ADHD: Do I really have it? Can I manage it without medication?

[Ronbell]

Please bare with me, my question is quite loaded.

I have been treated for ADHD in the past, when I was in my late teens by my GP. While I was on Ritalin, it definitely improved my issues.

I could concentrate and I wasn?t so scatterbrained all the time. I didn?t feel the need to ?always be heard? and I was much more precise in social situations (not cutting people off, and listening to what they had to say). I was able to write fluidly; not have to re-write everything because I?d be finishing off an idea before I even started it. I slept better and I felt like the first time in my life I was actually living up to my potential.

After I had graduated from high school, I moved 2 hours away into a new city. I was out of range of my GP to receive a refill of my meds. I went to see two other GP?s and they denied me, probably thought I was drug fishing. So I have been off them for 5 years now.

During this period of five years, I?ve had 7 different jobs. And for 2 of these years I?ve been in school (without working). I went to survey school in 06, came back in 07 to get my diploma, but during that time I wasn?t able to settle down enough to get any work done, so I went to work in Ottawa for the past year.

I came back to school in September to finish my diploma and at this point right now, I?m having an incredibly difficult time getting anything done, because I lack the ability to do any form of critical thinking without finding some other distraction to hold my attention.

I?m aware that ADD is one of the most over-diagnosed mental illnesses, and although the symptoms are hitting me hard right now, I?m questioning if I actually have it. You may be wondering why I would be doing that, but I?m thinking: ?Is it possible that because I?m aware of what the symptoms of ADD are, that I?m catering my inability to get work done to this condition?? I mean, I?ve overcome a lot of my issues without counselling or being on meds in the past. For example:

Issues Overcame:
-Fear of using the phone (very weird one, I know)
-Cut people off when speaking
-listening to what others are saying
-not ?jumbling? my speech

I learned all of those skills from working at a call centre, but it appears that they?re fading over time from not using them.

So I have been able to train my mind around some of the issues that were holding me back, and I?m thinking: ?Can my concentration and critical thinking issues be resolved in a similar manner??

I?m literally months behind in school work right now, there?s a good possibility that I?ll fail. It seems like my mind needs to be constantly stimulated (but not critically). For example while I?m writing my question, I?ve checked my facebook twice, and I?m listening to music and watching tv.

I?ve tried cutting out all external sources of what I like to call ?neutral stimulation?, meaning I?ve got rid of my video games, put my TV downstairs, and usually turn off my internet while trying to do school work. And it?s really fascinated me of the results.

I will literally sit there, and feel so irritated. I have to get up and walk around, I go jump on my roommate?s trampoline, and I eat more and drink more. I still don?t get things done; I?m just offsetting what I was doing before with meaningless activities to just being irritable.

I definitely need to see a psychologist about my issues, but unfortunately I cannot afford to, nor if I could, there isn?t one near by. I need short term solutions to get me through school before I can start tackling the white whale. My question is:

?Is it possible to overcome my issues of concentration without needing the meds? Is what I?m doing really counter-active if I actually do have ADD? Do you know of any concentration techniques that could help me get through this spell with someone with ADD in mind? Is there any food supplement I can take that helps??

I apologize if some of these questions are answered in other threads, I?ve searched through quite a few of them already, but it seems like I?d need to read a text-book to get through it all. Lol.

If you read all of this, I applaud you. Thanks for your time.

 

[Into The Light]

Re: Ron's ADD thread of "what is going on?"

i don't have the answer to your question. however, i am wondering if you should give it another go with your current doctor, explain the symptoms to him, and see if he's willing to prescribe medication. it seems like a shame to have to struggle so much with concentration when something that has worked for you in the past would help solve that problem.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Re: Ron's ADD thread of "what is going on?"

I’m aware that ADD is one of the most over-diagnosed mental illnesses

On what do you base that conclusion?

although the symptoms are hitting me hard right now, I’m questioning if I actually have it.

Why? From your own description here, and especially given that Ritalin made a noticeable difference for you in the past, I'd say there's little doubt that you "have it".

Can my concentration and critical thinking issues be resolved in a similar manner?

Possibly, but not without a lot of difficulty.

I’m literally months behind in school work right now, there’s a good possibility that I’ll fail. It seems like my mind needs to be constantly stimulated (but not critically). For example while I’m writing my question, I’ve checked my facebook twice, and I’m listening to music and watching tv.

Again, this sounds like classic ADHD to me, which makes me wonder why you question the diagnosis.

I definitely need to see a psychologist about my issues, but unfortunately I cannot afford to, nor if I could, there isn’t one near by.

What about through your school? There are often good resources available to assist students with various sorts of conditions like ADHD and learning disabilities, etc.

Is it possible to overcome my issues of concentration without needing the meds?

With a great deal of effort, time, and practice, possibly, depending on the severity and type of ADHD.

Is what I’m doing really counter-active if I actually do have ADD?

Yes, almost certainly.

Is there any food supplement I can take that helps?

There have been many claims for such supplements, but none that have ever been proven to actually do anything.

 

[Halo]

Ron,

You say that you are still enrolled in school so there is almost defintitely a mental health clinic or doctor who you could see to talk about this issue, especially getting the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Most schools have some sort of resource that you could tap into.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[boi]

Hi Ronbell,
If you are enrolled in school there has to be some type of service available as Halo said. When I was in school the last time, they tested me and they said I had ADD. They gave me a tutor to help. It was the wrong diagnoses but I did get a tutor. So maybe that might help you as well.

 

[Ronbell]

Re: Ron's ADD thread of "what is going on?"

On what do you base that conclusion?

Mostly based on what I’ve came across on the internet. It seems like there is a lot of people advocating that ADD, or ADHD is over-hyped, and believed to be an excuse for poor parenting and the inability to control children. I understand that I’m an adult and the hyperactivity doesn’t seem to be my dominate issue, but it’s hard not to hear the banter.

Why? From your own description here, and especially given that Ritalin made a noticeable difference for you in the past, I'd say there's little doubt that you "have it".

I’m skeptical of believing most diagnoses mainly because of my mother. That woman fished for so much drugs in my lifetime (and successfully with that: Valiums, dilaudids, perkasets, and morphine) that it’s hard for me to accept most mental disorders as being treatable by drugs, even when it comes to myself. I mean, Ritalin can help anyone the same way it helped me…right?

What about through your school? There are often good resources available to assist students with various sorts of conditions like ADHD and learning disabilities, etc.

My school is pretty small and limited in it’s resources to assist me in that manner. I have made them aware of my issue, and they have spoken with my teachers about it. They have extended deadlines on all of my projects and are allowing me to re-write tests. So they are definitely helping in that regard. It’s just tackling the mountain that’s been the problem.

I thank you for your replies. You have definitely helped my self-confidence on the issue and I realize I'm over-speculating too much.

 

[sarek]

It is possible to contain the problems associated with AD(H)D by using a wide variety of lifestyle adaptations and coping skills.
But it is extremely hard. It is quite likely that at some point you will still bump into yourself.
While I myself are still struggling on the unmedicated path it would be far from me to advocate it as gospel. Most Adders can not cope without medication in some form.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Most Adders can not cope without medication in some form.

Or maybe they can but those around them and those who live with them can't.