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Mental Health ADD ADHD questions

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frosty11

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Joined
Mar 9, 2014
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The reason I joined this site is because I suffer from many symptoms of ADHD. I always have dealt with them, but recently a series of events has left me so stressed and scattered that finally feel I should see my doc for it. I have always went to the same doc and he had known me since childhood. Im in my early 20's now. So what led up to me realizing I might should ask for help? In November my grandmother passed away, big deal right? well the same week my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. That was enough to stress me out pretty highly.. well this past January I started my biggest semester yet in college. Dealing with the changes in my family (loss of my mema who I was incredibly close to and dealing with my moms diagnosis along with upcoming surgeries) along with trying to focus in class and at home has become overwhelming! I can't focus anymore and I am at the point in my classes where if something doesn't change I won't get the grades I need.

So my question is when I go to my doctor will he be able to help me soon enough that I can salvage my life and grades before I fail something this semester?! I have never been treated for anything like ADHD or depression etc. I do have ADHD in my family though. Also I don't have any experience misusing drugs at all.

What should I expect?

Im sorry I couldn't figure out where to post this! Also if I said something wrong please don't be rude because I'm new! :)
 
first of all hi and welcome to bluelight! I'm sure you'll find a lot of friendly and helpful peeps here.

I don't know.much about ADHD but your doc will likely prescribe you some stimulant like ritalin, adderall, focalin etc. there are plenty so you can try a few and see what's the best for you, altought it may take some time.
good luck and report back :D
 
Be 100% honest with your doctor. As CN95 said, ADHD is often treated with stimulant medication. He may also refer you to a psycologist/therapist.
Drugs starts working right away, but it takes a few sessions to notice any benefit from therapy. In the long term, therapy is just as effective as stimulants. Just make sure you tell him everything you told us, and he'll hopefully prescribe you something.
 
In my opinion don't take the stimulant approach. I've been down that path myself and it stimulants are too straining on the mind to be used chronically. Sure therapeutic doses aren't neurotoxic or minimally, but there's a hell of a lot of down-regulation, which leads to depression/anhedonia and possibly even anxiety. Not only that but your motivation and AD(H)D in general will worsen after using it. Last but not least the drugs will start to lose some of there effectiveness and you'll start crashing hard.

This is my experience, but I know plenty of others in life and on the internet who share the same experience. I'd look into alternatives rather than the pharmaceutical approach.

For depression, I really don't know what to say for you there. When it comes to depression everyone experiences it differently and reacts to treatment differently as well. I myself am still trying to find my answer to that question after about four years. :p

From what I read it sounds like a form of depression with a hint of anxiety to me.
 
^^^^ what he said.


Try anything else before getting prescribed powerfull amphetamines as a medication..


shit is no joke and will most likely cause an addiction/cravings....more hell for you.
 
^ I'm of that opinion too.

I have ADD. I'm 60. Make your life fit your brain as much as possible.
What are the symptoms that you find most troublesome?

It sounds to me from your post that what is the most stressful to you right now is actual real life and that it has nothing to do with having ADD. Losing someone that you were close to and then being faced with the possibility of losing someone else close is a huge amount of fear and sadness to deal with at once. Acknowledge those feelings as real and inevitable. This is you being human not you having symptoms of a disorder.

Does your university offer counseling? That might be something that could help you get through this time. Take good care of yourself and don't worry too much about that diagnosis. There are many ways to use the gifts of an ADD brain and minimize the pitfalls.
 
Hey man

I personally think that it might be a bad idea to go on a stimulant if you're depressed (unless you're treatment-resistant and have tried multiple forms of other psycho-pharmacological approaches). That said, in my case I went on a stimulant largely for its mood effects; having been diagnosed as schizoaffective, with depression coming in a second to forms of psychosis, it may have been a bad idea and exacerbated my disorder.

I would recommend an activating antidepressant such as wellbutrin, or perhaps a non-stimulant used for attention disorders such as strattera.

Stimulants sure are powerful. They give you a sense of omnipotence that should really only be reserved for serious serious cases. I consider myself one.
 
First, go for the advise above. And do you even need to graduate college? Pursue your passions, entrepreneurs don't need degrees. But if you are going to go on drugs to solve the problems, which they can unsustainably do, this will give you the result you're looking for. (EDIT: Wellbutrin might be perfect for you, I have no experience with it, but if it doesn't work try this)

I have ADHD and can really relate to what you are saying about work, family and mental health / stability. Go on maybe 30mgs of Mirtazapine and 80mgs of Dexedrine (if your doc will do that). The Dex will increase your performance, has a clean duration and the Mirtazapine works on some great GABA receptors, preventing weight loss from the Dexedrine and allowing you to easily sleep at night while taking a dose the next day.

This is a temporary solution, if you do this for more than a couple months you will begin to get an amphetamine tolerance / habit which is the first step down a slippery slope.

Trust me, on those two drugs (together) everything will be perfect (at least for you mentally). Also, Dexedrine / Dextroamphetamine Sulphate / Speed increase people's IQ on average by 4.5% (source Wikipedia.org), as well as greatly enhancing attention span. The Mirtazapine will block any feelings of depression or sadness and it does not "wonk" you out of reality like Effexor or Seraquil will. I have no idea about Welbutrin but don't advise abilify.
 
Yeah wikipedia itself isn't quite a reputable source.

Abilify is a neurolepic, but it does work fairly well. I understand that antipsychotics are insufferable in some instances but they do work well, and many people don't have to be on that high of a dose. I remember absolutely hating mine; I still kind of do, but am switching to one which is more tolerable. Also, latuda is supposed to be great for combating bipolar depression. I don't know why, might make a thread about that.
 
Well I don't need to be on mood stabalizers but on 30mgs of Mirtazapine (remember it takes a couple months to fully adjust) the reality of my life had changed quite a bit, for the better. As a result of the antidepressent and it had NO side effects at all.
 
As hard as it may be to take our advice and not use amphetamines for add ADHD , it's the best advice trust me. I got STRUNG OUT by being prescribed Ritalin at age 14. Yea I was a trouble maker and pot smoker . The dose I took as directed by my shrink had me very euphoric , high and up all night hours on end. I eventually became hooked. Here I am 14years later. I am currently on adderall, and even at 20mg XR , I always crash when it wears off , sadly , taking uppers only made
My add ADHD worse way worse than before, I have learned to discipline and deal with the crash , I cant function without my amphetamine meds, sitting on a computer or watching tv or reading a book for more than 5mkns has me cussing and quickly shifting from subject to subject
 
Hey, does anyone have any advice for simply staying on task - til the job is done?

I like writing... but lately in University, I am handing in all my papers late. I am worried about a lot of things, and I research and obsess them to death. This makes me later and later.
Dexedrine seems to exacerbate this maladaptive behaviour.

I used to write papers always in one night, but I can't do that so easily (it was a nightmare but POSSIBLE before) anymore. I can do one or two night papers in other courses, outside of my major... but not in my major.

The hyper-focus I have is unreal. I feel that I CAN get ready to go to school, and stay in lecture alright on medication... but changing gears is as hard as ever.
 
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