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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 7, 2004, at 16:22:01
In reply to ADDr's....does this make sense?, posted by thinkfast on March 3, 2004, at 6:30:07
> I wrote this this morning after another experiment with Adderall....I was diagnosed with mild OCD and SAD, but I share many of the same similarities in the thought process department as with those with ADD. I'm trying to gather info so I can talk to my PDoc about trying a stimulant medication since none of the other meds help with the thinking....Does ADD even sound like a possibility for me? I brought this up with my T a long time ago, but she thought it was just me worrying about it too much...I disagree, It just make to much sense....Anyway, read and let me know your thoughts....thanx!
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> This is extremely intriguing. Here is another experience with a stimulant to add to my research collection. Last night I felt the usual feeling of being off in another world. That layer of thinking that is just below consciousness dissepated after the Adderall. How similar is this thought process to those that have ADD? The truly hyperactive people and I have something in common with the thinking process. Them being physically hyperactive and I being mentally hyperactive are the difference. If I had the physical hyperactivity, we would be much the same. The usual layer of thinking was diminished considerably. Worrying about how I was walking, talking, moving, etc., were very easy to let go of. Most of the night I was oblivious to this usual worry, although it still found it’s way in from time to time. There was a difference in it though. It would come and go and I would not spend a great deal of time thinking about it. And, as usual, It was much easier to communicate with people for the lack of the underlying thinking. This is my biggest downfall when it comes to the anxiety. Also, I felt a strange calmness in being able to block out some of the external stimuli. I figured out that this is one of my major concerns also. When there is a lot going on around me my mind goes haywire. There is too much happening around me and tend to notice everything. This can relate to what Mandi calls scatterbrained. I always feel calmness when there are not many people around and it is fairly quiet. Before, I thought that it was because of the social anxiety, but now I am wondering if it is just a stimulus problem. Even going to wall-mart when they are least busy is considerably easier than when there are a ton of people there. It feels chaotic then. Hyper people get on my nerves too for the same reason. There is just too much to take notice of with them. I cannot focus when there is much going on around me. This also relates to my communication problem. It is much easier to get the things from my head to my mouth with this type of medication. What is it about the stimulant that lets one do these things, which are not normally possible? It obviously gives a person mental stimulation, which seems strange since too much stimulus is the problem. It all seems backwards. On the other hand, I’ve read many posts that verify that medications for people with ADD work the opposite of what is usual outcome for most people. If I were to take this and go talk to a counselor, I feel I could sufficiently explain my issues with much more ease. I do not freeze up as I usually do. I am able to think when someone is around. It’s amazing! This med also made me much more coordinated. It feels as if my body and mind were on the same wavelength instead of my mind working in overdrive. Most of the posts I have read on OCD and stimulants usually read that stimulants make obsessions and anxiety worse. Again, this is not true in my case. The anxiety stems from the thinking, which turns into an obsession after some time. Today it was stopped at the source. ??????I'm confused!!!!!Help!!!!!!
Posted by PsychoSage on March 7, 2004, at 17:10:08
In reply to ADDr's....does this make sense? « thinkfast, posted by Dr. Bob on March 7, 2004, at 16:22:01
what's going on here? Dr. Bob is describing the subjective effects of stimulants?
I am confused. I am relatively new. Who is Dr. Bob to begin with?
Is SAD schizoaffective? Anyways, it sounds like a thought disorder is going on there.
It's funny that antipsychotics are used to treat a thought disorder, but the other thought disorder known as ADHD is treated with stimulants.
If people get on your nerves and you have trouble in public places, then you may be dealing with a cycle of paranoia and hostility [whether perceived from others or your own - either way it's a cycle}.
If you are schizoaffective and you were depressed then perhaps the stimulant brought on a pleasant experience that you've been wishing for a while. Please remember though that prolonged use of Adderall can send you into mania or psychosis before you can tell.
After a few more trials of adderall, you are going to have your obsessive thoughts again I imagine. A stimulant can perform a feat of wonder on the cognitive side initially, but with your established disorders, I would not get too excited.
Perhaps a stimulant in a low dose carefully monitored with a lot of cognitive therapy and reality testing skills[i think that is what they call getting how we know sanity} can be beneficial.
Also look into Nemanda for your depression/cognitive issues and Aricept.
Anything dopaminergic from provigil yes, contrary to popular belief it is dopaminergic too, to amphetamine to parkinson's drugs can be problematic. I've read about old people on levodopa who have lots of sex and gamble compulsively after they started it, but those were a few stray case reports. Aside from the parkinsonians, the stimulants DEFINITELY need to be handled with extreme caution and care.
Stimulants cause perceptual disorders more than cure them.
Even if the stimulant seems to enhance your emotions, it may steal them away when the drug poops out on you or makes you crash at the end of the day.
I did not want to burst your bubble, but stimulants are not the wonder drug they always seem initially. The brain changes, and if you want improvement, you have to try your best to get interpersonal skills and overcome the predilection towards isolation.
These are issues I deal with personally, so good luck!
Posted by PsychoSage on March 7, 2004, at 20:08:31
In reply to Re: ADDr's....does this make sense? » Dr. Bob, posted by PsychoSage on March 7, 2004, at 17:10:08
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> Is SAD schizoaffective? Anyways, it sounds like a thought disorder is going on there.
>OHHHHHHHHH! SAD is social anxiety disorder. That is SAD. I think I need something for that.
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 8, 2004, at 8:45:46
In reply to Re: ADDr's....does this make sense? » Dr. Bob, posted by PsychoSage on March 7, 2004, at 17:10:08
> what's going on here? Dr. Bob is describing the subjective effects of stimulants?
Sorry if that was confusing. I just moved a post by thinkfast from Psycho-Social-Babble.
Bob
Posted by interject79 on March 8, 2004, at 17:09:27
In reply to ADDr's....does this make sense? « thinkfast, posted by Dr. Bob on March 7, 2004, at 16:22:01
It does make sense. My diagnosis is SAD, OCD, and AD/HD (with possible learning differences) but the former two are really compications from my AD/HD (and sometimes my mood plummets, but it isn't due to bipolar disorder). Stimulants are the only meds I've tried which give me relief. It's a lot like a symphony coming into harmony. Sill they are very tricky to get right, as in which one works best and when to take it. This would be good to discuss with a doctor I imagine, and possibly get tested by a specialist.
There are a few (maybe 'few' is wrong even) who are extremely gifted and intelligent even though they have severe AD/HD which goes undiagnosed and untreated for a long time, perhaps until adulthood. I believe these people have learned to compensate in various ways, some positive and some dysfuntional.
Best wishes,
interject
Posted by Viridis on March 9, 2004, at 4:49:47
In reply to Re: ADDr's....does this make sense?, posted by interject79 on March 8, 2004, at 17:09:27
I've had no problem with regular, long-term use of low-dose Adderall for ADD (10 mg/day). I skip it for a couple of days here and there with no problems and haven't needed to increase the dose in the 2 1/2 years I've been taking it. It helps me focus and stay calm, and is a much better antidepressant than any of the "official" ADs I've tried, without the side effects. For me, at least, it's a very positive med.
Posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 16:12:04
In reply to Re: ADDr's....does this make sense? » interject79, posted by Viridis on March 9, 2004, at 4:49:47
I usually see SAD used to refer to Seasonal Affective Disorder. Perhaps it was used here to mean social anxiety disorder? Maybe some clarification so we don't get confused?
Thanks.
Posted by interject79 on March 9, 2004, at 17:29:02
In reply to Re: what is SAD, posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 16:12:04
I use SAD to mean social anxiety disorder, but I'm not sure this is right. I recall seeing it used to refer to seasonal affective disorder.
Posted by Viridis on March 10, 2004, at 0:59:51
In reply to Re: what is SAD, posted by interject79 on March 9, 2004, at 17:29:02
People here commonly use to "SAD" to refer to both social anxiety disorder and seasonal affective disorder. Maybe it's time for some new acronyms? (groan) Or just say "Seasonal AD" vs. "Social AD"?
It is confusing.
Posted by thinkfast on March 10, 2004, at 8:15:25
In reply to Re: what is SAD » interject79, posted by Viridis on March 10, 2004, at 0:59:51
just wanted to clirify that it is social anxiety disorder
This is the end of the thread.
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