ADHD- Page 2

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 6:37pm

Adderall is my antidrug.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 6:51pm

As a person who has been living with diagnosed ADHD for the past...15 years, be glad that you only have BWW-induced kind. The real disorder pretty much sucks.

Having been on pretty every ADD/ADHD medication under the sun, I have to say that Straterra is definitely my favorite.

Sorry to ruin the light hearted nature of this thread. Just saying...ADHD is fun to make fun of, but not really very fun to live with.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 6:54pm

Kitzy, a good number of us likely have it, which is why we enjoy activities such as message boards. The thing is, it wasn't being diagnosed/treated when a lot of us would have been at the age for that to have happened.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 7:16pm

i think add/adhd is far too over-diagnossed in children now.

when i was diagnossed when i was 8 (i'm 21 now) i was one of 6 kids in my school who had it (this was also before hippa and the school basically told my parents who else had it.. the school was literally like "she should make friends with so-and-so... they have it too!")
now i'm willing ot bet that if i were to walk into that same elementary school today, like half the kids would be on some form of add medication.
it's like all that has to happen now is for a kid to get fidgety durring an incredibly boring class and they slap an add label on them... kind of like that south park episode where all the kids in town were diagnossed with add and put on ritalin.
kids aren't the best listeners... they fidget and squirm around in their seats, they talk without raising their hands, and they run around like maniacs at recess. that's beacuse their kids, not beacuse they all have a disorder.

i really dont think it's a horrible disease or anything. and this is coming form someone who is un-able to take ANY of the various add medications on the market. add medication and dysautonomia just do not fix.
but i think if you make it out to be a horrible disease/disorder/condition/whatever, then yeah it's going to suck for you.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 8:45pm

Kitzarina, I'm in the same camp. I've been through hell the past year trying to get my university to recognize the diagnosis, because they were refusing to accomidate me.

Rath, my dad was diagnosed with ADD when he was 45. It's not like there's an age limit.

Updated On: 5/1/07 at 08:45 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 8:54pm

I didn't say there was. But it's unusual that adults go in for the testing. Kids get tested because teachers or parents notice something's up.

I've read plenty that tells me I have ADD. Books, journal articles, etc. I don't have insurance, so as much as I'd love to have some kind of medication that would help me do better as a worker, I can't go get tested, diagnosed, and put on expensive meds.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:23pm

"I don't have the money to get the help I need" is no longer an excuse...


MHA of NYC

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:26pm

I don't see ADD/ADHD listed there.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:27pm

Do you see "referrals" listed there?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:30pm

No. I just looked at the list of things they treated.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:53pm

I don't have the BWW induced kind either. I admit I haven't been professionally diagnosed and perhaps I don't really have it, but I know I'm not able to concentrate on any one thing for a decent amount of time. I don't get anything done. It's like round robin here, I run from one thing to the next, over and over.

I'm sorry you're suffering from it, Kitz~

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:25am

Out of curiosity I googled it and had all the symptoms. I don't think it's ruining my life at this point though, so I'll just live with it.

Kitz-the most outstanding symptom for me, which does impact on my life a bit is the one where we avoid doing chores or tasks which require the thinking process for any period of time. that's why I have piles of paper work all over my apt (sometimes for a year or two) because I dread having to work on them. Do you have this?

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:32am

My biggest symptoms are that I can get rather manic and VERY impulsive. I also find it difficult to concentrate on things that don't interest me (common, I know).

For example: I could spend literally hours researching and discussing all things Sondheim. Whereas if I have a simple 500 word paper to write (no matter how interested I am in the topic) it is a feat of Herculean strength to get myself to do it.

As far as being impulsive, I tend to act on any little thing that enters my brain. It just eats and eats at me until I HAVE to do it. I think this accounts for my being overweight--even if I'm not hungry, I just HAVE to eat that ____ once the thought of doing so has entered my head.

I'm also very loud and energetic and well, hyper.

I thought things would get easier as I got older, but they just feel more and more frustrating. It's been 15 years of this--part of me wonders if I'll ever just be able to function like a normal human being. Then again, it could always be worse. I could have a serious disease.

PS--ADHD is even MORE fun when you add in depression and anxiety. Although it seems that it's not that uncommon to experience any combination of the 3, it can make getting medications right a complete bitch.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:37am

Thanks for the response, Kitz. It worries me because I relate to every single thing you said. Except I never get depressed. Anxious yes, but not depressed. I didn't even have this disorder until late in life-maybe it started with me around 40 or so.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:43am

I am very highly affected by ADD. I also have Generalized Anxiety Disorder so trying to thinking of ADD lightheartedly and a somewhat positive light is much preferable to letting the anxiety get to me which can make me completely shut down. (It's not been unusual for me to easily sleep 12 hours a night before I feel rested because i am stressed out.) Trying to explain to my professors that i am not just being lazy is extremely hard. Add on top of that the fact that I am extremely passive and don't speak up for myself when I should, and it is a failing combination.

Not to say that things aren't improving. Actually to some right now it may seem like things have gotten worse, but I feel like this semester has been an improvement for me even if it is not visible to others. Counseling and medication (after a semester long fight with my insurance company) are finally helping me to get to a point where I can hopefully address my problems without falling into the vicious cycles that kept me from overcoming them before.

It's tough, but it is nothing to be ashamed of having. I am a case of a person not diagnosed until what should have been their senior year of college.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:44am

I think in some ways I've always had it, but I wasn't officially diagnosed until I was in 2nd grade.

If you ever did want to start medication, I strongly recommend Straterra. It's done wonders for me with minimal side effects.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:51am

I'm on Stratera. It helps with my anxiety issues also. Your insurance may require you to send them a written letter from the prescribing doctor on official letterhead as you weren't diagnosed under the age of 18. My insurance company at least seems to think that those diagnosed in adulthood are lying and requires that additional documentation. Stratera is expensive without insurance.

If you can't tell, I'm a bit bitter....

Updated On: 5/2/07 at 12:51 AM

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 1:07am

Lord knows I don't need to get into my disorders/disabilities but what son said is basically me- with some added other c*ap.

I have generalized anxiety disorder
PTSD
Depression
OCD
Non-verbal LD

I think I've been on most meds for these that have been marketed. I am, however, on medication now that seems like the best combinations.

I am a lot better than I used to be- I used to be agoraphobic.

Because of my anxiety, I don't get much sleep and therefore, get sick too often. Plus, I am very responsible, reliable and conscientious (often to a negative degree) and sometimes that gets me too. I am still trying to learn to listen to my body (and how it feels) and not necessarily my mind. It's not cool to go to school for a week and a half with 102 degree temp because you feel bad missing school and are afraid you will miss a lot.

[RobbO]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 8:16am

man, the BWW off-topic board for you AD(H)D'ers must be like crack to whitney!

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 8:19am

wow.
the only disorder i suffer from is procrastination.

[ALittleNorthofKansas]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 8:36am

Can I get back to you on a solution for that?