does that mean you don't really have ADD?
My diagnosis has always been a bit fuzzy. Extended testing resulted in a report that I still did not truly understand. It seemed a bit inconclusive. However, I am in the process of having the report dug up (just a few years old, life did go on, other things came to the forefront but now I'm back to questioning whether or not I have ADD) and re-read by my other doctor.
Side note: I go see this man and every time he says "make another appointment so we can really read this report Dr so and so did and discuss it"............only I swear this guy has ADD as much as I do because every "next" appointment he's not prepared yet again. LOL
Anywho, the main question is this: I have a history of cocaine abuse. I am not sure if I'd say it calmed me down at all. I would say that it's just a highly addictive/abusable drug and the euphoria is what makes it better than regular "stimulants." I could focus alright...........if you call obsess and be ridiculously REDUNDANT "focusing." I would not say that was preferable to a lack of focus at ALL. lol
Because of this past issue, we obviously were leery of me trying any kind of stimulant ADD meds. However, there was always that mystery of "wonder if they would have a calming effect or a focusing effect on me" that loomed out there.
Eventually I was given Ritalin to try and I couldn't even get past one of the two doses I was prescribed per day. I hated it. Reminded me of the crappy coke fueled anxious feeling only WITHOUT the euphoria that coke also provides (albiet brief).
The question my primary care physician has (however she is not a pych or an expert and knows this) is this: If stimulants make you feel edgy, nervous and jittery is that not a sign that perhaps you are NOT ADD???
I feel like I'm right back to where I started. I'm just lazy and immature. I can accept it, I suppose, but I just want answers. No excuses but just a clear yes or no..........is my life my fault or are there circumstances beyond my power and I'm not a complete dolt?
The function of stimulant meds are not designed to calm you down. They are not tranquilizers and those with ADHD do not need to be calmed, they need to be focused.. The right med and dose allow you to focus so that your thoughts are not all over the map which therefore elimnates a high level of distraction. Your then able to meet your full potential in all areas of life if you chose to do so. If one is feelinge edgy it may mean the dose is too high or its the wrong medication. This is not a measure of whether the meds are effective or not or whether you have ADHD or not. Medication should never be given to make a diagnosis. A clinical diangnosis should be made first and then medication recommedations. Medication management should be under the supervision of a certified psychiatrist, not a general practioner and more so in your case because you have already had a substance abuse problem. There are many other med choices besides ritalin and only a specialist can monitor you properly. Good luck
It was at this time where I mentioned trying a stimulant (Ritalin) ***which WAS prescribed by my psych**** and hating it instantly as it made me anxious and instantly reminded me of my long gone "wired to the gills/cocaine" days. My psych told me to just stop taking them immediately and I did. I think the only other "ADD med" I tried was Concerta and that made me feel like I was having a heart attack after minimal physical exertion.
Anywho, she just had the same reaction that others sometimes do in that she questioned if you could truly be "ADD" if a stimulant caused that reaction. In other words, NON ADDers tend to get all "wired" on stims. The thought process is that for people who are truly diagnosed with ADD and are PRESCRIBED a stimulant by their psychiatrist, would notice a calming effect where they could slow down enough to focus and pay attention. Or.........put another way, it simply would not have the same "speed" like effect non ADDers would feel.
Hope that clears things up. I understand what you're saying and totally agree and it's been a very responsible trip down this road on my part as far as getting qualified individuals involved to help me and to properly diagnose me. However, it seems that even among experts there's a question as to just HOW certain any ADD diagnosis can really be. I'm actually not sure about this myself. Is it something that is not so easily diagnosed for SURE or what?
It is not that I need or want a "label" or an excuse for myself. But there is a comfort in understanding just what cards fate/heredity/mother nature has handed you and knowing that you can then move forward in learning to live with these things or get around them. That's quite a huge difference from ............I'm not ADD and I can't explain why my life seems to be spinning around going nowhere. Is it me or is it ADD? That's what I need to know. I always got the feeling the basic summary of the report done of me after months of testing was a bit ambiguous. With both my parents long gone, there isn't anyone to interview about my childhood and what I was like from a somewhat objective observer. Yes, your parents aren't the most objective but you know what I mean.........it's more objective then you trying to remember how you acted as a child.
That plus some test scores, I THINK, added to a question of whether I was ADD or just..............lazy, immature, lost, etc.
Oy. Second verse, same as the first. I'm at square one again. Ta da!
If stims make you jumpy, jittery, anxious, nervous, etc does this mean that you are NOT ADD?
Or, do some people who genuinely have ADD also react to stims like non ADDers........i.e. hyper and edgy?
Most of what I can find online makes it very cut and dried. Stims hype up "normal" people but don't have that same reaction with ADDers. True or false?
Anyone know?
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