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1615410 tn?1298520250

Please Help, I think ADD has almost robbed my life

I was diagnosed with ADD as a young child and also once in my late teens, but for whatever reason nothing was ever done and my parents and teachers even dismissed it. My grades were always awful, homework was always skipped or very late, but my parents always blamed it on me, or my other problems. I was prescribed to Ritalin I believe for a few days until I broke out in hives and stopped taking it. I have seen many Dr's and Psychiatrists in recent years but ADD was not brought up. Throughout the last few years I have been diagnosed with multiple mood disorders, bi polar being the leading one. However, I cannot relate to anything with the bi polar but the sometimes depression and the classic life full of one chaotic event after another. I do not relate to the mania, more so just nervous energy and impulsive behavior. Now, I am 23 and I have dropped out of college twice, moved cities about 6 or 7 times, and feel unable to function anymore. I feel disgusting and alien. It is sooo hard for me to get up and just start the day, shower, brush my teeh, (the supposed SIMPLE stuff) much less go outside and GO somewhere.  I find myself struggling with compulsive eating, alcohol, and high sex drive (random promiscuous behavior) and highly emotional.  People think I am completely unreliable and untrustworthy, they don't think I can complete anything I start and to tell you the truth I don't feel like I can.  But it must not be this hard for everyone else! I am constantly picking at my scalp, shaking my feet, walking in circles, and I feel like I am going crazy.  I am desperately trying to take art classes at an Art Institute but am dreading actually sitting still long enough to sit through it and complete assignments.  I can't even watch tv without doing something else at the same time, its just too boring. I just want the chance to live life freely like everyone else, but I feel trapped in a mind that never stops.  I have VERY vivid dreams and often feel un-rested even after I sleep.  I also struggle with "restless leg syndrome" often and nervous energy, my muscles spasm or shake randomly but I blame myself for my addictive past. Some days when I can hardly get out of bed, I have said I am not depressed I am just overwhelmed!!! I'm sorry to write so much but I am desperately needing some answers and some immediate treatment. Trust me, the time its taking to write this is less fun for me than it is for you to read haha!  Does this simply sound like ADD gone bad in adulthood because of not being treated?  It just seems like its caused way too many problems, I had no idea it could be SO serious untreated!  It would be a shock and sadden me greatly if this has been overlooked all this time with all the treatment options available... What is the fastest way you all would suggest I can get treatment and would a regular Physician be able to help me because there is a 2 month wait for all of the Psychiatrists. I am beginning to break down and I just cannot take this tortured way of living anymore.  Any advice or relative stories is a prayer answered. It's great to know I am not crazy and I am not alone. I think I'll write a book one day.  (There I go again) Please be nice... Thank you.... God Bless
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1320784 tn?1303497603

As a mother of a child with ADD. My son has been on medication for 2yrs. He had problem since he was 4yrs. He could not still for long time. He has diffeculties sleeping since he was 4yrs. I took him to a sleep clinic, they ask me if he sleep walks, it showed that his brain was very active when sleeping.,with ADD a child will have a hard time to sleep and still does today. He does pick at his skin due to ecema. He attention span was bad in school, teachers were always complaining, with ADD, you have short memories loss as well. And, i had to remind the teacher about his short memories, still do today.
He also had a learning disablities with English.

He is 11yrs old , now and I am glad he on this medication . Your parents were wrong of not helping you. I had alot of people tell me not to put my son on medication but no one will understand the issue of ADD or ADHD. until they have to deal with it.

I am worry about his condition when he get older. Children can only stay on medication for so long. My doctor said, about 15yrs, we might have to change the medication but I would love to take him off at that age, but its a wait and see.

I understand your issue, start taken some medication for yourself and don;t let other put you down for it.

Bigmouth44- Sandra
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
   Yes, from the posts I have seen here and other sites, ADD can certainly rob you of your life!
And unfortunately, it seems to happens to girls/women more than males.   You definitely need more information.  A wonderful site for adults is http://jeffsaddmind.com/for-first-time-visitors it is written by a person with ADD and has a ton of very useful information.  It can possibly point you towards getting quicker medical help.  Another interesting site is totallyadd.com which also has good information in a bit more digestible format since it is all done in short video clips.  If for some reason the site name gets blocked just google totallyadd or add the com part to the end.
   A regular physician could help you, if it was someone who knew your history.  If you have any records of your original ADD diagnosis that would be super helpful.  The problem with most physicians is  that they are not used to dosage changes or which med would be the most helpful.  You really do want to find a psychiatrist who specialize in AD/HD.  It doesn't hurt to try going the regular physician route, but I would use the 2 month time period for an appointment with a psyc to read up all that you can on ADD.  Jeffs sad mind site could take almost that long to see everything.  But it will be worth it.  Hang in there.  You have gotten this far.  By the way, if you scroll down the posts on this site, you will see kind of similar posts from other adults.  In fact, I will probably copy this and send it to another poster with similar problems.  Best wishes!!!!!  and do post if you have any other questions.
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