Adult ADD

[Babaloo]

i haven't read all of the responses
i will later

i can't find a doctor to diagnose me...so I've diagnosed myself
of course, i can't get controlled substances down here
...but i can and did get Straterra.
Minor side effects like suicidal feelings, weird orgasms, loss of appetite and maybe a six hour wood...
...but i have a long history of not being afraid of trying new drugs

I'll let you know in a few weeks how it did

[sctx]

Originally Posted by gingele

Sorry, but that is too simplistic and a tad unfair. If adults with diagnosed ADD could easily manage by following your recommendations...and sticking to them...then there wouldn't be any anxiety or frustration about the situation.

I think jumping to the conclusion that one has ADD and medicating without exploring other solutions is simplistic and a tad unfair. In reality, alot of modern day people have just made their lives too complicated with family and work and social life and do not realize what tremedous stress they have put themselves under...... I also firmly believe that many people write off mild depression as ADD, and as far as I know, that is another situation where it would be best to approach things in a non med way first.........Tai Chi maybe

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by sctx

I think jumping to the conclusion that one has ADD and medicating without exploring other solutions is simplistic and a tad unfair.

unfair to me?
i haven't tried a new medication in a long time
i'm due

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by sctx

I think jumping to the conclusion that one has ADD and medicating without exploring other solutions is simplistic and a tad unfair. In reality, alot of modern day people have just made their lives too complicated with family and work and social life and do not realize what tremedous stress they have put themselves under...... I also firmly believe that many people write off mild depression as ADD, and as far as I know, that is another situation where it would be best to approach things in a non med way first.........Tai Chi maybe

I agree entirely with this....Excessive stress is at the core of so many illnesses, both physical and psychological, in my opinion.....and trying the natural route is very important....OTOH, once one gets educated, tries natural means and gets multiple, professional opinions, there is no "disgrace" in the chemical solutions that work...good drugs (in this case at least) serve to only bring someone back to a more balanced and natural state...if someone acts "druggy" on depression medication, they should likely not be on that medication.....Linda struggled long and hard to manage depression without drugs...meditation, herbs, diet, talk therapy, education, hypnosis, yoga, etc. etc. etc...went on depression meds for awhile..they worked wonders...got off thinking she could go "natural" and is just now getting back on...she feels much better already..I am proud of her efforts....it seems to me that each case and each person is unique....

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Jacko

...it seems to me that each case and each person is unique....

yes, this is true, I just hate seeing all the med commercials out on TV and doctors on the take from pharm companies to dole out there "cures" before non med approaches are explored.....Ginger knows where I'm comin from on this

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

unfair to me?
i haven't tried a new medication in a long time
i'm due

party on Garth

[roni]

I am reminded of the time I was at a small midwestern airport with my father - we're talking one gate only small.

The ticket/baggage/loader/manager person seemed tremendously stressed out. The woman in front of us was expressing sympathy, and asked him about the the stress. He told her had had adult hyperactivity. She asked him how that was treated. He replied:

"Valiums and booze, lady, valiums and booze"

[sctx]

years ago, I remember watchin Jimmy Stewart on Johnny Carson one night.....he was tellin a story of goin to the hospital to pick up his wife......they wheeled his wife out to the pickup zone...... Jimmy went and got in his car.........he then drove to the Foto-Mat and picked up some pictures he had turned in for processing...... then he drove home ........... and then, the hospital called him to please come and pick up his wife .......ok, at this point, I suggest meds may be in order

[denisea]

How ironic... just tonight I received a link for a blog called Thoughts on ADHD and Marriage written by Dr. Ned Hallowell and Melissa Orlov of the Hallowell Center in Sudbury, MA.

[Ginger]

Scott has done very, very well at self-managing, and he is a testament to others, that is for sure. I think a lot of people could benefit from his take on things as well, as opposed to the medical route. And I agree, I think it is always good to try a non-medical solution first.

We did that with Jorden. We tried a lot of things like charts, reward systems, organization of tasks, knowledge of expectations, etc. However, it is SOOOO hard for ME to do all of that...given that I have my own issues here. And believe me, I tried very hard and when I failed at it and failed at keeping these systems going I felt like a failure as a mom. But ultimately, the biggest issue that bothered us with Jorden was his interpersonal and social issues that were starting to become VERY apparent now that he was getting older and the other kids were more aware of his 'differences', and were less willing to hang out with him and put up with his impulsive, hyperactive behaviour. And that is the biggest differnce in him since his meds....he went from no friends, being bullied and the butt of jokes, to having a large circle of friends who call HIM and seek him out for activities, parties, etc. And in turn, that is very important for HIS sense of self and esteem.

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Ginger

. However, it is SOOOO hard for ME to do all of that...

my mom just took valium

[Ginger]

I also wanted to mention that while I can see that the symptoms also coincide with depression, I take meds for depression and have for some time. Yet I still exhibit all of these symptoms. So in my case, it's obviously something else.

Babs, straterra is used a lot up here in children with ADHD. Jorden can't take it because of the effect norepinephrine has on blood pressure. (he can only take Biphentin, not available in the US).

[gingele]

Originally Posted by sctx

I think jumping to the conclusion that one has ADD and medicating without exploring other solutions is simplistic and a tad unfair. In reality, alot of modern day people have just made their lives too complicated with family and work and social life and do not realize what tremedous stress they have put themselves under...... I also firmly believe that many people write off mild depression as ADD, and as far as I know, that is another situation where it would be best to approach things in a non med way first.........Tai Chi maybe

You clearly did not read my entire post. You also only quoted a portion of my entire post...and conveniently left out the rest.


My entire post included the statement that often adults who have struggled with undiagnosed or diagnosed ADD have in fact tried the self-help techniques and non-medical routes you described...tried and failed. Repeatedly.


How you possibly could have read my post to mean that I "jump[ed] to the conclusion that one has ADD and medicating without exploring other solutions" is beyond me.


And just for the sake of clarity, here it is in it's entirety....

Originally Posted by gingele

Sorry, but that is too simplistic and a tad unfair. If adults with diagnosed ADD could easily manage by following your recommendations...and sticking to them...then there wouldn't be any anxiety or frustration about the situation. In other words, the crux of the "problem" would be solved. I am very glad that such skills have worked for you and that you have avoided taking meds since that seems to be important to you. However, I cannot tell you how many "to do" lists I have started in my life....how many assignment notebooks I have started (and lost)...etc. etc. If only it could be that easy.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by gingele

You clearly did not read my entire post. You also only quoted a portion of my entire post...and conveniently left out the rest.


My entire post included the statement that often adults who have struggled with undiagnosed or diagnosed ADD have in fact tried the self-help techniques and non-medical routes you described...tried and failed. Repeatedly.


How you possibly could have read my post to mean that I "jump[ed] to the conclusion that one has ADD and medicating without exploring other solutions" is beyond me.


And just for the sake of clarity, here it is in it's entirety....

Hey...its just a discussion here, right?...For my part, paraphrasing you here.....when you said,

Originally Posted by gingele

........

You can certainly choose not to medicate and undertake to become more organized and such, perhaps hiring help for certain tasks (cleaning, laundry, etc). But IMHO, [b]if "self-help" techniques like time management skills, organizational skills, and hired help were the answer - you would have self-corrected by this time in your life. Right?

I just thought that was weighing in a little heavy AGAINST self-help techniques, just because perhaps they did not work at first effort. or perhaps because they were not taught well or learned well....so I think you are correct that sometimes all the self-help in the world is not going to fix the problem, and other times far too many people reach for the pills before trying other self-help or more natural remedies to solve the problem.

I think you are right...and Scott is right too

[gingele]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Hey...its just a discussion here, right?...For my part, paraphrasing you here.....when you said,



I just thought that was weighing in a little heavy AGAINST self-help techniques, just because perhaps they did not work at first effort. or perhaps because they were not taught well or learned well....so I think you are correct that sometimes all the self-help in the world is not going to fix the problem, and other times far too many people reach for the pills before trying other self-help or more natural remedies to solve the problem.

I think you are right...and Scott is right too

I actually agree with you here in general.

Let me make something very clear...I am not an advocate for hitting the pills right off the bat. Nothing I said in this discussion supports that conclusion. And being depicted as such causes me to bristle a bit.

Remember we are talking about adult ADD. Which is not a condition that suddenly appears out of the blue at 35 or so and captures one unaware. It is something that any adult who has ADD has actually been struggling with for most of their lives - albeit often undefined. But as you can see from the posts in this thread, there are many adults who recognize the symptoms in themselves and have just "dealt with it" with varying degrees of success throughout their lives. (And I suppose that perhps this is a distinguishing factor from mild depression...which can have adult-onset? No experience with this one).

And so, what I said to Susie in the post you quoted above was said from the viewpoint of an adult who has tried alternatives or other coping skills that may help - but there is still a struggle.