Wasn't there a thread on ADD?

[Nyaricus]

This thread is kinda... unnerving, in a way. Many, well most, of the symptons are talking about are things I exhibit, like zoning, zero concentration, mediocre grades in school (except what I like), depression (oh boy, this is a biggie), etc (well, there are many more things, but I can't really think of them all right now)

The thing is, I know I have some sort of a problem, but I don't know how to deal with it at all. I feel kinda lost and unsure of that part of me, and generally try to ignore it. But it bothers me constantly, and I feel often like time is slipping away from me as I go on in life, trying to do what I can do.

What can I do about this situation? I don't have a doctor I usually go to (heck I only go into walk-ins if I'm seriously sick with something, and only if it's really bothering me) and really don't know how to take the first steps.

thanks and cheers,
--N

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

This thread is kinda... unnerving, in a way. Many, well most, of the symptons are talking about are things I exhibit, like zoning, zero concentration, mediocre grades in school (except what I like), depression (oh boy, this is a biggie), etc (well, there are many more things, but I can't really think of them all right now)

The thing is, I know I have some sort of a problem, but I don't know how to deal with it at all. I feel kinda lost and unsure of that part of me, and generally try to ignore it. But it bothers me constantly, and I feel often like time is slipping away from me as I go on in life, trying to do what I can do.

What can I do about this situation? I don't have a doctor I usually go to (heck I only go into walk-ins if I'm seriously sick with something, and only if it's really bothering me) and really don't know how to take the first steps.

thanks and cheers,
--N

Step 1) Go to the library and borrow a copy of Driven to Distraction by Dr. Edward M. Hallowell

Step 2) If you lose the book before you finish it they you definately have ADD (or ADHD)

 

[Nyaricus]

Step 1) Go to the library and borrow a copy of Driven to Distraction by Dr. Edward M. Hallowell

Step 2) If you lose the book before you finish it they you definately have ADD (or ADHD)

Sounds like a start, although I rarely have a problem reading

 

[Merkuri]

What can I do about this situation? I don't have a doctor I usually go to (heck I only go into walk-ins if I'm seriously sick with something, and only if it's really bothering me) and really don't know how to take the first steps.

Well, first of all, get a doctor, especially if you have insurance. If you don't have insurance then it might be pretty expensive, but a regular doctor gets to know you and your medical history and is better able to diagnose your symptoms based on that medical history. (I should take my own advice. After moving to MA I haven't gotten a new primary care physician.)

Once you have a doctor, mention your worries at your first appointment. He might give you some advice or he might recommend you visit a specialist, but if he's a good doctor he'll know what the next step is that you should take.

Then keep going to your regular appointments with that doctor and/or with the specialist he sends you to, so they can hear whether your treatment (whether it's drugs or therapy or a lifestyle change or something else) is working and prescribe something else if it's not.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

Well, first of all, get a doctor, especially if you have insurance. If you don't have insurance then it might be pretty expensive, but a regular doctor gets to know you and your medical history and is better able to diagnose your symptoms based on that medical history.

Nyaricus lives in Canada, they have socialized medicine (for better or worse)

(I should take my own advice. After moving to MA I haven't gotten a new primary care physician.)

I know of 2 very good Primary Care Physicians in Mass, 1 in Worcester & 1 in Marlboro if either of those is convient

 

[Bront]

I was on Paxil for a while for ADD and depression, and some of what you describe reminds me of my depression, even if you claim it not to be depression.

I was on it for 2 different streches of about a year and a half each, and I've been off it now for almost 4 years. With therapy and changing a few behaviors, the medication will also help teach your body to fucntion correctly again. Paxil sort of evened out my emotional state, while I learned how to deal with things better. The low's weren't so low, though unfortunately the highs weren't as high either, so eventualy I went off of it.

As for the coordination thing, I've been blessed with very good coordination for the most part, so I can't say that realy applies to me, but that doesn't mean it's not normal.

 

[Merkuri]

I know of 2 very good Primary Care Physicians in Mass, 1 in Worcester & 1 in Marlboro if either of those is convient

Those are a little too far, but thanks anyway. I officially have a PCP (as far as my insurance is concerned) but I have yet to visit him. I will be making an appointment shortly because my old PCP is (rightly) refusing to renew one of my prescriptions until I make an appointment with a doctor in this state.

 

[Tuzenbach]

I was on Paxil for a while for ADD and depression, and some of what you describe reminds me of my depression, even if you claim it not to be depression.

Truth be told, I did the Paxil thing for 7 months back in 2002-2003. Did it make me happy? Sure! Was I able to think logically & rationally & get stuff done? No way! The result? Well, I was convinced that I liked a job that I had no business being at. In other words, the Paxil was really great at convincing me that "life was good", even though it wasn't. It's somewhat akin to putting duct-tape on a space shuttle and then louding proclaiming "All systems go for launch!"

But hey, I still do appreciate very much the feedback.

In terms of the coordination thing, sure I was depressed a lot in elementary school. I can't tell you how many times I ended up crying myself to sleep with thoughts like "why can't I do anything right?" or "why am I so much different from the other kids?" But you know what? Once I got passed all that garbage and learned to love myself for who I was, life wasn't all that bad. OK, so I wasn't a jock. So what? Jocks are meatheads anyway, IMHO.

If I've offended any jocks I apologize!


PS: The only sport I actually came to appreciate was hockey. Since the puck is nearly always flat against the ice, I could relate to that sport much better than football, baseball, or basketball, where you never quite knew where the damned ball was going to end up from one moment to the next! Even so, the goalie position has always facinated me. Those guys have to mentally calculate the height & distance of shots coming in at 100 mph instantaneously! AND CATCH THEM! It's magic I tell ya, MAGIC!!!

 

[Bront]

Truth be told, I did the Paxil thing for 7 months back in 2002-2003. Did it make me happy? Sure! Was I able to think logically & rationally & get stuff done? No way! The result? Well, I was convinced that I liked a job that I had no business being at. In other words, the Paxil was really great at convincing me that "life was good", even though it wasn't. It's somewhat akin to putting duct-tape on a space shuttle and then louding proclaiming "All systems go for launch!"

Different people get different results. For me, it stoped panic attacks, allowed me to focus on things I should have been (I managed to get a college education durring one of the treatments), and when I was finaly weaned off of it, I was in much better shape.

 

[Tuzenbach]

Different people get different results. For me, it stoped panic attacks, allowed me to focus on things I should have been (I managed to get a college education durring one of the treatments), and when I was finaly weaned off of it, I was in much better shape.

Well, I'm sincerely glad that it worked for you. It just was really annoying for me, that's all.

I mean, there are certain pieces of music that affect me so deeply and that I find so beautiful and emotional that I'll play over and over again, just to cry at the most moving parts. Not tears for the sake of sadness, but for the sake of "wow, these musicians REALLY know how to express pure & deep emotions within the context of their music". So, I'll play these and just lie back and listen and wait to be emotionally overwhelmed.

Under the influence of Paxil, however, crying simply wasn't an option. Happiness, but no joy, no wonder, no appreciation of art. The songs I once loved meant nothing to me while on this drug. I found myself saying "why the hell am I listening to this?" I'd like to emphasize that this was definately NOT depressing music, but spiritually uplifting music, mostly "Yes". But I wasn't moved. Nothing moved. It was horrible. Experiencing the SAME emotion 24/7 was just NOT for me.

Again, I'm happy it worked out for you. Thanks so much for the feedback!

PS: I had a series of panic attacks in mid-May of 2004, about 10 days after the death of my father. The day he died was actually the best day of my life. I realize that sounds crappy, but that's just how things are. I wasn't panicked about his loss, but rather, at my own situation. I was 31, unemployed, no solid career path, no car, living at home, no money, 40k in debt (credit cards & student loans), no credit (I'm currently being sued by 2 different credit cards!), no hope. In short, I was screwed. But if my mother all-of-a-sudden passed away, I'd be SUPER SCREWED! When this revelation hit me, I started waking up in the middle of the night and pacing back and forth in small circles, beating a steady rhythm on my chest in an effort to calm my ludicriously-fierce beating heart. This experience turned about 50 of my chin hairs grey!

However, the short-term panic resulted in a long-term plan. Unlike when my father was alive, I now know EXACTLY what I'm going to do with my life this year, next year, the year after that, and the year after that. Is fear my motivator? Perhaps. But it also helps to have a HUGE negative influence remove itself from my existence.