I need a little help if you could... | ADHD Information

Thanks for the help, if anyone else has more advice I could sure use it. My adderall seems to only be making things worse. I've only been on it for 3 days so I'm not sure if my body is getting used to it. Basically it seems to be amplifying the depression and anxiety. I'm going to stay on it through this week but the side effects are seem to be the only effects.  I still have horrible insomnia and even after taking NyQuil (which my doctor told me too or benedril) I still can't sleep. It seems like when the medication is wearing off I feel blah, almost like I have a fever. Anyone else have these problems?

Sorry, can't say that I have any bad side effects from my adderall...but what you're describing is quite common. Perhaps trying another med would help; or maybe even a combination of meds to help ease the depression/anxiety as well as the Adhd. Doesn't make sense to take something that's just making life worse!! Good luck!!!

Adderall side effects seem to last an average of about 2 weeks so if they're not killing you it's best to wait it out and see if the med really works for you. Also depending on how your body works Nyquil or benedril could be adding to the insomnia. I know in my case Nyquil and Dimetap make me extra hyper not sleepy at all I haven't tried benedryl in awhile so not sure how that works.

Oh and your only supposed to take half a dose of nyquil or benedril while on adderall cus it already amplifies the meds. So maybe if you take just a half dose of nyquil you will be able to sleep.

Thanks for the info. I'll try to stick it out for a few weeks and if it doesn't seem to be doing any good then I will talk to my doctors (hard to think I have more than one now. I'm going to vent a bit, doesn't matter if anyone needs it but I feel like crap and I'm doing nothing right. I feel just so overwhelmed right now. I feel like I always need to be talking to someone and when I talk to friends I feel so repetitive and that I am annoying them (even though in reality I know that they are here for me and want to help). I have to constantly convince myself to stop worrying over thing that would have never bothered me before. This semester of school has been far from good so I am constantly thinking about things of the past and its really bothering me. One of the things that lead up to me getting tested for ADD/ADHD was my impulsivity, needless to say I got into alot of trouble for it. I tried to revenge my friend after he was shot twice and I ended up being arrested (I have no fear of pain, but I'm not suicidal).

There is so much I want to say but now (since the medication started) I feel like I'm never getting my point across and I was always have to elaborate to everyone. It's so frustrating. My mind is everywhere but where it needs to be. Sorry I really need to vent, hopefully this isn't scaring anyone but I was stressed out before the medicine and now I only dwell over everything and its driving me crazy and putting me farther into depression. I hate feeling helpless and I hate feeling this way. I'm just relieved I found some people that can understand where I am coming from and help me out. Thanks again for all the advice.
Hang in there coldsun  Life can get pretty stressful and overwhelming and down-right sh*tty at times, but it always gets better! Figuring out medication, etc. can be a complicating process....but once you find what helps you best, your life will be rewarded in so many ways that will make all the fuss worth it! Just hang in there and keep fighting! Just so everyone knows, I'm not one to "lay down and die". I'm a fighter and will survive, just the initial adjustment and all around horrible feelings that I need to get over.

Zounds like me

I did manage to make it through univ. so can share some of the creative study techniques I tried at one time or another over that 4-year period:

1. go to bed early, like around 8 or 9 pm, then get up early at 4 or 5 am and study.  There are no distractions at that time, nobody to phone, nothing on TV, nowhere to go.  Just a cup of coffee, the books, and watching the sun rise.

2. Reading was very difficult for me.  The best thing I found was to search each paragraph or page for the point it was trying to make, then write that down.  The process of having to go from the written page to the brain to the hand and finally back to the brain makes it sink in.  Then use what I had written as study notes.  I also did the same with class notes, summarize them and study the summary over and over. 

3. Plaster things I needed to remember all over my walls.  I would see them many times a day without ever picking up a book.  I am a visual learner, so things like schematics, formulas, diagrams were helpful for me.  I would even make drawings and flow charts to summarize ideas.  Then I would put these on the fridge, livingroom walls, bathroom mirror, everywhere.  I even put my summaries up over the kitchen sink so I could read them while washing the dishes.  One taped to the dashboard to read while the car was warming up, etc.

Good luck! 

This is going to be tough. I'm a 21 yr old male and I was just diagnosed with ADHD, upper 2 percentile. This came as quite a shock since I was never a hyper child. Unfortanetly most the other symptoms have existed, I just thought they were quirks. I'm a junior in mechanical engineering and I recently hit a wall with my grades. In highschool, a competitive one at that, I never studied or did homework and I was in all honors and AP classes with a high GPA. However in college, my grades went down this semester severly (even with countless hours of putting in effort of work and not seeing any difference). My pyscologist said that since I did so many sports and activites all my life, my energy was disperssed well and it wasn't too noticeable. Now that most of my time involves studying, homework, and reading: it shows alot more. No matter how hard I try to study (or read) it is nearly impossible. He also said that I relied purely on my intelligence to get me through this far but it won't work anymore. I just started Adderal at 20mg (he opted not to put me on the step up plan and my psychiatris agrees). But, that might only cure 1 problem making others worse off since I have also been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and alcoholism. Right now I feel incredibly overwhelmed saying that my grades are horrible (if they remain that way I lose my scholarships), finals are rapidly approaching, and I just feel so helpless. Can anyone give me advice to help my studying and help salvage my grades (techniques/methods)? Yes, I do have ADHD (I didn't believe it at first either) and it was shown by multiple differnet tests and doctors. I also need advice in one other area. My "dating" relationships have never been good because I never cared much and got bored with the relationships easily (typically I break it off after 3 months, some alot sooner). Now I actually met someone amazing and I am afraid of losing her because of my ADHD (I told her about it when I was diagnosed, no point in hideing it). When I told her she seemed very supportive, however I did not tell her about my depression and anxiety. She also knows that I quit drinking (a beer every now and then is all i partake in) because of the unhealthy level I was doing. I am extremely worried about losing her (scarying her away) because I have never felt this way about a woman before, such a wonderful feeling of happiness yet I am so scared of messing up something with my tendencies. Does anyone have any really helpful advice on how to run a successful relationship with ADHD? Sorry, I know this was alot of typing (I sure wouldn't have been able to read all of this) but I feel as though my life is slipping away. Any advice would be greatly appreciated @ runicsentry@hotmail.com. Thank you so much for reading this and for any help that you can give.

Hi, Coldsun! I don't know if I will be of any help, but I'll give it a try! I'm also a college student with severe ADHD.....though it didn't come as a shock lol. I've always been quite the "active, impulsive, inattentive, etc." girl. I never really studied either, just kinda got lucky most of the time...pulled a couple all-nighters to get in papers/projects or else made up an excuse and turned it in late

As for tips on studying....I find that I need to get in my exercise each day to help vent some of my extra energy, so I've become quite an avid runner.

 I also find that I can't get anything done unless I'm out of my apartment!!! There are way too many distractions if I stay at my place and I will waste hours, upon hours without realizing it! Granted, there are still distractions at the library, etc.....there are just far fewer. I also have specific "spots" designated for where I study...my favorite being in an area with comfy chairs and couches. I have it so I only study in those areas, so every time I go there, my brain associates working with the environment.

Also try using the "spaced practice" technique when studying instead of "massed practice." In other words, alternate periods of study with brief rest periods.

Figuring out what time of day you study best is another important factor. Figure out when you have the easiest time concentrating (notice I said easiest not EASY lol!) and try to make a routine so that you study at that time some each day, etc.

Eating is also an important factor for concentration. Making sure your body has fuel to burn and for the synapses to fire (potassium and sodium are needed for this.)

About the relationship dilemma....It was a good step to tell your "someone" that you have ADHD as this will probably help her understand certain situations...However, if you are thinking that this is a serious relationship, telling her about your depression and anxiety would probably be a good idea. It's up to you, if you're comfortable with telling her, etc.

Being ADHD myself, I can tell you that patience is an important quality in a significant other (at least for me!) Finding someone who can appreciate you for who you are and even love you more for your ADHD qualities and tendencies is great!

Communication is key in a relationship. Without it, far too many misunderstandings can occur. By telling her you're ADHD doesn't necessarily give you an excuse for your actions, but it does give a reason. Make sure she knows you're doing your best, and you really want it to work. Tell her you feel differently about her and make her feel as special as she makes you feel!

Okay, I can't believe I have concentrated enough to write all that!! My mind is wandering now though, so I'm gonna wrap it up...Hopefully at least something in this will help you! Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions, etc. if you think of any!