Posted by whiterabbit on July 23, 2003, at 15:02:10
In reply to Re: Holy Smokes... (this is long!) » whiterabbit, posted by yesac on July 23, 2003, at 10:29:38
I know I've mentioned this several times but I can't remember to who - memory still bad, I'm hoping this will clear up over time.
After I was recently diagnosed with ADD I wanted to find out more about it, found a great book called "Healing ADD" by Dr. Daniel Amen. He's been able to isolate 6 different types of ADD with the use of 3-D brain scanning. It's important to isolate your specific type of ADD because treatment varies according to type.I was skeptical about my own ADD diagnosis until I read this book. It has a relatively simple self-evaluation to determine the presence and type of ADD, and I did score quite high in one category.
Since starting on medication, a low-dose stimulant three times daily, I've noticed a rapid improvement in focus, concentration, listening and follow-through. From what I understand, the stimulant "fires up" the underactive frontal lobe of the brain which is causing the ADD symptoms.You might find it easier to deal with the depression if your ADD symptoms were addressed. I'm glad to hear that you're still willing to pursue treatment instead of just giving up...at one point I gave up too, after 6 months of feeling like crap on Depakote, I threw away all medication and decided to "clean up". Not too long afterwards I was standing in the waiting room of a strange psychiatrist's office, crying in front of the receptionist...she had told me to go to the ER and I wailed, "I already did that and they sent me here!" and started bawling. I was just so uphappy, I was ready to drive my car off the bridge. Fortunately one of the psychiatrists was kind enough to see me or I probably wouldn't have made it home.
God those were awful days. This divorce is no picnic but if I had to choose between going through this or feeling like THAT again, so hopeless and suicidal, I'd go through a dozen divorces first.
Anyway, back to the ADD - you can find out more information at Dr. Amen's website, www.brainplace.com - I'd highly recommend the book, too. I'm glad you have a good psychiatrist, that's the first and most important step on the road to recovery.
Best wishes-Gracie
poster:whiterabbit
thread:243271
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030719/msgs/244566.html