Posted by girlygirl on October 19, 2003, at 9:54:20
In reply to Re: So tell me about adult ADD, posted by cybercafe on October 18, 2003, at 19:14:33
I was diagnosed with depression six years ago (aged 18 - but think I probably had it long before that) and have struggled with it ever since. I have been on Prozac (4 years), Cipramil/Celexa, Efexor, Lofepramine, Diothepin and others. I have self-medicated with amphetamines and opiates, which worked extremely well actually, for a while anyway. I have done 12-step rehab, various different forms of therapy etc etc.
One thing I am NOT is an extrovert!During the worst period of my depression I went about three years with practically no face-to-face human contact, could hardly even leave my room. Was at university at the time and my work suffered, but I managed to scrape through because I was able to do my degree without speaking to people.
But I do wonder whether it's more a case of ADD that's developed depression on top of it because of years of not being able to cope normally. I have always struggled with a lot of things that other people seem to find easy(er). I have no control over my impulses, and never have, even as a child.
I am in tens of thousands of pounds of debt, will never be able to get credit again till I'm 40, probably, and still struggle even after putting loads of stuff in place in an attempt to protect me from myself. I don't seem able to connect my actions to the fact that if I spend all my money now I won't have any later. I starve at the end of every month! I am late for work every single day despite getting repeatedly yelled at because I can't connect getting up earlier to getting to work earlier. I just seem to live in constant chaos caused by the fact that I have no control over myself, and believe me I HAVE TRIED. ialso used to self harm a lot and have read articles about how self harm may be a way of dealing with ADD as the pain causes biochemical changes that "wake up" the parts of the brain that are "asleep" in ADD people. In my teens, I accepted what I was being told by psychiatrists, i.e. that it was a terrible thing I was doing because I hated myself, or something, but now I'm starting to think it was more something that REALLY HELPED ME COPE.
God, I've really gone off on one now. Sorry, am having quite a bad day, bursting into tears a lot so am letting off steam...
GG x
> > Hi everyone - I am having a posting frenzy today! But would be really interested to hear from anyone about this. Cos I think I have it. I am in the UK and it's not really accepted here. I'm not the hyperactive type. But from doing web research there is a lot of stuff that rings bells with me. I have always had real problems with procrastination, concentration (sometimes too much so I get obsessed and addicted to things and sometimes I just can't focus my mind and can't sit still at all), blurting things out without thinking and embarassing myself, needing stimulants like speed or (at the least) coffee to feel awake, a lot of the time just not feeling properly "here" at all. Does that sound like ADD or is it just the usual depression stuff?
> >
> > Would really appreciate and input
>
> since you havn't mentioned being depressed i'd *guess* it's more ADD.... or maybe you're just an extrovert? ..... for me it was so bad i couldn't hold down a job, and it still took me 8 years to get diagnosed .......
> i guess the question is ...... "how does it interfere with your life?" .. to distinguish whether or not it is something that needs to be treated
poster:girlygirl
thread:270614
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031011/msgs/270788.html