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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by DSCH on September 10, 2003, at 12:47:59
In reply to ADHD and morning waking?, posted by cybercafe on September 9, 2003, at 23:33:35
Being inattentive type ADD, I would need to work in bursts under pressure in order to accomplish anything. These bursts are hard on the neuroendocrine system (HPA axis), messing up the release of hormones that help regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Eventually I got to the point where no amount of sleep felt very restful.
Licorice tea is supposed to be fairly decent approach to getting your HPA axis back into shape after burnout (the sweet-tasting molecule stored in the licorice root acts as a cortisol-breakdown inhibitor). Overdoing it causes hypertension though. I have been having a couple cups of it each day for the past few weeks. I will stop eventually, and will restart if I notice a tendancy to want to sleep in or if I get dark circles under my eyes again.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 10, 2003, at 13:15:13
In reply to ADHD and morning waking?, posted by cybercafe on September 9, 2003, at 23:33:35
I have ADD (w/o hyperactivity), and I personally find it near impossible to get my butt out of bed in the morning -- but even once I do, I'm a miserable, MISERABLE human being for at least an hour or two, lol.
That was until I attempted this new tactic with my Dexedrine (that was a few weeks ago -- I'm switched to DextroStat now) -- I set my alarm for an hour before I wish to wake up, take my meds, then going back to sleep for an hour. That way I wake up feeling just great. I'm sure the same thing could help you with your difficulty waking up to greet the day. I just put all my morning meds into a pillbox on my nightstand with a bottle of water so I can take them without getting out of bed. Works great.
Posted by EscherDementian on September 10, 2003, at 18:27:55
In reply to Re: ADHD and morning waking? » cybercafe, posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 10, 2003, at 13:15:13
i, too, have ADD. Without meds, the mornings are absolutely hell for me. Ditto the ineffectiveness of any amount of precious sleep. Usually after a couple weeks of chaotic sleep-wake cycle, daytime sleep becomes my fortress sanctuary, and vastly preferable to being myself while awake.
DSCH: the 'bursts' of productivity being hard on the neuroendocrine system-->release of sleep regulation hormones makes complete sense to me. At one time, i wondered about my melatonin/DMT relationship (*laugh* THAT was many,many night's worth of entertaining reading). i will DEFINATELY try licorice tea. (& if these dark circles disappear, my vanity may return for a visit to see if i'm worth having) ;)Ame Sans Vie's morning survival tactic is the strategy that works for me too. At the first gong of my zenclock bell (the old buzz-alarmclock went into the toilet, i flushed, and went back to bed), i take my Adderall from the nightstand and put it into my mouth without even sitting up. For some reason, it tastes like gardenia's smell to me, and more than once fell back asleep with it still on my tongue. Or under it. (i'm going to read all kinds of flash about this, aren't i? Bring it on, i'd like to know, anyway) Awakening feels 'natural' to me, reminiscent of those Saturday mornings of childhood; awake, no going back to bed, looking toward the day.
Okay, i'll stop rambling on and on now. Not exactly filtering concisely. -Hope it's been helpful, cybercafe
Escher without meds Dementian
Posted by zenclearer on September 10, 2003, at 20:05:50
In reply to Re: ADHD and morning waking?, posted by EscherDementian on September 10, 2003, at 18:27:55
I do the morning dosing an hour before rising, as well.
For those of you who also do this, when do you take your next dose? Sometimes I have to take 2.5 after I wake up and have coffee, just to get going out the door. But sometimes this seems too much, and it gets hard to know.
Sometimes, I find that if I can at least get out the door, the physical movement will give me plenty more energy and I am fine.
Posted by cybercafe on September 11, 2003, at 2:04:33
In reply to Re: ADHD and morning waking?, posted by zenclearer on September 10, 2003, at 20:05:50
because it just doesn't feel right .. natural.. to take a pill ... i just want to sleep more ... i tried the pill beside the bed thing..... hmmm... maybe i'm just being lazy... but at the time i can't think opf any reason to take a stim and get up ... i'd rather just sleep another few hours .. ug ....
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 11, 2003, at 9:43:22
In reply to Re: ADHD and morning waking?, posted by zenclearer on September 10, 2003, at 20:05:50
> For those of you who also do this, when do you take your next dose?
Well, I wake up at 7:00 to take 10mg DextroStat, 3mg Klonopin, and 150mg Ultram, then go back to sleep till eight. I take another 5mg DextroStat on actually waking, then just dose regularly from then on, every five hours -- 15mg DextroStat/2mg Klonopin/150mg Ultram at noon, and 15mg DextroStat/3mg Klonopin/100mg Ultram at 5:00.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 11, 2003, at 9:47:32
In reply to i guess you guys have jobs?? , posted by cybercafe on September 11, 2003, at 2:04:33
> maybe i'm just being lazy... but at the time i can't think opf any reason to take a stim and get up ... i'd rather just sleep another few hours .. ug ....
lol, I can empathize. It took a lot of "practice" to get used to that sort of schedule; I'm dead to the world for at least 20 minutes after I get up, so the last thing I wanted to think about was taking my pills. But once I had done it a few times and realized that I was actually waking up in the morning feel *good*, that was incentive enough to go on.
Oh, and I don't know about these other guys, but I don't have a job. :-)
Posted by KimberlyDi on September 11, 2003, at 11:49:46
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs?? » cybercafe, posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 11, 2003, at 9:47:32
I'm usually hyper-active in the morning. On trips I have little patience for friends that want to sleep in. Wakey-Uppy! Let's go do something! I'm fine with or without caffiene. I multi-task and work insanely fast to get deadlines done. MeepMeep, they called me the road runner. Then 3:00 or 4:00 pm hits, deadline met, adrenaline depleated, and I'm worthless.
I am currently working. :)
KDi in Texas
Posted by cybercafe on September 12, 2003, at 1:23:46
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs?? » cybercafe, posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 11, 2003, at 9:47:32
> lol, I can empathize. It took a lot of "practice" to get used to that sort of schedule; I'm dead to the world for at least 20 minutes after I get up, so the last thing I wanted to think about was taking my pills. But once I had done it a few times and realized that I was actually waking up in the morning feel *good*, that was incentive enough to go on.
dude that is good news, thanks you have offered me hope
i actually know someone IRL who is ADD and sleeps very little and doesn't take meds
Posted by cybercafe on September 12, 2003, at 1:24:35
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs?? » Ame Sans Vie, posted by KimberlyDi on September 11, 2003, at 11:49:46
> I am currently working. :)
any advice on what type of jobs best suit ADD people?
Posted by KimberlyDi on September 12, 2003, at 8:53:08
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by cybercafe on September 12, 2003, at 1:24:35
> > I am currently working. :)
>
> any advice on what type of jobs best suit ADD people?
>That was a pretty good question. I'm lucky enough to be involved in implementing a new manufacturing/accounting software for a company that was not networked and relied on paper copies.
Problems pop up every day. I have to find solutions. These problems can usually be solved in one day. Very little is repetitious (which i can't stand) nor does it overwhelm me (like a 2-year-long project that would boggle my mind not knowing where to start.)
That's what works for me.
KDi in Texas
Posted by Sebastian on September 12, 2003, at 22:31:06
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by cybercafe on September 12, 2003, at 1:23:46
I can atest to the practice thing. It took some long periods of not working, taking meds, getting used to them. After that I had to practice hard at waking up, getting into job mode. A lot of years being told how slow and tired I look. I drank a lot of caffine. Now I take the Wellbutrin and wait for it to kick in while I force myself out the door, eat, first part of the morning till I'm into what ever it is, which can be hard to do.
Yes, I am a habitualy late person for work, what ever I think I can get away with when the alarm goes off in the morning, no, half the time I don't even know I do it. One thing that works is telling myself befor bed what its giong to be like getting up in the morning, and how early it will be, etc.
Seb
Posted by cybercafe on September 14, 2003, at 16:26:54
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs?? » cybercafe, posted by Sebastian on September 12, 2003, at 22:31:06
> I can atest to the practice thing. It took some long periods of not working, taking meds, getting used to them. After that I had to practice hard at waking up, getting into job mode. A lot of years being told how slow and tired I look. I drank a lot of caffine. Now I take the Wellbutrin and wait for it to kick in while I force myself out the door, eat, first part of the morning till I'm into what ever it is, which can be hard to do.
>
> Yes, I am a habitualy late person for work, what ever I think I can get away with when the alarm goes off in the morning, no, half the time I don't even know I do it. One thing that works is telling myself befor bed what its giong to be like getting up in the morning, and how early it will be, etc.wow, you work bro? on all that zyprexa? i am impressed
any tips on what type of jobs to look for or how to explain away gaps on a resume?
Posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 12:51:41
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by cybercafe on September 14, 2003, at 16:26:54
Just be honest and tell them about your medications and related issues. It helps alot, also if you can say you have it under control. Look confidant, and in tune. Look for a job that interests you. Also any experience in the past.
I've been working on 10 mg zyprexa for 5 years now, with no Wellbutrin or other motivation/wake-up medicins. Lots of different jobs. I have some gaps, like a leave of absence in previous job/school. It helps to tell you have the right meds now, what ever. I've been imployed full-time for the last 5 years straight now. Most of the time I've been on meds. There were some short gaps erlier like when I was in hospital, this is when I droped out of school.
Sebastian
Posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 12:57:14
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by cybercafe on September 14, 2003, at 16:26:54
I've always told employers about my problems even in interviews. It helps a lot. The ones who question the gaps that you don't tell, don't hire you.
Sebastian
Posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 12:59:24
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by cybercafe on September 14, 2003, at 16:26:54
I'm at work now reading PB.
Seb
Posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 12:59:26
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by cybercafe on September 14, 2003, at 16:26:54
I'm at work now reading PB.
Seb
Posted by stjames on September 15, 2003, at 13:01:10
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs?? » cybercafe, posted by Sebastian on September 12, 2003, at 22:31:06
I find I like the structure of work. It forces
me to have deadlines and get things done. I am a network administrator, so quite a bit of my work is complex and intresting.
Posted by Peter N on September 15, 2003, at 14:30:44
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs?? » cybercafe, posted by KimberlyDi on September 12, 2003, at 8:53:08
Fast-paced and highly structured. If it gets too slow, my mind begins to wander and it's hard for me to get back on track. I like working with a high energy level, so adequate sleep, food, and exercize are very important for my work performance.
I'm learning to structure my time on my own now with calendars and other things I never used much before. (Calendars don't work for ADDers if you keep forgetting to put things in your calendar!)
Posted by cybercafe on September 15, 2003, at 16:05:27
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs?? » cybercafe, posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 12:51:41
> Just be honest and tell them about your medications and related issues. It helps alot, also if you can say you have it under control. Look confidant, and in tune. Look for a job that interests you. Also any experience in the past.
that is encouraging to know that it worked for you ....
what kind of responses do you get when you tell people that? .... i guess people just look puzzled, and say "uh... ok... "
> I've been working on 10 mg zyprexa for 5 years now, with no Wellbutrin or other motivation/wake-up medicins. Lots of different jobs. I have somehow do you get out of bed?? :)
or did you work part time?
Posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 18:56:12
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by cybercafe on September 15, 2003, at 16:05:27
Read. Full-time all the time. Hardly missed a day! Some times as much as 80 hours a week, a lot of the time was 60 hour weeks. Maybe thats why I was having such a hard time getting up? Real though it was everything: late night partys, late work, girlfreind,... drugs.
Prity much; "hu...OK", or what ever. I got into a long conversation with a potential imployer once, he hired me too, wasn't just about meds.
Seb
Posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 18:59:20
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by Peter N on September 15, 2003, at 14:30:44
Ya I agree. You gotta get into it. If you spend too much time not working, you don't perform as well. I had a hard time just taking one day off.
Posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 21:59:49
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs??, posted by cybercafe on September 15, 2003, at 16:05:27
Sorry, Cyber. I didn't mean the last post how it came out. I was out of work for some periods; about 3 months in duration, each.
I started getting sick in school; the first time. Forced to drop out so I could live in the hospital for 3 months after a spell of going psychotic in my room. I was on so many meds I don't remember much, but weird dreams. Then I went home for anouther few months and went psychotic again (All this time I wasn't working). Back to the hospital for anouther 3 months, with ECT just about every day. For a while there I was just not knowing anything except how good the morpine IV was going to be, untill I didn't know what was real or not. My head was majorly messed up on this trip, majorly. Then I went home again, I don't remember this, I also don't remember what I did for a while, I also may have been spending time in the house by myself, or this may have been when I went to the states to work (for a short time) and went on a 3 day crack binge. Then I moved to Canada, moved back to the states. Here I spent anouther 4 months trying to get the right meds; I was very psychotic at this time. Finaly I'm thinking I got Zyprexa, made some friends and got a job. Worked till the fall, got into anouther 4 month psychotic episode(think I had stoped the zyprexa). Went back to the same job (This one was always full time when I wasn't on a leave of absents) and worked till next fall when I got into anouther psychotic episode. Thankfully that was my last one, allmost 4 years ago now. I've been working more than full time ever since with no time off in the 4 years, no vacation, no sick time, Just straight 40+ hours a week. I once told an employer that as long as I take my meds, I'm no problem. One job to the next, overlaping.
So when you gonna kick your but into gear and work????
This is why I promote zyprexa so much. For the last 5 1/2 years or so, as long as I took zyprexa, I could work? Seems to have worked too.
Sebastian
Posted by cybercafe on September 16, 2003, at 3:55:16
In reply to Cyber » cybercafe, posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 21:59:49
> Sorry, Cyber. I didn't mean the last post how it came out. I was out of work for some periods; about 3 months in duration, each.
no problem dude it came off okay
>
> I started getting sick in school; the first time. Forced to drop out so I could live in the hospital for 3 months after a spell of going psychotic in my room. I was on so many meds I don't remember much, but weird dreams. Then I went home for anouther few months and went psychotic again (All this time I wasn't working). Back to the hospital for anouther 3 months, with ECT just about every day. For a while there I was just not knowing anything except how good the morpine IV was going to be, untill I didn't know what was real or not. My head was majorly messed up on this trip, majorly. Then I went home again, I don't remember this, I also don't remember what I did for a while, I also may have been spending time in the house by myself, or this may have been when I went to the states to work (for a short time) and went on a 3 day crack binge. Then I moved to Canada, moved back to the states. Here I spent anouther 4 months trying to get the right meds; I was very psychotic at this time. Finaly I'm thinking I got Zyprexa, made some friends and got a job. Worked till the fall, got into anouther 4 month psychotic episode(think I had stoped the zyprexa). Went back to the same job (This one was always full time when I wasn't on a leave of absents) and worked till next fall when I got into anouther psychotic episode. Thankfully that was my last one, allmost 4 years ago now. I've been working more than full time ever since with no time off in the 4 years, no vacation, no sick time, Just straight 40+ hours a week. I once told an employer that as long as I take my meds, I'm no problem. One job to the next, overlaping.
>
> So when you gonna kick your but into gear and work????haha thanks bro i do need some tough love .... as soon as i find an AD that doesn't cause me to sleep 14 hours a day (hopefully tomorrow) i'll be back to work :)
>
> This is why I promote zyprexa so much. For the last 5 1/2 years or so, as long as I took zyprexa, I could work? Seems to have worked too.
>
> Sebastian
Posted by KimberlyDi on September 16, 2003, at 7:13:05
In reply to Re: i guess you guys have jobs?? » Peter N, posted by Sebastian on September 15, 2003, at 18:59:20
I hate to miss work also. I'm lost taking a day off. Work helps me to keep my thoughts in line. Like bowling with those kiddie-cheat-bumper thingies. Without that, I'm throwing gutter bowls, going the wrong way, or bowling in someone elses lane.
With a T1 internet line though, it's hard to be disciplined.
KDi in Texas
> Ya I agree. You gotta get into it. If you spend too much time not working, you don't perform as well. I had a hard time just taking one day off.
This is the end of the thread.
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