People Speculating ADHD | ADHD Information

I agree that the misunderatndings are tedious. I think that more than 70% of
ewhtas I read in the media about ADHD is plain wrong. There is an irrational
terror of Ritalin, ADHD, stimulants that has nothing to do with reality.

Rational argument isn't enough to address unreasoning fear. I recall the
urban legend about the "drug dealers are getting our kids hooked on LSD by
distributing stickers that are impregnated with the drug" from my childhood
30 years ago., The rumor went through parents houses like wildfire, we were
all warned about these drug pushers. It was all a silly myth like the guy with
the hook tapping on the car, but one that plays into preexisting fears.
ADHD and Ritalin plays into these same unreasoning fears.

A slew of other awsomes indeed!!!!!!!!! Lets not forget Thomis Edison. Winston Churchill, Orville Wright, John F Kennedy, George Washington, Wolfgang Mozart, Walt Disney, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Ronald Reagan......shall I go on???? Hey Davidornado, you rock and so do you bman30 for bringing about this topic

Thanks, Luv: I couldn't remember who the others were!

ADHD and Ritalin plays into these same unreasoning fears.

And Aloh,

I think they have unreasoning fears b/c we have no fears, eh?

And about that urban LSD legend, it was easy to make, you could make it in an organic chem lab, we used to get a buzz just handling the stuff, it would sink into our hand's flesh. We also used to time a hit to hit just as we turned in our quarter finals. My O Chem II professor couldn't figure out why we had such a big grin on our faces, and we couldn't talk to tell her! Talk about self medicating....

Good thing they came up with dealers in Kivas and Ritalin...

Davidornado wrote:

Look at Peter the Apostle, David the King, and a slew of other awesomes!

Davidornado Said....

More like 200%, because you were already living life at 100%, no?

Im confused on this Comment?? are you Agreeing or Disagreeing?

From what I understand about AD/HDers is that our ability to produce a neurochemical for thought transmission is either subdued, in that we do not produce enough, or our metabolism is too active, breaking down the neurotransmitter too fast, or we don't have enough neuroreceivers, or there's an abudnce of neuroagonists that defray our neuros, or any of a bunch of combinations of these thises. BTW, does anyone know the exchange rate for Neuros? I'm thinking of investing in them...

Why a stimulant works to calm us is becuase it does really stimulate our cells, but in our case it stimulates the processes that either produce the neurotransmitter, or the metabolism of the neurotransmitteragonist, or the production of the neruoreceptor, or the antagonist of the neurotranagonist, etc. The end result is we have more neuros transmitted, and therefore approach societal norms, and are therefore accepted as having been adequately or succesfuly treated.

A normal that takes an AD/HD Rx/Mx is going to overproduce his neurothingies, and overstimulate his/herself. We, as AD/HDers can experience similar overstimulation just by watching TV (just kidding), by overdosing with our stims, or in tank mixing our coping mechanisms (such as Ritalian + Coffee + SushiRoot = one hyper day). I judge my hyperstim by the shakes of my hands.

One of the newer meds on the way, and you all should be hollering for this one, is a histamine known as Provigil. It has subtle 12 hour legs, AND can be turned off by one of the most common OTCs in the world: antihistamines. Therefore, it has an off switch. Problem is insurance companies don't like it, as it is still under Patent Law, so costs ~4.00 per pill. My doc got the InsCo to pay, and I take 2per. ADDed to my 60mg Rit, plus a pint of coffee, I'm about normal. The other drawback with Provigil is that it is currently accepted as a Narcolepsy treatment only, although the manufacturer is trying to push it for other uses, including AD/HD. BTW, our military uses it as stayawakes, haven proven its effectiveness during the 100 hour Gulf War I.

On a final note, I do not rely soley on mxs/rxs to take advantage of my ADHD gifts. I also employ a slew of inorganic mechanisms such as computer technology, gadgetology, sleep, and delegation. I read in another forum about "you know when your'e AD/HD when"... and he was talking about where to put the sticky notes, but didn't include: on your nosebob, forehead, or under the rim of your baseball cap like a cigarette behind your ear. Thing is, I loose my glasses there, too....

Don't get me started!

I had a CPA friend once say: "what would you like it to be?". I'll tell you that joke later.

Original statement:

Medicine gives us adhd'rs 100 percent of our real potential in life!

My reponse:

More like 200%, because you were already living life at 100%, no?

Your response to my response:

Im confused on this Comment?? are you Agreeing or Disagreeing?

My response to your response to my response:

I'm agreeing.

Except that ADDers, ADHDers (or simply put, AD/HDers), have already been putting out 100% by the time they got to college, its just that normals didn't like the way we were doing it. So they found us some mx/rxs a few decades ago that really catapulted us into hitting our stride, so we became tethered loose cannons, and bridled wild stallions...

It's been my desire forever to partner with someone/s who can mitigate my shortcomings, but exploit my abilities. Problem is I keep getting divorced or fired... But, I'm still making progress... Problem is the world has never coped with us, or we kept pushing west, young man, push west, until we ran out of west (the Great Pacific Barrier), so we are chomping at the bits either until we get new frontiers to pioneer (up or down), or we jump the lake and start over again in the Far East. I'm actually looking for employment in the Mid-East, as I think that would have enough stimulation to take care of me for awhile....

Yes... this is why I made this post... not to create an argument, but to make people understand that being on medication isn't terrible. I am not a Doctor. Im only 18 years old. It just gets to me when I hear people tell me "adhd isn't real, its an excuse." Come on, Why would my life be so much better on this med (adderall Xr30mg) I am obsessed with being healthy... Why would I take something if i Knew it would harm me.

Im more creative and helpful on it. I feel like I have finally flipped on the switch that has basically been off my whole life.

Then i hear people say well who wouldnt feel good on "speed"
Speed!? Adhd Meds are not speed... unless you are an abuser and take way more supposed to. They are Stimulants .. Yes... coffee is a stimulant, so is Soda and energy drinks.. And Add meds are not just that. I just get worked up, haha, but I know people will always speculate anything and everything. That is just life

[QUOTE=Luvmykids02]

gabrielfs writeS:
One thing that makes me nervous is that my meds make me kind of happy.

What makes you happy is you because your feeing a sense of self accomplishment because the medication unlocks your potential and gives you the ability to make a choice Once your potential is unlocked, what makes you feel good is the fact that you know that you can accomplish your goals, make decisions that are very difficult to make off of medication due to lack of focus and get the job done. When you succeed, it is you that deserves the credit, not the medication because it affords you the opportunity to bring out your personal best and who wouldnt feel good and happy about that, When ADHD'ers are able to bring out their best, look out world because they are the most creative, inteligent and most innovative people in the world

[/QUOTE]

Preach it Sis! You are right arm. Either we end up in jail, or the history books... even the Bible. Look at Peter the Apostle, David the King, and a slew of other awesomes!

One important thing to keep in mind with scientologist and similar people is that they do not believe that mental illness exists without a proveable biological or physiological condition. Thus medicating people who have ADD or similar problems is "wrong" because medication (i.e. drugs) is only "right" for "real" illnesses.

They say that the solution to such problems is therapy. The problem is that in so many cases people are not capable of receiving what the therapist is saying. People who are comotose or so depressed that they cannot move will not be helped by therapy. Someone who is so hyperactive that what the therapist says goes in one here and out the other are not being helped by therapy.

We cannot "prove" to people like scientologist that the condition exists. However, we can show *other people* the cases where nothing other than drugs are effective. Thus there *are* real conditions that can only be treated with drugs. Or at least the treatment starts with with medication. Once we have these *other people* accepting the fact that there are "non-proveable" conditions that require medication, they are then receptive to believing that it helps or is even necessary in the less severe cases.

You probably will never change the mind of people like that. Just like you will never be able to prove to an atheist that God exists.

Regards,

jimmo

Yeah i agree, but i think some of these Scientologists are saying that ADD/ other disorders are over rated because of putting your child on medicines that are anti-psychotic, and they feel why?? They feel it's better handled another way, and they feel that todays society is pill happy.

Ok I have read about a lot of speculation about ADD/ADHD being a real disorder or disease. My take on it is for all the "Scientologist" (or however u spell it) and non believers that First off, it is a Real disorder, but secondly, lets say that it wasn't and people diagnosed with ADD/HD are just a "little different" than other people. This is Modern medicine and if a med works for someone for the good than you should use it! Its the 21st century. Medicine gives us adhd'rs 100 percent of our real potential in life!

bman30 wrote:

Medicine gives us adhd'rs 100 percent of our real potential in life!

For those who choose medication, thats exactly how it works when its effective

Sayith jimmo:

"You probably will never change the mind of people like that. Just like you will never be able to prove to an atheist that God exists."

Sayith I:

I can.

[QUOTE=bman30]

Davidornada... I am a 4:00r yes ... just in the summer... My sleep routine is so messed up. But this being said, we have to remember I am 18 years old and summer is the "fun time" so I could be up one night until 4 am and the other i need to go to sleep earlier, but I can't because my med is "up and running" -so to speak.... Its working because I might take it way too late like at 1 oclock in the afternoon. This may because of a party or something the night before...... any suggestions??? (besides the whole "well be responsible and don't stay out late" speech) haha

[/QUOTE]

BE RESPONSIBLE and don't stay out late!

OMG, did I really say that!? Where did I get that idea?

Hey bman30, you planted a seed, and it sprouted.

AS 4 your Q, hmm, what were you mitigating with? ADDerall? Is it a 10 mg pill? What's your regular routine with it?

I find that taking my mxRxs late is necessary, as without them when I get home at the end of the day I'm undealable, so Dalk said I had to take my last one at 17:00 when I get home. I found that a little too late in the day, and stayed up very focused, not jazzed, just still ticking, doing productive things like webbing and watching TV and reading. I didn't mow the lawn or do body work on my car, like my neighbor used to, though.

Soo, I started taking my last dose earlier. That helped, but I have another condition I didn't know about, which is sleeplessness. I thought all anyone ever needed was 4 or 5 hours of sleep, but Dalk didn't, so he prescribed me Ambien to extendien my sleepability. However, it didn't, I just fell asleep faster, but still woke up 5 or 6 hours later. So he 'scribed Lunesta, which by now I may have been addicted to Ambien, cuz on the Luny mxRx, I couldn't fall asleep, but when I finally did, I slept 8 or 10 hours, which sucked at work, so I got fired after missing a few flights and appointments, so I chucked LunyToons except on weekends, to finish it off.

My ultimate belief is that we, as AD/HDrs, are quite often pioneers and pointmen, and as ADULTADD/ADHD is so new to the medicators, that we need to be very cautious about what they recommend, get ADDitional opinions, and consider every treatment experimental until you find something that works for your uniquely individual you.

Now, having said all that, I need to say that also as an 18ager, your body is going through it's final adolescent growth physiological stage, and requires more sleep / rest than at other times of your adult life. Where 8 hours is considered normally average for an adult (which you are, by the way), you should be getting 9 to 10 frequently. So, get to bed earlier, or get a night job so you can sleep in in the mornings...

I have an 18 year old son with ADHD, too.

Best of luck, and share your lessons. The next generation needs your experiences. Remember, you are the first full generation to experience the concept of medical mediation of ADD and ADHD. The generation after yours will be the first mostly educated one, as the earlier part of yours, and certainly all of mine, was pretty ~quacky~.

[QUOTE=Davidornado]

Sayith I:

I can.

[/QUOTE]

Although it is definitely off-topics I would be curious
to see you try.

[QUOTE=jimmo][QUOTE=Davidornado]

Sayith I:

I can.

[/QUOTE]

Although it is definitely off-topics I would be curious
to see you try.

[/QUOTE]

When and where. Been there, done that. Have faith, will travel. Even a satanist converted. But, they have a lot of faith to begin with. Thing is, even agnostic evolutionary atheists have a lot of faith to believe in what they believe in. I think they need even more faith 'cuz they believe in things they can't prove, whilst I have faith in things I've seen proven. I've seen my Higher Power move mountains; when it suits His Will... :). Hey, I was even finally diagnosed ADHD! Now that was the miracle....

Don't listen to Scientologists....

There is a growing concern about normal children being misdiagnosed and put on medication, but that is not what Scientology is primarily concerned about.

Think about it...Scientology's primary competitor is psychology, and psychiatry. Scientology sells itself as a form of mental health. One of the primary goals of their "treatments" is very similar to the goal of analysis--to work out all the psychological "junk" to enable a person to proactively live and be as opposed to a person who is "reactive" based on their childhood experiences, etc. Add a generous helping of sci-fi and a scoop of new-age spirituality, and for a limited time price of only.....you've got Scientology.

That being said, I have been diagnosed with ADD, and I go back and forth as to whether or not what I have should be classified as a "disorder". It is comforting to know that is is a phenomenon and I'm not just "lazy, stupid or crazy"...but I go back and forth about taking my medications and such. One thing that makes me nervous is that my meds make me kind of happy. I just entered the working world, and if I am having a particularly boring day or in a bad mood sometimes I take one, and sure enough 30-45 minutes later I start to not feel so bad. Conversely, one really GOOD aspect of the medication is that (but that also makes me suspicious), lets say I am feeling discouraged or negative or like there is no way I can do what I want to do, after I take my meds, I start feeling positive and start planning different viable soulutions to bring to pass whatever it was I was so discouraged about just an hour earlier.

Well if it is AS effective as Adderall without the stimulation effects..... That would be wonderful. I am all for adderall because it has helped my life....But if there was a non-stimulating med that could be turned off and was effective.... That would be Perfect. Because .. (espes. in the summer... i wake up late and my sleep routine is completely off) I hate having my body completely tired, but my mind completely awake! ill sit up until about 4 in the morning watching Cnn. This being said, thanks for the reply... bman3038561.5969675926

gabrielfs writeS:
One thing that makes me nervous is that my meds make me kind of happy.

Dang, I lost my message. This thing went poppity pop and gone it was. So, where was I?

Provigil may not be as good as ADDerall, but I don't know. I've not followed the research on it, just know that Doc 'scribed it to me as an addition to the maximinium of the Ritalin L.A. he was already prescribing. I've never thought of taking it as a standalone. Perhaps someone who is more sensitive to drugs could use it as a standalone.

So you're one of those 04:00rs? I hate it when that happens... I thinks its unnatural or something to watch the sun come up when you haven't been to sleep yet. It bugs me. It happens too often, though. Sometimes it's cuz of a good book, or two. Or the other day I watched like 10 hours of sci-fi TV shows cuz they were running them sequentially for several hours straight. I watched for 3 nights, zuc they had SG1, SGAtlantis, and Battlestar G.

I often stay up webbing, too. Sometimes its not the AD/HD, though. It's getting lost in space...

Here's one for the forum: "you know your AD/HD when" you stay up late b/c you keep goign to the same web pages bc/ you forgot you'd been there already...

Well, good luck on the migitagion meausre for your mx/Rxg. I need goo dluck with my fingers to night. Icna't type worth beans. I guess I'm a typing has benn...

[QUOTE=Ferramentum]

Awesome David,

I look at your posts and your focus amazes me...:) Hooray for you..

I love this last post...Wish I had half of this..Good for you...

[/QUOTE]

Hello, Ferramentum, Newbie you!

So wha't s Ferramentum, anything like Davidium? Careful, as it may lead to Daviditis, I understand. However, properly harnessed, Davidium is one of the most powerfully explosive combinations of humanity and ADHD ever created....

Let's see, Ferra=iron; mentum = a component of momentum, or tangential movement; Profile indicates Steph = female; therefore, the conclusion is Iron Willed Female. A woman moving in the direction she wants, who won't be desviada (don't know the english translation for this word, perhaps misguided).

Anyway, thanks for the accolade, Awesome. Intriguing. Why awesome? Life boring where you live? They pop us out a dime a dozen on this side. Or perhaps I am misunderstanding, eh? I'm jes' me... nothing awesome about that... not that many would agree, I think.

Anyway, you've reached the category of Awesome to me, then, for the Awesome infusion of confidence in a fellow AD/HDr.

As for the focus, what you didn't see was the hours of work that went into that little list. I did ADD to it in another forum, "You know you are wildly ADHD when...", page 26... Someone actually hated me for it! Personally, I like the geology of the list. What did it look like to you? I saw a few things in it. They say I'm not detailed, that I miss the tree b/c of the forest. I can verify that, that's why you don't send me to a grocery store. I swear, they hide stuff from me right out in the open, just so they can see me get frustrrated. The other thing is I'm a scientist, and usually am required to have my P's and Q's dotted and crossed... I usually can't stand a misspelled word, or things like that.

Under pressure, I can hyperfocus, or in a pleasurable situation. As mostly I enjoy writing, I'll draft several times before I publish. Once this activity becomes required, or I do it for a living, I screw up. Let me enjoy it, and I'll do ok.

As for your wish, it may come true. ADrs are usually gifted with other attributes to cope with life, overcoming the detriments of the condition. With me, the distractibility has led to an interest in a lot of institutions. ADD to that the inventiveness and creativity that arises from an ability to get from A to C through an avenue other than B, and you have a lot of opportunity to develop new things. ADD to that the mistrust a lifetime of misunderstanding has bred in the ADr, from normals, and you end up doing a lot of the things yourself. ADD to that the intelligence often accompanying AD/HD, and it doesn't take much to learn a skill. Hence, the skill set. ADD to that my age, 49, and upbringing (mountains and farms, both requiring a high degree of independence, inventiveness, courage, adventure, etc), and the environment and timescale exists for success.

Also, there are some plays on words I'd have to explain, without which I knew would lead to misunderstandings, which I could care less about, cuz if someone really cared they'd investigate, but for example, although once a card carrying member of the Sierra Club (born and raised in Yosemite, the Sierra Nevadas), the term greenRevolutionary is actually referring to a project I'm involved in that is increasing crop yields from 30 to 50 percent more than formerly, which is as significant as the introduction of irrigation to agriculture, diesel over beasts, organochemical pesticides over plagues. Each of these developments of the 20th Century resulted in an ability to feed billions of more people in the world, hence they were considered revolutionary, and as they were associated with plants, green. Hence, I consider myself a greenRevolutionary, although it's actually antithetical to the "Green" movement, exemplified by organizations such as the aforementioned, Greenpeace, or the Audobon Society (another card carrying member I was). Then I became a card carrying member of the NRA, and now I can barely keep my CDL current. The Green agenda is a return to simpler lifestyles, eliminating the use of high technology in the maintenance of society (not only food, but housing, business, etc.). As this cannot be achieved without an unimaginable loss of life in order to reduce the world's population to a sustainable level, I renounced my affiliation with these egalitarian organizations, and decided to focus on an alternative that was more proactive, rather than reductive. And, dang, we're actually doing it!

Soooo, Steph, if you are young enough, scrutinize your elders, your abilities, nearby opportunities, and future potentialities, then focus your future to follow a track record that leads to continuity. Running departments and companies came from sticking to what I knew, which was plant physiology, in an industry that was eternal (as long as there are people, they'll need to eat). It was not so haphazard to accomplish what I have. I did it blindly at first, but in retrospect (8 yrs since I was dxd as ADr), it was a coping mechanism to insure my survival in an unstable environment.

Good luck,

D

[QUOTE=Davidornado]

How ADD of me. I didn't even know it was you! I
thought it was Jimmo who was challenging God...

You

[/QUOTE]

Not me. Never said nothing of the sort.

regards,

jimmo

Oh, Man,

Sorry, Jimmo, I told you I was ADHD. This is so confusing :)

[QUOTE=jimmo][QUOTE=Davidornado]

How ADD of me. I didn't even know it was you! I
thought it was Jimmo who was challenging God...

You

[/QUOTE]

Not me. Never said nothing of the sort.

regards,

jimmo [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=GlenW][QUOTE=Davidornado]

[/QUOTE]

Uh, no don't think so buddy

I'm a life-long atheist. Some people don't need to believe in some invisible sky elf that sometimes comes down and impregnates innocent virgins, sets off floods and generally leaves bad people to do bad things to the rest of them.

It's ok though. I fully endorse using whatever it takes to make life more livable. For some, they need the belief that we don't end up just worm food as a final indignity so for them all the power to ya!

I think on topic - we need to convince people that the ADHD is actually nasty Thetans doing naughty stuff to our brain goo and that amphetamines are a alien technology which is actually nanobots which cleanse out noggins of the thetan energy (read up on these scientology guys what a scam! ROFLMAO). If you put aliens in the mix they'll lick it up!!

If you perform exorcisms pal I'd gladly have you up for coffee so you can get rid of this noisy demon in my toilet making noises all night. Might be worth the try! LOL

[/QUOTE]

Bring it on. Jesus will be ready...

[QUOTE=Davidornado][QUOTE=GlenW][QUOTE=Davidornado]

[/QUOTE]

Uh, no don't think so buddy

If you perform exorcisms pal I'd gladly have you up for coffee so you can get rid of this noisy demon in my toilet making noises all night. Might be worth the try! LOL

[/QUOTE]

Bring it on. Jesus will be ready...

[/QUOTE]

Hey, GlenW!

How ADD of me. I didn't even know it was you! I thought it was Jimmo who was challenging God...

You

Oops, may need to clean that finger again...

To conclude,

"You..."

...shoot, I forgot what I was going to say! It was good though, or I wouldn't have thought it!

~Quack~

DAVIDORNADO D. ADRENALTOR

[QUOTE=Davidornado]

[/QUOTE]

Uh, no don't think so buddy

If you perform exorcisms pal I'd gladly have you up for coffee so you can get rid of this noisy demon in my toilet making noises all night. Might be worth the try! LOL

Some very interesting reading. I am a nurse practitioner and have been briefed on the Provigil. I did not realize what the expense is. Do you happen to know if it is a new drug on the market, or one that has finally migrated to the US?

My son is adhd and of course I am one of the moms trying to find something that will work for him that is non stimulant? I do know certain foods.. ie.. wheat and milk make him a person I dont' want to be around. Have you tried any alternative therapies or testing for food allergies? Do you know if the Provigil has been tested on Peds?

thanks,

Jennifer

Hi JnfrJoy,

It was very intersteing reading, and my pselling hasn't improved yet. Maybe its the low blood nucleic acids, and I need to go eat something nuclear...

As for it's oldness, Provigil is about to go off patent next year. It has an analog that's been around for longer, but is not as good I hear. That means Provigil has been around for a while. It was used in Gulf War I, which was 15 years ago, I believe. Gulf War II was in '03. And now we're in World War III. I thought I was the only one thinking we were in another World War, until CNN the other day said it thought we were in another World War. Enough of war.

Modafinil also has an enantiomeric analog that the Manufacturer is licensing as a new patent, so they can keep making lots of money. That means Provigil will go public in '06, which means not only will it be cheaper, probalbly as modafinil, tho, but that it was patented 17 years ago, perhaps, but I think there was a special Pharmaceutical Patent Life Extension in 1984 or 1999 that may have changed that to 20 years or so. Therefore, Provigil may have been in the public sector for about 20 years or so. However, I believe it is still not legally registered for use as an ADD or ADHD mitigant, but that it is being investigated experimentally. My phsrynk Doc is a research dalk, so he can Rx me it. Check with youre Docs to see if it's available in your area. Do I sound like an advertisement? Don't try this at home. If awakeness persists for more than 100 hours, please contact your nearest war fighter.

More like 200%, because you were already living life at 100%, no?

[QUOTE=redhead]Yeah i agree, but i think some of these Scientologists are saying that ADD/ other disorders are over rated because of putting your child on medicines that are anti-psychotic, and they feel why?? They feel it's better handled another way, and they feel that todays society is pill happy. [/QUOTE]

What I've seen of the scientologists is that psychology is quackery and that all "chemical imbalances" are phony! They say that things like post-partum depression, depression of all kinds and ADHD, autism, etc. are just money-makers for pharmaceuticals and that mind over matter will cut it.

I am just very angry when they try to lump all disorders and treatments like that. I know for a fact that what I have is real, it's genetically based and my family history is proof enough for that. There is a gene now found that backs it up too at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&a mp;db=PubMed&list_uids=9491811&dopt=Citation .

Maybe MD's are not screening properly in some cases when kids and adults are concerned in ADHD - but you could say the same with any disorder that takes time and energy to properly diagnose. Docs are like all of us - and can be lazy and compliant in their views. Do we punish the patient for the lack of proper treatment?

When ADHD is properly diagnosed (a drawn-out procedure taking several hours over some time, and a history of the child/adult with interviews of teachers/peers to make sure), then meds along with therapy is the only treatment that really works.

I was a child with ADHD, and am an adult with the same. I can't believe that some people want kids to suffer with an illness that can wreck their future lives in order to make a point of improper use of meds by some doctors and therapists.

I'm not mad - just concerned that the scientologists may win some ground and take away proper tools for the care and treatment of those of us with legitimate medical problems.

Before my son was diagnosed I was opposed to meds. I thought for sure I could fix it via a non-medicated route but I was wrong. Now I tell my son when he asks "why do I have to take these?" that it's ok to take these meds because if we have something wrong like asthma (which I have) or high blood pressure (like my mom) or we have poor eye sight and need glasses (like his dad) we take meds to fix these things or we get glasses or contacts to fix our poor eyesight. um ferramentum ,, we all can have extreme bouts of hyper focus,, if someone jilts us, we are instantly focused, dead on and square, the problem is rambling on and on about things... which is evident in dave's posts, dave belongs here because he OBVIOUSLY has adhd. He is just more "posty" than others are right now. And welcome all to the adhd forum. we are all adhd, and need to laugh it off once in a while so we don't take ourselves so seriously... and become depressed..
bugzappers38571.3624884259Daviddornado..... is the new med you were talking about a stimulant???? that would be great if you could have an "off switch." and if it were effective and safe.... it would have to be the whole package

Even outside of scientologists there are a lot of people who think adhd isn't real or is at least overdiagnosed. I just graduated from a social work program and we had discussions on this in a few classes. I know some people see a problem becaue they observe children and adults who have adhd talking and joking about it together and see the commaraderie there. They think it's somehow become trendy and cool.

What they don't understand is the intense sense of relief we get when we finally figure out why we are different and why we struggle with things that others don't seem too. And when you meet someone else who gets it there's comfort and normalizing and relief.

[QUOTE=Heatherww]
What they don't understand is the intense sense of relief we get when we finally figure out why we are different and why we struggle with things that others don't seem too. And when you meet someone else who gets it there's comfort and normalizing and relief.[/QUOTE]

I KNOW exactly what this means. It's like battle buddies, or people that didn't know each other but went through a crisis together, they become like close family. I even saw it on Speed. Remember when he said "relationships based on adrenalin (or something) don't usually last"... Remember her response? It was pretty ADHD ...

For years it was like I was in a war, on a battlefield, always just barely surviving. I had fights as a kid. My parents couldn't control me. My siblings hated me. I had no friends. I had too many friends. I couldn't keep a job. I couldn't keep a girl friend. I couldn't keep out of jail. I couldn't keep out of the hospital. I had all these great ideas. I'd loose all my money. I got fired 15 times before I found out I had ADHD, at age 42. I'd been to tens of counselors, doctors, therapists, trainers, etc.

What a RELIEF to know that I was not broken. All I needed was a hearing aid; a pair of glasses. Ritalin was that hearing aid. Understanding ADHD were those glasses. I understand now, therefore I cope.

So, when I find other AD/HDrs, it's like old home week. Our stories are so common, just read these fourums. We get along like old war buddies. We can't stick around each other too long, cuz sparks will fly, but we do so love it up.

In my ADHD way, I've taken up the AD/HD banner, and forever may it wave. It is a real condition, with real consequences, that can hurt the person, or others around them. It is treatable, it can be harnessed, it can be mitigated, it can be balanced, it can be exploited.

So, when someone pops off a/b AD/HD being a thing in our heads, I don't argue, I don't fight, I don't defend; I tell the truth. I show them the data. I show them the experiments. I show them the results. And then get on with my life, my day.

Remember, it took 400 years before normals accepted the fact that DaVinci was right. He was ADHD, by the way...

At least the battles we fight (hehe: I thought I didn't fight: how ADD of me ) this generation will make it easier for the next generation to cope.

Keep up the good work, keep the faith, and see you at the "family" reunion...

P.S. Now that is an idea, who wants to organize an annual AD/HD family reunion? Not me. Have idea, will delegate...

[QUOTE=bugzappers]1) the problem is rambling on and on about things... which is evident in dave's posts, dave belongs here because he OBVIOUSLY has adhd. 4)He is just more "posty" than others are right now. ....
2)we are all adhd, and need to laugh it off once in a while so we don't take ourselves so seriously...
3)and become depressed..
[/QUOTE]
Hey Jeff,

Let's lay out some ground rules. This is the 2nd time you've dissed me in a weekend, and we don't need to get on that track, do we?

Wouldn't you find it preferable to accept others for who they are, how they're made, and how they are learning to cope with Normals, and other ADrs?

Here, I'll do this slow, without rambling, so you'll understand...

1) Who says it's rambling? Just b/c you're a oneliner guy, doesn't mean someone who's multitasking is rambling...

Acceptance, tolerance, understanding, would be nice. ADrs get enough split from nORMALS, to get it from oneADDother.
[QUOTE=bugzappers]1) the problem is rambling on and on about things... which is evident in dave's posts, dave belongs here because he OBVIOUSLY has adhd. 4)He is just more "posty" than others are right now. ....
2)we are all adhd, and need to laugh it off once in a while so we don't take ourselves so seriously...
3)and become depressed..
[/QUOTE]
BuggZ, pg2o4

2) If you are what you say you are, and I am who I say I am, then care should be taken when including the likes of you and I in the conjunctive "WE". "We" don't all symptomize similarly...

Care should be taken when generalizing a group. sMACKs of prejudice, to some. Mejor dicho "some ADrs are..."

There is ADHD*, and then there is ADHD*. Not only is there an extremely variable range of severity, but there is a significant amount of comorbidity with other conditions.

*not to be confused with ADD.

This does not imply degree of humanity, rather a statement of fact.
[QUOTE=bugzappers]1) the problem is rambling on and on about things... which is evident in dave's posts, dave belongs here because he OBVIOUSLY has adhd. 4)He is just more "posty" than others are right now. ....
2)we are all adhd, and need to laugh it off once in a while so we don't take ourselves so seriously...
3)and become depressed..
[/QUOTE]
BuggZ, pg3o4

3) Depression is one of the comorbids, and is not necessarily common amonst coping ADrs. If present, it should be co-evaluated and treated by a licensed psychiatrist.
[QUOTE=bugzappers]1) the problem is rambling on and on about things... which is evident in dave's posts, dave belongs here because he OBVIOUSLY has adhd. 4)He is just more "posty" than others are right now. ....
2)we are all adhd, and need to laugh it off once in a while so we don't take ourselves so seriously...
3)and become depressed..
[/QUOTE]
BuggZ, pg4o4

4) A matter of perspective.

Which thread, for instance? I only post on about 10 threads, and there are well over 100 on this tapestry.

Although I may rank in the 95th percentile, I am certainly not the top dog. Check the profile on posters. There is an average per day included.

That others happen to be less posty is also true, wouldn't you agree?

[QUOTE=bman30]Daviddornado..... is the new med you were talking about a stimulant???? that would be great if you could have an "off switch." and if it were effective and safe.... it would have to be the whole package[/QUOTE]

Well, I'm not sure about it's chemical psycho classification as a stimulant, because it really doesn't stimulate one phsyically. I'm not sure how histamines work, but I do know that anti-histamines, the pills you take for allergies, tend to nod one off. So if a histamine is anti- to an anti-histamine, then it makes sense to keep you awake. The thing is it does not stimulate my phsysical side, but its like that pink bunny, it just keeps going and going.... I'll look into it and see what is said about it.

Hang on, I'll go look for a link.

Oh, this is good! Very good! http://www.modafinil.com/ . Red letters are my highlights. I didn't see anything about it having an off switch, but those were the words my pshrynk used, and I carry a supply of pink anti-histamine to turn it off if I have to take one late in the afternoon, and don't want to wander all night long. The benedril really does work on turning it off. I've not tried other anti-histamines, but they might work accordingly. By the way, check with your doctor, this is not a prescription or recommendation....

I guess to answer your question it is a new generation psychostimulant, not a traditional stimulant.

From
THE GOOD DRUG GUIDE

"...modafinil ('Provigil', 'Alertec', 'Vigicer', 'Modalert', etc) is a memory-improving and mood-brightening psychostimulant. It enhances wakefulness and vigilance, but its pharmacological profile is notably different from the amphetamines, methylphenidate (Ritalin) or cocaine. Modafinil is less likely to cause jitteriness, anxiety, or excess locomotor activity - or lead to a hypersomnolent 'rebound effect' - than traditional stimulants. Subjectively, it feels smoother and cleaner than the amphetamines too. The normal elimination half-life of modafinil in humans is between 12 - 15 hours. So it's worth fine-tuning one's dosage schedule accordingly.

Current research suggests modafinil, like its older and better-tested analogue adrafinil, is a safe, effective and well-tolerated agent. It is long-acting and doesn't tend to cause peripheral sympathetic stimulation. Yet its CNS action isn't fully understood. Modafinil induces wakefulness in part by its action in the anterior hypothalamus. Its dopamine-releasing action in the nucleus accumbens is weak and dose-dependent; the likelihood of a euphoric response ('abuse potential'), dose-escalation and tolerance is thus apparently small. Modafinil has central alpha 1-adrenergic agonist effects i.e. it directly stimulates the receptors. Modafinil inhibits the reuptake of noradrenaline by the noradrenergic terminals on sleep-promoting neurons of ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO). More significant, perhaps, is its ability to increase excitatory glutamatergic transmission. This reduces local GABAergic transmission, thereby diminishing GABA(A) receptor signalling on the mesolimbic dopamine terminals.

Modafinil is proving clinically useful in the treatment of narcolepsy, a neurological disorder marked by uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness. Narcolepsy is caused by dysfunction of a family of wakefulness-promoting and sleep-suppressing peptides, the orexins. Orexin neurons are activated by modafinil. Orexinergic neurons are found exclusively in the lateral hypothalamic area, but their fibers project to the entire central nervous system. Genetically modified orexin-knockout animals offer a model of human narcolepsy. Selective orexin receptor agonists of the future may prove useful both to narcoleptics and the population at large.

Experimentally, modafinil is also used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, depression, attention-deficit disorder, myotonic dystrophy, multiple sclerosis-induced fatigue, post-anaesthesia grogginess, cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, spasticity associated with cerebral palsy, age-related memory decline, idiopathic hypersomnia, jet-lag, and everyday cat-napping. Depressives who feel sleepy and fatigued on SSRIs can augment their regimen with modafinil. In September 2003, an advisory panel to the FDA endorsed its use for treating shift work sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.

The US military are interested in modafinil too.

No worries. We're all in this together. Keeping track of
who posted what is hard enough without having to deal
the "extras". [QUOTE=4kids4us]Before my son was diagnosed I was opposed to meds. I thought for sure I could fix it via a non-medicated route but I was wrong. Now I tell my son when he asks "why do I have to take these?" that it's ok to take these meds because if we have something wrong like asthma (which I have) or high blood pressure (like my mom) or we have poor eye sight and need glasses (like his dad) we take meds to fix these things or we get glasses or contacts to fix our poor eyesight. [/QUOTE]

Then I'm the kid:

With a BP of 210/120...
With cokebottle glasses...
With hearing aids in both ears...
Suckin’ albuterol poppin’ wallcrawwwlin’ TheodoreSprinkles...

ButAlso...

The OEC...
The CEO...
The EMTb...
The father...
The author...
The teacher...
The husband...
The preacher...
The geneticist...
The evangelist...
The pathologist...
The skiPatroller...
The photoGrapher...
The expertWitness...
The search&rescuer...
The chemicalBiologist...
The microbialEcologist...
The organicAgronomist...
The deliveranceMinister...
The antitheticalAppearance...
The botanicalEndocrinologist...
The neveraloosingseason coach...
The starStriker with 2 goals/game...
The million$revenuer...with a bkor2...
The masterInventor with 150 of an IQ...
The pioneerExplorer of newWorlds w/o frontiers...

Awesome David,

I look at your posts and your focus amazes me...:) Hooray for you..

I love this last post...Wish I had half of this..Good for you...

sabina wrote:
Last night I went to Gary Null's site and was so disappointed to see articles about ADHD not being real, being made up

Gary Nulls has been cited more than once byt the FTC for fraudelent claims about the products he SELLS and any time someone has to redefine ADHD or knock proven forms of treatment to substantiate a claim, its a major red flag. Of course he says that ADHD is made up. How else would he sell his products? Its for the individual to decide based on how one interprets the research but IMO, hes nothing more than a snakeoil salesman. His prove lies wihin his marketing techniques and hes laughing all the way to the bank by emptying the wallets of the most vulernable, needy people in our society.

Luvmykids0238596.5690856481 [QUOTE=sabina]

Last night I went to Gary Null's site and was so disappointed to see articles about ADHD not being real, being made up. I mean, I know this, I have only told two or three people about this and I can tell they are "huh???.......what...oh, you to take meds??...they just can't get it My daughter probably thinks I'm using it as an excuse for EVERYTHING (depression and anxiety she can relate to).
so I'm not surprised but it made me feel sad, like boy, I've been fighting all my life not knowing and now that I know I will still have to fight or be secretive...as usual.
I emailed Gary and told him how disappointed I was and that until he could PROVE that ADHD did not exist (by whatever name) he should quit putting out that message on his site. I wouldn�t mind him pushing natural therapies or debating the causes but doesn�t exist? Wow, how do you know??

[/QUOTE]

B/c he's ashamed of his own ADHD?

Is there no one to trust????? I like a lot of what Gary says about the awful food we eat and nutrition but now I am back once again asking

WHERE ARE ALL THE HEROES????

okay, they're out there but they aren't rich..the little guy, the whistle blower...why is the world this way......I'm havin a hell of a time here fitting in