Posted by SarahB on June 22, 2000, at 17:44:58
In reply to Re: looking for experienced add people, posted by Sara T on June 21, 2000, at 19:05:31
Hi there... I have been ADD inattentive type my whole life. At one point I did have some depression that was treated effectively with Elavil. SSRI's never seemed to work for me. I was also treated with Effexor for the ADD, but it never worked and actually made me feel worse! I am now on Adderall 30mg/day. It seems to be working wonderfully so far. (7-8mos) I noticed when my ADD was treated directly with stims, I could get a better hold on the symptoms. No med will get rid of ADD. It is something I will die with. I have done some studying on the subject and I am very lucky to have a wonderful Doc so I can ask any question on my mind. I just can't make myself clear enough on the fact that true ADD in adults just doesn't go away and you can't "fix it". A person needs the meds that work to make it easier to control and basically "reprogramming". I have become used to the stims and the effects of them and know the part of the day to get my work done and also when to take the doses so I can sleep, eat, ... I have also started last week with a CISW who specializes in adult ADD to learn new behaviors and ways that will make getting things done much more effective for me and my ADD habits. Basically, I am learning how to be more in tune to my rythyms and behavior and spot my ADD moments so I can grab myself and say "Whoa, there, don't do it" or just plain ole get off my butt and do what I need to do! Two really good coping methods I have found very helpful are to MAKE LISTS!! and make a schedule and stick with it! One thing to keep in mind is to pace yourself, ADDers tend to bite off more than they can chew and give up. Be realistic with your expectations, especially in the begining. Basically, one is just trying to reprogram bad habits for more effective ones that keep the ADD in mind. I hope I have helped some and not sent you into a deeper depression! :-) It is a struggle to learn new tricks, but when you do, you will be sooooo much happier with your self! BTW, I'm a 32 yr old female.
Sarah
poster:SarahB
thread:37934
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000619/msgs/38142.html