Hi, I'm a 48 year old female who has not been diagnosed with ADD but after reading posts on this forum I am very excited to maybe have found out what is wrong with me. In the past couple of years I have become completely debilitated with depression, anxiety, and lack of any motivation. I now cry every day at least once, cannot stay focused enough to get anything done. This alternates with anxiety which is what really led to the shape I'm in now. I asked my doctor for something for the anxiety as it was so bad I would break out in hives and after trying out Xanex (Im afraid to take this after reading up on it plus it made me weird) Buspar (did nothing) than she put me on propralnol (beta blocker which stops the physical symptoms of anxity and keeps it from feeding itself). The propralnal works well most of the time but I have gained 45# since taking this, plus it gives ne shortness of breath. My M.D. says this isnt a side affect but I found out after doing some research this is not true and the side affects are actually the ones where you should immediatly discontinue. Problem is though that I cant deal at all with sever anxiety.
I started seeing a hypnotherapist a few weeks ago and that has helped some. I decided a week ago that the depression was so bad that I had better do something and decided I need to see a Psychtrist. I dont believe my M.D. really know what she is doing when it comes to head shrinking:confused:
I live about 40 miles west of Houston.So if there is anyone who can recommend one it would be very much appreciated. I also dont have insurance.
Now it is a relief to find this site!
I feal like I'm home. I never thought to look at ADD as I pictured the bouncing off the wall kids. I have read post on the depression forum and relate somewhat but have always felt my depression was situational and not chronic. Anxiety has always been in my life but has really esculated recently. Now after reading about everyones ADD symptoms I have all of them and have since I was in second grade. Whats really cool is that I had talked to my hypnotherapists about that I really felt my deppression was so out of hand that I needed to see a doctor but just hated to go the med route. He said the your sub-consience knows exactly what you need and when under hypnosis gave me the suggestions that I would work out the delimna I was in about seeing a pschtrist vs something non-traditional. I left feeling that I would soon have an answer. Finding this forum is.....I believe...my answer. I feel hopeful for once. My depression has been caused because I cant motivate to do anything for myself or anyone except my animals. My boyfriend who works from home and supports me financlly is very mean with words and tells my that my only problem is I need to get off my lazy ***. This makes me feel very angry, guilty,anxious, and then depressed. He also makes fun of me for not paying attention. Normally when I was better His words would have hurt but not do what they do to me now. My self esteem is so low now. Before I became emotionally encapacitated I used to work a min. off 60 hours plus all non sleeping time doing very hard phsical vollunteer work. During my best most productive time I was taking 1 diet pill everyday, as prescribed except I would take two days off a week. I was able to get my stuff done, focus on what ever I was reading, (instead of reading bits and pieces of three different books which if someone asked I could say what thet were), happy and tired at night where I could sleep. I lost the weight I needed tod and quit taking the diet pills. At about this time my boyfriend didnt want me working anymore, I was glad for the break, than I had lots of tragedy back to back and just somehow became immobilized.
When I started reading about ADD I thought the last thing that would be prescribed is a stimulate but the diet pills are the only thing that I have ever taken that made me normal (what ever that is :rolleyes:).
I searched on the internet and they have a couple ADD clinics in Houston where I quess they specialize in this. I would l;ike some advice about should I go to a clinic that specializes in this or just see a regular psch doc? Anyway thanks in advance, Brenda

i would suggest seeing someone who specilise if you can...they know more usully and don't give you the 'here comes someone else looking for some ritalin' glare

Thanks for the answer. I am going to call around today and find out what the cost is. The only problem I'm afriad of with one of the add/adhd clinics is that the cost may be more than I can handle at this time. I found this site yesterday and in reading this have realised there seems to be people out there that abuse their meds and the docs dont want to prescribe. I did lots of different drugs recreationally when I was younger never was addicted to anything. This was in the late 70's and early 80's. I'm wondering if I should tell the truth about this. I hate to get put on something that wont work because they think I will abuse it. I'm paranoid now about taking anything but in reading up on all the disorders I have thought I may have and treatment options it seems that meds are the only thing that does work. I have been trying on my own to change. My thoughts about it go something like this, " Starting Monday(its always starting Mon.) I will get my *** out of bed and motivated at a reasonable hour. I will push all negative thoughts out of my brain and refused to be dragged down by them. I will start careing more for my self and surroundings and take better care of everything. I will be a better girlfriend,daughter, friend, etc. I fail immediatly then fall into the cycle of anxiety and depression.

Miss B, I can relate to the vicious cycle of procrastination, depression and anxiety you describe. I would have a relentless cycle of negative self-talk that was just brutal. It would never shut up. I could feel it occurring even when I could not hear it. This caused incredible anxiety and depression, loss of self-esteem, etc. The one thing I have noticed since starting meds a month ago is that the anxiety and negative self-talk are virtually gone. All from taking a stimulant. It is bizarre. I can just feel the calm coming over me when I take them. Now, I do have some struggles still of course. Still in my head, still hyperfocus and withdraw, etc. But to not have the anxiety and negative self-talk is incredible. I would highly recommend that you go to a clinic that specializes in ADD if you have the opportunity. I have been to a million therapists over the years, and psychiatrists, etc. that never diagnosed me with ADHD, even after everything they did for me showed little improvement. The point being is that this is a very misunderstood ailment that not many people even know about, let alone how to treat it effectively. I know it may cost more, but I bet if you look at it from the long-term, it may not when you factor in getting the right help more quickly and getting back to being productive again. My two cents worth.

Miss B, I can relate to the vicious cycle of procrastination, depression and anxiety you describe. I would have a relentless cycle of negative self-talk that was just brutal. It would never shut up. I could feel it occurring even when I could not hear it. This caused incredible anxiety and depression, loss of self-esteem, etc. The one thing I have noticed since starting meds a month ago is that the anxiety and negative self-talk are virtually gone. All from taking a stimulant. It is bizarre. I can just feel the calm coming over me when I take them. Now, I do have some struggles still of course. Still in my head, still hyperfocus and withdraw, etc. But to not have the anxiety and negative self-talk is incredible. I would highly recommend that you go to a clinic that specializes in ADD if you have the opportunity. I have been to a million therapists over the years, and psychiatrists, etc. that never diagnosed me with ADHD, even after everything they did for me showed little improvement. The point being is that this is a very misunderstood ailment that not many people even know about, let alone how to treat it effectively. I know it may cost more, but I bet if you look at it from the long-term, it may not when you factor in getting the right help more quickly and getting back to being productive again. My two cents worth.
Thanks, I agree. I have a appointment w/ a psych doc. I'm trying him first because of cost and that in his patient reviews someone wrote in that he is great with ADHD, because he is ADHD himself, I figured takes one to know one:).