Comments on: Three stages of ADHD in women http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/ Celebrating midlife ADHD women Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:58:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Zoe http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/#comment-6097 Zoe Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:50:22 +0000 http://www.addiva.net/blog/?p=49#comment-6097 I miss my Wellbutrin and long-acting ritalin. Due to a post-divorce depression, my latest anti-depressant EMSAM (an MAOI) doesn't allow for stimulants. So I have to go back to the basics of what I have learned along the way (in ADD groups and coaching)without the help of meds. Mostly that I AM loveable and to be GENTLE with myself. (We can be our own worst enemies by being so hard on ourselves!) I miss my Wellbutrin and long-acting ritalin. Due to a post-divorce depression, my latest anti-depressant EMSAM (an MAOI) doesn’t allow for stimulants. So I have to go back to the basics of what I have learned along the way (in ADD groups and coaching)without the help of meds. Mostly that I AM loveable and to be GENTLE with myself. (We can be our own worst enemies by being so hard on ourselves!)

]]> By: Lisa http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/#comment-1959 Lisa Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:02:51 +0000 http://www.addiva.net/blog/?p=49#comment-1959 Linda, Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post, and for the words of encouragement and understanding. Especially the understanding, reading your blogs was like reading about myself; piles, shoes, constantly re-organizing, can\'t keep track of time, bouncing from one thing to the next as it catches my attention. . . I could go on but I think you get my drift. I\'ve been diagnosed for a couple of years now, a few months after my daughter\'s autism diagnosis, and haven\'t tried anything. My therapist was actually excited that I mentioned trying something - he must think I\'m really be a mess, lol - but I just wanted drug names to get an idea of what I\'m dealing with. He mentioned straterra, which didn\'t look so hot to me when I looked it up. I can\'t remember why because it was last night but I know I don\'t have a good impression. There was a Vy??? something that people on one blog seemed to like a lot. The thing that worries me is that a lot of people say it wears off aroung 6 to 10 hours and evenings are when I really need to focus because everyone is home and they want attention but I tend to wander. Also, I sleep really well right now, for the most part, and don\'t want to lose that. Ooops, someone broke something, I need to go. Again, thank you very much; you helped more than you know. Lisa Linda,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post, and for the words of encouragement and understanding.

Especially the understanding, reading your blogs was like reading about myself; piles, shoes, constantly re-organizing, can\’t keep track of time, bouncing from one thing to the next as it catches my attention. . . I could go on but I think you get my drift.

I\’ve been diagnosed for a couple of years now, a few months after my daughter\’s autism diagnosis, and haven\’t tried anything. My therapist was actually excited that I mentioned trying something - he must think I\’m really be a mess, lol - but I just wanted drug names to get an idea of what I\’m dealing with. He mentioned straterra, which didn\’t look so hot to me when I looked it up. I can\’t remember why because it was last night but I know I don\’t have a good impression. There was a Vy??? something that people on one blog seemed to like a lot.

The thing that worries me is that a lot of people say it wears off aroung 6 to 10 hours and evenings are when I really need to focus because everyone is home and they want attention but I tend to wander. Also, I sleep really well right now, for the most part, and don\’t want to lose that.

Ooops, someone broke something, I need to go.

Again, thank you very much; you helped more than you know.

Lisa

]]> By: admin http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/#comment-1952 admin Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:09:57 +0000 http://www.addiva.net/blog/?p=49#comment-1952 Oh Lisa, my heart goes out to you! The decision about whether to take meds and how long to take them is difficult for all of us. In the 11 years since I was diagnosed, I have tried meds, given up on meds, tried them again and now have made an uneasy peace with them. But my post about working through the self esteem issues around ADD doesn't necessarily mean you'll want to or need to give up on meds. Sometimes we get to a place of self acceptance ON the medication -- that can be part of the process. Certainly ADD meds are serious business; they are controlled substances. But every single statistic and study I have seen about addiction and ADD meds indicate that there is a much higher level of addiction among those who are NOT medicated or treated for their ADD (keep in mind that can also mean nutraceuticals or change in diet or meditation or whatever works for you). Your children deserve a mom who is present for them. But more importantly, you deserve a place of peace in your own life that allows you to be calm and...dare I say? ...happy! My experience with meds is that they do work but it takes a while to get it right - dosage, correct med or combo of meds. I wouldn't give up my Wellbutrin for anything -- it's like putting on glasses for me. The stimulants I prefer to take on an as needed basis -- short acting so I can control the effect a bit more. But that's just ME... Hang in there, Lisa. Your ADDiva sisters are standing beside you, feeling your pain and sending you courage and hope! Hugs Linda Oh Lisa, my heart goes out to you! The decision about whether to take meds and how long to take them is difficult for all of us. In the 11 years since I was diagnosed, I have tried meds, given up on meds, tried them again and now have made an uneasy peace with them.

But my post about working through the self esteem issues around ADD doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll want to or need to give up on meds. Sometimes we get to a place of self acceptance ON the medication — that can be part of the process.

Certainly ADD meds are serious business; they are controlled substances. But every single statistic and study I have seen about addiction and ADD meds indicate that there is a much higher level of addiction among those who are NOT medicated or treated for their ADD (keep in mind that can also mean nutraceuticals or change in diet or meditation or whatever works for you).

Your children deserve a mom who is present for them. But more importantly, you deserve a place of peace in your own life that allows you to be calm and…dare I say? …happy!

My experience with meds is that they do work but it takes a while to get it right - dosage, correct med or combo of meds. I wouldn’t give up my Wellbutrin for anything — it’s like putting on glasses for me. The stimulants I prefer to take on an as needed basis — short acting so I can control the effect a bit more. But that’s just ME…

Hang in there, Lisa. Your ADDiva sisters are standing beside you, feeling your pain and sending you courage and hope!
Hugs
Linda

]]> By: Lisa http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/#comment-1944 Lisa Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:44:23 +0000 http://www.addiva.net/blog/?p=49#comment-1944 So, does this mean if I\'ve been told I have ADD and need to take meds, I should just skip it because I\'m going to quit them anyway? I\'ve been reading up on them and they seem scary and not very consistent or dependable. But so many people go on and on about how much better they are while the drugs do work. While I would love to keep track of time and not get distracted by every blessed thing and actually stay focused during a conversation, the odds of that actually happening with drugs don\'t seem that good. Plus, there\'s the risk of addiction. I\'ve never had an addiction but if something actually helped me get my act together, I can see how it would be easy to develope a dependancy. Plus, I\'m already taking Wellbutrin for Bi-Polar-ness and I feel as if that has taken away some of my personality (what can I say, I miss the highs but not enough to take back the life-is-not-worth-living lows) and worry that more medications will obliterate \'me\' entirely. Then again, if it would make life easier for my family it might be worth that. Especially since my youngest has autism and really needs a parent who can give her the sturctured enviornment she needs. I try my best but my best truly isn\'t good enough and I carry a lot of guilt about that. Ok, I\'m stopping because I\'m going to cry if I don\'t. So, does this mean if I\’ve been told I have ADD and need to take meds, I should just skip it because I\’m going to quit them anyway? I\’ve been reading up on them and they seem scary and not very consistent or dependable. But so many people go on and on about how much better they are while the drugs do work. While I would love to keep track of time and not get distracted by every blessed thing and actually stay focused during a conversation, the odds of that actually happening with drugs don\’t seem that good. Plus, there\’s the risk of addiction. I\’ve never had an addiction but if something actually helped me get my act together, I can see how it would be easy to develope a dependancy. Plus, I\’m already taking Wellbutrin for Bi-Polar-ness and I feel as if that has taken away some of my personality (what can I say, I miss the highs but not enough to take back the life-is-not-worth-living lows) and worry that more medications will obliterate \’me\’ entirely. Then again, if it would make life easier for my family it might be worth that. Especially since my youngest has autism and really needs a parent who can give her the sturctured enviornment she needs. I try my best but my best truly isn\’t good enough and I carry a lot of guilt about that. Ok, I\’m stopping because I\’m going to cry if I don\’t.

]]> By: Sophie http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/#comment-1909 Sophie Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:50:01 +0000 http://www.addiva.net/blog/?p=49#comment-1909 AMEN!!!! You have hit the nail on the head!!!! It certainly brings clarity to my life and gives me something more to look forward to!!!! AMEN!!!! You have hit the nail on the head!!!! It certainly brings clarity to my life and gives me something more to look forward to!!!!

]]> By: sharon g. ferguson http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/#comment-1865 sharon g. ferguson Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:33:59 +0000 http://www.addiva.net/blog/?p=49#comment-1865 Thanks. very helpful. Thanks. very helpful.

]]> By: Linda Carter http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/#comment-1235 Linda Carter Wed, 14 May 2008 14:20:55 +0000 http://www.addiva.net/blog/?p=49#comment-1235 I really appreciate your vision in all this. You make so much sense. I really appreciate your vision in all this. You make so much sense.

]]> By: Janie http://www.addiva.net/2008/05/08/three-stages-of-add-in-women/#comment-1123 Janie Thu, 08 May 2008 15:22:03 +0000 http://www.addiva.net/blog/?p=49#comment-1123 Linda, Thank you so very much for sharing the stages! That is SO true! And thank YOU for providing the constant and authentic encouragement through the tools and retreats of the ADDiva Network! You are a God-send to the world of women with ADD/ADHD! As I recently heard someone say about you, \\\\ Linda,

Thank you so very much for sharing the stages! That is SO true! And thank YOU for providing the constant and authentic encouragement through the tools and retreats of the ADDiva Network! You are a God-send to the world of women with ADD/ADHD! As I recently heard someone say about you, \\\\

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