Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
@shutterbug55 – I can relate to your description of your academic achievements. Like you, it took me a while to get through school. I hated it. I took my exams numerous times and even then only got into college because someone kind saw something in me and gave me a break. I will always be grateful to him and others who have helped over the years.
Once in college I did OK and doing my PhD was one of the best and most enjoyable things I have ever done. I hyperfocused for 3 years.
Unlike you, I didn’t do so impressively so quickly. I take my hat off to your achievements.
Do you think that your autism overruled your ADHD? I guess it must have done to some extent? Unlike you, I find that I don’t have the energy to maintain a high level of interest as I get older. Well…. that’s not strictly true – my job is exhausting and when I have a break from it the old interest in everything comes back.
REPORT ABUSEThanks for this – the blogger sounds like many of us. Focus in bursts! I might have a look at the book and see if it’s useful.
REPORT ABUSEFaequine – my initial thought here is that your other half is a bully. That’s nothing to do with your ADD, it’s his failing and not yours.
To me, he seems pretty unreasonable. He wants a slave and not a partner.
Sorry if I have misinterpreted or said anything hurtful, but you need quality of life. If he wants the house cleaning better then he should hire a cleaner if he’s not prepared to pull his weight. He has the issues – not you.
Please don’t try to be all things for him if he can’t appreciate you. 🙁
REPORT ABUSEYou know, you are a very sensible and observant person and I always enjoy your posts – they are well written and well thought through.
I know what you mean. I take meds and they help me focus to a point. Recently I had to go without them and was a bit scared about how I’d cope. I coped fine.
In fact not only did I cope fine, I enjoyed getting my enquiring mind back and the sense of energy. My brain had its shackles removed – literally.
However, I am back to my old routine now (I had been away) and find I need the meds again to keep me emotionally controlled.
It sounds to me as if you might be on the wrong meds and maybe you need to take them earlier in the day to allow you to sleep. I found that Ritalin helped me sleep but Dexamphetamine keeps me awake. It sounds like you have learned to deal with your symptoms. A walk is a great thing to do.
And you’re absolutely right – you just need that desire to do well. At your age I had that desire – it never dawned on me that I couldn’t do OK even when I failed my exams. I just did things again or by an alternative route. I did OK in the end and I am glad. It was worth the struggle because I have a job that’s right for me and we have to earn a crust for a long time before we retire so go for it! 🙂
I know that the worst thing anyone can say to us is “you can do it if you put your mind to it” but actually it’s true. I can take it from “one of us” but not from a linear who doesn’t understand.
Just work out what works for you personally and go for it.
One thing I would say, is don’t tell your doctor that you’re not taking your meds – at least not until you’re absolutely sure. Give it some time. The reason I say that is it’s harder to start again with a prescription than it is to maintain it. Also, I find that sometimes I needs my meds and other times I don’t. A little stockpile gives me the freedom to choose for myself.
REPORT ABUSEI have no problem with imaging to see how the brain differs. This is not new technology but applying it to ADHD brains is relatively new and only recently have scientific peer reviewed papers really started to appear on the use of imaging as a tool for diagnosis.
My question is this: If you spend a small fortune having a scan that says you have ADHD then that’s great – but then what? It’s not a cure – just a diagnosis.
The diagnosis might be more accurate than the current methods for diagnosing, but there are caveats – e.g. studies have so far been on small groups of people and their medication status might influence those small numbers of studies AND then the diagnosis can only be given by someone who has sufficient knowledge to interpret the scan.
I looked up Dr. Amen in the scientific literature and he has published scientific papers in the field of SPECT scanning which suggests a legitimate scientific interest BUT I wouldn’t spend that money on a scan to tell me what I already know about my behaviour. In a field like this, usually scientists would be happy to have volunteers – better to try to find out if you can be a subject of analysis for free somewhere – although I did that for a different condition and they don’t tend to give you the results.
I also looked up papers on SPECT that were not written by Dr. Amen and found a review of the different techniques. It’s from 2005 though and I guess there will have been a lot of developments since then. However, if you’re interested there are snippets from it below. I think the sentence in bold which is also immediately below is probably still relevant to today.
I worry about Dr Amen and his definitions of the sub-types – personally I think that’s complete c**p and it’s that plus the hard sell that REALLY puts me off and makes me question his credibility. I personally would not spend my money on him or his techniques – but I am ready to be convinced otherwise.
The review authors mentioned one of Dr Amen’s papers in their review:
Amen DG, Carmichael BD (1997): High-resolution brain SPECT imaging in ADHD. Ann Clin Psychiatry 9:81– 86.
The study was of: Children/adolescents: 54 ADHD/ 18 control (psychiatric)
The interpretation/conclusion the review authors made of Amen’s study was: “Qualitative analysis concluded “hypofrontality,” but use of subjective analysis and inadequate description of methodology precludes meaningful comment.”
I have no wish to diss Amen – he might be totally legit and I’ll do some further digging but I need to go to work now – I just think we need to be like detectives and protect ourselves and do the research before we part with lots of money.
The sentence of note in the review paper I mentioned is:
On a final cautionary note, imaging research can carry great, often disproportionate weight in swaying minds. Its highly technical nature unfortunately carries with it the potential for misinterpretation, misuse, and exploitation—situations to be actively guarded against to protect the reputation of the field. Efforts to push forward the technology need to be matched with equal vigor in protecting patients and research subjects. In particular, we must clearly define the proper uses of imaging and ensure that these techniques are properly integrated with clinical evaluation.
Snippets from the review paper:
Functional Neuroimaging of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review and Suggested Future Directions
George Bush, Eve M. Valera, and Larry J. Seidman
BIOL PSYCHIATRY 2005;57:1273–1284
Some problems are specific to particular imaging modalities. For example, SPECT and PET offer inferior spatial resolution compared with fMRI, and their requirement for exposure to radiation makes it difficult to recruit the necessary healthy control subjects.
Functional imaging studies are relatively expensive, and as such have typically used small subject samples. Often the control group is either a homogeneous sample (matched to the patient group) or psychiatrically ill with only a single disorder. These factors 1) increase the likelihood of both type I and type II errors; and 2) make it impossible to generalize findings. Now that the imaging techniques are more mature and the cognitive neuro- science upon which they are based better established, future studies will benefit from larger patient samples and the use of statistical models (e.g., random effects models) that permit generalization to the larger population. This will require large- scale comparison studies across diagnostic groups using the same task(s) to be most useful. An added benefit, though, will be that these studies will be adequately powered to make even negative results meaningful and publishable. This does not mean that smaller-scale pilot studies cannot be valuable or that studies using fixed effects statistical models are invalid, but rather a new emphasis should be placed on using established tasks in larger groups and across diagnostic categories.
Imaging researchers investigating ADHD will continue to benefit from working collaboratively with cognitive neuroscientists, affective neuroscientists, developmental experts, neuropsychologists, and structural imaging colleagues to optimize paradigms and interpret data. Not surprisingly, a large number of factors that might influence imaging results are still under-studied and often ignored. Some examples would be the effects of age, gender, handedness, caffeine use, alcohol use, intelligence quotient, and practice on commonly used tasks, or the test–retest reliability of cognitive activation paradigms. Also, differential between-groups performance characteristics during cognitive tasks or differential thought processes during resting studies might confound imaging results and should be taken into account. Finally, a crucially important (yet often overlooked) issue is that of the proper correction for the large number of multiple comparisons that are inherently performed as part of functional imaging. Failing to account for multiple comparisons might make nonsignificant results erroneously seem to be significant.
There are some who have argued that much of the imaging work to this point has been too inconsistent (Baumeister and Hawkins, 2001) or confounded by prior medication exposure (Leo and Cohen 2003) to be meaningfully interpreted. In contrast to such harshly dismissive stances, we advocate taking a measured, conservative approach to interpreting the body of work that has already been produced, and importantly, listening to the valid criticisms of prior studies in the service of improving future studies.
On a final cautionary note, imaging research can carry great, often disproportionate weight in swaying minds. Its highly technical nature unfortunately carries with it the potential for misinterpretation, misuse, and exploitation—situations to be actively guarded against to protect the reputation of the field. Efforts to push forward the technology need to be matched with equal vigor in protecting patients and research subjects. In particular, we must clearly define the proper uses of imaging and ensure that these techniques are properly integrated with clinical evaluation. Last, we should not lose sight of the fact that not only can studies of normal healthy volunteers inform our studies of patients, but also studies of patients can increase our understanding of normal brain structure and function.
Functional imaging techniques represent new frontiers in ADHD research. Convergent data strongly suggest that frontostriatal abnormalities (DLPFC, VLPFC, dACC, caudate, and putamen) contribute to ADHD pathology. Suggestions for maximizing future progress include 1) placing an emphasis on larger-scale studies with validated tasks; 2) increasing the methodologic rigor of study designs; 3) renewing studies of therapeutic drug manipulations, using refined tasks and updated techniques; 4) refining neuroanatomic focus on the basis of advances in cognitive neuroscience and imaging technology; (5) interfacing more with genetics studies; 6) increasing the use of identical tasks and parameters to facilitate direct comparisons of ADHD imaging results with those of other psychiatric disorders; 7) making greater attempts to isolate effects and interactions due to common comorbidities; and 8) making greater use of combined modalities, such as fMRI and ERPs. Used wisely, functional imaging should continue to fulfill its promise as one of the strongest tools available for unraveling the mysteries of the neurobiology of ADHD.
REPORT ABUSEHi trashman – good to hear from you.
As much as I hate to disagree with you……. I think you have as many as the rest of us. You see, I have been around this joint long enough to have read some of your kind and helpful posts so I know….
🙂
I agree it’s hard to focus on the good things we have sometimes when the frustrations get in our way. But it’s good to be kind to ourselves once in a while.
Stay cool.
REPORT ABUSEHi – the answer is possibly both – but with a weighting towards it being an ADD thing.
If I remember correctly from your other posts you are still relatively young? Bearing in mind we’re all a bit behind in the mental maturity game, you’re possibly still finding out about your likes and dislikes in other people and we all change as we get older so those likes and dislikes also change.
However, what you describe (at least in my opinion) is typical of ADD. Routine and things being the same are recipes for mind wandering for us.
The ideal is a caring partner who loves us dearly but has spontaneity.
Sadly our ‘community’ is littered with failed relationships, a higher than average divorce rate and single folk who haven’t found the right person. At least that’s my reading of the anecdotes and stats.
It does sound like you over analyse though. Try to enjoy someone’s company without the psychoanalysis and see what happens.
I have never found Mr. Right and don’t believe he exists. But I can’t visualise myself in a permanent relationship – I look at friends who are and their lives seems rather dull. But they are happy so that’s my failing somewhere along the line. On saying that, it must be lovely to have a partner that you can trust, share your life with and be your soul-mate.
You don’t want to be in a relationship for the sake of it though. So many people seem to feel peer pressure to have a partner and it’s not necessary until the right person comes along. But if you find someone that you fall in love with, you will need to respect them for who they are and take the rough with the smooth. I suspect it’s very hard for someone with ADD to control the emotional impulses and make a partner happy, or be really happy themselves if they are continually curbing their thoughts and feelings. But hard is not impossible or even improbable and it’s potentially rewarding.
Try not to over-think your relationships and respect your partner for who they are, faults and all – just enjoy their company and if you can’t, then they are not right for you. If they don’t make you happy then don’t commit. The problem I have found is someone can make me happy for a short time and I am fiercly loyal and they are my world and then, yes, boredom sets in – they haven’t changed, but my brain can’t cope with routine or a feeling of being ‘captured’. The newness is a novelty and being liked/loved is nice, but then the novelty wears off. Like you I am not sure if that’s me or an ADD thing, but either way it’s who I am. Now I avoid getting involved because I don’t want to be trapped, nor do I want to hurt someone. I am also old enough to be comfortable as I am and rely on friends chosen over the years for company. I used to attribute it all to having a s**t father who made my Mother’s life hell – I never wanted to fall into the same trap as her. But as I have aged I think it’s more than that because there are a lot of nice men out there who would be delightful people to be with….for someone other than me. Also, I was diagnosed quite late in life and suddenly my attitudes and behaviour make sense.
So my vote goes for it being an ADD thing.
REPORT ABUSEI think a lot of us have a depth of intuition that isn’t necessarily as prevalent amongst the linears.
I am not sure why – it might be linked to our sensitivity or maybe we are more observant than linear thinkers. I know that in meetings I do more people watching than I do listening to the drivvel on the agenda.
I have noticed that my boss often specifically asks my views about candidates for jobs – he acknowledges my ‘gut reaction’ to people which is interesting.
I can’t say I have felt evil particularly, but I know in seconds whether someone is nice, creepy, has a metaphorical knife that will be lodged in someone’s back, etc. (At least I think I do – guess it’s just my perception, but that’s another argument.) But then again I have an exceedingly linear colleague who is equally intuitive about people. Maybe it’s a male/female thing too to some extent? So I have noticed when candidates for jobs are interviewed at work, the men tend to look at the person’s CV and abilities but the women also look at how that person will fit into the team from a personality point of view too. No point in having an excellent person job wise if they are likely to cause disharmony and spoil the productivity of everyone else.
Either way, I do think the emotional sensitivity of ADHDers is real. Whether that emotional sensitivity is a positive thing or a cross to bear depends on the situation I suppose. If it’s intuition then it’s positive. Being the kind of person that folk gravitate towards with their problems can be rewarding if we can help, but we also have to be careful that we don’t get emotionally overloaded.
OK – before Filmbuff chastises me for missing the point I’ll list some positive personality traits (I can’t call them superpowers no matter how I try – but actually I do see the point in trying to be positive about ourselves. It is easy to be dragged down by the frustrations of ADHD and we need to try to lift our self-esteem and be proud of who we are):
Can empathise, caring, loyal, will go the extra mile when needed, can appreciate beauty whether that’s nature, art, music etc., will stubbornly keep at something until it is done, good sense of humour.
That was hard to do……maybe self-deprecating should be there too…..and judging from the number of times I have edited the typos in this I should add perfectionism as well! 🙂
REPORT ABUSESo here I am at 1.15 in the morning Googling clock drawing! Like it’s a priority over getting to bed to face a busy day tomorrow. Sigh.
Anyway, from what I can see there have been a small number of studies done on children – comparing clock drawing ability between children with ADHD and linear kiddies. But the emphasis was on how correct the numbering and spacing were rather than on the order the numbers were drawn.
REPORT ABUSEgianmaria – it sounds like you have ADHD but it could be an anxiety disorder instead or as well as from your description?
Larynxa – interesting clock idea. I would fill in 12, 6, 9, 3 in that order. Or at least I think I would. It’s difficult to say now you presented a couple of options – it’s not something I have thought about. It would be fun to test it out. I think it’s just how I see it rather than going through the numbers. Hope that doesn’t mean something worse than ADHD!
REPORT ABUSEAugust 7, 2014 at 11:11 am in reply to: Quit my last job demoralized, and scared to start a new one #125748August 6, 2014 at 5:25 pm in reply to: Quit my last job demoralized, and scared to start a new one #125741@Larynxa – I have never seen The Baldy Man before. I don’t know how I could have missed it. It’s funny – just watched it right through and it gave me a good laugh so thank you!
You got the gist of it I must say – the teasing I referred to was primarily by one person sucking up to another at my expense. There are obviously a lot of people around like that from what I read on a different post. The meds help a great deal because I am less reactive and actually this one person teases me less now because the senior one has seen through the ridiculous one and also I do less to be teased about courtesy of dex. It might have helped that I told him I didn’t think his behaviour was very professional. 🙂
Right……off to find more Baldy Man vids.
REPORT ABUSEAugust 5, 2014 at 2:23 pm in reply to: Quit my last job demoralized, and scared to start a new one #125724DoctorM – sounds like you have had a bad time. Don’t get disheartened. Most line managers are wrong.
I know what you mean about the pinball machine and sensory stuff – I think it’s common with ADHD – I can’t cope with noise and shops with people and loud piped music – aaahhh!!!
Ourteam – did he turn it on again after that and if so, did you throw it out of the window?
You roommate was in the wrong there.
Guess we all say impulsive things – I threw a bucket of dirty water over my nephew many years ago after he’d been teasing me – and I told a woman on a plane once that if I had a knife I’d have to stab her. Not my finest hour – but she moved seats and I got some peace. I don’t think she could speak English so she only got the vibes rather than the words – I think. Anyway, they didn’t kick me off the plane, but there might have been other reasons for that – like being at 30000 feet. The good thing is I realised I needed a diagnosis for something after that and it turned out to be ADHD and I am now on meds and very mellow. 🙂 This is a shameful thing to admit to – but in my defence I had had a week from hell courtesy of two work colleagues who took delight in teasing me in a very condescending manner. Now, I take my meds when I do work trips away and only talk when I need to and it works well.
REPORT ABUSEThanks for this info. No idea if your post is genuine or if it’s a clever advert, but it was interesting reading the paper.
One article that caught my eye was one on ADHD kid getting straight As after diagnosis:
What’s interesting is that he lives in Dubai but is prescribed Concerta. According to a UAE web page both MPH and amphetamines are illegal in the United Arab E.
I go via Dubai on work trips and take my dex with me. But I read that I could get a 4 year jail sentence if I was caught with it – even in transit. That’s even with a doctor’s letter and a copy of the prescription. I read that the UAE consulate has to approve the doctors letter officially. So I contacted them to see if they would do that, but haven’t had a reply. So I dare not take my meds with me via there, but I need them on a work trip.
So it just seems odd…. if anyone from Dubai. or other parts of the UAE is a member, I’d love to know the truth – are these meds illegal or not?
REPORT ABUSEHello uglytoad – normally I like to see the good in people but….
Based on what you said, my advice is to walk away right now. There are many reasons why you should walk away, but the main one hinges on your statement “I don’t trust him.”
Any relationship is built on trust and also respect. He has done nothing to gain either your trust or your respect and he can’t respect you.
ADHD is not an excuse to behave like a s**t – at least not once you’ve grown out of the teenage years.
He will not change. Meds wear off and you can’t keep him on them 24/7. His behaviour might be made worse by the work the house needs, but it sounds like he behaved like that in the past.
Walk away – find someone you can trust and share your life with in mutual love, trust and respect. If you don’t meet that person then live on your own and make nice friends. You don’t need to play second fiddle to lame excuses and someone’s bad behaviour.
Sorry – this probably isn’t what you want to hear. Maybe as I get older I value our time on the planet more as it starts to run out. You don’t want to waste the best years of your life with someone you can’t trust.
I am sure someone else will give different advice. You just need to be true to yourself – you deserve love and respect, not what you currently seem to have.
REPORT ABUSE -
AuthorPosts