Alexa
08-25-04, 04:21 PM
I happened on an article this afternoon and I discovered something of great interest (to me anyway). It was talking about Substance Abuse/Risky Behavior which is often associated with ADHD and then it said: 'Self medication with nicotine and coffed is also common.' 'Nicotine in particular, may act as a medication that improves ADHD symtoms.' When I read this, the light clicked on! I was ADD as a child (but never diagnosed) I started smoking when I was 17. Smoked up until I was 34, and in April of 1992 I quit. It now occurs to me that not to long after that was when my ex husband and I started having difficulty, and I had a marked shift in attitude. It continued for several years and when I (stupidly) started back around August of 1995 the moods seemed to subside somewhat. I quit again in Sept of 2002, and what I thought was just nicotine withdrawal combined with fall/winter (which I HATE) seasonal change. This was marginally improved by (confession time) some 'diet enhancers' that I had gotten ahold of. So basically(looking back) that took over somewhat from the nicotine 'medication'. When I could no longer obtain the 'enhancers' which was around June/July of 2003 was when the moods, etc., reared their ugly heads again. It got horribly bad by the end of '03 into early this years but we also found that my hormones that taken a nose dive (herbal supplements may have played a large role there) Got those straightened out but the moods still lingered and made the fairly occassional visit. I wasn't until after my 11yr old was Dx in May that I followed my gut and made an appt for myself. I need not tell you the rest. Has anyone else (and you may have to think back) had this happen but just didn't piece it together or for that matter, know nicotine was that closely connected to masking ADD symtoms?