all comes back to …ADD! Now I’ve got “It’s a Small World” stuck in my head. Thanks, Rick.
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 4, 2013 at 8:06 pm in reply to: I hate getting out of bed in the morning, but I also hate going to bed at night. #118125Ugh. Yes. Curse of a lifetime. But … big help when I started taking ADD meds (more energy and focus). I had been taking prescription “sleep aids” for a long time because of my “mysterious insomnia” (ADD, duh). My prescriber gave me the thumbs up to hit the morning and the bedtime with meds, confirming that ADD causes massive sleep disturbance.
REPORT ABUSEIf this is Day One of starting a new script, give it a few days or even a bit longer. There are not always instant results. It sounds like you’re having some positive response, so that’s a good start.
If you give the new prescription some time and you get some positive result but not as much as you like, then your doc will likely adjust the script or maybe even add another med.
ADDers are noted for patience, but it’s required when using meds. But it’s usually worth it.
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