After my roomates discovered my stash of "yellow jacket" caffeine pills earlier this school year, they realized something was wrong. When they questioned me, I confessed that I had to use them because 1. I fell asleep in class constantly, and also while studying and 2. since my mind uncontrollably wandered (sometimes for 8 hours at a time, without getting any work done) I had to keep horrible hours. I then realized that I had ADHD. It was time for me to go to the college psych services, where two psychologists said that in their entire careers, they didn't see a more obvious case of undiagnosed Adult ADHD. I suppose the disorder was covered up by the fact that I was an excellent student in high school (because I could devote lots of time to my studies) and because my family is very supportive and kind of shelters me- there could be nothing wrong with their baby.
I have also been diagnosed with clinical depression.
Without going into much detail, I soon acquired medication from various physicians. Below is a description of those experiences:
1. Ritalin (10 mg, 3 times per day)- Wore off very quickly, and when it wore off, my ADHD symptoms worsened and I became extremely irratible- I theatened suicide a few times during these "valleys." The ritulin, when in action, was effective the first few days, but my brain soon found a way around it, and I went back to daydreaming and getting songs stuck in my head- it is nearly impossible for me to stop these recurring thoughts.
I spoke to my general doctor at home and she put me on....
2. Concerta (28 mg, 1 per day)- It really didn't do a bloody thing. It was like taking sugar pills...or at least I didn't really "feel" it working. It also gave me horrible headaches.
I was on Concerta for a week, when I met with the college psychiatrist, who put me on...
3. Adderall (10 mg, 3 times a day)- They worked alright at first...but they caused alot of side effects. First, it caused my heart walls to inflame. Also, I had alot of flatulence and stomach pain. Furthermore, the Adderrall caused some strange thinking- I would have unmentionably disturbing thoughts randomly just "pop" into my head, and sometimes even random, vile pornographic images would play in my mind, or play when I closed my eyes. Also, I had the feeling I was being constantly followed. The medicine eventually stopped my mind from running constantly, but then again, it really didn't cause me to focus on my work, even when I tried. I would just blank out and go into my "trance" of hair pulling. Pulling on and out my hair has been a pathological problem since I was a child, and has been associated with my depression. I also have this weird habit of rubbing my wrist right under my nose. The Adderall exacerbated these habits to a level that was so intense that I was unable to concentrate on anything but my hair pulling and wrist-sniffing- I would sit for hours just doing thes habits. It negated anything that would have caused me to concentrate.
Meanwhile, I had been officially diagnosed with depression. I spoke to my psychiatrist about the problems with the Adderall and my depression. He then switched me to....
4. Wellbutrin (150 mg, 3 times per day)- Insofar as the hair pulling and other habits, Wellbutrin seems to have worked WONDERS. I have never been able to go for so long without tugging on my hair. It also seems to be giving me more social energy. Thus, I definitely would like to stay on it to treat the depression/hair pulling.
However, in terms of the ADHD, Well. has done NOTHING. I've been on it for a week and a half now- does it take awhile to "kick in" in order to treat ADHD? My mind has gone back to uncontrollably wandering, I interrupt everyone, and I am back to being very impulsive.
I need to have the depression taken care of, but also have to treat my severe ADHD. Any medication reccomendations from here, given that nothing has really worked thus far?
Your advice would be much appreciated.
What exactly, is all the daydreaming preventing you from doing? I know that I need a ton of daydreaming time, because I just really, *really* enjoy it. To me, daydreaming is just totally awsome. It's like having sex all day.