Does anyone in here ever suffer from physical symptoms upstairs? Such as anything that requires focus, such as reading, thinking out your personal problems and stresses, or learning something new leads to an "electrical storm" or "fuzzy" or "foggy pressure" feeling in the brain? In paticular the front lower forehead? It some times continues on to mild headaches. Do you ever feel mentally retarded or brain damaged during these times? And does worry over it start a vicious cycle that can some times leave you feeling a little neurotic, or perhaps even suicidal?

Appreciate insight,

6shooter

This does sound a little bit extreme. I would report these symptoms to the doctor as soon as possible. I've never had something like this happen to me so I can only feel sympothy and not empathize with you. Sorry. Best of luck...

Andy...

"Pressure in the lower front forehead" is not a typical ADHD sign.

Yeah. Talk to your doctor. Maybe you could benefit from some investigation.
(e.g.

EEG or imaging studies?
dental xray (long forgotten wisdom teeth can cause facial/forehead pressure/pain, or get cavities in them, even if impacted/under gums)
sinus xray (sinusitis/swollen turbinates/polyps can cause sinus pains around eyes/nose/mouth)
Some trigger points can cause weird feelings in the head and face, even affecting vision
blood pressure check (high BP, particularly that caused by Foods/Meds, can cause head pressure feelings; most high BP is 'silent'), etc)
Is it worse on/off various meds? (Some meds make head pressure feelings.)
Your Doctor is the expert.

The sensation began a couple months ago during a run a laryngitis. It was driving me up the walls. Not painful, just uncomfortable. I worried about it to the point of obsession. I began getting so distressed I fantasized about drive hammering a nail into my skull, thinking the intense pain would over ride the "electrical storm" going on up front there. It really upsets me. I do have ADD. Always had ADD but only diagnoed and treated since last month, just figured that this symptom was an acute exacerbation of the ADD due to stress. This was actually the symptom that ultimately sent me to the doctor. Today I got off strattera and took adderall for the first time and felt better on it. The drug's effects began to taper and the sensation returned.

My doctor is a neurologist and psychologist and never really discussed the physical symptom with me. I did have an MRI a couple weeks ago, it showed a normal intercranial exam, but did note a 9-10mm high signal mass likely a mucous retention cyst in my sphenoid sinus cavity. I believe this to be unrelated, as the CNS stimulation from Adderall reduced this symptom noticeably. I called the doctor this week when I felt I was having a bad reaction to the strattera, she seemed unconcerned. Blood pressure is fine, I'm a young man.

It has been affecting my quality of life. I'm in the medical field and I've been preplexed and distressed because I just can't figure this one out yet. Do you figure depression could cause such a thing? Your list you pointed out is an extremely helpful start, so I appreciate that. If you would like to add any other posibilities be my guest, I need help.

I cannot stop moving around and talk too much if those count as physical symptoms (hyperactivity)

Hi 6shooter,

Some of them do sound familiar. I have the fuzzy thing and the headache thing. The front of head headache I always get when I'm trying to do something that my ADD really doesn't like, like makeing up my class flyers or lessons. When I have to concentrate against my ADD, the muscles on my forehead and around my eyes tighten up. WHich makes me tense and makes it even harder to concentrate. Which makes me tighten up more, which give me a headache. Meds help a bit but they don't get rid of it. Some techniques I found in the Hallowell books have helped to deal with it. That and willow bark tea when I work. It's a mild pain killer and stops the tension pain before it gets too bad.

I used to get the vicious cycle too but that was addressed by Behavior therapy. (nothing like ADD to bring out your inner neurotic :p)

Any of that helpful for ya?

Very..

What are the Hallowell techniques that helped you out?

My doctor is a neurologist and psychologist and never really discussed the physical symptom with me. I did have an MRI a couple weeks ago, it showed a normal intercranial exam, but did note a 9-10mm high signal mass likely a mucous retention cyst in my sphenoid sinus cavity. I believe this to be unrelated, as the CNS stimulation from Adderall reduced this symptom noticeably. I called the doctor this week when I felt I was having a bad reaction to the strattera, she seemed unconcerned. Blood pressure is fine, I'm a young man.

.

Just a thought....the stimulants they add to cold & sinus meds constrict the blood vessels to relieve congestion....so is it possible that adderall may be doing the same thing to relieve congestion in your sinuses?

I was not aware of that either. Appreciate the eye opening insight.. Considering sinus surgery in a couple weeks, any experiences there?:D

Very..

What are the Hallowell techniques that helped you out?Oh shoot. You want an ADDer to remember specifics?

Let's see.
Breaking up tasks.
Exercise.
(actually do this together. After an amount of time spent working or completing a set step on my project, I get up and do something. Walk around, do some tai chi, get a cup of tea, something that gets me away from my work and moving for at least 5 minutes.)
Change the environment for my needs. (At home I work on the couch. At work I often end up on the floor with things spread around me.
Color-code, label, make notes.
Getting advice and feedback from others

Most important though. I allow myself to be ADD. If it's just not coming, if I need so much energy to concentrate that I got nothing left for actual working. If I get that feeling of pushing in my head and it doesn't go away but starts turning into a headache: I walk away. I can't stop my ADD or will it away so I stop trying to fight it and do something else. Usually the time away means that something in my head has time to resolve itself and when I sit back down later, it's easier to work.

The physical sensations (pressure in the forhead, fuzziness) are how I know what's not working. If I'm stuck and frustrated and catch myself rubbing my forehead or eyebrows; I know I'm pushing too hard and it's the ADD I'm pushing against. If I'm pushing but I don't feel that pressure I know it's either boredom (and I turn on my music) or eye strain (and I put on reading glasses)

In fact, its' starting now (I'm 30min late on my meds), so I'm gonna make some food.

Thank ya ma'am:D

What medications do you take?

I'm on Adderall, the generic salts... they are not extended release. Dang things get me going for about three hours then it's over and I hit the wall hard.

Thank ya ma'am:D

What medications do you take?

I'm on Adderall, the generic salts... they are not extended release. Dang things get me going for about three hours then it's over and I hit the wall hard.You're quite welcome.

I'm on 36mg Concerta.The long acting mechanisms seem to help with that pressure and such better since it doesn't come back during the day unless I'm pushing it.

When I moved and had to go a month without meds, I realized how much of a change they made. My husband asked what the problem was and I said it was like all my life there had been this buzzing in my head, like a noise just below the level of hearing. When I took the meds it got quiet enough to be ignored, and for months my brain had gotten regular breaks from this buzzing, like a rest period. When I had to do without meds, my brain started freaking out cause it was no longer getting a regular break from this buzzing. The long acting meds made the break long enough for my brain to actually get stuff done without being on the lookout for the return of the buzzing, cause the vigilance was just as bothersome as the buzzing it was looking for.

That sound like what you experience?

Oh, and here's a trick for short acting medications (Got this from an orthepedic surgeon for controlling pain at home after he put my leg back together)

Take the next dose of meds 30 mins before the last dose is due to wear off. If you take a pill at noon and know it'll work well for 3 hours; take the next one between 2:30 and 3. That way one is just entering your system while the other is starting to run dry. Hitting the wall is a sign that the drug is totally gone, not just low.