coaching or therapy | ADHD Information

I definately think stress is playing a big role in how your feeling lately. Losing a job and getting a divorce is enough to make anyone feel like they have no control so when you add ADD on top of that things start really getting crazy.

That said it does take some time to make changes even once you start meds. You've probably read about people that have these dramatic changes once they start meds. I know that's what I expected when I first started them but thats usually not how it works. More often meds only help enough for you to be able to make changes and find ways of doing things that work for you. Meds pretty much give you the tools to make things better but don't make things better for you.

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't difficult to make these changes because it is still a lot of work. I am the post-it queen because it's the only way I can remember important things. Some people suggest keeping a journal or planner but that doesn't work for me because I have a habit of losing it. Post-its work because I place them near the thing I need to remember. A post it with the due dates for my bills is on the computer. If there is something I want to make sure I take with me when I leave the house I will put a post it on the front door. Things I need to be reminded of as soon as I wake up get a post-it on the bathroom mirror. This works out really well for me. And I don't take the post-it down until whatever it is there for is done.

At first I would read the post it on the front door take it down and ultimately forget to take what I need because I got distracted somewhere along the way. Now I can read the note 100 times if I have to because no matter how many times I get distracted I will still have to walk out that front door and see the note before I leave.

The other thing which helps me especially when working or if you have a lot that needs to get done in a short amount of time is to get as much done ahead of time as possible. If things need to get loaded in the car, then load them the night before. No need to run around last minute and worry if you've got everything.  I also pick out and iron my clothes for work the night before, since deciding what to wear and actually finding that item can be a huge problem for me in the morning.

You might want to stop taking the Adderall for a few days and see if you feel any different. I know many people that have said that they don't feel like their meds are helping or they don't really notice a difference but once they stop the pills for a few days they are surprised at how much of a difference they actually did make. The benefit of trying this is you'll have a better idea if your current symptoms are because of the meds not working or because of the added stress you are under.

thank you for the info, its helpful

 

i really dont know how im suppose to feel i still feel alot of the same stuff, compulsive, forgetful, inattentive, cant focus, lose track and get off on some other things almost always. im taking 60 mg of adderal a day. I recently lost a good job because a lack of quaility work. On the medication for almost a year now. Is it adhd or just alot of bad habits and years of not knowing.

Tell me more if u can ----------- from wisc

 

You might want to look at your meds first. When you first started taking them did they help you? Are they still helping now or do they seem less effective? It's possible you may need to raise the dose or if they never helped to try a different med.

The behavoir being worse now could also be stress related. ADHD sypmtoms seem worse the more we are dealing with. You mentioned a recent divorce so I'd be willing to bet that has something to do with it.

As for the therapy it depends what you are trying to accomplish. I generally don't think therapy is much help for ADDers. I could maybe see the benefit in the very beginning to teach someone organization or time management skills but after that it's up to the ADDer to impliment those skills. Obviously ADD is often co-morbid with other problems like depression or anxiety which might be helped by therapy so it's all a question of what your getting out of it.

Coaching can't help you with any co-morbid problems and honestly everything you can learn from a coach you can learn from a book for a lot less money.

It's also possible that you are just not clicking with your current therapist and would do better with someone else. You might need to decide if your current therapist is actually helping you or if you are just going to them out of habit.

I'm not sure what the right answer is for you. It's an unbelievably aggrivating process of trial and error finding what works but well worth it once you do.

i found out i have adhd at the age of 52, it all makes sense now. Amazing piece to my lifes puzzel. I have been on meds for about a year now and seeing a therapists once a month. I am currently unemployed and recently divorced. I am not sure this is all working. My behavior is more showing than ever before, maybe because of my awareness. My question is : What is the job of the therapists in treatment and or does a coach give the same advise. I dont see much improvement, but hey i was the last to know about this adhd thing too. Am i expecting to much to fast, how am i suppose to feel, just not sure its working for me.  This all very new to me. Hope some one can guide me

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