Hi all, i was dxd in 98 and kinda skipped out on the therapist, went to countless others who dxd me with the same thing. i see my regular doc for meds, and need to possibly see a therapist. I feel pretty much useless. I can t concentrate, or over focused, cant finish a project i start. its always been this way. any coping mechanisms that may help?

Hi and welcome to the board! Glad you found us.

Before we try to offer any advice, I'd like to ask a couple of questions. What med are you on, for how long and does it help? Are you working or in school?

Hey thanks for the reply!!! I am on wellbutrin 150 mgs 2x a day. ive been to see a zillion therapists regarding this, none of which ive stuck with. and kinda left without notice. so now I am looking for a therapist that i plan to stick with. However its affecting me everywhere. I cant think straight. i just cant seem to be motivated. I was dxd in 98 with the combo of both. or at least that is what i was told. I cant seem to finish projects, but on other occasions, im so hyperfocused i can do 7 jobs at one given time with no problem and usually no sleep.... I am gettin in trouble a lot at work because of this, having issues with friends because they say i am self absorbed, and just generally cant stand being this way anymore. I feel ive wasted enough time, blowing this off. i plan to stick with a "plan" once again. i figured if i told somebody this, i would stick with this...sorry so long winded....just glad to hear im not the only one....And i am working. forget school thats just a waste of time for me. I wouldnt pass with the answers in front of me.....its always been this way.

Colleen,

I'm glad you've made an appointment with a therapist and that you plan to stick with it. That's a step in the right direction.

A couple of thoughts for you. First, while Wellbutrin *is* used to treat ADD, it isn't one of the stronger meds out there. You might discuss a med change with your doctor if you still struggling as much as it sounds like you are.

Second, the way you describe your inability to concentrate being intermittent together with the ability to function at times on very little sleep, sends off warning signals for me. Do your moods vary quite a bit? Highs and lows? Or, irritability alternating with depression? What you describe sounds suspiciously like Bipolar Disorder. Of course, I'm basing this on a few typed sentences so I may be way off. It's something for you to think about, though. It's possible to have both ADD and BPD.

I have been dxd with bipolar as well. so the wellbutrin is a dual purpose. supposedly. and it has helped. although ive only been on it for a month. but i have seen a difference. just down and out about all of this. ive been dxd with both. And i feel like im out of control - its been this way always. i knew i had bipolar. but i wasnt expecting a dx of adhd in 98 when i went AGAIN to see another therapist, one who specialized in this as well as add...SO....that being said, im starting all over again. My mom sees it in me and wants me to get help so i am. Unfortunately i am having a hard time, finding a doc with a specialty of adhd. and heres the issue. I have been to see the "experts" in the past. but after 6 months of visits, i never was shown how to cope with this or to learn how to organize. I thought i was to learn to cope. so i left. and apparently this doctor specializes in ADHD support. and i didnt think it helped. ive seen regular docs that help more. Any advice? i feel like i cant make heads or tails of this....once again sorry so long winded. but I cant help but want as much help as i can get. and its very appreciated....thank you...you have been a godsend.

<patting myself on the back for that bipolar diagnosis. Dang, I'm good! LOL >

Colleen, I feel for ya. Finding good help is difficult. In my experience, doctors are great for medication issues, but I haven't found too many that are much help in other areas. Therapists are great, but again, unless you find one that specializes in ADD, you probably aren't going to get alot of help with ADD organizational issues. However, a therapist might well help with the emotional side of it.

My best suggestion as far as getting help would be to look into a "life coach", expecially if you can find one that has experience with ADD. They are more likely to get down to the nuts and bolts about how to organize yourself.

Personally, I can't live without Post-It notes - I have them all over the house. It's the only way I can remember things. I also use alot of lists. Someone recently said that having white noise (like a fan) playing in the background helps them. I know AddProgrammer has said that a metronome-type noise helps him.

Hopefully the others here will be able to give you some organizational tips. Come on you-guys - help us out here!!!

Hey thanks again!!!! you are really a godsend to me. i feel so out of my element. and thanks to this board, im feeling better. and i can get organized, its a matter of keeping organized. will keep you posted on what i find. calling another dr. today.

thank you so much....your help is greatly appreciated

yeah, good catch on the bipolar thing. i just caught that. :D. i found a doc. i actually talked to her on the phone. about specifically bipolar and adhd. and told her the issues i had with others. she said after the initial assessment, she would come up with a list of goals for myself and her to work through. i already feel better. i go tomorrow after work. YAY!!!! cannot wait. thank you SOOOOO much for the help..

colleent819,

index's suggestion to find an ADD coach is a ggod one. I hope that the person you talk to tomorrow is able to help you. Let us know what she says -- there are some of us adults here who are still struggling to figure out how to set up structure in our lives -- we wish that we had learned such tricks (sticky notes, lists, etc) when we were kids.

I haven't any cool tips to add at the moment, but if I think of anything I'll let you know!

--Rheanna

Colleen, I'm so glad that you are encouraged after talking to the new doc. Let us know how it goes!

Thank you both, for your help. she had told me yesterday on the phone that she has books on adhd for me to read UGH. reading.....not a good thing for me. she said we will have the initial assessment, talk meds, and goals.

so im really looking forward to it....i go tonite at 6 so its gonna be a long day,will post the info tomorrow. :D

Hey index. i went to the counselors. it was GREAT!!!! turns out shes also a life coach for add/adhd. and shes sending me to a doc for meds while giving me coping mechanisms. I see her again next friday. I know its only the beginning but i actually feel hopefull for the first time in a long time. I cant help thank you so much. I was feeling like i was going to be a failure for ever. I feel like i have a chance to get my stuff together.

so thank you from the bottom of my heart. it means so much
colleen

Colleen,

You are so welcome. I'm really, really happy for you that things are looking up. The absolute worst times are when you feel hopeless - boy, do I understand! I am so glad that feeling is passing. That is great news!

Best of luck to you, kiddo.

Hey index. I will keep you posted. Cant wait to try meds for this. i hear that some meds dont necessarily need to be a stimulant. but I had a 90 minutes session with her. and I really felt good after i left. I just cant wait to get started and figure myself out. because if I dont. Im afraid i might lose my job.
and I cant have that. I am a type 2 diabetic. no insurance would be very bad.

So I will keep you update.
Thanks again.
Colleen

Index,

the doctor put me on ritalin 10mgs 3x a day. Is that normal dosage? i was hoping to go the non stimulant route. but it seems to be helping slightly. Does anybody here ever feel normal? I would love to know how it feels to be able to function without all the extra work...I know im lazy......but just an update. and thank you again for your support.

colleen

Hi Colleen,

The Ritalin should work alot better for your ADD symptoms than the Wellbutrin did. So, good luck with that. Do watch yourself for mania because it might tip you that way (although it's probably less likely to than Wellbutrin).

Normal? I dunno. I've talked to alot of people and I still can't get a take on what "normal" feels like. If anyone can describe it for us, we'd appreciate it!

So far its working well. I feel not so cloudy or feel like im spinning all over the place thus far. Still kinda out of sorts but not as bad as usual.

thanks again for the advice.

Does anybody here ever feel normal?

colleent819,

What I envy when I look at other (non-ADD) people is that they see something that needs to be done and they do it. Me? If I notice it at all, I'm lucky it it stays in my brain for more than the fleeting second that my eyes are focused on it. Then it'll be days or months before I notice it again and I vaguely remember that I may have decided that it needed to be attended to and I get a sinking feeling and it's gone from my brain again. On rare good days, when I'm alone and I'm on a roll, I can have maybe two activities in my brain at a time and switch between them. But if one of the activities develops a snag that has to be solved or if a third something comes up that has to be attended to, then that's too many things and it all falls apart and I'm right back to feeling helpless about getting anything done.

Since I've been taking generic Ritalin, I can see something that needs to be done, and prioritize it along with the other things that I could/should be doing today, and if there are too many things to keep track of I can make a list and even remember to look at it from time to time and calmly decide that item #3 should be done before item #1 and actually keep up a momentum for a much longer period before my brain gets tired and I need to take a break.

Of course "normal" people have had lots of years of practice at being busy and productive, and I haven't, since I've only been trying Ritalin out for a couple of months. But I'm now up to being able to do two medium-sized things a day (such as attacking the overgrown ivy in the garden and then working on a computer-related project), plus a couple of smaller things like laundry and taking the garbage out. I'm working up to being able to prioritize my projects for the week ahead.

I'm still me. But this is the aspect of "normal people" that I'm trying to learn how to do. And it's only possible when I take my meds. On days without meds, I walk around in a fog and can't focus and can't prioritize and can't get anything done.

--Rheanna

Rheanna,

Thanks for posting. I hear you on the prioritizing part. Although I have supposedly both types of add, so this would kind of make sense.. dunno. i just know that some times in my life have been really really easy to focus. and others....welll.......not so good...so i have a time here and there when i function on a level that seems what normal would feel like, then others where i cant even remember that i made a list. Its always been this way for me, I guess I thought it was normal till I started seeing my life spinning out of control. Thats whats puzzling and frustrating for ME. the fact that i had done good one month, then next to be the opposite? dunno....My therapist said that this makes sense to her. That this was what normal for ME was.

who knows...still hoping that i get my act together enough to keep my job.

thanks again,
colleen