Posted by cathal on September 26, 2003, at 11:37:14
In reply to Re: Adderall advise! » cathal, posted by loolot on September 24, 2003, at 12:00:25
the real symptoms of ADD are somewhat confusing to people who don't have it or don't live with someone who has it. they think it's all controlable and behavioral personality stuff
there are three types recognized in the DSM-IV, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), ADD, (no hyperactivity) and combined type (just what it says, half the time you are hyper, the other half not). people often miss plain ADD because it's the hyperactivity and running around that tips off most parents. plain ADD is kids who just daydream and stare out the window and do all the same stuff as ADHD but without the running around. SOME of the symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD include:-inability to organize thoughts
-losing things, misplacing things
-low tolerance for frustration, easily upset
-short fuse, explosive temper
-ability to hyperfocus at times and ignore all around you
-high level of what we call novelty seeking behavior (sometimes thrill seeking) such as downloading porn at work and risking getting caught, driving recklessly, promiscuity, petty crime
-leaving lots of messes and projects lying around, never finishing them
-feeling self doubt and insecurity because you can't finish things and you must be 'defective' or otherwise people wouldn't be mad at you
-finishing people's sentences, talking over them in conversationhmmmm, i'd be looking at the depression more than the ADD and you might not have ADD at all. it's true ADD can co-exist with depression, but consider two things.
1. everybody focuses on the 'classic' symptoms of depression: being suicidal, hopeless, etc. Other common symptoms we use in depression screening include irritibility, restlessness, disrupted sleep patterns, lack of ability to focus or pay attention.
2. people get mad at health care professionals for using esoteric terms but keep in mind that you can have an attention deficit without having ADD. you can have chronic headaches without having a brain tumor, you know? and a woman can throw up in the morning and not be pregnant. one is a condition the other is a SYMPTOM of the condition. lots of people have an attention deficit, that just means they have trouble paying attention and it can be for a variety of reasons which is why all those reasons have to be screened out before diagnosing ADD. ADD is a cluster of symptoms, not just attention deficit, but attention deficit coupled with things like (i'm reaching for my DSM-IV and quoting here) : "often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in work or other activities...often has difficulty organizing tsks...often loses things necessary for tasks...often talks excessively..."
so just having an attention deficit doesn't mean one has ADD. personally, i'd focus more on treating your depression. too bad SSRIs seem tohave a bad effect on you. have you tried Lexapro? this is the latest miracle drug and, from my experience, seems to be quite effective in treating people with atypical depression or who can't take SSRI's
poster:cathal
thread:133458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030923/msgs/263482.html