What were your realizations? Improvements? A-Ha moments?
I'm so ready to go for meds....

I went from 2 mph (in HIGH gear), not being able to even pick up around the house, piles of piles everywhere, crap never put away, kids rarely fed actual home cooked food.

laundry consisted of emergency loads that basically included anything that was needed the next day; ie. husbands work pants (black), white work shirt, undies, socks, kids jeans and shirts, and a towel and washcloth.
in ONE load.

Bills were paid when the creditor called about the late payment. I wish I had a dollar for every notice I got from the electric company with our electric shut off date... granted I'd only have 3 dollars, but still.

I remembered things after my husband reminded me twelve or fifty times. And that was actually rare. I never wanted to go anywhere, never wanted to do anything, because I was so depressed because I couldn't figure out why I was the way I was.

NOW (after Adderall/now ritalin)

Hmmm... where to start, not only are we in about HALF the debt we were, but I'm paying bills bi monthly. I've even managed to switch insurance companies and lower my insurance costs by half. I've learned more about the economy, finances, banking industry, etc in the past 7 or 8 months than you could imagine. (It helps not having a job)

Laundry: well right now I have the bedding and curtains and shower curtain on the clothes line. There are clean clothes that need to be put away, but they're folded at least.

I'm in the middle of a break from shampooing my carpet.

Later this evening I'm going to be washing my new meat grinder because when I grind the meat in the Cuisinart, I'm just not entirely satisfied with the texture..... The kids and I will have fresh ground meat hamburgers and french fries in the sparkly clean frier. (no not entirely healthy, but homecooked... baby steps.. baby steps.)

We have company coming sunday so while I won't get to it this week because I'm doing some extra cleaning, (scrubbing all the interior doors... for the second time in 4 months... and like the second time since we built the house.. TEN years ago... lol) but next week I'll be painting my sons new bedroom.

I've got my finances in order, my laundry in order (even though now and again we're digging through a basket, at least it's clean), and my kitchen is stocked.

That's just the stuff people can see. On the inside, it's like I finally got to turn off that whirlwind that was my brain. I literally feel like a different person, only it's me. It's familiar, it's comfortable and it's amazing.

I was just diagnosed today and am looking forward to more replies to install a little hope that this will get better keep 'em coming.

I can now filter the noise around me and concentrate on conversations.
It take half the time as before to do house cleaning tasks.
Some home improvement projects finally get done.
I don't feel exhausted at the end of the day.
Procrastination is a thing of the past.
My desk at the office is not cover with papers.
Small talk and social interactions is easier.
I don't get bored as much as before.
I went from 4-5 cup of coffee per day to only 1 (small).
I take less beer on the week-end (1 or 2).
I want to do new things...


I am still discovering some bad coping mechanism that I can replace with good one. On my second month on Concerta, I can just say "Wow!". :)

I dont like lengthy replies.

1. Meds are like specific cocktails catered to your situation.
2. I'm taking Wellbutrin because of my
a. mild depression
b. inattentive type ADD.

3. If you dont want to take them you don't have to.

4. However they REALLY help.

5. I was lost. Stuck in depressive eddies. Biologically hurting.

6. Meds helped me out of the biology issues.

7. psychological ones still remain.

**note. for some issues you can use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Its acts like medication. Training your mind as well as body to improve.

Seriously consider taking meds. I was the BIGGEST skeptic and mulled the issue over for about a year. Ask people here. I recently started and so far so good!

As one who is still in the process of sorting out why I do certain things which reflect what people are describing as 'symptoms' of ADHD I'm really intrigued as to how medication improves the situation as decribed. Things like filtering out noise, decreasing procrastination, being more organised, getting projects done etc.

I guess as in part I see these as all behavioural and not biological, I think it is getting my head around that there is indeed some biological aspect to all this.

Nathan

I see these as all behavioural and not biological

Ahhhh...this my friend is the heart of an ongoing debate in psychology. Its called Nature vs. Nurture. In other words: Biology vs. Environment.

Unfortunately no one can give you a straight answer. Its more likely a combination of both. I have pondered these same questions as anyone should whos going to take meds.

Perhaps your right. Its only a subject of behavior. Never the less you must ask yourself " is it getting in the way of my life?" If not then proceed as normally. If so then consider medication or behavioral therapy.

There have been no real "Aha !' moments. I take the meds and I am less scattered, less impulsive and a lot less hyperactive. It's not perfect.... I still have adhd, but it is better. :faint:

Me :D

What were your realizations? Improvements? A-Ha moments?
I'm so ready to go for meds....

My first A-ha moment was the first day I took Concerta. I was so shocked that I was in tears. I actually did household chores, read through more than one page of a magazine, and kept to a schedule. Over time I saw my self esteem rise (wow, I really CAN do what I want to and complete it) as my grades and work attendance improved.

Just to give you both sides of the issue.. I try to take meds as infrequently as possible. Unfortunately, with full-time school and a full-time job, this is daily except Sundays. I believe in staying as close to nature as possible, which helped me come off anti-depressants and eat healthy, but I have found nothing that even comes close to the impact that Dexedrine has on my ADD. My forgetfullness and lack of concentration would not make me a suitable student or employee and as I did before I was medicated I would certainly fail.

I felt the effect the first day, even at just 2.5 mg Adderall IR. I was able to stay on task, finish one thing before starting another, etc. I was also able to read things at work without feeling sleepy. I do a lot of reading. The meds also reduced and, when combined with an anti-anxiety medication, seem to have eliminated that "overwhelm" that really shuts me down sometimes. As a result, I'm able to execute the other things that I need to do to work around the ADD issues: maintain task lists, exercise, eat better, take Omega 3s, etc. So I see the meds as sort of a booster, with the behavioral and other changes as the main "treatment," if you will. But the meds are an important component. If nothing else, when you take them and first recognize the difference that they make, you have this experience that is hard to describe. I tried them on a weekend when I was working, and all I remember thinking was "So this is what it's like for everyone else?????!!!!! Holy Cow! This is EASY!!!!!" They weren't quite the panacea that I'd hoped, but they have made it a lot easier to do the other things that I'm doing for treatment.

Thank you all so much! I got a referral yesterday to an ADD specialist. I'm on the way!


I'm so done with living like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26424815@N02/?saved=1