Hello, christine,
That's a good question to ask, and one that doesnt have a yes/no answer. It's tough to say, but for the most part, when i was growing up, i had a photographic memory, and i was not on medication until i was 21 or 22. Most of my memories of childhood and adolescence are intact and strong, but there were some things that were a little blurred when i was on the medication. But for the most part, my memories have been clear and I seem to have pretty good recall. I do remember that when i was going through a very traumatic experience for me, it was difficult to remember things and Depression made my memory horrible. When i was on Celexa, the clouds lifted and there was a clear head on my shoulders. For many with ADD, like myself, the memory gets pretty bad when we arent paying attention, or if we are under a lot of pressure (very common for ADD'ers to get Test Anxiety). There is a correaltion to memory and ADD, and i was saying on the ADHD Admin Board, that we learn things a little different than other people, and when we get it learned, its like etched there. Hope that that helps a little, also, I'd be interested to hear from someone that has been on stimulants or SSRI's.
-Chelsey
For those of you who couldnt /cant remember there childhood memories.. when you went on medication, did those memories come back
thanks
christine
I was on stimulants-[Adderallxr] and Prozac for a time. I began taking prozac in 96 after depression nearly took me out. I got mad as hell about it, my vision which was always sharp suddenly blured and it was supposed to be temporary but it never returned. Although I did find minor relief from depression, it seemed as though I was relieved of more than I bargained for as pieces of my past began to vannish as well as a small chunk of my personallity. I wasn't getting depressed, but I wasn't getting happy either and within 6 months I was back in the phsyc ward. Went from Prozac to Zoloft to Wilbutron to... probably another 5 different meds, all this time loosing hope, memory, and feelings to a point where I threw in the towel, volentarily layed down and allowed them to sramble my brain with ECT-[Electro-Convulsive Therapy]. After about 15 shocks over a few month time period I not only forgot things, I forgot I forgot things. If their is such a thing as living dead, I was. After all that, I went back on prozac and for the next 5 or 6 years I was basically zombiefied.
Then came the idea for stimulants after complaing to my shrink about always being weary and unable to draw interest off of things which held me spell-bound at one time. Within 1 year I dropped the prozac off of my med list for good. Its been 5 years to date, and my mind is slowly clearing as memories long forgotten begin to emerge. Even my short tearm memory seems better and my interest in living has improved dramatically, though I still am plauged with brain farts. You know, you got a good idea... then ffffffttt... its gone. Words vannish, names, but that is a minor setback compared to living for the day you ain't gotta live no more, just living one might say to die. Theres no future in death, uh.. and if there is I hope it stays there in the future. My interests have all returned as I draw much strength from playing my music. I've played my guitar more in the past week than I did for those 10 years that it sat under my bed where I layed... wishing I was dead. I have also found that turning out towards others in a helpfull spirit takes me miles away from my small problems. peace mArkY
That's Great Marky!
My fiance is just like you too. He was a long-time sufferer of depression and it nearly took him out too. Music was his saving grace as well, and he plays guitar very well also. He didnt go through the ECT route, but i have treated a lot of patients that have been on that, and i must say that I am not a big fan of it, only a last, and i do mean last, resort. I know of a few that have had long term memory problems for it.Adults with ADD/ADHD are going to have problems with short-term memory regardless, because if we dont pay attention to something, it doesnt go to long term memory. Keep up the good work with the guitar
-Chelsey