Okay....What's wrong with me??

[Bethe]

Okay, I have read through alot of the discussions and I am not having the same problem...I was hyper when i was younger, i was put on every med known to man (i was on ritalin at 4yrs old - my poor mother) i hated every one of them because they made me like a zombie (stoned). I have no energy, don't have any desire to do anything. I am not at all depressed, I am happier with my life now than i have ever been. I def. don't have a problem sleeping. Gosh! I'm like a slug (ewww). Anyway, I haven't sought out meds because of my past history with them. I don't need anything that is going to slow me down, i don't need help with that. My main problem is my attention span, my desire, my energy and my drive. Oh, and I should mention the OCD! haha. Has anyone heard of symptoms like mine? Or am I just the odd ball? lol

[Bryan Hutchinson]

Procrastination is a hallmark of ADD. I know what you mean by the term slug, time just goes by and you want to do things, but you just don't feel like doing them, or too much time passes and it becomes too late, or overdue? Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I don’t have a complete solution for you either, I wish I did. Motivation and inspiration are key factors, besides you are probably happy with yourself and it is the complaining of others that might be annoying or causing you to question yourself. A lot of the time it also the fact that we know we could be doing so much more and accomplishing great things if we could just get ourselves in gear! Just the thought of getting things done can be exhausting and overwhelming, making us feel as if we are tired and devoid of energy. However, I bet when you are inspired and love something that it becomes easy, like a feather drifting on the wind, energy comes from seemingly nowhere… am I getting close?

[Bethe]

Yes!! Yes! You are right! It's just getting motivated. Man when I get it though...get outta my way! lol...I'm glad I "out grew" the "hyper" but sometimes I think this is way worse!

[Lizard (aka, Butthead)]

you sound like my 14 year old daughter - she is all ADD inattentive! I wish I had grown out of the hyper sometimes. My daughter can do things that she is in to for sure, other times it is like trying to move a mountain! I think you are just exhibiting one of the many categories that label ADD, there is a post somewhere around here that outlined the symptoms of the different types.

[Bethe]

Thanks for the link! haha..as I am typing this I'm having to really make myself stay focused...lol, anyway, my ocd is not as bad as some people I have seen/heard. Mine is linear, everything has to be straight; balanced. I also have to do everything in threes, as well as the need to organize. I'll try real hard not to reply to you three time, no, I'm joking. Thanks again, and I'm going to look for that book!

[Steve]

Hi Bethe.

I am no psychologist but I sure have a lot of personal experience with mental illness/disorders.

Lots of people are misdiagnosed, just as was I was in the past. From the symptoms you describe, I would not personally think that ADD is your answer. I am curious to know what others here on ADDer World think about that.

It is hard to say because you have not said too much about what all you have gone through in life. Attention span is definitely a part of ADD but I am sure that is part of many other disorders as well.

As far as the lack of desire, drive and energy level, they can be all part of depression. I just recently told my psychiatrist that I had those symptoms. I told him that I was not depressed like you say, but I knew I just did not feel right. Something was wrong.

He told me that in fact, I really was suffering from mild depression. That kind of blew my mind in that I certainly know what depression feels like. After he said that, I realized that he was right.

So my point is that even though you don't think you are depressed, you might just be. In my case I have been used to major depression. So the light depression that I was feeling did not feel at all like what I have always known to be depression.

I am on many medications, of which some do make me feel like a zombie at times. Not all medications do that. I can’t stand taking pills but I know I have to or I would go jump off a bridge.

Many times I could not get out of bed for days. I complained to my docs for years about it. They pretty much rolled their eyes to that, and had no answer for me, until years later when they decided that I had chronic fatigue syndrome. Who knows if that is really a disorder? I wonder if they just made that up because they really have no clue why I, and others have such major fatigue. It sure seems odd to me that they never prescribed Adderall for me back then. It was not until I was diagnosed with ADD, and then years later, until it was prescribed for me.

I was on Ritalin for a number of years and it did nothing to help me. About a year ago I was put on Adderall and it made all the difference in the world. Adderall is a form of speed and believe me; you will not feel like a zombie on that one. It helped me with both my energy level as well as to help me focus to get things done.

I think it would be a good thing for you, to give Adderall a try even though you are opposed to meds. I would also get a second opinion on whether you truly are suffering from ADD. There could be an entirely different reason for the symptoms you have mentioned.

Another medication I am on is Wellbutrin. That is an antidepressant but the great thing about it is that it actually gives you energy rather than slow you down like many antidepressants do. It is also prescribed to help people stop smoking, so if you are a smoker, it could help with that as well.

Good luck. Steve

[Chris AKA Dawg]

I didn’t know that Wellbutrin helped with smoking. Thanks for that info I’m going to check that out.

I’m always intrigued when people have different effects with Ritalin vs Dexedrine or Ritalin vs Adderall but it seem to be that way for many. Getting the right doseage is crucial and can take time. Doctor prescribed me 5mg in my early 20’s and I quit them thinking they don’t work not taking into account the dosage. I am actually way more hyper when I don’t take my meds. And I can’t sleep when I’m off meds. I’ve tried Adderall, Adderall XR and Vyvance (I should get a Shire Corp sponsorship) and they all help tremendously. At the right dosage though. Two 10 mg ADDerall a day have virtually no effect on me and 2 20mg is like an awaking to new world. I like the XR’s the best but never tried regular 4X a day. Or even 3X might work. Two doses a day just don’t get me thru an entire day. With XR’s sometimes I like taking them right before bed. Doesn’t bother my sleep and I jump out of bed into the shower moving at 100% with focus the second I get up. Usually it’s a 45 min, make coffee, walk around with very little focus ordeal. Hyperactivity can change into restlessness as an adult. And I don’t think everyone’s level is the same. Even with severe depression ( which I have now)I can’t sleep or linger.