What is ADHD ADD
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurologic syndrome that exhibits symptoms such as hyperactivity, forgetfulness, mood shifts, poor impulse control, and distrac...
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So I know there's a lot of posts about symptoms of ADD, but most of the time they're so vague. So I figured I'd ask you people because you are all a lot more knowledgeable than I am.
I was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago and have been taking vyvanse. So my story is this, when I was a kid and teen I recognize a lot of the symptoms. I wasn't diagnosed til I was 23 because I was a smart kid and did ok in school. I never studied or listened, just daydreamed but I just intuitively knew the answers except for math. I also tested well. My mom also said I was a "slug" as a kid so I wasn't hyperactive. However, I would always fidget and squirm, it drove my dad crazy. I couldn't sit still at dinner to save my life. I was also very impatient and frustrated easily, and was soooo hard on myself. My pre-school teacher told me I was 2 years socially immature, and in first grade I cut up my shirt doing an assignment because I didn't want to use the table. I would also make jokes and blurt out in class a lot, but it was never extreme and I did well in school. In college it was different I could not organize myself to save my life. I never went to class and didn't try at all. I graduated but it wasn't easy. I just put it to me being lazy and not caring. After college I was really depressed and anxious so I went to therapy. My first therapist thought I had Pure O because I can think about the same thing positive or negative usually negative though for days and hours at a time. I had no real compulsions though. So I switched therapist and he asked if I had ever been diagnosed with ADD, I took some tests and he said I have it. My sister is also diagnosed with ADD but she did really poorly in school. Now my symptoms are I never pick up, my room is a mess it takes me 3 months to do the laundry. I always thought I was just lazy tho. I'm bored all the time, and the only time I feel normal is drinking at a party or at a bar. but the thing is I can remember appointments I used to be late all the time and forgetful (losing shoes, coats, etc...) but now I usually remember. I still fidget, but I don't show all of the symptoms. I used to be impulsive and impatient but now I'm not at all. It's more mental than anything. Does this sound like ADD or could I just be depressed or something. I don't want to take this medicine unless I really need it because already after 3 weeks if I miss a day I feel miserable and I want to take it. I haven't been abusing just taking 1 a day and maybe a half if I had a looonnngg daay but I take the half 6-8 hours after. I'm not sad or empty all the time the thing is I don't really feel anything. Just bored or anxious, I used to be very emotional but now nothing. Anyways any thoughts would be great, I know this is a long message but it just felt good to type it out and get it all out. It's just hard for me to believe I have ADD because I was never hyper and I did decent in school. I've also read a lot on the subject and I still can't determine if I really do, the symptoms are just so subjective. Thanks looking forward to being a member, Tom Posted on 11/01/09, 04:11 pm |
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I don't know, you got through school fine, but now can't get yourself together? hmm
If you are anxious, did the dr try to give you meds for that? The only reason I have my son take the meds is so he can focus in school. Are you able to hold down a job? ADD is so hard to diagnose. I probably had it as a kid. I always daydreamed in school, but I got through life just fine. Get a small notebook and write things down that you have to do, or appointments you have. cross them out as you go. Maybe you don't want to clean or do the laundry because you hate it and are just putting it off. I do that too, but when you start to run out of clothes, you've got to do the laundry. try the notebook before you try the drugs. and find a hobby good luck :-) 
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I did pretty well in hs, but in College it was a major struggle. If I wasn't interested in the class I didn't try at all. I'm an actor and a waiter so I don't have trouble holding down a job. So far the medicine has helped me get organized,
I've cleaned and my room doesn't look like wwIII anymore. It also helps my mood, I feel a little speedy but internally calm. However after about 6 hours I start to come down a bit, and my OCD symptoms come back strong. I took Wellbutrin a year ago but it made my OCD unbearable. I took St. Johns Wort and had therapy and my anxiety and depression went away but I was still very ADD. I am diagnosed with both, the vyvanse is making my OCD worse though. I like vyvanse because it makes me interested in people and things but I can't stay on it if my OCD keeps up. I suspect the St. Johns Wort is helping the OCD symptoms a bit that's why it is not as bad as when I was on Wellbutrin. I don't want to go back though the boredom and no motivation is unbearable as well. Plus my drinking is way more under control when I'm on vyvance. Before the only time I would feel normal is when I was drunk at a high stimulating environment. Since I've been on Vyvanse I hardly ever want to drink and when I do it's only 2 or 3. I'm in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I can't take straterra as it made me have zero libido.
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be careful about drinking while taking medications. Ask you doctor about any side effects. I know anti-anxiety meds and drinking should not be mixed at all. i think there is no antidote if you drink to much. Also tell Dr. you are taking St. John's Wart. Sometimes natural herbs have adverse reaction when you are taking prescription drugs. read up on some things that you can do to help your ocd be more tolerable for you.. Good luck,
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keep a daily journal of all your "mental junk" , what your activities are or are not. Then you can take it to your dr and let them read it and see if they can cull some info from that.
As far as getting things done, maybe try thinking of it all like cleaning one window pane at the time and not the whole window at once. It can get overwhelming when it is the whole window. Good luck.
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