What mediactions and dosages are you guys on? I want to up my adderrall, but not sure If I should try something else first. I am on a super low dose.
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I take 20 mg slow release methylphenidate with breakfast (that lasts me about 7 hours) then I take a 10 mg regular-release methylphenidate around mid afternoon (after the first pill wears off), which usually gets me past supper - about 4 hours - into the early evening.
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It’s also a topic with my therapist, I need to dig in. I need to come back to that later 
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Playing the tape back and forward, called in sick today.
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So, I am heading into my first rock and gem show to sell some little pieces I have made. My point of the post is without meds I would have never been able to sit and concentrate on creating these intricate little pieces for the back to back hours I have. I would have never been able to organize the beads and findings and keep my desk tidy enough so that I wasn’t overwhelmed. I would have never been able to return to task to get shit done in time for the show this weekend.
I have been misdiagnosed for years, I have been mismedicated for years and it has almost cost me my life. I am just so grateful that I finally have a life today and that the medication I have been put on is helping me do that.
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I’m doing ok. Tape playing is mainly because I’m now aware of the impact on all expects of my life. Reading a lot about it, the impact has been huge. Never thought that most can be linked back to untreated AD(H)D. I’ll start treatment August 22, really looking forward to that. During an intake call I really felt heard.
It’s frustrating that it never came up earlier. I had four inpatient treatments and more councelling in which I mentioned all dynamics that would “easily” relate to the diagnoses e.g. trouble finishing school, low concentration, easily distracted, irritated, jobhopping, addiction etc. But they all focused on my upbringing. Of course things were traumatic, but always felt that can not be everything. Since my parents have their own upbringing in which emotions were never important. Their intention was always good. My relationship with them (also with my brother) improved instantly 
. To be honoust I’m glad they are still alive while this comes out.
I have the support of my employer for now and it is decided that I’ll take my time to recover.
Maybe a bit all over the place but I leave it like it is
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And now I’m gonna look for my car keys 
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Labels and diagnoses, they’re just tools. And due to the way our Dutch healthcare system is financed these days, we need certain diagnoses to get into certain treatments. I understand your frustration. It is frustrating.
I was diagnosed in a specialized centre for personality disorders first. So only logical I ended up with a PD diagnosis 
. The treatment I got (schema therapy) fitted me well, and, BTW, in my group were some persons with ADD too.
Anyhow, now schema therapy has finished, some stuff that has not really been touched concern the abuse I endured as a kid. Having read a couple of books about it, it turns out that most of the symptoms that were used to diagnose me with a PD can be used to diagnose me with early childhood trauma too. Which in a way is frustrating, but in another way I do get the chance to work on that too now. In a different specialized therapy. Don’t want to do therapy for the rest of my life. But I do think I will learn and grow by doing this too. And again, a diagnosis is just a tool. I’m glad you’re getting the help you need Rob. All success friend. Also in finding your car keys.
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Thanks friend, good to read that you’re putting the work in to learn and growth. I understand what you are saying here:
It proves only that for us addicts we need to put in a lot of work to make our life’s better or even to get a life. I geus there is a lot of proof for that in this tread. And while doing so we may all be damn proud on ourselves. It takes bravoury and courage 
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I also find that I need to do my own reading to kind of validate / double-check things. I’m not making a negative comment about doctors or the medical / psychiatric system, I’m just saying, no one knows us like ourselves, right?
I’ve read many books (mostly about ADHD but some about other topics I think are factors in my life) and they are a big part of what got me to where I am today 
@Its_me_Stella those crystals are beautiful! 
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I think every person can be different when taking meds. If pills in general are not an issue for you, then you may find they are super helpful! I, however, have a problem with that. I have ADHD and when I took medicine, I had major problems being sober because I enjoyed the feeling of taking more constantly.
If meds concern you, there are other treatments available. They also make a form of ADHD medicine which is not supposed to be addictive. You just have to talk to your psychiatrist about it and be honest.
Overall though, getting treated for ADHD changes so many things in life. Overall, my life was a lot cleaner when taken appropriately. My workload was done and I was able to do things and actually finish them instead of just start things. Good luck to you as you work this out!
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I’ll start treatment starting Monday. Someone cancelled and they asked me if I wanted the spot. Really great but this is really fast, so still adapting a bit….
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My mom sent me this article about body doubling as a productivity tool. It makes sense to me now why Tommy (my 14 year old son with ADD) did so much better in school when he had a study buddy pre-Covid. After Covid he started getting D’s and F’s. Pre-Covid he would go to a friend’s house after school and do homework. He was getting all A’s and B’s.
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I like to say that people with ADHD are external thinkers.
An external thinker gets their shape and direction from outside of themselves, and flows through it, like water flows through a canal.
Non-ADHD brains are generally more structured internally: they’re like the rocks and steel that make up the canal.
Neither one is better or worse, they’re just different. ADHD brains have enormous flow and flexibility, fluidity; they can reach spaces and make connections that less fluid brains can’t. Non-ADHD brains have internal structure, which is helpful in terms of internal project coordination, etc (also a valuable skill).
I have spoken about this with my ADHD support group and all of them have the same experience that talking things through, working through something interactively, always produces better outcomes.
Whether the body doubling has to be with an ADHD brain or not I don’t think makes a difference. In my experience I’ve had success with both.
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And that’s where your ADHD shines. People with ADHD are generally highly adaptable, imaginative, and quick on their feet. (This is how I finished school and how I managed in my corporate work. Really had to be imaginative and think fast.)
You got this Rob.
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Yep speed is what saves me in my current job. But things I need to do are not my passion. Also not on my level (no intention to be arrogant). My IQ has been tested during a treatment, they didn’t want to because I need to start doing what I like .
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Need to read that, but I think that’s the way I like to work together in connection.
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Was it found to be high? My IQ was tested during my ADHD assessment and was found to be high. That explained some things, up to and including the present day
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