topic ADHD & baggage. in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

ADHD & baggage.

pleasehelpme16 — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:36:20 GMT

Hi all,

This is my first post, I was diagnosed with ADHD 12 years ago and prescribed medication for it, if I don't take it I'm a absolute vegetable, when I do medicate I sometimes find I'm totally 180' in the other extreme being an obsessive compulsive getting it all done and much more I most probably would be a lot better off not worrying wit,I have the text book love/hate relationship going on ,its caused problems more than once but if I stop it I'm lucky to scratch my arise,its something I've been struggling with for some time and now i find myself in search of some answers I guessby posting here its obviously coming to a crossroad!

Thanks for having me.

Is there anyoneelse out there that has been where I am and understands anything I'm have tried to share?? If there is I would be stoked to here from you ! I feel like a total freak mostly!

ADHD & baggage.

blondguy — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:57:53 GMT

Hi Please

A heartfelt Welcome to the BB Forums...I am Paul and will try to be of some help to you..I am sorry that you are in a bad head space right know

I cant talk about the ADHD meds you just mentioned because I am not a health professional. So I will just try to help you with how you feel....I am on meds for depression and have been for about 10 years. I can hear your mind thinking at 100klms/hour and thats okay..

Does your GP/Therapist know about the problems that your meds are giving you? If not...see her/him asap pls

I do get it where meds are concerned and how they can be a 'pain' in the bum....Can I ask you...have you been on these meds since diagnosed 12 years ago?

I do hear your pain....can you let me know some more info about your symptoms? Do you have any anxiety? Anything you can tell me will enable me to help you a bit more....

I also had problems with meds with anxiety etc.....

You are not a freak...and you have have great strength and courage to post...yes I am serious...

Be Gentle to yourself plshelpme (if you are stuck we have really kind people on our 24/7 Support line....1300 22 4636

We are here for you

Paul

ADHD & baggage.

Starwolf — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 22:37:54 GMT

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing your story with us...a terrific, courageous decision.

I am echoing Paul's advice re your issues with dexamphetamine. Talking with your GP about its undesirable effects would help. Let him/her know how you feel. It often takes several attempts to find the right medication, tailored to individual needs. Pharmaceutical companies always come up with new, less intrusive alternatives, with fewer side effects. Perhaps you are due for a change.

This also may apply to a stressful relationship. No one but you and your partner can decide what can be done about it, whether it can be improved or is a dead end relationship. To know this, you would both have to give it your best shot first. Writing to each other (if spoken, face to face communication is difficult) often helps. So does asking for a counselor's guidance. Sometimes, resolving conflict requires a mediator, a knowledgeable outsider who has no emotional involvement in the situation.

Meanwhile, I hope you will keep navigating these forums. Many of us have/have had issues similar to yours. You will find understanding and support when needed...and hopefully a few helpful tips.

I wish you all the best.

ADHD & baggage.

MusiKat — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 03:22:48 GMT

Hi - your post struck a chord with me. I have just been diagnosed with ADD - October last year at age 40. I have had depression for my whole adult life and it has been up and down a lot depending on what has been going on in my life. The ADD diagnosis certainly explains some things but, like you, I am on the medication merry-go-round. That's why I am online today - trying to find out some information about different medications that I have tried and that help to a certain point and then stop working or have horrible side effects.

I often feel like Jekyl/hyde with the ADD medication. It helps so much then it seems to tip my anxiety over the edge. So that is what my doc and I are working on adjusting at the moment. We are more slowly increasing the ADD med and will add in some anti-anxiety stuff if the anxiety becomes a problem. I really enjoyed being able to follow my thought process and not have brain fog, when the meds were working! So that is what I am aiming for.

Do you think your ADD meds are too high a dose and that's why you have a love/hate relationship with them?

This is my first post here too - so hopefully we can help each other 🙂

Cheers, Kat

ADHD & baggage.

Grumpyoldlady — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 02:12:22 GMT

Hi not sure if anyone can help about this but I have an appointment with a psychiatrist (my first ever) to see if I have ADD. I have had symptoms since childhood and always had trouble fitting in and coping, but never had a diagnosis. I have been on medication for anxiety for years and initially it helped the concentration problems but not now. I finally took the plunge and got the referral from my GP and finally booked the appointment with the psychiatrist but now i am really stressing because i have heard that the ADD meds make anxiety worse, and that I wont get a diagnosis and therefore won't get any help for my concentration and memory problems, or, if I do get a diagnosis i won't get any help because i won't be able to take the meds.

ADHD & baggage.

Starwolf — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 01:27:14 GMT

Hi G.O.L. and a warm welcome to you.

Your first post came attached to someone else's "older" thread, inactive for the last 3 months. Starting your own thread via the welcome and orientation section would ensure more responses.

First of all, well done for reaching out to seek assistance. Kudos to you for making this difficult but wise and brave decision.

It seems that your confidence has been shaken by very unhelpful comments. Because we're all different and respond differently, health plans are devised to fit personal needs. It is true that all medication can have unwelcome side effects and it sometimes takes more than one attempt to find what will suit you best.

Openly discussing your concerns with your therapist is necessary so that you receive the best personalized care. Debating the issue with outsiders will not help. It is a psych's job to first come up with a diagnosis, then decide the best way to go.

Great to have you on board. Please feel free to post again and let us know how you go.

ADHD & baggage.

JerryKeat — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 10:57:46 GMT

hi there, I do have adhd/anxiety and take meds for both. What I can say about the adhd medication is there is a 'sweet spot' where you (and your doctor) get the dose just right and you should feel calm and not racey at all. My psychiatrist said medication & therapy combined (+ maybe an adhd coach) is a great combination too. All the best.

ADHD & baggage.

JerryKeat — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 11:02:06 GMT

It is entirely possible to treat both anxiety & adhd with 2 meds. My psychiatrist said for me to first stabilise the anxiety with an antidepressant, then treat the adhd with a low dose of medication. My medication is not the only way to treat adhd either; there are a few options. Psychiatrists are certainly the expert doctors of the mind.

ADHD & baggage.

lower_case — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 03:34:02 GMT

HI MusiKat, I am 45 an pretty in the same boat. Had my diagnosis about a month ago. Trying medication to see how it goes.

I've gotta say the ADHD thing has answered a lot of questions I've had bout myself. Gosh, how did it take this long to work it out?

ADHD & baggage.

Amazon — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 13:36:59 GMT

I believe I've had ADHD/depression/anxiety all my life, particularly after my son was diagnosed ADHD 15 years ago. My father suicided and a cousin also suicided and a brother who was walked in on by a mate mid nooseing-up, so depression is big in my family...I've been seeing a psychologist for 2 sessions over the past month, first in 27 years, as I saw 1 re my poor memory issues. I'm not too sure if the psychologist is of any use for me for a few reasons including that I have got to 49 (next week) on my own, I've struggled with suicidal thoughts throughout the years and got this far with very little to no assistance with anything from family or other. The past few months has intensified, why? because i was bitten by an insect in Feb 2018 and has caused Lyme like symptoms, which include neurological, psychological and physical, so all of my ADHD type symptoms are 10 fold ontop of the physical and neurological issues (which aren't so bad at the moment). I am in Darwin with no support, but what makes it harder is that the Aussie govt don't recognise the disease (this is not a disease to be taken lightly, can be fatal and IS here in Oz and IS spread by many types of insects including ticks, spiders, fleas, mosquitoes so is spreading fairly quickly, so please cover up. This disease is not easy or cheap to test or treat as Oz govy don't recognise it). I've been on medication in the past but they did little to nothing. After my son was diagnosed ADHD I made enquiries for myself and was advised not to waste my time as I wasn't diagnosed as a kid and not so easy to get meds...I tried medication from my sons prescription from years ago and they were awesome...I have since learned that many people are being diagnosed and put on medication...some are made to use/trial medication tho, I don't understand why they are pushing this when people know what they want/need...( my son hasn't been on meds for about 12 years and is realising for numerous reasons he is better off on them...he had a skype appointment last week and is being forced to trial medication even after suggesting prior use proved medication were better for him (including suicidal thoughts while on medication)...As an adult do I need to see a psychiatrist for a prescription for these??

ADHD & baggage.

MatSioJahNai — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 15:35:06 GMT

Hi Amazon .. this is my first comment! I was looking for the topic ADULT ADHD. Sorry to hear your complex mental health and physical health story. I can empathise with you on the mental health side though. And I may be able to answer your questions.

I received my diagnosis 24/12/18 aged 57 following my grandson getting his 1/11/18 just after he turned six. I have a long and tragic mental health story too and missed considering ADHD for him or me. Well that's enough about me.

Your post was a while ago and you referred to your son with ADHD and you thinking you have it too. And having been put off getting a diagnosis or medication, having been told it was a waste of time as would not be rebated with Adult Diagnosis. And you've also referred to your son on a trial maybe to do with medicine.

What I have learned - firstly regarding the medicine. My Psychiatrist prescribed me the newest medicine on the market. Can't mention it here but I understand it is the preferred one now and also the least harmful and most effective.

And yes Adult diagnosis do pay full price, however my Psychiatrist offered for me to enrolled in a trial (could this be what your son might have been referring to?) that is being run by the pharmaceutical company, where my Psychiatrist can send my prescription to an online chemist and I can order my medicine on line. And this is rebated, I pay approximately 34.2% less for it. So not as heavily as if had had had my diagnosis as a child. But this is does make a big difference and makes it much more affordable.

And to get a diagnosis, you would need to see your Dr and get a referral to a Psychiatrist, ideally one who specialises in Adult ADHD. They will diagnose you over one or if necessary two appointments. And they will likely ask you to bring them your school reports, or as many of those as you are able to source. Tip to take them to your first appointment will make it less likely to need a second.

So I was also diagnosed with depression, I call it reactive. After the tragic death of my son on 14/2/17. Still grieving deeply, very angry and guilt ridden. Well now I have this very late diagnosis, and am settling into my medicine, it is transforming my life. And with a new clarity of mind which is wonderful, I am upset that I didn't get this diagnosis a very long time ago.

So your post was a while ago. I am not sure if you will see this. I hope you do. And if you do I hope this information is helpful.

ADHD & baggage.

alexisonfire94 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 01:16:29 GMT

Hi,

I am going through a similar issue 😞 I totally feel your pain!! Unfortunately, I cannot take my meds at the moment as I am pregnant and I feel like a big ball of anxiety without them, unable to accomplish ANYTHING. For me, I felt that medication put me into overdrive the way you are describing, but other medication chilled me out and helped me to get stuff done without going too OCD about it. It could be the type of medication? I will go back on my meds as soon as my pregnancy is over, being this unfocused and disorganised is such a burden. I would pick the meds over this any day!

@Amazon, yes as an adult you need to go see a psych to get a prescription for ADHD medication. I was diagnosed at age 22 because my parents didn't believe in medicating me as a child. You can definitely get a diagnosis as an adult if you meet the criteria for having ADD. You will probably need to take some high school results with you or some kind of evidence that shows an inconsistency with your intelligence and your ability to perform. It only took 2 appts for me because the diagnosis was pretty obvious, but can take longer if you have other symptoms.