is this weird? | ADHD Information

just went to the doc today and got a prescription for 10 mg. focalin xr, which is supposedly the equivalent of 20 mg. ritalin, concerta, etc. also, that was probably my last visit with this doctor--long story, search my old posts I'm not going to type it all up again (nothing personal )

The story I should tell is that so far I've missed 2 full weeks of school (I'm a junior in high school) and I'm not planning on going back. School is hell for me. I have no friends, the kids are so immature (and you could imagine how immature they must be if an ADDer calls them immature). The teachers kinda half give up because the students are impossible-they have no discipline. I think a lot of them are on drugs but I wouldnt know since like I said, I have no friends and don't really talk to anyone. I am inattentive type, and I'm very quiet in school--the lack of discipline just angers me.
   This doc is telling me he wants my mom to call him if I don't go to school by next week, and he will "hospitalize my ***" (yes, thats what he said, more than once.) two weeks ago, he prescribed me ritalin 5 mg. to help me wake up the morning to go to school, since thats another issue I have. it did nothing. so now he's giving me 10 mg. focalin xr. now next week I have an appointment with a new doc, but I'm not planning on going to school--my plan is to change schools. Hopefully this new doctor will get us all on an equal ground. I'm also having huge issues with my parents being neurotic control freaks and I need a doctor who can see this situation and how its ruining me. I am taking Effexor XR for depression that I think is completely environmental and not physiological--meaning if I changed my surroundings to something more "normal" I wouldn't have deoression at all. I'd probably just have the ADD and a little anxiety. And the anxiety I developed because of my mother's influence throughout me life thus far.

Anyway, sorry for the long rant...this board is pretty much the only support I have right now and I really had no one else to talk to about this. This is the first chance I got to tell you all this so there was also a bit of catching up to do.
soberxinsanity,

I am new and searching for support just like yourself. I am not a psychologist, yet I do see one and from what I can tell, you seem to have deeper issues than what you may know of. I would recommend trying to see a psychologist as well as a psychiatrist. I see my psychologist once a week on saturday and my psychiatrist about once a month. I think it would help you to talk to someone that can help you sort things out in your life. I was amazed about all of the things I found out about myself within the first few weeks of seeing mine.

Basically, what I can try to suggest is that you really need to sit down and organize yourself. (I will expand on this shortly)

As a junior in high school, you should want to go back to school. I was in the same boat as you a few years ago (I am currently 19 and attend a great university). Many times I thought I would give up, but for some reason I hung in there.

Back to organizing yourself. I think it would help you to realize that you arent going to school for anyone else's wellbeing. Remember, you are doing this for yourself. I know it sucks not having friends, I was there too. You would be amazed how much things can change once you are out of high school.

You need to find the motivation within yourself, you have it, I have it, we all have it. The only issue is realizing that. My psychologist told me that when I feel like not going to a class (for whatever reason) to think that it is going to play a part in getting me to my goal. No matter how much you do not like something, and it benefits you, struggle through it, no matter how hard. Sticking through it will help build your character and will eventually get you that diploma.

Figure out where you want to be and the steps you need to take to get there. Put yourself ahead of anything else at this point in your life. I dont think you are right now (hard to say from just reading this thread).

Also, I should include that I am on Effexor XR @ 75mg a day. According to my research, some are put on a dosage as high as 350mg a day, so there is a chance that you need your dosage upped. Give the Effexor a chance, because from my experience, it will eventually make it easier to sort things out and decrease your anxiety.

Hopefully I have given you some insight, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I have contact info in my profile.

Good luck to you!

If you find the right med or combination of meds, your life will turn around completely.

Yea, what he said ^^. I know you cant afford to pay for a psychologist AND a psychiatrist but you have to realize that nothing in life worth doing will be easy. Dont worry about not having friends bc who would even want to make friends with immature skitzing little punks anyways? You shouldn't quit school either bc then the only jobs available will be a construction worker and a trash man.         &n bsp;         It will be worth finding a doctor who will listen to you and not try to "hospitalize your ***". Hope the Focalin will work for you at that dose, you are right 10mg of Focalin is the equivalent of 20mg of concerta, ritalin, ie any other methylphenidate medication. I tried Focalin at 30mg to see if it would fix my hobby problem.  -Did'nt ever feel like playing the guitar, which is something I usually LOVE to do-. Well that didnt work out since 30mg is equal to 60mg and my response dose for Concerta is 108mg. Im testing the patch now, which sucks, so ill be going on Concerta again prolly. Also since your saying that your depression is environmentally based, then you should try Tofranil instead of Effexor since it works better for a specific type of depression, and it works on anxiety too so you can help with both problems . Hope ive been helpful to you.

The depression and the anxiety could also be from unmedicated ADHD...that often causes depression and anxiety..the frustration from trying to cope and failing is tremendous.

And if I read the posts correctly, I think that the poster IS going to go back to school, they just want to change schools?  Maybe I misread..but definitely finish.  It is the best thing you can do for yourself, and college will be so much better than high school.

10mg is still a very low dose, but possible you won't need much.

Good luck to you!

rebound on 5mg of Ritalin? I dont think too many people will rebound on that low of a dose but then again everyone is different. And if the ritalin is helping your add symptoms as well as helping you get up, then tell your doc!thats the thing--it didnt help with the ADD or waking up-it did absolutely nothing. Is that a normal reaction or am I supposed to notice something b/c I'm just starting?You should notice that your mind is no longer going 85473875 mph. You should notice that things that usually take you an hour to do will now only take half. You should notice a newfound ability to focus on whatever your doing, without drifting off into la la land. I test my focus by attemping to read a book and if my meds are working, then ill get lost in the book without hearing the tv on in the next room. If your not seeing any benefit at all then maybe your dose is too low. 5mg isnt very much, im at 108mg of concertaTofranil is a tricylic antidepressant. The generic name is imipramine. It is like a swiss army medication, used for add symptoms, as an antidepressant, its used for sleep problems -which is why im currently on it-, used for anxiety disorders and also for bedwetting in kids. You might wanna give it a shot.what is tofranil?

...and about seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist, I doubt that is going to happen because I am already in arguments with my parents about the expenses of a psychiatrist, abusing insurances, annual visits being cut down, bla bla bla...soberxinsanity39137.7695486111I believe there are some free clinics that you can check out...here is some information on a few...

Educational Alliance Mental Health Clinic: 212-533-3570, 315 E. 10th Street, Manhattan.
This clinic provides diagnosis, assessment and intensive outpatient therapy for adolescents and their families. Consumers can be referred from anywhere in New York City. There is no waiting list, but a referral is preferred.


The Door: 212-941-9090, 121 6th Ave., Manhattan. www.thedoor.com.
The Door offers young people ages 12-21 free comprehensive educational, health, nutritional and counseling programs, as well as legal services for young people in need of civil legal representation.

Adolescent Health Center of the Mount Sinai Medical Center: 212-423-3000, 312 E. 94th St., Manhattan.
This Center offers some free services of individual, family, and group therapy, sexual abuse support services, as well as alcohol and substance abuse support services for adolescents.


1-800-LIFE-NET; 1-800-543-3638   LifeNet - Free to low Cost mental health care


This information can be found at http://www.nycmccap.org/guide/chap10g.html

Good luck with finding something, hopefully things work out for you.
if anyone here has read any of my previous posts, they will know that I have been having trouble finding a doc that will medicate me for ADHD because of my history of an eating disorder--which I actually don't have--I have a phobia that caused me to stop eating (don't want to go through the whole story again here).

so for the past three days, I have not gone to school (I am a high school student) and I am thinking about changing schools because I am very unhappy with my current school. anyway, I couldn't wake up for the past three mornings, so my doctor prescribed me 5 mg. short-acting ritalin to help me wake up. I think that's a little strange, because what happens for the rest of the day? And he didnt even mention ADHD! I'm trying to change doctors for the longest time now, but psychiatrists are sooo expensive around here (I live in NYC) and a lot of them want to see you 2-3 times a week for 0 a session. My parents can't even afford to pay this once every week or two. Hopefully I can do it once a month...the doc I am looking into right now is a psychoharmacologist that also does psychotherapy.

anyway, before I start rambling on and on...what do you all think about a doctor that refused giving me stims for 1.5 years and then giving them to me for my problems waking up in the morning? What about rebound?