Hi @ all,

just wanted to tell you there is hope... I don't want to show off, I just want to share my experiences to give you hope... Of course, I was also very lucky the medication worked for me and I was at the right time at the right place, for once. Not that you think medications make everything easy and start to feel guilty if you had not a breakthrough yet!!!!

I'm 26 now, I've been depressed from the age of 7, had eating disorders from 16-20, was treated for severe depression since 2004, and finally diagnosed with ADD in late 2005. If you want to have an impression how I felt, just look at my old posts ;-)

After some fiddling with my medication cocktail, I ended up at 75 mg Effexor XR, 18 mg Concerta, 100 mg Provigil and 10 mg Memantine. Since I've been taking that combo, I feel really great, the Concerta improved my mental "clarity"and overall mood, provigil made it easier to switch tasks and made my mood more even and Memantine lets me remember where I put things and to put them away ;-)

I even realize that I'm not as clumsy anymore and while I could not catch a ball easily before because I could not follow fast movements, I can see these fast movements now. Feels like in "Matrix" :cool:

In October 2006 I finished my Masters in Biochemistry (mark: "excellent"), from April to August 2007 I worked as a technician at a major pharmaceutical company (they told me they'd like to get me back when I finished my PhD). After that I did an internship at WHO (apparently my supervisor was quite happy, too) and now I'm doing my PhD at a really good university (top 20 worldwide) and I could choose between 3 places that would have accepted me as an PhD student.

I'm really happy, as you can imagine, I feel as if after all, I am able to be myself and do not always stumble over my ADD

Of course, I'm still chaotic and when I'm tired, thats very pronounced. I still hate routine tasks and I'm pretty low before my period, but I do not feel disabled anymore...

Wish everyone of you the same!

Big hug!

hmmm, no answers?

hope I did not overdo it... I'm just so very happy everything is running smoothly right now.

You go Matrix chick! And congrats on your achievments.:)
I'm very happy life is on the 'up' for you and that you have been able to obtain what you want from life. Keep going!

that's so cool :-)
it's goods to see someone so positive ;-)

Congrats, keep it up. Everyone can use a little inspiration! I can tell you are going to do great things. I would highly suggest getting some rest though :)

Thanks.... well, I had a rest (long christmas vacations plus I went skiing for three days last week)
Getting started is still difficult though ;)
Getting out of bed, too

But otherwise, I wouldn't recognize myself anymore, probably it's good to keep some bad habits and difficulties for one's identity ;) (I'm at least half-joking)

Brilliant

It must be a stunning feeling when the ADD is pushed aside and the brain that you know's been in there gets out to strut its stuff.

Jealous I am :-)

kilt

Congratulations Princess! ADD is a long and tough road to travel but it sounds like you're getting to where you want to be.

I'm six months into treatment. Like you, problems since I was seven, so many attempts at self-sabotaging but luckily my self-esteem has been resilient and I've been surrounded by people who know how to love and forgive. However, unlike you, it took me twenty more years of life to understand what the underlying problem was.

The treatment has been successful. Also my own work at understanding how I got to where I am. That work has been painful at times but also easy in some ways. After awhile, as my doctor said, I started to define myself differently, not such a screw up. I just had my best Christmas ever, got along with everyone, no panicking, no button pushing or letting my buttons be pushed, organized and calm and able to be in the moment. People are starting to react differently to me, less suspiciously, less guarded. I even look in the mirror and can see that my face has changed - happier, more relaxed. Others have used the word "transformed."

As to the brain being allowed to work? I've started origami. I've tried so many times in the past to end up angry and frustrated and giving up (and I have a good, good IQ). Now I can do it. Easily :)

And Kilted, I can't help but think from your name that you'll get there soon enough. "Kilter" is only one changed letter...

So nice to hear something positive.

Jealous I am too, but in a good way!! SO glad to hear things are working the way they're supposed to for you guys. Don't be shy about sharing more.

Hey there Princess,

Great to hear someone on a positive note. It sounds like things are really looking up for you. I am glad you came here to share the good, as well as the bad. I look forward to hearing more from you.

At Heart

that's awesome! you rawk on with your bad self! and congrats on finding yourself, and maximizing your life!


so good to hear positive stuff!

Thank you all! I'll write a bit more about my medication soon (probably in med-forum) so others can tell their doctors.

Here is a study about memantine in ADHD: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

Congratulations!

Kudos!!

Fantabulous!!

That's great! Send some of that focus down my way :)

You go girl!!!