I just watched the show about adult ADHD and just wanted to say thank you for doing such a show, even though it pertained to how it was effecting marriages. I am 27 years old now and was diagnosed when I was 25. I was a children's mental health case manager (ironic right), this was my first job out of college, and I was drowning. I thought I was working so hard but I was failing at every turn. The children's psychiatrist walked up to me one day and with so much sass asked me had I ever been tested for ADHD. When I replied no, she informed that I need to because I had it. I was a little angry... well really angry but I decided to go ahead and get tested. I did it and everything just made so much sense. When I was in college it was the running joke that I was ADHD or had shiny object syndrome. I laughed but the jokes hurt especially when I would actually try so hard. The one time I was thinking of getting tested a friend of mine stated that ADHD was over diagnosed, everyone has it, and that people just need to try harder. So I didnt, I didn't want to be percieved as looking for an "excuse" for my failures. So I sat and struggled. When I got tested the psychiatrist stated that he doesn't know how I made it through college. Well me either, sitting in classes concentrating on concentrating, frustrated, overwhelmed, and sooo unorganized. I got tested. I am still myself. I take medication, I am focused enough to organize myself, and there is a game plan I have to come up with dialy of things I have to accomplish and they get accomplished. I am in graduate school online. Which is difficult but the classes are short I'm not as overwhelmed. Its working out well. I for the first time feel like I can accomplish things. I've tried to go with out medication but everytime I end up getting really overwhelmed with the usual compliments and criticism. That I am a wonderful person but I need to learn to focus, organize myself and my thoughts, etc. I don't know what made me write this but I guess if you think your struggling and it may be help out there I encourage you to get the help that you need. It'll change your life.
I had no choice.....I had been hurt at work and was pretty much bed ridden. One night I was home alone (I still lived with my parents then) and I was laying in bed and got really happy all of a sudden. Took a crazy picture and sent it to my cousin and then I had a bad nervous break down. I almost lost my mind. I also fell in to sever depression. I was under 24 hour care. I was sucidal. I did manage to run away one night, and was found in a parking lot between dumpsters. It is actually still very hard on me to think about it all. I am on medication for the rest of my life. I stuggle to stay on top of my life and to keep it together or I will snap again and they said I would never get better. I have alot of fear about it but I try to not think about it and live my life. I just work and go to the gym and hang at home. I just usually want to be alone or to sleep. I think I need help mentally and emotionally to get on with my life. Feels like Im just sitting still and wasting my life away but I don't know how to be happy while doing other things. I wish I could find someone that knows exactly what I feel. I also have been raped by someone and someone else molested me and tried to rape me. And I still have fear of men even tho I am married. Life just kinda sucks. It probably would help if I was close to my mother but she is a witch pretty much. Not a witch but very very filled with hate and I don't know what. Example is she says she can't wait for my dad to die so she can cut on his body. My parents are still together and I am very close to my dad. But every girl needs a motherly touch in life. I also am scared that deep down Im like my mom but don't know it. Just feels good to write it all out :)
How I got help. I always thought I was different. I had no idea it was a mental ilness. I thought I was different because I was more religious than others. God talked to me. My parents said he talked to everyone, but I don't think they understood that I heard his voice in my ears. I could see Angels, they would sit on my bed as I fell asleep when I was a child. They weren't clear images just gobs of light that were in the shape of angels.
Then after highschool I joined the military as a chaplain assitant, which was really hard because I always thought my supervisor was talking bad about me. I got into a lot of trouble for disrespecting. I went to Iraq, and to a chapel retreat where I dropped my engagement ring and God said if it is broken you know you are suppost to become a nun. (It was an antique, fragile ring.)
I still had no clue anything was wrong until I was living in an apartment and I would hear voices, and my boyfriend said your just hearing the neighbors.
finnally when I was talking to the ghost's I thought I pissed them off because they said "I'm going to kill you." I was really frightened and went to a priest for consouling about the death threat, and how I wasn't sure if it was coming from the ghost or God. He sent me to the hospital.
I have had a struggle with meds and treatment, but I think I am almost on the right medication. It has been at least three years. So don't give up hope. Just work with your doctor.
Hi, I suffer from schizo-affective disorder. Itś a cross between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Suffice to say I've had my fair share of moodswings and psychotic episodes. I've had mental problems on and off since my teens, but did succeed in finish my education, and have held jobs for most of the time.
In 2000 I went absolutely craaaaaaazy! I was scared, lonely and confused for nearly half a year, seeing, hearing, and thinking things removed from any sense of reality. Friends and family used to pound on the door regulary, but I would pretend not to be at home. After a while I gradualy started to regain a measure of rational thought, and went to social services in my city. It was hard to remember al the appointments I've had then, but I was quickly sent to the GGZ (a dutch institute for mental problems, covered by health insurance)
I took many tests, and was evaluated several times, before the diagnosis was set. It was hard, on one hand there was the relief that I would finally know what was the root of the problem, on the other hand I had to accept that, in fact, I was ill. My financial situation was offcourse in shambles by that time, so I had to move to another city to live in a shelter I was put on Risperdal (an antipsychotic) and cytalopram (an antidepressant).
It started to work soon enough, I gort another job and worked to repay my debts, while living in the shelter.
When I had finally repaid my debts I joined BBW, a social servives institute that provides housing and low level support (thinks one day a week visits to check up on me, and discuss and solve practical problems)
During all this time I have been on meds, and gradually regaining my composure. Itś taken a long time but now I am finally back to my original capacity, I am clear heded and lucid, my energy levels are getting back up, and best of all; I am leaving BBW.
Without the the medication and psychological education, I would have never reached this level. Offcourse, sometimes I wish things would have gone differently, but late help is better than no help at all.
Besides, it has tought me some valuable life lessons.
Getting help is crucial, the road may sometimes be hard, and it takes acceptance and hard work, but it will give You the oppertunity to make the best of your life, and use the capacities You have left.
Fortunately we live in an age where, thanks to nuerological and psychological reasearch, the old days of treatment are over, with proper education, medication and counseling, we can function as best as we can do...
I know you don't know me but I hope you don't mind if I give you some advice. I know you mentioned in your post that you want to be able to stop taking meds and I will admit I don't know much about ADD (not having it...) but I want to tell you what my doctor told me.
You have a medical condition which means you will have to take medication for the rest of your life to control it. Just remember that you would feel differently if I told you that you had to take insulin for diabeties but it's the same thing.
Now if I think I feel good enough to stop taking my meds, I remember what he said and how my depressive disorder got worse every time I stopped taking medication for it which made me feel even worse than when I was taking meds. Again, I hope I did not offend you as that is not my intention.
Wow, where to begin... Okay, I have been diagnosied with Major Depressive Disorder (severe with recurrent episodes), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Sexual Dysfunction. How did I find out? In 1990, I wanted to kill myself so I called my primary care physician who started me on medication. Sadly, insurance did not pay for mental health issues back then like they do now so I didn't get the help from licensed professionals until the last ten years or so. The best advice I feel qualified to give? ASK FOR HELP. It doesn't matter how you do it, just ask, there is no shame in having a medical disorder. I know there is still a stereotype but it is getting better and to me it's better to be here for my family and friends than the alternative.
My boyfriends family recoginzed that I was a " little diffrent".. So they suggested that I go to see a phyciatrist, I did. hHe asked me extensive questions, and found out that I was Add when I was 23 or so. .. I am now thirty and taking concerta, at times I know I want to find diffrent ways to learn to cope with this disorder in my life, not to take meds the rest of my life, that is my next step in my life. hopefully next year., but at times i find myself, thinking that i am not thinking about anything at all? i am a little confused as if why this is happening to me?
Hi everyone, I hope this can help someone out there.
I was about Twelve years old when my OCD started mostly with flickin lights on and off but my anxiaty and rituals especially when it delt with religion (fighting the devil (well spiratulay that is) and pleasing GOD (I'm christian)) got so bad I thought I was going crazy, I was litteraly at my witts end. Thats when I pleaded with GOD to please let me know what was happening to me; well a short time later I was at home due to a lack of work and flipping threw the channels when I came accross a talk show with Leeza Gibbons. They were talking about OCD and to some one who had it and the stuff they and why they did it and I was like thats it, thats exacly what I have. Now some people will call that a coincidence but to me there are no coincedences just miracles and this was truly an answer to my prayer. (just think at all the timing and circumstances that go into a coincidence and you just might change your point of view too.)
This leads me to what has helped me in dealing wiht my OCD, in short my relationship and putting my trust with Jesus Christ. You see the Bible says 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philipians 4:5-9). For example I was worried about the house catching on fire and burning down so I asked GOD to look after my home and make sure it didn't catch on fire, then I put my trust in him in looking after my house. It was a long and slow process but I'd have to say I'm 93% cured. I still have bouts of OCD and for some reason it seams worse when I have a few drinks which I don't often have. I'm very gratefull to GOD for his help as I know I couldn't have made this it far without him. For those of you intrested a couple of other scriptures that could help with anxiety are Matthew (6:25-34) and Luke (12:22-31)
Then after highschool I joined the military as a chaplain assitant, which was really hard because I always thought my supervisor was talking bad about me. I got into a lot of trouble for disrespecting. I went to Iraq, and to a chapel retreat where I dropped my engagement ring and God said if it is broken you know you are suppost to become a nun. (It was an antique, fragile ring.)
I still had no clue anything was wrong until I was living in an apartment and I would hear voices, and my boyfriend said your just hearing the neighbors.
finnally when I was talking to the ghost's I thought I pissed them off because they said "I'm going to kill you." I was really frightened and went to a priest for consouling about the death threat, and how I wasn't sure if it was coming from the ghost or God. He sent me to the hospital.
I have had a struggle with meds and treatment, but I think I am almost on the right medication. It has been at least three years. So don't give up hope. Just work with your doctor.
Suffice to say I've had my fair share of moodswings and psychotic episodes. I've had mental problems on and off since my teens, but did succeed in finish my education, and have held jobs for most of the time.
In 2000 I went absolutely craaaaaaazy! I was scared, lonely and confused for nearly half a year, seeing, hearing, and thinking things removed from any sense of reality. Friends and family used to pound on the door regulary, but I would pretend not to be at home. After a while I gradualy started to regain a measure of rational thought, and went to social services in my city. It was hard to remember al the appointments I've had then, but I was quickly sent to the GGZ (a dutch institute for mental problems, covered by health insurance)
I took many tests, and was evaluated several times, before the diagnosis was set. It was hard, on one hand there was the relief that I would finally know what was the root of the problem, on the other hand I had to accept that, in fact, I was ill. My financial situation was offcourse in shambles by that time, so I had to move to another city to live in a shelter I was put on Risperdal (an antipsychotic) and cytalopram (an antidepressant).
It started to work soon enough, I gort another job and worked to repay my debts, while living in the shelter.
When I had finally repaid my debts I joined BBW, a social servives institute that provides housing and low level support (thinks one day a week visits to check up on me, and discuss and solve practical problems)
During all this time I have been on meds, and gradually regaining my composure. Itś taken a long time but now I am finally back to my original capacity, I am clear heded and lucid, my energy levels are getting back up, and best of all; I am leaving BBW.
Without the the medication and psychological education, I would have never reached this level. Offcourse, sometimes I wish things would have gone differently, but late help is better than no help at all.
Besides, it has tought me some valuable life lessons.
Getting help is crucial, the road may sometimes be hard, and it takes acceptance and hard work, but it will give You the oppertunity to make the best of your life, and use the capacities You have left.
Fortunately we live in an age where, thanks to nuerological and psychological reasearch, the old days of treatment are over, with proper education, medication and counseling, we can function as best as we can do...
Get help!
You have a medical condition which means you will have to take medication for the rest of your life to control it. Just remember that you would feel differently if I told you that you had to take insulin for diabeties but it's the same thing.
Now if I think I feel good enough to stop taking my meds, I remember what he said and how my depressive disorder got worse every time I stopped taking medication for it which made me feel even worse than when I was taking meds. Again, I hope I did not offend you as that is not my intention.
I was about Twelve years old when my OCD started mostly with flickin lights on and off but my anxiaty and rituals especially when it delt with religion (fighting the devil (well spiratulay that is) and pleasing GOD (I'm christian)) got so bad I thought I was going crazy, I was litteraly at my witts end. Thats when I pleaded with GOD to please let me know what was happening to me; well a short time later I was at home due to a lack of work and flipping threw the channels when I came accross a talk show with Leeza Gibbons. They were talking about OCD and to some one who had it and the stuff they and why they did it and I was like thats it, thats exacly what I have. Now some people will call that a coincidence but to me there are no coincedences just miracles and this was truly an answer to my prayer. (just think at all the timing and circumstances that go into a coincidence and you just might change your point of view too.)
This leads me to what has helped me in dealing wiht my OCD, in short my relationship and putting my trust with Jesus Christ. You see the Bible says 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philipians 4:5-9). For example I was worried about the house catching on fire and burning down so I asked GOD to look after my home and make sure it didn't catch on fire, then I put my trust in him in looking after my house. It was a long and slow process but I'd have to say I'm 93% cured. I still have bouts of OCD and for some reason it seams worse when I have a few drinks which I don't often have. I'm very gratefull to GOD for his help as I know I couldn't have made this it far without him.
For those of you intrested a couple of other scriptures that could help with anxiety are Matthew (6:25-34) and Luke (12:22-31)