Let's say I do have ADD. What do I do now?

[SonicHedgehog]

I've been to the psychologist and the psychiatrist. The therapy was more brief to affirm my suspicions, but I had been going for a long time with OCD. Anyway, psychiatrist suggested strattera. I'm thinking about it.

But how is that really going to help me? How will all this, even if I had tons of counseling, going to make me function differently? For example, How can I ever finish that book I've started (actually at 50k words, but it was a burst in a month, then very hard.). Other projects? My feelings?

Is it all just discipline? But isn't that true for all of us, regardless of add/adhd or not?

edit: I'm not despressed, really to anxious, just frustrated.

meds: cymbalta 60mg, lamictal xr 200mg

[pie4fools]

can you sit comfortably in a chair without moving? Do you have a weird energy to get things done(Picking weeds from yard, cleaning your room.)? Do you sometimes have a big urge to answer someones question before it is finished? If occupied by anything , mind, tv, phone, is it very difficult to read?(As if you forget the words while they are being read?)
Do you often bounce your leg while sitting down? Does it feel more comfortable to stand, instead of sitting? Do you have social anxiety? Does your mind often race with thoughts uncontrollably? Is it sometimes difficult to sleep? Do you seem to become very quite, in a group or class full of unknown people, but funny,loud, spontaneous in a classroom or group where you are comfortable?

If your saying holy **** there is a name for my feels, then you probably have the hyperactive, like I do. With just the things you said above will get you perscribed adderall.

You will know within the first or second dose if you are hyperactive or one of the other ones. If you take it and it makes you calm, then you are hyperactive. The first dose will probably make you Euphoric, for me this isnt fun because it makes me high-stupid. I want to be on this medication to cure my ADD. I used to get high or drunk every day before school so i could relax, calm my mind, and become more socially outgoing.

When ever i am off adderall (im hyperactive) it makes it hard to read, focus, short term memory, the constant need to stand or pace, I remember everyday my brain being unaccessable as a resource because of the constant feelings "life is weird" and "i need to get high" " the only time i feel normal is when im high."

If you decide to abuse the information i gave you at the top, yea youll get your adderall, you might like getting high and staying up all night feeling nothing for awhile, But soon you will feel the effects that i felt every day. Not sleeping, Anxiety, Insomnia, etc...
Sorry, i usually **** with people that talk about medicine and its dangers ha, but my family did not believe me whenever i was diagnosed

I can now sit in a chair comfortably after taking My 20mg IR every 2 hours.
I take a 30mg XR to get to sleep.

[fracturedstory]

They don't just prescribe Adderal, you know? Also, medication won't cure you, just alleviate some symptoms for a couple of hours, depending on your dosage.

The medication will help you focus but it's up to you what you focus on. You will be able to read a book. I've read so many books on medication. I recommend you start to organise yourself more. Medication will make it much easier to do this. It'll be hard at first but with practice and perseverance you'll get into the habit. Don't just take the medication and expect it to work wonders for you. You need to change some things for yourself.

As for me I get longer intense focus, more patience, motivation to do tasks, just doing tasks without thinking about doing them, a better ability to speak to people, can handle my emotions better and am actually able to process this world how everyone else (without ADHD) can process it. Oh yeah, and an increase in my ability to do mental arithmetic and as I'm a writer, I can write really descriptive paragraphs.

[Assumption]

Originally Posted by fracturedstory

.longer intense focus, more patience, motivation to do tasks, just doing tasks without thinking about doing them, a better ability to speak to people, can handle my emotions better and am actually able to process this world how everyone else (without ADHD) can process it. Oh yeah, and an increase in my ability to do mental arithmetic and as I'm a writer, I can write really descriptive paragraphs.

Oh mannnn, sign me up!

[SonicHedgehog]

Originally Posted by pie4fools

can you sit comfortably in a chair without moving? Do you have a weird energy to get things done(Picking weeds from yard, cleaning your room.)? Do you sometimes have a big urge to answer someones question before it is finished? If occupied by anything , mind, tv, phone, is it very difficult to read?(As if you forget the words while they are being read?)
Do you often bounce your leg while sitting down? Does it feel more comfortable to stand, instead of sitting? Do you have social anxiety? Does your mind often race with thoughts uncontrollably? Is it sometimes difficult to sleep? Do you seem to become very quite, in a group or class full of unknown people, but funny,loud, spontaneous in a classroom or group where you are comfortable?

If your saying holy **** there is a name for my feels, then you probably have the hyperactive, like I do. With just the things you said above will get you perscribed adderall.

You will know within the first or second dose if you are hyperactive or one of the other ones. If you take it and it makes you calm, then you are hyperactive. The first dose will probably make you Euphoric, for me this isnt fun because it makes me high-stupid. I want to be on this medication to cure my ADD. I used to get high or drunk every day before school so i could relax, calm my mind, and become more socially outgoing.

When ever i am off adderall (im hyperactive) it makes it hard to read, focus, short term memory, the constant need to stand or pace, I remember everyday my brain being unaccessable as a resource because of the constant feelings "life is weird" and "i need to get high" " the only time i feel normal is when im high."

If you decide to abuse the information i gave you at the top, yea youll get your adderall, you might like getting high and staying up all night feeling nothing for awhile, But soon you will feel the effects that i felt every day. Not sleeping, Anxiety, Insomnia, etc...
Sorry, i usually **** with people that talk about medicine and its dangers ha, but my family did not believe me whenever i was diagnosed

I can now sit in a chair comfortably after taking My 20mg IR every 2 hours.
I take a 30mg XR to get to sleep.

This is not really me. Sorry. Thanks though.

Originally Posted by fracturedstory

They don't just prescribe Adderal, you know? Also, medication won't cure you, just alleviate some symptoms for a couple of hours, depending on your dosage.

The medication will help you focus but it's up to you what you focus on. You will be able to read a book. I've read so many books on medication. I recommend you start to organise yourself more. Medication will make it much easier to do this. It'll be hard at first but with practice and perseverance you'll get into the habit. Don't just take the medication and expect it to work wonders for you. You need to change some things for yourself.

As for me I get longer intense focus, more patience, motivation to do tasks, just doing tasks without thinking about doing them, a better ability to speak to people, can handle my emotions better and am actually able to process this world how everyone else (without ADHD) can process it. Oh yeah, and an increase in my ability to do mental arithmetic and as I'm a writer, I can write really descriptive paragraphs.

encouraging. just what I'd like to do.

[k1dj03y]

As it was stated above. From my personal experience so far the two medications i have tried did not 'fix me'. What I am finding from personal experience is I just notice more things and do them better.

IE at work: I notice I am taking a short cut on a given task at work.
The old me would look at the given task, find the shortest way to get it done and call it good. Its done (or at least the boss things its done).
The new me (on Adderall), looks at that same task, starts it and again will find the shortest way to get it done. Yet somewhere in this thought process I am sometimes (most of the time as of late) able to catch myself before I make mistakes and do things the right way.

IE at home: Speeding
The old me: More then once I have found myself street racing. Often topping 100mph on the highway. I know it was wrong, I know it could cause serious problems for me if caught (and I have past tickets to remind me of that >.<). But something in my brain/head didn't connect and I just did it. When asked why, I would often say 'I don't know'
The new me (on Adderall): I find myself paying more attention to those around me when on the road and not that next mark/race. And doing less risky tasks. Note I said less because last weekend I again found myself up over the 100mph mark (this time at 4am). Only this time, instead of looking at my engines RPM. I also was looking at my spedo and again my brain clicked and said this is not a good idea, and I slowed back down to a more reasonable speed.

So as you can see medication cant/wont 'fix you', but at least for me it is giving me more tools to throw at my ADHD and at least have a chance.

*** NOTE I AM NOT ENCOURAGING SPEEDING/STREET RACING OR ANYTHING OF THE SORTS***
Just using the most recent example to help the OP make an informed decision.

[CheekyMonkey]

Without meds, your efforts drive you off a cliff.

With meds, your efforts point you in the right direction. It will still take time to learn new skills and support yourself through changes in your environment, relationships, etc., but it will be POSSIBLE which was probably not the case without meds.