Hello, everybody, and welcome to the new ADD/ADHD room here at the New and Improved Depression Forums!

I'm really excited that we now have a room of our own. In my experience, this interesting "way of life" called Attention Deficit [Hyperactivity] Disorder can be a real challenge to live with, and I'm so glad we can come together in here and support one another, talk about how meds do or don't work for us, and compare notes on how we're learning to cope.

So ... pull up a chair, grab a cup of Virtual Coffee (decaf, if the "H" is part of your ADD), and make yourselves at home!

Grace & peace,
Elfie

YAY our own room!!!!  I'm very happy!!!

Oh yeah, and Elfie... don't forget, stimulants for as AD"H"D people, actually calm us. :;):  So... I'll have a fully caffeinated Venti Soy Mocha with a shot of hazelnut please!  :wwww:

and I'll have a tall soy latte with a pump of mocha (to go!).  My cup is now empty! :O

Speaking of coffee.  How much do you actually drink in a day?  And does it mess with your medicine?  I drink at least 2 cups a day.....

I love an nonfat grande iced caramel machiato.  But I am trying to save money so I get vanilla caramel creamer and make my own.

:hearts:hey yaw, well i've got ADD to. it makes since now why i acted the way i have all my life. i'll have some coffee to.  :cry:but i don't want this illness. it's just one more to add to me. i have panic attacks, anxity,depression, PTSD, and now ADD. don't i have enough lol? anyways here i am. oh i use to be an acholic. stomach problems made me finally give it up in my early thirtys. but of course i traded drugs along the way to. but i'm glad we have our own room i guess. so here i am.

Welcome to all our new members here in the ADULT ADD/ADHD forum!

Come in and post all your trials and tribulations and you'll find much caring and support here at DF....and perhaps a few 'tips' for coping. You're not alone.

Happy Holidays to you all!

~Lindsay, FA

I must say that from the answers i gave to the tests here, i appear to be one of the club. I remember being told off several times by teachers who shouted at me saying "I had my head in the clouds". The thing became particularly painful in middle school (i was twelve 12) when i had a terrible breakdown.
I am still a compulsive editor of my own posts, i open letters in which i fear i wrote something wrong i don't remember, go back to my car to see doors are locked etc.)

The devil that haunts me is, i can't pay attention enough to instructions, and i pass for a stupid, even when i have to ask to directions. If the person is standing before me i could write down the whole message without understanding what it means. I must repeat it to myself when i leave the passer-by. If have a map i get it right. But not with people around me. Is this ADHD or is it just panic / low self-esteem because i fear all the time i may pass for a stupid if i do not listen or answer correctly?

If lack of attention is not steady and worsens when i feel down, is this just plain depression?

In any case, all the good work i can do is ONLY (!!!) through the internet or behind my desk. Being alone allows me to do everything, i am even having a discreet success leaning HTML and CSS, but if i had to enroll in a course i would not understand a single instruction and flunk it.

Oh, by the way, what did i just say?

Mauro. :wink:

Don’t want to dread my nights

– Meds are confusing me.

ADHD is something I was diagnosed with as a child. I became skeptical and thought I was zoned out from PTSD. I currently wonder about with my medications that were recently prescribed for insomnia and nightmares, in particular Trazodone a very mild sleep aid. If I really do have ADHD as I was diagnosed as a child with, is it possible that this med adds to my night time restlessness? They used Ritilan and Cylert to settle me down when I was young. I remember flipping out on these in particular Cylert. It seems possible that sleeping aids would have the opposite effect and could be agitating me.
I have always struggled with insomnia but after days of taking this med I was more depressed, angry, restless, lucid dreaming, falling out of bed, I have been crying nightly and very uncomfortable in my skin.
I previously thought I was mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD (coffee does wake me up) and that maybe it was really just PTSD after the death of my mother or maybe the school physiologist after my Dads $ for the drug company. I am confused as to where to get answers. Has anyone with potential ADHD and PTSD successful solved complicated night mare and sleeping problems?

This post has been edited by RKeys: Jun 30 2006, 01:09 AM

i wanted to ask bout daytime sleepiness. i heard that people who are mentally troubled, have lots of things on their mind find it hard to sleep at night and end up having terrible daytime sleepiness. i have read this on another forum,here is the link:

daytime sleepiness

i would like to learn more about this, b/c i seem to find myself facing such a similar situation.

thanks for the help guys

My husband has ADHD but he doesnt take meds. I think I have a mild case of it too. Does anyone have problems dealing with spouses or loved ones with ADHD? He took a test and scored very high for this. He is very impulsive, gets angry and frustrated when things arent exactly right, he talks too loud and too much, but is a wonderful person all around but very hard to live with. I dont know if it is perfectionism or the ADHD but he is picky as H.....!!! And his anger comes out of nowhere about the simplest little thing and then its all over and he doesnt even think he said anything wrong. Others going through this? Gentle

Good article. Thanks... Daytime sleepiness may be ADD without hyperactivity. I have noticed it in people when you have to say someone’s name like 3 times till they snap out of it. This could be passive aggressive behavior or ‘selective listening’ at times but I doubt it. It seems like they are just not there. This disposition also makes it hard to finish things and sometimes goes along with stream of consciousness style speaking.
At night it's the only time I am not busy or distracted with anything so all of the problems can start to swirl around in my head. Thinking about resentments and rejection related issues is an evening ritual when I am having a tough time with work or trusting people. Thinking of all this prevents REM sleep I bet and laying there keeps you from reaching deep sleep that we all need to be replenished. It is tiring the next day.
Another thing to make sure to illuminate as far as not sleeping is sleep apnea. That sounds like people snoring really loud then it seems like they stop breathing. They do and are not getting enough oxygen to the brain. My father sleeps with a contraption on and after testing he was breathing air for only a scary fraction of the night. He can get to sleep but then wakes up and can’t get back to sleep.

I was wondring if anyone knew of any good books that involed add/relationships ,or add/communication been really making a mess of myself in social situation trying to change that.

Hey all, this is my first time posting.
I'm going to keep it short since it is 2 o'clock in the morning and I need to wake up in 3 hours. About a year ago I was diagnosed with depression, recently i came across a website about ADHD and realized that I was reading the story of my life. I remember thinking, "this is ME." I've always been a chronic procrastinator and was always told that I needed to work harder to live up to my potential. Always got A's on tests but couldn't get a homework assignment done or turned in to save my life. I remember being questioned by parents, and teachers, "why didn't you get this done?" When I would say "i forgot" I would always get the same response. "forgetting is not an excuse, it's laziness" those kind of responses drove me to believe that I was a bad person for not being able to succeed even though I tried. And tried. And tried. And finally gave up.
I guess it's not all that short of a post, but oh well.

Hi Danny, My story is similar to yours. Diagnosed with depression years ago, then read about ADD (not the hyperactive type, but the inattentive type), my reaction was the same as yours....this is ME! I got tested, formally, and was told I had "sever ADD".

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure about these diagnoses - after all, there's money in it for the diagnostician. "Yep, looks like you need a new headgasket lady, cost you about a grand". But still, it felt right. But I'm just so sick of fighing the depression, the last think I could think of was to start making more lists, get myself a PDA, etc, tec.

I think the 'best' part (I use the term loosly) of knowing about this ADD thing is that it explains some of my stufff, why I am like I am....and I'm not alone. Oh, I'd prefer to be 'normal'...at least I think I would. To not get overwhelmed with too much detail, to remember things better, to be able to pay attention when I need to.

There are some ADD/ADHD forums you might be interested in. You'll get a lot more of the "hey, that's ME" feeling.

What are the symptoms of ADD?

When i was in school it was difficult for me to pay attention to the teachers for more than 10 minutes before my mind starts to wonder away...unless I am really interested in the subject.

When I drive I my mind also wonders a lot and I'd get in accidents because I am not paying attention to the road.

Do I sound like I have ADD?

Welcome Awu to the Forums. The ADD is difficult ti diagnose since the symptoms are similar to other problems. What you are describing could be ADD or it could something else. Your best bet is to go to someone who specializes in diagnosing this problem. Too many doctors call something ADD when it's not. Click on the link below for any article that we have posted. It will give you more info.


http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/ind...?showtopic=1296
Link added by Moderator

I am a 41 and i was recently diagonised for adhd, and i have depression, i feel relived for having a name for what i have know, but i feel robbed and lost, i have lost much life because of this, made bad choices, which have led to brake downs, - i cant hold a job, and that is the hardest part for me, i am talking zoloft -which has always worked for me, but i need a adhd medicine and the doctor gave me ritalin and i am afraid to try it, its only 5 miligrams, does anyone have advice for me about feeling the same way, as if you have been robbed, and lost plus is anyone on a antidepressant and a stimulant, i feel so alone, i could use some advice here, please help.

Please get back to me as soon as anyone can, sorry to sound desperate but i really need help i am having a hard time wit direction here. i am inquiring about anyone taking a stimulant with a anti depressant.
please help
thank you i am taking zoloft which helps, but i need adhd medicine to go along with that, could anyone relate to this, please let me know.

Welcome Kinder!

I considered taking a stimulant with the Effexor I take for anxiety but decided againist it. Effexor has also helped my ADHD. Have you talked to your doctor about this? There are several good ADHD drugs on the market but no all react well with people &/or Zoloft. This is where working with a medical professional is vital so to avoid adverse effects. Good luck & keep us posted.

I'm new, but I have posted on a few other topics discussing my depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, I also suffer from ADD and am medicated for that as well. This causes great difficulties for me in many ways. I can definately relate to the posters that have talked about their personal circumstances. Currently, I am reading a book called Women with Attention Deficit Disorder by Sari Soldon. So far, it is helpful.

Welcome Topaz! You are among friends. Feel free to PM me anytime.

Hi everyone.

I wasn't diagnosed as a child partly because my parents never believed that any of their children could have any mental illnesses. It was a too westernized concept for them.

All through school, I had a real hard time focusing in class and therefore remembering the lessons taught. Tests were hard to pass and exams were even worse. The essays and assignments that required a lot of time and focus were so hard to accomplish. But I was able to mask my ADHD very well. I appeared as an average student and graduated high school. I am taking my year off right now before entering post secondary.

I still suffer from chronic day dreaming that causes me to not remember certain tasks or where I place things. And of course socializing is a bit tough too. I have to really push myself to socialize with co-workers and people around me. I am not going to be taking meds. I had taken Celexa a year ago and the idea of relying on meds again scares and annoys me. I am coping with this on a day to day basis and seeing what works for me and what doesn't. Life is sure interesting when you have this on your plate.

Welcome JT!

I, too, don't take meds for my ADHD but do for my anxiety disorder which helps both. I understand you reluctance for medication. I agree that life is never dull w/ ADHD. My biggest problem is being impulsive w/ saying the first thing that comes to my mind. Not good on the job, but I manage to control it mostly. If you need anything, feel free to PM me..

I wasn't diagnosed with ADD until about a year and a half ago. At that time I was 41 yrs. old. I was prescribed Straterra. At first, it was almost miraculous in the way it made me feel. Looking back over the past 6 months, I am wondering if it is working much at all, if any. Two months ago, my fiance of two and a half years and I broke up. Now normally, in the past, when a relationship ended with someone that I cared about, I would get really down almost immediately and then slowly over time begin to pull my self up. What I am experiencing this time is completely different. At first, I was somewhat O.K. with the break up. However, the longer I am away from her, the more obsessive my thinking has become about her to the point where she is the first thing on my mind in the morning and the last thing on my mind at night. I cannot control my thinking. She is on my mind constantly. I cannot redirect. I cannot refocus. It is interfering with my job and my life. It is as if something is in control of my mind. I also have suicidal thoughts that started about three weeks ago and are becoming more and more troubling along with depression that sweeps over me in horrible waves. I am leaning toward the Straterra having this affect on me. Has anyone else experienced anything else like this with Straterra?

I just want to say thanks for getting back to me the ritalin did not work, it through me into a hyper stage, i am taking zoloft and depokote er and i dont like either one, he keeps working to get the right one for me,
stimulants dont work well for me , i wish i could find one pill for anxiety, depression, adhd.

My doc has me on effexor. It's mainly for my anxiety but it has helped with the ADHD.

Ive ALWAYS had a real strong feeling that i suffer from ADD/ADHD but i never really went to get it checked to see if it was for sure. I'll let you all know the reasons why i think i have it and the symptons that im having and i hope somebody can read it and can tell me if they think i have it too. I cant focus as much as i use to and when i do focus i cant stay focused for a long time at all. When people talk to me sometimes i just wonder off and look somewhere else in the room instead of giving them eye contact. I feel rushes of feeling hyper sometimes randomly where i feel sudden engergy for no reason at sometimes. I also sometimes have a small blank stare in my face for a very short period of time sometimes. And at times, i feel zombie like, like im the only person in the world and i dont feel 100% the same way i use to feel a few years ago. Thanks for your help.

New to this what do I do? I have a teen that is on 30MG of prozac that I am just looking to chat with others to see what info I can find.

Doo

Can't relate to your particular situation, however have you spoken to your Drs. about supplementing with Amino acids?
Some have helped me sleep. Good luck!

I guess i dont know where to start. My 8 ye3ar old son has been on psych meds for about 2 1/2 years, and now 3 weeks ago, his Dr. took him off all of them which included Depakote 250 mgs, Risperdal 3 mg, and Metformin. She then put him on Adderral 10mgs. Like I said, that was 3 weeks ago, and now he has tardive dyskinesia. What do I do?

Hi everyone!

Can't drink coffee but I'm finishing up my iced mocha latte, which was my Friday & post-psychiatrist treat to myself today.

Nice to find an ADD forum on this site because depression is one of the symptoms of AD(H)D. I only realized that I had ADD a few years ago when a girlfriend of mine thought she recognized some of the symptoms in me (she's a grade-school teacher). I then read a book on it (I don't remember which one, natch) and everything began to click into place for me.

I'd also suffered from depression on & off for most of my life and have pretty much survived my way through my life. Well this last winter after having gone through a very difficult 2-3 years and being very suicidal, my dear friends strongly advised me to go see a psychiatrist. I began treatment for depression earlier this year (currently on 150mg/day/Effexor XR & adding 7.5 mg/day/Depelin tomorrow) and once that gets regulated, my dr & I will begin treating the ADD.

I've had the classic symptoms: inabilty to recall known information; poor verbal/oral memory; easily distracted; procrastination; relational difficulties; etc. I've wanted to go back to school (and get a degree) but despite being very intelligent, school has always been a huge struggle for me, even when I'm taking courses on things I'm very interested in. Is there any one out there that figured out how to handle school successfully? Any tips/ ideas?

JS

Hi fellow bloggers

I've been pretty busy and havn't logged on in a while. I seem to suffer with almost every disorder except "bipolar". I can sure relate to those that are accused of "not paying attention" or "how could you forget this or that???" People that aren't afflicted with ADD/HADD, etc along with PTSD don't have a clue!! As if life weren't already difficult enough, we struggle to be "normal" whatever that means. I told a fellow sr citizen today "maybe you've never made a mistake before, but I was willing to own up to making one." He's at least 20 yrs older than I am, I'm sure he's made a mistake at one time or another. Some people are so cruel and downright stupid if you ask me. But somehow, I got through the day. It's good to know that even bad days have an end. I try to remind myself to focus on the positive. It helps when I "remember" to do it.

no_joke

Dear JS
I was attending a community college just over a year ago. You might want to look into asking if the college you'd like to attend offers "disabeled student services". If they do, you'll get assigned to a peer counselor and once you provide proof of your "disability" you'll get hands on assistance and special accomodations for assignments and the like. If needed, you can ask for and receive couseling also. The only reason I had to drop out, was that I was forced to relocate and I've had to put school on the back burner for now. But consider looking into these services if going to school is of interest to you. Best of luck.

no_joke