A sad feeling

[Hellogirlbye]

So, I'd been off my Adderall for about 2 months and just got back on it today. Didn't get that euphoric rush that I used to, but I got a little one, which is nice. I am a person who really responds to obvious signs/tokens/rewards like that. However, I got this sad feeling throughout the day. Not massive, not depressed, but just sad. I've had a similar feeling before, but usually only when I was coming off of it. I might almost describe it as forlorn/lonely.

Anyone else? I thought maybe it could be because it's the weekend and I didn't have any specific tasks to complete, if that makes sense. I sort of felt like I was wishing I had a really specific task.

Also it could be, maybe, that I am moving in a week, and it's causing me some anxiety. I don't know. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else had ever felt this sad feeling and what they think might have brought it on for themselves?

[silivrentoliel]

I get like that sometimes, I call them "Eeyore Days"... I am just sad and upset and lonely and generally unhappy. Not real sure what causes them, but they pass. My DH finds them amusing- I think more the name than the feelings.

[sarahsweets]

is it possible that adderall isnt for you? Some people do much better with dexedrine which lacks the levoamphetamine that adderall contains.

[Sandy4957]

I am so ripping off "Eeyore Days!"

Yes, I get them, too, and the lack of a specific task to do is a big part of it for me.

On the one hand, that sort of "drive" if you will, is a positive thing, because it means that you derive a lot of satisfaction from checking things off of the to-do list, so that that is (in itself) a reward. That's helpful with ADHD because it means that all the little organizational programs tend to work.

But it has a bit of a downside, and that's that you can become defined by accomplishments. So if something upsets the apple cart (i.e., it's the weekend and you don't have work to do; the things that you are used to accomplishing are no longer available to you; you can't work in your chosen field, or whatever), all of a sudden you're casting about trying to figure out how to get the "fix."

Years ago, I used to get depressed on vacation. It made the hubster nuts. I had to LEARN how to do it. The best way to learn that is to vacation with someone who is VERY good at it. (For this, it seems to me that you have to hook up with someone European, because we Americans are lousy, LOUSY vacationers! ) I learned how to vacation when we spent three weeks in Singapore a couple years ago. Our friends are an Irish woman and her American but now UK-citizen hubby, and they know how to just HANG OUT. It's weird that that's a skill, but it turns out that it is.

So it is good to learn to build in other ways of feeling good about yourself, as well... Who are you on vacation? That's a good place to start.

[silivrentoliel]

Originally Posted by Sandy4957

I am so ripping off "Eeyore Days!"

I don't hold the copyright on it, so have fun!

[daveddd]

i have depressed days often

not sad, but im not great at identifying emotions it seems, so it could be

not sure what causes it

but anything that artificially raises dopamine levels is known to be followed by guilt or sadness in some people

so that could be it for you

[stealthology]

Obviously it's because of the adderall..

I have a love hate thing with Adderall. I think I'm going to lower my dose. I become anxious, irritated, slightly depressed, go off-task and research something online when I know I have more important things to do, etc. not all the time, but regularly enough. ESPECIALLY when I don't have enough sleep or I eat unhealthy. I make my girlfriend upset with words wayy too frequently.

[Hellogirlbye]

Thanks everyone. It's good to hear these thoughts. I'll talk to my doctor. I'm just nervous because I am more productive and confident on Adderall...even though I feel a little sad.

[starrykitten]

I just posted about something similar:

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126388