A bit about me

[Flick James]

I don't look forward to any need for regular medication. I'm 42 years old and, knock wood, I've never had a need for regular meds. Sooner or later it's going to happen to all of us. I have been absent-minded my whole life, having the tendency to daydream and get distracted from mundane tasks, to the point that I've often wondered if I have mild ADD. I've always had this aversion to mundane details. If I were to have to take regular meds, I would need my wife to remind me to take them ALL THE TIME, because honestly I would lose the routine of pill-taking after a couple of days. I know just talking about them as mundane details tells you that I have a natural disdain, although my rational mind recognizes that routines are often healthy and necessary, but I have such a hard to adhering to them. This also has contributed to a hard time staying committed to jobs for long periods of time, but that's something I actually have improved little by little, and I think my time in the military helped that to some degree.

Anyway, just thought I'd share that. Your post made me think about my own little issues. We've all got them.

Cheers.

[Javakoala]

I remember growing up and seeing relatives and my parents' friends with huge collections of pills they took every day. Things seem to be worse now, and I hear every day from a veteran here and a veteran there that he or she is taking up to 25 pills every day. It boggles the mind.

I'm currently taking 5 different things every day, not counting my allergy nose spray (which is a Godsend!). There are mornings I look at them and think, "When did I get old?"  Then I hop on my bicycle and ride off to work, pretending I'm a fighter jet plane or Luke Skywalker. Yeah, I really am old. I still hop and balance on curbs when I don't think anyone is looking.

I'm sure I'll end up with a broken hip one day.   

[Paquita]

I hope your meds are helping!  My best friend has ADHD and when she started taking meds for it, I only noticed a difference for the better.  She was still herself only happier, more comfortable, focused and well-rested.  I have some minor anxiety issues too and have had attacks at work, so I know how embarrassing that can be.  Just don't lose the beard.

Actually, if we do that I just want to have five minutes sitting between Paula and Paquita. I doubt I'd need a drink to feel all warm and fuzzy if that came to pass.

Aw!  Where is Paula?  We need to start planning the Java-Sandwich.

[AndyC]

Myself, I've had a tendency toward disorganization, procrastination, anxiety, slight OCD and bouts of depression (ironically almost always in the summer) for years. Four years ago, I tried Zoloft, and while I thought it helped, it actually made some things worse. Last year, I added on Wellbutrin to target different neurotransmitters, and got a little improvement. Recently, I got putting the pieces together and began to suspect ADHD, which can be worsened by SSRIs. I cut the Zoloft dose in half (fully prepared to put it back up at the first sign of trouble), and noticed a significant improvement. This surprised my doctor, but he said to keep going, and added an ADHD drug, which I think is helping. Once we find the right dose, we're going to look at whether I need the Zoloft at all. I've got a great doctor; he listens, and we really have a two-way discussion, and he actually appreciates when I've done some homework before seeing him. Never had that before.

And like Javakoala, I discovered that ADHD explains a lot of things, going back many years. I imagine if I was 20 years younger, I would probably have been on the Ritalin in elementary school, instead of spending all that time in the principal's office.

[Trevor]

instead of spending all that time in the principal's office.

My school buddy Aaron Robinson told me once that he knew the headmaster of our school so well, the two of them practically shared an office. 

[Javakoala]

I hope your meds are helping!  My best friend has ADHD and when she started taking meds for it, I only noticed a difference for the better.  She was still herself only happier, more comfortable, focused and well-rested.  I have some minor anxiety issues too and have had attacks at work, so I know how embarrassing that can be.  Just don't lose the beard.

Thanks. The people I know at work are freaking out because I'm actually talking to them and that I don't drift off topic and that I am more at ease.  I wish to heck I had checked into this back when I was in college.

And I won't lose the beard, but I did get my hair cut rather short. Tired of eating it while riding my bike.

Aw!  Where is Paula?  We need to start planning the Java-Sandwich.

A Java-Sandwich...I feel all tingly just reading that.   

[Trevor]

And I won't lose the beard, but I did get my hair cut rather short. Tired of eating it while riding my bike.

[Psycho Circus]

I did get my hair cut rather short. Tired of eating it while riding my bike.

Arrgghh! Nooooooooooooooooooooo! 

[HappyGilmore]

I hope your meds are helping!  My best friend has ADHD and when she started taking meds for it, I only noticed a difference for the better.  She was still herself only happier, more comfortable, focused and well-rested.  I have some minor anxiety issues too and have had attacks at work, so I know how embarrassing that can be.  Just don't lose the beard.

Thanks. The people I know at work are freaking out because I'm actually talking to them and that I don't drift off topic and that I am more at ease.  I wish to heck I had checked into this back when I was in college.

And I won't lose the beard, but I did get my hair cut rather short. Tired of eating it while riding my bike.

Aw!  Where is Paula?  We need to start planning the Java-Sandwich.

A Java-Sandwich...I feel all tingly just reading that.   

It's something I should look into.  I looked it up online...and I'm pretty sure I qualify.  I mean, as a kid I spent so much time in the principal's office and in detention.  But then again, I hate authority and liked to p**s em off.

But, I've got symtoms of OCD, Depression, BiPolar Disorder and I feel fine.  I just freak out a lot and have my boss yell at me a lot.

[Javakoala]

It's something I should look into.  I looked it up online...and I'm pretty sure I qualify.  I mean, as a kid I spent so much time in the principal's office and in detention.  But then again, I hate authority and liked to p**s em off.

But, I've got symtoms of OCD, Depression, BiPolar Disorder and I feel fine.  I just freak out a lot and have my boss yell at me a lot.

You sound like a good candidate for ADHD. All these years, I just thought I was lazy, weird and slow to catch on to what other people seems to know instinctively.  I freaked out a lot, had my job threatened many times (at other jobs than the one I have now) and felt like refried dog crap emotionally.

Now I know I'm just a weirdo, but I'm a happier, more focused weirdo.   

[HappyGilmore]

It's something I should look into.  I looked it up online...and I'm pretty sure I qualify.  I mean, as a kid I spent so much time in the principal's office and in detention.  But then again, I hate authority and liked to p**s em off.

But, I've got symtoms of OCD, Depression, BiPolar Disorder and I feel fine.  I just freak out a lot and have my boss yell at me a lot.

You sound like a good candidate for ADHD. All these years, I just thought I was lazy, weird and slow to catch on to what other people seems to know instinctively.  I freaked out a lot, had my job threatened many times (at other jobs than the one I have now) and felt like refried dog crap emotionally.

Now I know I'm just a weirdo, but I'm a happier, more focused weirdo.   

I wouldn't even know how to approach a doctor about something like that.

[Javakoala]

It's something I should look into.  I looked it up online...and I'm pretty sure I qualify.  I mean, as a kid I spent so much time in the principal's office and in detention.  But then again, I hate authority and liked to p**s em off.

But, I've got symtoms of OCD, Depression, BiPolar Disorder and I feel fine.  I just freak out a lot and have my boss yell at me a lot.

You sound like a good candidate for ADHD. All these years, I just thought I was lazy, weird and slow to catch on to what other people seems to know instinctively.  I freaked out a lot, had my job threatened many times (at other jobs than the one I have now) and felt like refried dog crap emotionally.

Now I know I'm just a weirdo, but I'm a happier, more focused weirdo.   

I wouldn't even know how to approach a doctor about something like that.

Fairly simple. Ask your primary care doctor if he/she can recommend a good therapist who can prescribe medications as you would like to find out if you may have ADHD.  Most regular doctors won't prescribe the meds for that without someone trained in that field making the recommendation first.