This is likely why I buy tons of go fast parts (even when I'm broke and know better) and tear **** apart while never really get **** done. Counselor says I have it to some degree but won't prescribe meds bc I also drink beer... she doesn't want me mixing it with Adderall. I'm not giving up the brew... but I need some sort organization/routine in my life - cause I basically run around like a chicken with its head cut off, doing what I can to get REAL work done... then I'm too overwhelmed to start working on the other million other things I started.
I use the VAMC here in Bham (it's not the horror story hospital like you here other places) and they've really helped me when Depression and Anxiety hit me like a Mack truck... the physical effects of Anxiety suck - thought I was dying, for real. The depression does too... I was put on Paxil and had weird side effects to it - like hyper startle reflex right when your about to go to sleep... that was almost as bad as the 2 weeks of insomnia I had. She got me on Wellbutrin and it's amazingly better... got me to the point where I stopped taking the anti-anxiety drugs and Ambien and able to sleep 8hrs straight. The ADD is still a problem though... and I have slight anxiety attacks the day after heavy drinking... so I have scaled back pretty good on killing the beer, but not 100%. Maybe i'll just have to say no more and get help on the ADD side of it... time will tell.

 

I mean, I don't doubt that I'd function far better day to day had I started taking this back in like middle school. But yeah, folks definitely abuse it as a study drug. I never needed it to pass classes and I just found work arounds that let me function. Everyone has different baselines and I'm naturally pretty book smart so it wasn't really that bad for me even with how disorganized I was most of the time. I think the buproprion i'm on is activating enough that it works for me.

I actually got prescribed by the school shrink and I've talked to a lot of folks like you described that went in to try to get it for study help even though they didn't state it like that. None of them did. I don't discount that folks do as you say because I've seen it a ton. Others just find workarounds and have the flexibility in their life/schedule that they can make things a bit easier. Some others, like you, need it to function at baseline.

My Shrink gave me this and said a few folks she's worked with have found it helpful. I thought it was alright.

And yeah, welbutrin/bupropion was what I'm on as well. I haven't really seen folks use it in patients that have anxiety, but if it works, it works!


Side note: I think it's pretty cool that this conversation is happening on this forum!

 

I have 3 kids and a wife with ADHD, 2 of them also diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). ADHD and ASD often go hand in hand so I tend to bundle them into the same parts bin as there is lots of cross over traits like OCD, language delay, anxiety, social delay.

Given their diagnosis, and that these disorders tend to run in families, I think there is a very high likelihood that I have some pasts of ASD as well as ADHD. (I think ADHD is very likely given the number of half completed projects in my workshop). With every member of the family with something, dinner times can be very hectic especially given most of the meds have run out at that point!

Myself and my kids are all outside the box thinkers, very logical and creative. It's the ASD / ADHD traits that drive that side of our thinking and there is a good reason why around 10% of the population have these atypical ways of mental processing. People with ADHD / ASD are often the artists, inventors, explorers who think up new ideas and provide an excellent pathway for civilisation to expand and develop new techniques without risking the general population... just those 'crazy people' willing to try jumping off the cliff. I think that goes part way to explain why I really enjoy experimentation and highly repetitive tasks (like porting a head) where most 'normal' people think it's the most tedious task ever. I have no fear of failing and get a wonderful thrill if my project works.

I'm not sure what it is like in America, but in Australia I'm very glad our schooling and society is starting to develop some understanding and tolerance for anyone with ADHD and Autism. We are getting a lot of support from the government with help, advice and financial assistance for our kids.

If anyone is looking for some good resources on ADHD or ASD have a look for Tony Attwood. He has several excellent books covering both disorders. edit: Tony more specialises in ASD but has several 3rd party recommended ADHD books on his site.

 

Still standing by for Medical to decide what to do with me while I'm stationed out here at the end of the earth. Just finished my 3rd book on ADHD. I read a real good one on relationships and highlighted all the parts in it where it talked about how helpful lots of sex can be for a guy with ADHD, and then left it out where the wife would find it.

 

MARRIAGE COUNSELING!

That went better than expected. I've never been the "counseling" type unless it was some Ensign who needed a boot up the *** and I was providing the lesson. In any case, the wife and I have been having some communication issues for a long time now. I'm a dude and therefore have no clue what she's talking about, but apparently our marriage is in distress and so I called a gal and set up an appt.

Was pretty much like I expected. Our therapist kinda reminds me of the anger management therapist in Angry Birds... very hippy/yoga/swami/new-age/eccentric/vegan/life-force/karma/holistic... anyways, pretty sure she didn't vote for Trump. But, I'm giving it my best and she does have some good advice. My ADD definitely plays a role in our marriage issues, so working on that is gonna provide some relief. The wife did say she recognizes that I'm making an effort to address our issues. Wish me luck getting laid tonight!

 

Good for you man!

This stuff is unlikely to hurt, but maybe it will help you in some way. Life is complicated and married life is many times more complicated.

 

Last night, I mentioned that how come we're the only ones doing marriage counseling (out of the dozen current couples we hang with) since a bunch of our friends all seem to have way more problems than us. She looked at me like I was crazy. She asked me how often I talk with my bro's about their marriages... obviously never. Then she tells me that practically everyone we know is either currently in counseling or schedules periodic retreats, or church group therapy stuff or whatever. Then she asked me to list off the couples we know who seem the happiest or the most miseraable, and I scored 100% on the miserable list because it was the exact list of couples she says who have never done any counseling.

I guess this is the stuff that girls talk about.

 

 

There's a good chance I may have it.
I have never talked to a professional about it, because it could potentially confirm what I would deem an unpleasant side of me.
People around me have called me hyper - ultra hyper all my life, tho.

To make matters worse, I have hypoglycemia... I get excessively jittery, short fused, and a double digit IQ version of myself when I am hungry.
Oftentimes it is too late by the time I realize I am hungry unfortunately.

I have always been told I am smart, I never have had any problem with any test I have taken and always placed very high scorewise, and I was told my IQ was 146 - if I am not hungry, that is.
I have a gigantic fear of being static, being "immobile" and having a predictable, steady life. That would be hell for me.
There has to be new challenges, problems to overcome and adventures to be had every single day.

Skiing for instance, scares me, because I try daredevil stuff. Yet I am kinda drawn to that, and - please do not blame me for admitting this - I sort of pity those who are perfectly happy on the green and blue trails.
I just started playing soccer again (had two major surgeries, so I was taking it easy for a while there), and I have to shave before each game so other players will not see my white stubble and feel awkward. I will be 57 in less than 8 weeks.

So, I know life will be hell for me the day I will no longer be able to "upshift", but the ride has been pretty nice so far.

**** normal.

 

Interesting thread. My eldest son has it, and only now at 40+ (and with a lot of help from his SO) is he getting back in control of his life.. And yes, after watching him over the years, I realise that I have also have low level ADHD too, fortunately nothing that has seriously affected my life.

Though 'unfinished projects', that box certainly gets ticked.

 

Good on you man, it's expensive to treat but it does help. You have to be consistent in things especially when/if they prescribe you a stimulant as it can.... upset your sleep schedule.