ADD?
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,907
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
Well as if I don't already have enough known conditions, there is a high chance I have ADD as well....which was made worse by PTSD. But yeah i only started giving thought to this today during my counseling session. I told him I was having major difficulties focusing in class amoung a few other things and he thinks I definatly have signs of ADD. I mean as a child I had minor symptoms of it which did not effect my acedemics too much so it was never much of a concern. But now its like I can't focus even if I put all my effort into it, i can't seem to stick to anything long enough to get it done. But ok enough of my ramble.....I guess my question is what kinds of things can be done about this? I know they prescribe things like adderall for it which I am considering looking into when I get on medicaid(working on that currently) but I have mixed feelings about that.
but anyways for the time being does anyone have any advice on natural ways to deal with this? because I am getting quite frusterated that I am intelligent enough to do well in all my classes....but my brain won't cooperate.
There could be other reasons for inattentiveness (e.g. poor diet, sleeplessness, depression), but with the other conditions, you could very well have ADHD. Bipolar disorder is more common in people with ADHD than in the general population; also ADHD is very common in people with Asperger's Syndrome (6 out of 7).
Treating the ADHD (if that is what it is) can help a lot in dealing with other conditions, such as anxiety.
I take Concerta and Ritalin, and it helps me significantly.
You would not have schizophrenia if you had ADHD.
_________________
When I must wait in a queue, I dance. Classified as an aspie with ADHD on 31 March 2009 at the age of 43.
PS: You asked about 'natural ways' of dealing with inattentiveness.
It is important that treatment should be holistic, i.e. from all angles -- diet, exercise, healthy routine AND medication if necessary. You can find good advice about a broad spectrum of treatments and lifestyle tips at http://www.additudemag.com
I visit that site regularly and subscribe to the newsletter.
_________________
When I must wait in a queue, I dance. Classified as an aspie with ADHD on 31 March 2009 at the age of 43.
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,907
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
It is important that treatment should be holistic, i.e. from all angles -- diet, exercise, healthy routine AND medication if necessary. You can find good advice about a broad spectrum of treatments and lifestyle tips at http://www.additudemag.com
I visit that site regularly and subscribe to the newsletter.
Yeah I looked at a couple sites...I do get quite a bit of excercise on my college campus, especially when my back bakc is rather heavy. As for the diet I have limited options not much to make healthy lunches with at my moms house and I can't afford to buy much food when I am at the college because I have to watch my spending(perhaps a multi-vitamin would help). But yeah there are minor things like that I could probably do. I obviously need to look into more of what might be causing these issues and if it really is ADD...hopefully I get approved for medicaid so I can get a more valid diagnosis and find out what exactly I am dealing with.
These things are actually more major than you may think. I take rest-breaks at work in which I actually lie down in a quiet place covering my eyes. I do relaxation exercises (in my mind) and apply sensory strategies to my body (such as pressure).
Vitamin B (complex) is one of the things that helps. Before I was diagnosed, it was the only thing of which I was consciously aware that really helped me through the years to some extent. It helps against lethargy too. It is well-documented that it helps for inattention. (I didn't actually know that at the time.)
Omega-3 is also known to make a big difference -- look up details about it, because you need the right kind.
These vitamins make a difference to anyone who has problems with attention (not only those with ADHD); it's well researched.
_________________
When I must wait in a queue, I dance. Classified as an aspie with ADHD on 31 March 2009 at the age of 43.
but anyways for the time being does anyone have any advice on natural ways to deal with this? because I am getting quite frusterated that I am intelligent enough to do well in all my classes....but my brain won't cooperate.
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For insights into the general areas of paying attention, processing, and memory, you might try to find a copy of the Nerves In Collision book by Walter C. Alvarez, M.D. (about the many epilepsies) as well as the How To (understand) Hyperactivity book (1981) about ADHD Inattentive by C. Thomas Wild (about modern nutrition, caffeine helps a few with ADHD). Insights possible here and there (no cures).
be careful about getting into medications for ADD while at college. I have had major problems with medication while at school. ADD meds are very tricky and as much as they can help you they can also really hurt you.
im not trying to scare you away from medications or anything cause I still think they can help a lot. but i have a lot of advice to make sure you dont experience as many problems with them.
first of which is make sure you have a good doctor, not that there are a lot of 'bad' doctors, but many are not as familiar with these types of medications as they need to be to prescribe them.
anyways i wont bore you with more, thats the main thing,
if you have any questions feel free to ask me or pm me
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,907
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
im not trying to scare you away from medications or anything cause I still think they can help a lot. but i have a lot of advice to make sure you dont experience as many problems with them.
first of which is make sure you have a good doctor, not that there are a lot of 'bad' doctors, but many are not as familiar with these types of medications as they need to be to prescribe them.
anyways i wont bore you with more, thats the main thing,
if you have any questions feel free to ask me or pm me
Well I have actually tried adderall, and some generic version.....because it was offered and I have curiousity about drugs. But anyways I did notice that particular type of thing seems to help with getting things done and focusing a bit more......but then the other thing is I don't know if I would be comfortable having to be on that type of drug consistantly every day. But yeah one I get approved for the medicaid thing......then I can look at the options I imagine.
Well I have actually tried adderall, and some generic version.....because it was offered and I have curiousity about drugs. But anyways I did notice that particular type of thing seems to help with getting things done and focusing a bit more......but then the other thing is I don't know if I would be comfortable having to be on that type of drug consistantly every day. But yeah one I get approved for the medicaid thing......then I can look at the options I imagine.
yes being on adderall consistently is difficult. ive been on it for about 9years and the longer you're on it the more you tend to need, you can take drug 'holidays' but the ups and downs trying to do that is not much fun especially in school. but yeah i just figured id put that out there since i know quite a bit about adderall
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,907
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
Well I have actually tried adderall, and some generic version.....because it was offered and I have curiousity about drugs. But anyways I did notice that particular type of thing seems to help with getting things done and focusing a bit more......but then the other thing is I don't know if I would be comfortable having to be on that type of drug consistantly every day. But yeah one I get approved for the medicaid thing......then I can look at the options I imagine.
yes being on adderall consistently is difficult. ive been on it for about 9years and the longer you're on it the more you tend to need, you can take drug 'holidays' but the ups and downs trying to do that is not much fun especially in school. but yeah i just figured id put that out there since i know quite a bit about adderall
Exactly, I mean I would be lying if I said I do not enjoy the effects such as being able to think a bit quicker and react to things quicker and focusing more.......but still sometimes I like to just be in my natural sober state which I would not do if I was on a drug all the time. I mean if I decided it was worth it then I would have to take breaks. But i have not even got that far.....I mean I still am waiting on getting a more official diagnosis of the aspergers, PTSD and anxiety and now I have to include the possibility of ADD and any other mental things that feel like coming out from hiding.
omega 3-6-9 and activite (multivitamin) are good combo
also you could try coffee
After much deliberation I decided against medications because I did not like the way they made me feel and they made me psychotic. Not to say you will get this but that's what happened to me.
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“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”
― George Washington
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,907
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
also you could try coffee
After much deliberation I decided against medications because I did not like the way they made me feel and they made me psychotic. Not to say you will get this but that's what happened to me.
I do drink coffee......though I prefer mountain dew and black tea, in short caffine does help a bit at least with my energy level and it makes it slightly easier to be more involved in class. But yeah the reason I am rather unsure I would want any meds for that is I am a bit worried about long term use.
Well I have actually tried adderall, and some generic version.....because it was offered and I have curiousity about drugs. But anyways I did notice that particular type of thing seems to help with getting things done and focusing a bit more......but then the other thing is I don't know if I would be comfortable having to be on that type of drug consistantly every day. But yeah one I get approved for the medicaid thing......then I can look at the options I imagine.
yes being on adderall consistently is difficult. ive been on it for about 9years and the longer you're on it the more you tend to need, you can take drug 'holidays' but the ups and downs trying to do that is not much fun especially in school. but yeah i just figured id put that out there since i know quite a bit about adderall
Exactly, I mean I would be lying if I said I do not enjoy the effects such as being able to think a bit quicker and react to things quicker and focusing more.......but still sometimes I like to just be in my natural sober state which I would not do if I was on a drug all the time. I mean if I decided it was worth it then I would have to take breaks. But i have not even got that far.....I mean I still am waiting on getting a more official diagnosis of the aspergers, PTSD and anxiety and now I have to include the possibility of ADD and any other mental things that feel like coming out from hiding.
I can understand that its kind of hard to know what to treat first. even the diagnosis can be sketchy at best cause especially AS and ADD are so closely related and the other stuff can be caused by them or be completely separate, its so annoying and confusing. I cant wait till I can finally get off these drugs though, i dont even know what my natural state is anymore
i hope everything works out for you
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,907
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
Well I have actually tried adderall, and some generic version.....because it was offered and I have curiousity about drugs. But anyways I did notice that particular type of thing seems to help with getting things done and focusing a bit more......but then the other thing is I don't know if I would be comfortable having to be on that type of drug consistantly every day. But yeah one I get approved for the medicaid thing......then I can look at the options I imagine.
yes being on adderall consistently is difficult. ive been on it for about 9years and the longer you're on it the more you tend to need, you can take drug 'holidays' but the ups and downs trying to do that is not much fun especially in school. but yeah i just figured id put that out there since i know quite a bit about adderall
Exactly, I mean I would be lying if I said I do not enjoy the effects such as being able to think a bit quicker and react to things quicker and focusing more.......but still sometimes I like to just be in my natural sober state which I would not do if I was on a drug all the time. I mean if I decided it was worth it then I would have to take breaks. But i have not even got that far.....I mean I still am waiting on getting a more official diagnosis of the aspergers, PTSD and anxiety and now I have to include the possibility of ADD and any other mental things that feel like coming out from hiding.
I can understand that its kind of hard to know what to treat first. even the diagnosis can be sketchy at best cause especially AS and ADD are so closely related and the other stuff can be caused by them or be completely separate, its so annoying and confusing. I cant wait till I can finally get off these drugs though, i dont even know what my natural state is anymore
i hope everything works out for you
Well if things work out it will take time......I mean along with the aspergers and possible ADD I already have depression, anxiety and PTSD. Its very hard to deal with it all, especially when I am trying to do ok in college on top of it all. Maybe I should not have gone back to college before getting all this sorted out...
ive kind of been wondering the same thing myself. i was sent home last semester to try to get my medications straightened out but theyre still terrible, at least im not so depressed and suicidal now. my anxiety is awful but im getting through the best i can
and having people to talk to on here is really helping me get through it right now.
Sometimes it is good to stay in college or in work, because it drives you. If you get out you can sometimes get even more depressed because you spend a lot of time focusing on yourself and your problems instead of getting some fulfilment from the involvement in what you are doing. I am not saying that staying in the situation is always a good thing, because sometimes one really can't cope, and then there's no point in trying to push it.
Specialists in ADHD, such as Dr. Shabeer Jeeva, say that if you are working on the actual underlying problem of ADHD whilst treating the symptoms which have developed as a result of it (e.g. depression, bipolar disorder, addiction, anxiety, low self-esteem, etc.) the long-term prognosis is much better.
That is, assuming you do have ADHD.
About medication: Different things work for different people. Concerta and Ritalin (both contain methylphenidate) work well for me. About 80% of ADHDers do well on methylphenidate.
For what it's worth, instant coffee helps me sleep! Many other people have told me they find the same.
_________________
When I must wait in a queue, I dance. Classified as an aspie with ADHD on 31 March 2009 at the age of 43.