A.d.d

[Markoman01027]

Hey everybody,


Recently I have been diagnosed with ADD and I went through the first semester of college while taking Wellbutrin; the medication worked great and I got good grades.
When summer hit and I stopped taking the medication, I began to notice the symptoms of ADD..these are some of the symptoms that I have..

Easily distracted by sounds and other things happening in the environment
Difficulty in following instructions and completing tasks despite the desire to do so
Forgets and neglects chores and tasks often
Difficulty concentrating and maintaining focus on the task at hand
Short attention span
Tendency to daydream
Often seems not to be listening

I did not get those symptoms as I was on that medication while going to school.

This is very frustrating and I really don't want to go back on that medication because it had side effects and it just causes liver damage.

I am wondering what are some ways to deal with ADD? Perhaps some type of other medication that is perfectly safe on the body?

I've been thinkin of doing Yoga and start working out; but I have been hearing that it is a problem with the brain, and without medication, you can't really *fix* it.

I am completely lost

Does anybody know what I can do to be able to focus better, improve memory, etc without the wellbutrin? TIA

*Edit*
I ordered this today to give it a shot..what do you think?
Link

[Spartan]

The problem I have always had with ADD diagnosis is that the symptoms apply to virtually all young people. I know that there are cases where medication is required and absolutely justified, so please don't think I am belittleing it in any way. I remember when I was 18-19 and I had all of those symptoms. Heck I am still an easily distracted daydreamer. If I were you I would just work on focusing when you have a task at hand. If you forget things use a daytimer or PDA. Maybe you are just a creative thinker. Now if you find that it is seriously impacting you day to day life you might consider another type of medication that doesn't have so many negative side effects.

On the herbal medicine, I personally have never believed that it works well no matter what it is. If it did the medical community and the news would be all over it. Don't believe the people who say that the medical community suppresses it because it would bankrupt the pharmacutical business. I do believe that some may have a small effect, but none will have the pronounced effect that a perscription med will have or else the FDA would regulate it. The one that came closest to having a potent effect was ephedra (hence the intervention of the government) and that was way over hyped.

-Spartan

[Markoman01027]

I am a creative thinker..I like to use my mind..if I don't..it's just boring for me...like my day job..LOL..pumping gas.

The problem is..even if I try to focus hard..my mind wonders off or I dont comprehend things very well..

I will try what you suggested; but I am just worried that it may not work for school..that I may have a hard time with my studies..this sucks

[TpGun2424]

I think the whole herbal thing is based on peolpe believing it works so therefore it does. It's one of those whole mental state tyoe things.

[Punked Out Comp]

I am 13 and have the exact same problems as you. I cant focus and im always jumping out of my seat at school and distrupting class with stupid stuff and I always get into trouble. I can be in a class for 20 minutes before I realize that i was supposed to open my book at the begining of class. everybody tells me that I have ADD but i was tested and i dont have it. some ppl are more easily bored and have shorter attenion spanns, like to daydream ect. many famouse geiouses are like that. Its just becouse like you said you have acreative mind. It isnt at all a medical condition. The Doctors tell you it is because they get paid by the companies for perscribing thier medicines. Youd be amazed at the huge lies that doctors tell to make money. they will give you the most expensive perscription, not the most efective one.

[Markoman01027]

Exactly.

That is why I am going to get a refund on the herb stuff and just completly approach this the mental way.

I will exercise and I learned that I comprehend things very well if I read the material out loud to myself..If I can put my heart into it, I can do it. No medication required..

Yoga, exercising, and diet will help me out a lot

[TpGun2424]

You should also try setting a goal so that you have something to work towards and once you reach it you go for two goals. And after each set of goals you reward yourself.

[HAL9000]

Diet can make a difference... I know a person that controls her 6 year old son with ADD by diet alone.. he went from being a monster to an angel of a little boy... so ya can't tell me it's just state of mind.. a 6yr old doesn't understand that.

[docrichards]

I have worked in the medical field for over 25 years, and I will say this. Medications affect different people many different ways. You should consult with your physician, because there are other medicines that could possibly be given to you, that might not have the same side effects. Also, you are right on target with your thinking that diet and exercise can help your condition. The main point is that this all needs to be managed carefully by your doctor. Just my two cents.

Docrichards

[Markoman01027]

Dave: What kind of diet?

I did a lot of thinkin last nite about the Wellbutrin medication that I was on and I was able to remember as I was taking it, I had a hard time comprehending the material that I was reading in English class. So I did a test of comprehenstion and I am able to comprehend the material very well if I read it it out loud and this is without any medicaton. So now I have my doubts on if the medication worked or not.

I know Diet will make a difference, but you also have to be in the state of mind that you are not going to ALLOW this "disability" to destroy you.

That is why I need to get myself in the right state of mind, have a proper diet, do Yoga, and just start exercising.

Thank you for all the reply guys..really appreciate this

[discodanman45]

Good decision to stay off the medication and use a change of lifestyle instead. Yoga will be great for you and also a great place to meet some girls Another great idea would be karate. Check out your school, they probably have a club and have many beginners.

Fish is a great food that has been studied to improve memory. Stay clear of processed sugars, soda, coffee (I can't give up this one!) , and keep meat down to a minimum. Eat lots of Vegatables, fruits, and beans. Also there are places on campus that have strategies that have strategies for dealing with ADD.

My Dad and sister both have ADD. My Dad deals with it by keeping himself busy. He cuts the grass, about 2 acres, twice a week and likes to do gardening things. My sister is more of the creative type of ADD. My parents never put her on medication and she is getting better every year. I wish you luck and I agree with your decision.

[Markoman01027]

Thanks Discodanman.

[Jester]

THe problem with people that have ADD is they look at it, as you said markoman, as a disability. I have ADD. I took the genaric ritalin up until ninth grade. My body started to change and the medicine started waring me out and making me overly lathargic. I have the classic case of ADD, and even now i have a hard time with things, but i do not look at it as a disability. I look at it as a gift. I am a creative thinker and a fast paced thinker. I can problem solve ten times faster than that of my peer because my mind jumps around. I am able to troubleshoot and go thru lines of data and folder applications at blazing speeds. I agree with most that our generation is over medicated, but sometimes that medication is actually needed. You are not disabeld. I am in the military now and that helps me alot. I am not recommending this by any means. Stay in school. However, somthing that deals with discapline such as, Karate, yoga, deep meditation, ect. will help you emensly. Just stay positive. There are methods to controll your wandering mind you just have to find them. Know one can teach you. You learn and develope these skills by rutine. Another characteristic of ADD is you do things in a certain order most of the time. When you go back to school make sure you remember to go to your classes and it will become rutine then when you dont go you will know it. When you get back to your room after classes start on your homework so that your mind is still in that school mode. Develope patterns and ways that you do things and that will help keep you on track as well as the diciplinng. Motivation is a big key too. Do your research and talk to your doc. He might have some non medical ways to help you out. The ADD straegy work shops are good to. And again its not a disability. That though alone cripples you.

[Pope Mobile]

Just a suggestion, from someone who is minorly bi-polar: It's sometimes best to look into symptoms for yourself before consulting a professional. In my previous experience with psychologists, no one really went about it in a matter I found, in retrospect, to be very focused. If you can come in, explain the symptoms and what you think you may have, along with any possible solutions, you will probably find yourself in a better situation. I like to think of doctors in any field as supplementers to my knowledge, instead of a substitute for any research on my part (not implying you use them that way).

Also, I found that my intellect/creativity blossomed around the same time i started getting mood swings and anxiety. Medication helped to mediate both my creativity and mood swings. I've found that I can handle the depressive symptoms satisfactorily now without medication, but it's not the easiest task to do, and some days are still pretty difficult.

[colecifer]

This reminds me of a south park episode. all the kids said they had ADD to not have homework and they started taking riddelin. It made them all calm and focused. So chef didn't like how they were and found a guy that would make them better without meds. His method was beating kids. He demonstrated on 3 kids that were bouncing in their desks rambling about lots of random stuff. Then he went up the first one and yelled SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP. then went to second and repeated. When he got to the third he was already silent. Don't think it would work but was rather funny.

I had a kid in my class that took concerta i think. I don't know how well it works though because he never took them. He had a VERY STRONG case of ADD and it was very annoying.

[Alienware_Dude]

Originally Posted by colecifer This reminds me of a south park episode. all the kids said they had ADD to not have homework and they started taking riddelin. It made them all calm and focused. So chef didn't like how they were and found a guy that would make them better without meds. His method was beating kids. He demonstrated on 3 kids that were bouncing in their desks rambling about lots of random stuff. Then he went up the first one and yelled SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP. then went to second and repeated. When he got to the third he was already silent. Don't think it would work but was rather funny. I had a kid in my class that took concerta i think. I don't know how well it works though because he never took them. He had a VERY STRONG case of ADD and it was very annoying.

Ahhh, the 'Great Gatsby' ADD test.

[mbossman2]

before you make any great swings or changes in your medication, I would really suggest getting a 2nd or 3rd opinion on your condition.

make sure that you see a doctor who specializes in teenage/young adult medicine and when you do and if he concurs on the diagnoses and prescribes a course of treatment, ASK him/her for alternatives...pharmacological, dietary, and/or other lifestyle changes...get his or her take on all of them...the advantages, disadvantages and the risks...it he/she is unable to detail that out for you then they are not an "expert" and move onto the next dr.

[jong2k4]

Quite a while ago, I read about an experimental treatment for ADD/ADHD, I'm pretty sure it was in Discover magazine or Popular Science:

Kids play a racing video game while hooked up to some kind of biometric sensor apparatus that measures roughly how focused they are. The more focused they are, the faster the car goes. Thus, the kids unconsciously train themselves to higher levels of focus.

Unfortunately, then they become video game addicts and died while playing the game for several days straight without eating or drinking. No, j/k, I never remember hearing about the results of that study, but it has the advantage of absolutely no medication, although it is also obviously geared towards younger people.

[Punked Out Comp]

Thats a pretty cool solution.