just diagnosed

I finally  told a DR.  what I dealt with in my daily life and was diagnosed with ADHD.  I have been sufering from crippling anxiety as well... it just seems worse now that I am older not better. I spent yrs cultivating an aura  of absent minded  disinterest when in reality I  was furious, I missed appointments,  cant  balance my check book( but can rattle off  all the Roman Emperors),  have piles of paperwork at home and work, never remebered to put things away,  blurted, interupted  and said untactful things I immediettly regreted. I  took several college  courses  the last few yrs  and  have done well( unlike as a child  when I got As in Science and Fs in English because I hated it and couldnt be bothered) but  basically shake the whole buildings foundation from all the leg  shaking i do. If I write  I have to print and even then i can barely read it and ened up writing so fast   it  is amazing the Professers  dont fail me on penmenship.  I finished my last big test the Prof said he was sure I bombed and gave me a 99. I knew the stuff  I just puked it out at light speed...I have trouble  not  doing that and taking the time to write   in an organized manner.  I was told the  letter reversal and spelling problems are related to it too.  I make plenty of money yet cant  manage it well enoguh to pay mey bills. I  use defense   low overhead...I bought  half the house I could of knowing I would have the income to live in the  fire bucket mode  of  putting out my financial crisis  by  practicing austerirty for two weeks. I am so impulsive  with money.  There is good with it I  am great at solving problems  and  obcess  till I get a soloution at work  and in volunteer work but the cahos is just too much. THe Diagonosis  wasnt a shock the prognosis  if I take  medicine  is what I wonder about. I have an Arrethmia so stimulants were never an option   but  Straterra is

    Anyway the chaos  just got to much. In part it was responsible for my divorce...in part.  A daily ritual was my EX  asking em why I couldnt put  my socks in the hamper and me feeling horrible about myself  because I didnt and stuff like that. It's like I want to remeber  to return tools  at work I borrow, put them  away, put my keys in  the same spot, or my wallet etc...instead i spend half my life   looking for stuff I didnt forget wherte I put....I never noticed where I put it because I was thinking about other stuff. I  loose my car in parking lots  if I dont  stop and look around when I first get out of the car....otherwise I  just walk into where I am going get  what I need or half of it  because I forgot my list on the Kitchen  counter  if iueven made one. The anxiety finally got me to seek help  and I was put on low dose of Xanax XR and it helps a bit. The DR is going to start me on Straterra  next week... Does anyone   relate? Did Starterra  give them the  ability to stop long enough to make lists  or  do the  chores like Dishes and  paying bills that   just the thought ofhas me so frustated? I live alone now  so  there is no one helping me organize  and I live in abject chaos. I try to play it off but  I just dont know or rather cant seem to really live any other way. Will the Staterra  make change easier? Please, take the time to tell me.... pretty much at wits end and sick and tired of people thinking of me like Pigpen leaving a trail whereever I go at work.

DIDO

I tried strattera, but I had to stop because of side effects before it could take affect (2-3Weeks) It works for some people, and it seems with ADDers you don't know what will work until  you try it.

If you look around the forum you will find alot of post on the pro's and con's of the different med.

BOBEL - You're not alone! You sound like you could be my lost twin!! I know exactly what you're going through... I have struggled with ADHD since childhood and have had certain times when I've managed it better than others. First of all, you're doing the right thing by getting help and taking control!! i can't comment on Strattera (I take ritalin) but for me, meds are a big help. But they aren't magic. You have to take a multi-point approach to controlling the ADHD behaviours. It's a process, but you CAN make huge improvements in all of the things you've mentioned.

-stay with the meds, even if it takes a while to get the right one/dose.

-find a psychologist who you can work with.... you'll be surprised how much anxiety goes away when you get the ADHD under control...

-there are books on organizing and coping with ADHD - some really good ones.

-consider getting a coach. they can help you implement real strategies that will help you manage.

Don't give up, it's totally a manageable condition and you're on the right path so far.