[Scattybird]

no_dopamine – sorry- can’t be much help because of the time difference and stuff. I think you need to try to keep him busy and calm but without ‘crowding’ him. Keeping him busy and letting him know you care are good things to do. What you have done sounds great. I don’t know if ritalin is good for depression but it won’t do any harm. It’s great for calming the mind so it might work.

I wish you both well.

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[Scattybird]

no_dopamine – nice part of the world you live in. I was lucky enough a few years ago to visit Toronto. We drove up to Algonquin National Park. Very beautiful. We hired a car to get there and I nearly killed us all because I had to drive across a dual carriageway and of course looked the wrong way – oops! (You drive on the wrong side of the road over there! 😆 – just teasing!)

We have people here too who think they own the road. The worst are those in 4-wheel drive cars doing the school run.

I hope the truck driver was banned!

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[Scattybird]

Actually…whilst on the topic, have any of you guys out there in the UK had experience of dealing with the DVLA when you’ve reported your ADHD to them?? I’d be interested to know what to expect – is it just ticking a box to tell them or do they take it seriously? My car insurance folk didn’t care!!

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[Scattybird]

Hey no_dopamine – thanks for your link.

I read it and my blood boiled a bit (med withdrawal and a rubbish day at work to blame – sorry!) – BUT the bit in the article that says the following made me mad:

“Distracted driving is a serious offence that encompasses many activities, including talking on cell phones, playing with electronic gadgets, applying makeup, reading newspapers, watching videos, texting and eating.”

I mean HOW can folk read a newspaper whilst driving? I guess in the States you have big roads and cruise control unlike in the UK where if you tried reading a newspaper whilst driving you’d crash in moments – small over-congested roads.

But what makes me mad is that so called ‘normal’ folk go around driving like this and I don’t. So why does that make me mad…well because I had to report to the driving licence/vehicle registration people that I have ADHD and they can choose to stop me driving if they wish because of it. So I’m waiting to see what their verdict is. They will probably be fine about it, but you never know with people like that. Yet I wouldn’t do the activities in the article. Just seems unfair to me…….

Sorry guys. Will log off and not cast a downer on you all.

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[Scattybird]

Hahahaha – just dawned on me that you guys are talking about badges when you say buttons……..hahaha. Will get there eventually! Yeah…buttons would be really good.

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[Scattybird]

So far:

for general stuff and for helping with organising for ADDers as opposed to the usual organising tips that are meant for ‘normal’ folk I’d recommend – ADD-friendly ways to organise your life by Judith Kolberg and Kathleen Nadeau, Routledge. This was one of the first books I read and it was a revelation because it seemed to be aimed at me! I’d start with this one …but I haven’t read them all so just a suggestion.

For a good read and a book that ‘gives you permission to be what you are’ then I’d recommend – Odd one out, the mavericks guide to adult ADD’ by Jennifer Koretsky.

They are both aimed at adults (as opposed to children’s issues.)

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[Scattybird]

I live in the Midlands of England – travel to Oxford (or could go to London) for treatment. In fairness that’s my choice but to see an expert in ADHD I think that’s what we have to do – i.e. travel.

Those across the “pond” seem to have more availability to different meds than we do in the UK – such as Adderall which we can’t get.

I get the impression from many of the posts on the site that it’s a battle getting a diagnosis and treatment wherever you live. We have the NHS in the UK, so theoretically diagnosis and treatment should be free, but in reality, to get an expert you need to go private and pay.

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[Scattybird]

Thank you for sharing this with us. It’s great to hear the meds have helped you – but well done to YOU too for being so determined. Good luck with your masters applications.

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[Scattybird]

Hi Rick,

In answer to your question.. I love the IDEA of wearing T-shirts with these slogans… but I guess if I’m really honest, I probably wouldn’t.

But, I WOULD buy a fridge magnet or two – or a mug – or something fun but a bit less ‘obvious’ than a T-shirt.

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[Scattybird]

Hi olivelois and pretty – thank you for sharing your experiences with ritalin. I like the idea of a low dose but definitely the 10 mg is best for me compared to 5 mg. I found that as long as I take it exactly every 3 hours I don’t get the crash until the end of the day after my last dose. I also discovered that if I drink the occasional coffee during the day I don’t get an awful headache with the crash. I did at first and it would not budge. So either I am getting use to it, or I was getting caffeine withdrawal because before I started taking ritalin (I get the generic form) I used to drink a LOT of coffee and Red Bull but I don’t get the same craving when I take the med.

I was interested in what you said pretty about using the wrong words. I noticed that I sometimes get my words in the wrong order, e.g. the bus got on the boy instead of the boy got on the bus. It’s happened a few times and it’s odd because it’s not something I have ever done before. Maybe it is due to the MPH (ritalin)……and yes, I too dream more now and in colour too. That’s a first as well…unless I just didn’t remember my dreams before. It’s probably because I sleep better since taking the MPH and don’t wake up as many times during the night. Lovely!

Thanks caper for the heads up about Paul Ekman and Daniel Siegel. I have been trying to be mindful when I walk my dogs and it’s nice when it works. I just have to remember to do it. IThe brain and emotions is fascinating so I’m off to check out Paul Ekman right now.

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[Scattybird]

caper (and anyone else interested in emotional regulation) – have you seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTItzKrNX68

It isn’t about AD/HD as such, but it’s interesting anyway.

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[Scattybird]

caper – The quote seems to come from Timothy Gwinn, but he could have got it from somewhere else.

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Gwinn1.html

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[Scattybird]

caper – thank you! You have been really very helpful – your advice in all your posts here is great, insightful and actually you know what you’re talking about. Thank you for spending the time to guide me with the meds AND with my attitude. I like the quote too.

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[Scattybird]

Yes I think you’re right caper. I hadn’t realised quite how much I overreact until I experienced the emotional regulation I seem to get with the meds. So I can compare the ‘real me’ with the ‘calm me’. I also realise that people I work with kind of throw me a metaphorical biscuit before they tell me something they think will annoy me. Like throwing a dog a bone in the hope it doesn’t chew off your ankle. I also notice a difference when I’m driving. I don’t yell at other drivers as much or drive like a maniac when I take MPH. How could I go through life and not realise what a mess-up I am/was? Anyway, emotional control is fab. I too still get irritated, but that slowed reaction time to allow me to think really is the key. It’s odd though because people around me obviously think I overreact, but it was your post and the meds that made me really see it.

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[Scattybird]

For what it’s worth Rick, I think the videos are brilliant. They are what made me investigate the rest of the site and it’s all fab. I nearly wet myself with laughter at the immaturity video when I first watched it and it’s fun.

Toofat – I love all your posts – you seem like a really cool guy.

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