Hi - I was a childhood ADHD case - took Ritalin for years and then got off and did OK for years. I found that if I did 400 things at once I could manage the hyperactivity and circumvent hte focus issues. I actually got through a college degree while working 60 hours a week and tutoring on the side - with a 3.98 GPA and Honors (Summa Cum Laude) - without meds or help of any kind. I blast rock music to do homewhork and roll pencils in my hands to get through exams, etc. I always figured it was a gift in some ways - but things really crashed this year for me and I am back to looking at options for management of the ADHD.
I am 32 now - I went through hell this year and my doctor is feeling like it may be more of a bipolar/ anxiety/depression thing for me. I cannot sit still, focus, or think clearly at this point - I am always worried,barely sleeping, and feel out of control. He put me on a coctail of Wellbutrin and Zyprexa - but now I am not just scaattered in a million directions nad lacking focus - I am foggy headed and sleepy most of the time, I feel paranoid / edgy - still can't get my work done and it is really REALLY hurting my productivity and mood.
I am meeting with another doctor tomorrow who says maybe we should be treating the ADHD before trying to assess how much of my problem is anxiety and how much is ADHD relapse related...Could it be that normal stress was enough to send me spiraling like this? Maybe I never really had a grip on the ADHD? I am so confused and I feel so low at this point. I think the drugs are making me feel depressed on top of everything else...
Does anyone have similar experiences or anythign that works? I am desperate to find a working solution to how to regain my balance...
Thanks in advance.
It certainly sounds like what you are taking isn't doing any good. I have heard it on this board many times that when people with Anxiety and Depression got the ADHD treated those other symptoms went away. It sounds like you held it together for a long time but at what price? I personaly believe you should try getting the ADHD treated first and see what happens. You never mentioned how you did on the Ritalin when you were a kid. Did you life seem less stressful?
Best Wishes, Gettingagrip