Brand New Vintage Me! | ADHD Information

[QUOTE=rebornman]

Kristen -

It has been almost two months since my diagnosis and starting adderall.

On balence, it has been far more benefical than negative.

That is not to say that I do not miss the old me.

Wildly creative, always on the go, good at many things master of none.

All of a sudden I can sit and work, comprehend complex stuff, actually listen and it has been a bit of a shock.

I have never been comfortable in becoming a cog in the material world -- so I need to find ways to plug this good stuff into what is important in my world.

It is amazing though, I can now stay connected long enough to see through things in the business world as if I was the only non-drunk at a party.

So many empty souls in this world.

[/QUOTE]

Are you saying you are no longer wildly creative????!
I too fear being a materialistic cog among the souless, and I am trying to adjust my new outlooks and behaviors to what I find important. My personal outlook on life and what is valuable is the one area I feel superior in when matched against the teeming hordes, among all the others failures and inferiotities.

Hi there guys

I started on medication 2 months ago and the improvement has been enormous. Whilst I feel a lot better I'm having some trouble adjusting to the 'new' me. I guess having lived as someone with undiagnosed ADD I came to accept the way I was. So it feels like a bit of a culture shock. A wonderful one, though, but in some ways I miss the comfort of my old existence. Did anyone else find this and do you have any strategies for easing/ dealing with it?

Thanks heaps for listening

hi kristen ... how old are you? what made you first think that you had ADD.....what way did you act? and also how did they test you for it? its just im going to be tested for it soon and i was just wondering what to expect......i know this doesnt really have anything to do with your post but im nervous about the testing and want to know what to expect
xxx

hi Kristen, another australian on this forum, yay!

I've only been on meds (Strattera) for 3 weeks. I feel a little different, but not sure how yet, but I went to the psychologist yesterday and he said I seem REALLY improved already. I do think I'm starting to be more capable of thinking about consequences of my actions and thoughts.

I'm still not getting much done, but I can now see how I might go about a task, and why it might be important.

I'm good at everything, master of none too, but on Thursday I started to think about my future more seriously than I ever have and wonder if I shouldn't go for my dream job, even if it means doing more study. I'm now able to seriously weigh up my abilities and think about what I'm good at, and what I could exel at.

I always thought serious adult stuff like taking responsibility was for other people.

I haven't suddenly started being effective yet, because I'm so used to being a timewaster that I'm a bit scared of letting the old useless me go. It's hard to think that these changes are going to be long term. I'm scared that maybe I'll get bored of being a functioning human after a year or two and go back to the old me, just like with all the hobbies and jobs I have that I get bored of and drop.

I'm interested in the long term outlook for people who have been on medication for a while. Am I really going to be able to change and stay that way?

eliza38429.8198148148

I was going to start a new topic, but may as well post here...

Hey Kristen, I am starting to feel a bit like you describe. It has only been 3 weeks on Strattera but I feel a little different already.

Last night I went to the cast/crew/friends screening of a 30 minute film an actor friend has written and directed. My friend is Aboriginal, and I had asked my boyfriend to come as my date but when it was time to get ready he said he wasn't interested in Aboriginal movies and didn't want to go.

Normally I wouldn't go out either, because I didn't want to go by myself. I'd stay home and sulk silently, too scared of confrontation to say I wanted to go. But instead I said "get dressed, we're going out".

I said he could watch The Simpsons first and that he was in danger of becoming a boring person if he didn't want to try new things. Coming to see the film was no worse than getting takeaway and watching TV all night. When we got there he started to talk in a patronising tone, and act like he was there under sufferance and would rather be home watching TV. I thought he was going to stand there all night looking bored.

So I quietly explained that these were my friends and colleagues, and it was very important that I see the film. I said if he wanted me to be his girlfriend he had to be willing to accept my interests and be supportive of them.

After that he had quite a nice time and ended up enjoying the film and talking to some new people.

The other thing I did was actually listen to what people were saying and not interrupt too much. I was talking to a group of 4 and not dominating the conversation or just waiting for my turn to talk. It was a really nice feeling to listen to people and then say something in reply. I was still quick-witted and funny and animated like I usually am, making people laugh, but I was SUCCINCT.

Usually I am just carrying out an internal dialogue with anyone who will listen and don't let them get a word in.

I really hope it wasn't a one off!

thanks for listening

eliza38432.7327662037

Wow! It's so good to know that others feel the same way. I just keep telling myself the positives outweigh the negatives. It's such a shock from not having hope and failing to suddenly doing great. I'm slowly getting used to it with time. I think it helps I have awesome friends and family.

I also realise the consequences of my actions a lot more. My conscience kicks in wheras I used to do things by impulse. Like Eliza, I still procrastinate but know how to do a task when I have to.

I think you hsve to take all the good things from add, eg. an open mind, creativity, values...and merge it with the common sense side. I do feel as though I'm becoming a more well-rounded person, i see the whole picture, not just my view. And that is enlightening.

I've realised the value of the things I hold dear. Now I tell all my friends I love them all the time, a bit of a change from the girl who used to never let her guard down. I guess it's still a learning curve, but it's still a fascinating ride :)

Well done, that's really great.

I guess the main reason I was worrying was not so much over things that may have been, but that I have a lot to catch up on in "the real world". It's a bit of a crash course but I'm feeling a lot more a part of it. Its reversing the bad habits that will take time. But no one is Superman, right?