ADD - medication?

Hi help!

I found out about ADD & really think I have it. Have had concentration problems since school even though was self motivated to learn from early age. Have had several jobs recently and have just had the sack from my latest one. Basically trying to concentrate even in simple jobs means that I get blips and lose concentration and get double vision also - I have convergence insufficiency - and if I try to keep at it I just end up really unwell. This is part time work we're talking about and also hobbies. When I am on my feet and engaged with people I'm a different person. I'm sick of not being able to do what I feel I can achieve and what normal people do. Dr just dismisses it as stress - funny this stress only seems to happen behind a desk. It's like I put my whole body into trying to keep on focus and frequently get cystitis through clinging to a chair so tight. It's sort of like all the things I try to do just slip out of my head. I've tried diet, proper glasses and those fish pills which I've got to say seem to help. Also tested for hyperlexia so probably Aspergers as well. I'd be willing to take medication if that could help me - any ideas on this? Any thoughts appreciated.

Ritalin (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/Ritalin.html) is the classic medicaion for ADHD. I think it's still the most widely used today.

Adderall helps me alot but if your not comfortable with a stimulant strattera is a new non-stimulant treatment for ADHD. Also counsoling helps me alot enspecially Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in which you with a counsolor on finding patterns in your thoughts that lead to distractablity and using various techniques to intervene when this happens.

Figuring what types of things trigger you to become distractable and why might help you to avoid these sitations and stay on track with your work. Some people find that setting aside time everyday to organize your desk/breifcase reduces distractability and many also find that taking frequent breaks helps. Another trick that may help is keeping a notebook to jot down ideas that come to mind so that you can prevent getting into a daydream and keeping a todo list. I've found that since I loose things a lot that if I leave a message on my voicemail/email I can remember what I need to do.

If you'd ever like to talk you can email my at urgodandiamnot@hotmail.com I'd love to talk with you.
~Jen

I've seen a lot of the responses you've posted on the forum and have been diagnosed with ADD, by several shrinks the only problem is that I hate the way the pills make me feel and I am always debating with them about this. I'll write you later with more.

I'm on adderall to well not right now, and my family doesn't want me on it. My mom thinks I become more depressed and parinoid which iare side effects of this medication and i've tried stratera, ridilin, concerta (I think) and dextroa... the problem is I'm suffering from being a victim of rape and I only think this aggrevates the problem. I already am on the rape discussion forum and have helped a lot of people but I just can't help myself. Yes i'm very organized when i'm on it but I think my religious belief's keep me from wanting to be on it. It's like I believe God can change anything and he created us to be images of himself so why do I have ADD? Sincerely confused?
From a strong Christian, Jen

Hi Tinkerfly06,

This post is more about your response than the original question. I wonder if your doctors have considered that the rape might be the cause of your attention and concentration problems. Lots of people with Post traumatic stress disorder have trouble focusing and concentrating. Also you would expect adderall to exaccerbate a trauma related problem because, like all ADHD treatments, it increases noradrenaline (norepinephrine if youre american) and/or dopamine. Researchers think people with ADHD cant concentrate becase there brains are understimulated whereas people with PTSD cant concentrate because there brains are overstimulated (i.e too much noradrenaline). Have you told your doctors what happened? I can send you references if you want some ammunition to argue with your doctors about the ADD drugs.

As for the god and ADD thing. I'm not really religious, but I beleive in something bigger than what we see. I always felt like many of the really #######5 things that happened in my life happened for a reason and that they made me (eventually) a stronger and basically better person than I would have been otherwise. Some people think that when people have disabilites they've chosen to come that way and experience the challenging aspects of it to grow as a spiritual being. So it may not be so much that god made a mistake as there is some greater good to be gained from what appear to be bad things. As for the drugs I guess the question is does it help you? do the benefits outweigh the costs (side effects), and, if you dont actually have a physical problem, but more an emotional one, is it just taking attention away from that. A lot of people use drugs, both prescription and otherwise, to numb painful feelings and it makes you feel better for a while, but ultimately interferes with the healing process.

Anyway, hope this helps a bit. Good luck.

I started strattera this past year, and I was doing a whole lot better concentrating and everything, but it made me a lot more tired...and twice this past year I just randomly got nauseous all of a sudden and nearly blacked out...which I think was due to the Strattera...But I dunno, could just be my reactions to it. Who knows...but I've never really been on anything else, so I wouldn't know much about this...

[size=9]tinkerfly06, I just noticed the last part of what you said, and just thought I'd say somethin. God can definitely change and do anything, and did create us in His image. And I believe no matter what, God's will always happens. Soo, when I think....why do I have ADD, OCD, etc...I know it's how I was made, and of course God doesn't make mistakes...and whatever he wants for my life (and he never wants us to be sad/lonely/ or anything), will happen, as long as I subject to His will. which will happen anyway...Ha, it's kinda confusing...Aw man I probably make no sense since it's about 2 in the morning...haha, I just said "sense since"...ok, well just thought i'd add what I was thinkin... :/[/size]