AddLemmus

joined 9 months ago
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Child medication by experience in c/adhd@lemmy.world
[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 weeks ago

You are doing a great job, getting him diagnosed so early and making this decision responsibly!

Child medication by experience in c/adhd@lemmy.world
[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I did NOT get medicated. The problem is that it resulted in a huge number of minor traumatic experiences: Isolated in class, because I don't keep up with topics of conversation such as trading cards, games, sports. Less successful even with the things I'm passionate about, sometimes due to trivial things such as missing training day or forgetting my equipment. Delaying things until they become a huge problem, then doing them in a painful adrenaline-filled frenzy. Pain from forcing myself to just do something such as homework or cleaning.

You did a great thing getting your son diagnosed so early! I can't even imagine where I would be if I had that asset in my life, to just know.

I suggest to go with the science rather than anecdotes of strangers. Is the diagnosis certain, and is the benefit of medication clear? Is it the best option? From what I read, it often is, but not always.

For my own child, as it so happens also 7 years old, I'm going to do it. There are significant problems at school that make the choice easier. But I'm also using other means such as fidget toys in class and a wobble cushion.

How do you cope with drug holidays? in c/adhd@lemmy.world
[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

Not looking forward to that ... I slowly increased the dose over 6 months as effects were fading, but I'm near the normal adult dose.

Would Modafinil work during the "holidays"? It has a very decent effect on me, although with huge side effects, but things get done and it should not (as I understand the matter) have cross-tolerance with a stimulant.

61
Took me too long to realise: You can't just make the choice to be someone else (lemmy.ml)
 

Example: My messy apartment. Every time I did a thorough cleaning, usually due to pressure and last-minute high on adrenaline, such as a landlord inspection, I was SO sure: Fantastic, it's done now, and it will always be nice; I just have to change and do 20 minutes every day.

Well, you all know how that went. But I kept repeating it over and over, 20 years, 25 years.

What works is to admit that you are like that, but don't know entirely why.

What works is to make a small improvement. I can do one thing every day and check it off, as long as it is on a list.

What works is to get to the root of the problem, ADHD in this case, depression for others, and treat it. This is the big gun, it can be life-changing.

What works is even to hire a maid, to get a dishwasher, to a degree.

What does not work is to "decide" that things will be different now.

It's easier to see when it happens to others. I remember the post of somebody who considered himself lazy, but had all these ambitions. He wanted to get up tomorrow and become this "super-productive self". We all told him, one way or another: That is great, but instead of doing that tomorrow, check today if you can study uninterruptedly for 25 minutes. If that works out, do that for a week, and we'll talk again.

Does the other thing also exist, the epiphany where people change their life? One of my favourite quotes from Babylon-5: "You have the opportunity here and now to choose, to become something greater and nobler and more difficult than you have been before. The universe does not offer such chances often, G'Kar." Is it a lie?

Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9v1jJ_ATec

6
challenges remaining, 5 months into treatment (lemmy.ml)
 

5 months ago, I got diagnosed and on Elvanse.

At first, it was a life-changing magic pill. I made completely out-of-character impulse decisions like: Let's list & process all issues that can be fixed with a phonecall or email right now! After less than 60 minutes, 70 % of the weight from unfinished tasks was off my shoulders.

But more and more it became clear that I need my old crutches (lists, timers, methods, ...) and the meds. It's still pretty great, because when I make the decision to do one item from the list, I can do it without feeling like cutting into my own flesh. I just make the decision.

Lately, especially on meds, I'm pretty hard into doomscrolling. Reading on Reddit frontpage (still there) and commenting my stupid opinion / "insight" to a wild mix of posts.

Currently recovering from the flu, which didn't help, and a lot of urgent todos got stacked up, deadlines missed.

Of course I know what needs to be done, and I'm starting. Got a browser plugin to limit certain websites etc. It's slow.

I think I should try a therapist who is specialised in ADHD. Not so much to process trauma from a life living undiagnosed, but rather to help me get all that done, get to a sustainable level of productivity.

Dr. K. said something interesting in a recent video. People can't just make a conscious decision like "hey, I should stop being a slob and instead improve myself 2 hours straight per day!" or "I want to be someone who gets up early, eats a healthy breakfast, works out, has a completely different life!". It's a different part of the brain that executes this, and you can't just order it around.

Anyway, life changed for the better, a lot, but I want to pick up the pace.