I Have Adult Add
I was recently "officially diagnosed?"
My psych Dr. prescribed Ritalin for me. I work in mental health and self diagnosed myself months ago but have struggled for some time.
I was a gifted child and was waaaay ahead in elementary school. I barely had to try. Trouble came when I was in middle and high school and had to concentrate and organize better with several different classes. More effort required. No easy all As. And then college and grad school....I barely finished grad school. Although I am proud of myself for making it so far un-medicated.
Depression became a big problem around that time, and anxiety. These are common friends of ADD.
I am more inattentive than hyper. I lose things a lot, interrupt, have a hard time waiting. Focusing on an intense task feels very laborious and sometimes impossible.
I experienced an insane amount of stress the past few years, and post partum depression/ anxiety coupled with my poor attention span led me to seek therapy.
My Dr. wanted to treat the depression first, assuming that my lack of attention was a symptom of the depression, but I knew it had been a lifetime problem.
Anyways, we started Lexapro first. A few weeks in I was feeling way better, but still so behind in paperwork my job was shaky. So we decided to start the Ritalin and see how I responded. We started low, just 5 mg. But its rapid release so an hr or two in I was able to get caught up on the whole weeks paperwork! It had felt impossible before the Ritalin.
But I have increased to 10 mg. I'm hoping I can stay there. I take it an hr advance of work and I am more productive. I am not as worried about saying dumb things in meetings and can manage my time much better.
I am not pro reckless use of meds.
But when your mental health affects major areas of your life it can be needed.
I have no shame.
I would be fired within the month if I had to go off my meds.
My psych Dr. prescribed Ritalin for me. I work in mental health and self diagnosed myself months ago but have struggled for some time.
I was a gifted child and was waaaay ahead in elementary school. I barely had to try. Trouble came when I was in middle and high school and had to concentrate and organize better with several different classes. More effort required. No easy all As. And then college and grad school....I barely finished grad school. Although I am proud of myself for making it so far un-medicated.
Depression became a big problem around that time, and anxiety. These are common friends of ADD.
I am more inattentive than hyper. I lose things a lot, interrupt, have a hard time waiting. Focusing on an intense task feels very laborious and sometimes impossible.
I experienced an insane amount of stress the past few years, and post partum depression/ anxiety coupled with my poor attention span led me to seek therapy.
My Dr. wanted to treat the depression first, assuming that my lack of attention was a symptom of the depression, but I knew it had been a lifetime problem.
Anyways, we started Lexapro first. A few weeks in I was feeling way better, but still so behind in paperwork my job was shaky. So we decided to start the Ritalin and see how I responded. We started low, just 5 mg. But its rapid release so an hr or two in I was able to get caught up on the whole weeks paperwork! It had felt impossible before the Ritalin.
But I have increased to 10 mg. I'm hoping I can stay there. I take it an hr advance of work and I am more productive. I am not as worried about saying dumb things in meetings and can manage my time much better.
I am not pro reckless use of meds.
But when your mental health affects major areas of your life it can be needed.
I have no shame.
I would be fired within the month if I had to go off my meds.
