I think it is time to turn to medication

[SearcherKris]

I was diagnosed with clinical level ADD three and half years ago. I didn't go on medication at the time because I didn't have insurance. I also wanted to try learning to manage it on my own without a drug.

However, that did not turn out to be very successful. Now I am a full-time student, employed part time, and a single mom. Things are not going well.

I don't have another adult in the home to help me stay on track of things. I don't have the organization, focus, or time management skills that I need in order to do everything that I need to do. My life is quite a mess right now.

 

[kevind]

would like to talk to you sometime....

 

[Discern]

Hey, Kris,

Just a brief encouraging note. It's been suspected that I had ADD since I was a child. My mother didn't medicate me, preferring to control my symptoms with diet and other methods. It worked well enough to get me through, and through Bible college as well.

But... I lived alone, too. I could keep a job, but not focus on it to the best of my abilities. Eventually my inability to track the conversations and people around me became overwhelming...

I guess all I'm trying to say is that I tried everything, including two years of crying in the prayer chapel at school that God would fix it. I honestly believe He lead me to a good psychiatrist and the right medication. Not saying it will be your fix, but it worked for me, finally and thank God.

All healing is from God, sometimes He uses doctors.

All the best,

Sara

 

[kevind]

I run my own business and I also suffer with memory loss, I just came off my meds after maybe 4 weeks... I was worst on them. I go back soon to the doc. and I will see if he will try something else.

 

[Discern]

Yeah... finding the right medications can be hard. I had to cut back my dosage since it helped with the ADD but not the ADHD and I tended to hyper focus and ... well, forget to eat. Doing much better now!

I also found the book You Mean I'm not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy? which is about dealing with adult ADD. I didn't read all of it (can you guess why?) but what I did read was really useful to not only show me coping techniques but also understanding... well, why and how I'm different.

 

[grainofsalt]

Kris,

I have been on ADD/ADHD medication for about 1 year now and it has made a SIGNIFICANT differance in my life. However, as most of you know Adderall is a stimulant, albiet a relatively safe one when taken as directed. Well, I decided (on more than one occasion) that I didn't want to be on this medication and that ohhh I don't need this drug. What I didn't realize (and we usually never did) was how much it was actually helping me. I'm only on 7.5 mgs 2 times a day, which is about 1/2 of the normal adult dose. At this "baby dose", my driving improved dramatically (my road raged decreased about 80 percent, I was stopping better, driving more carefully and slowly on curvy roads), my memory improved by about 50 percent (because I was slowing down to pay attention to things being said), I was less prone to anger and arguements, Could be content and sit still more easily, people were able to talk to me without me cutting them off, and so on. Therefore Adderall made me much more tolerable to other people and postively affected my relationships with them as well as help me with risk taking decisions (as in driving, what I was eating, ect). Off of the medication, I am a nightmare to deal with and I always deny that I am really acting a certain way. its not until I go back on the medication that I realize others were right.


Medication can make a HUGE impact on ADHD and it most certainly is a life affecting condition. Most doctors will start you on smaller than normal doses and work you up to a dosing thats comfortable, allowing you to use the minimal dose possible to acheive the desired affects to help your condition.

Not all ADHD medications are stimulants but most are. However, its a known fact that people with ADHD are at lower risk for abusing the medication, so the "risk" of addiction shouldn't overwhelm you, especially if your doctor can put you on a lower dose. The reason we don't abuse the medication is because we receive a different effect do to our chemical imbalance. It slows down our thinking while still promoting alertness. There is also a stimulant called vyanese that needs to be processed first before it becomes active, so its effects come on slower and the risk of addiction is further reduced. There still is ofcourse a risk of that happening, but in my particular case, the benefits outweight the risk hands down.

Straterra is a non stimulant (and supposedly non addictive) ADHD medication, and might be worth looking into. However, it is expensive and it lacks an effect on the dopamine system (what I like the call the contentment feeling system).

Adderall is available as a generic, and generally runs me about 50 bucks for a 1 month prescription, and thats with secondard plan coverage as my main plan wont cover it.

I do think there are non medication ways to help with ADHD. I believe very warm baths with a little sea salt can bring some needed calm. Walking in nature for a few minutes and then rest in place and talking with God can clear the mind too. Writting is another great tool as it releases that lost focus that seems to be bouncing around in our brain.


Best wishes to you though as this is not an easy issue. God Bless.

 

[djkenetics]

Medication should be the last resort
You should look into brainwave entrainment, it has helped my ADD

 

[Discern]

Yeah, it was my last resort, after I decided I didn't want to lose my job.

 

[Naal]

One word: Strattera

I was diagnosed with ADHD/ADD when I was very young and was put on ritalin. Around the age of 12 I refused to take it anymore, and went medication free until my Junior year of High School. We tried Strattera, which was being tested at the time, and now after eight years of taking it I wouldn't go with anything else. Yes, it's a bit pricy and you may have to fight your insurance a little but it's worth it. The only side effects I had were some emotional distress, but that was when they were adjusting my dosage; it only took a few months to find the right amount and I was back to normals. If you miss one day or decide to come off of it you will feel like you're coming down with the flu, and the feeling lasts for a good week. Overall it was a Godsend though.

Good luck!

 

[Meshakhad]

I've tried Aderrall, Strattera, and Ritalin. Aderall worked well for several years, until I started getting woozy spells. I tried Strattera, which didn't work at all for me. I've been on a Ritalin variant called Concerta for years, and it's great.

 

[dabro]

Uh,,,,ya maybe meds are for you. I can't take stimulents because it puts me in the Hospital due to my schiziod disorder but hey If you need them then go for it hun....

 

[Meshakhad]

Everyone is different, especially when it comes to brain chemistry. For instance, I have a friend who takes Strattera, and it works fine for her.

Talk to your doctor, and maybe see a psychiatrist.

 

[Ultraviolet]

medication can definetely help.
do not be afraid of medication. ive taken adderall for about 6 -7 years since i was 11 or 12 and havent really had many negative side effects besides some weight loss and loss of appetite

 

[RobPhillips79]

I would go for Strattera because they have a low addiction potential. Concerta, Concerta time release, ritalin and adderrall are known to be abused. If you have young ones in the house I suggest you first try Strattera. However, I would speak to a psychologist first and then a psychiatrist if nothing helps in the former.

 

[blessedmomof5]

My Daughter was on ritalin, her first drug, she had gotten the worst rash...the Pdoc took a picture so they could add her to the book because they had never seen such a reaction to the drug then she went on concerta.....wow was she nasty...., then vyvanse...wow that was costly....way to costly, plus it really also didn't make her the nicest child. finally now 4 the last 4 mths she has been on adderal xl 20ml she is a dream, focused, doing better with her school work, summer school, IEP..follows direction. I was hesitant myself about the drugs, but i thought, why was i going to make her struggle if they have something that could help her? was that fair to her? Could i forgive myself when she was older and out of school and said mom hey why didn;t you put me on those meds, you know they really would have helped me in school, i would have been able to focused better, why didn't you? what would have been my answer? I love my kids enough to do what ever i can to make their journey in life easier if i can if the have a medical condition that a drug with help with. that have enough to deal with growing up. JMHO

 

[SpiritofGod]

I was diagnosed with clinical level ADD three and half years ago. I didn't go on medication at the time because I didn't have insurance. I also wanted to try learning to manage it on my own without a drug.

However, that did not turn out to be very successful. Now I am a full-time student, employed part time, and a single mom. Things are not going well.

I don't have another adult in the home to help me stay on track of things. I don't have the organization, focus, or time management skills that I need in order to do everything that I need to do. My life is quite a mess right now.

You are not alone. All lives are a mess right now. Do not look on to the heathen as a way to be. The way to be is within you. Your problem is you have not come to the realization that nobody knows whats in you. Passion light truth love and way except for you. You are way too influenced by them that claim to love you and GOD> God made you be you but escape this life. Fear of survival has done a generation in. This is that acceptable year. SLOW DOWN. EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. SLOW DOWN. this will allow you to stay within your self instead of seeking approval in the world outside of self. This world is built without when He said live within. BREATHE. BREATHE BREATHE.