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.
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.
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.
BOBEL-