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ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

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Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#391

Post by monadgonad »

hinkley wrote: post #317
Gene_Parmesan wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So I'm not a researcher, just a sufferer, but my understanding is that yes, emotional regulation issues are common with ADHD. Attention-deficit is kind of a misnomer; a lot of doctors now think "executive functioning disorder" would be a better name. Executive functioning is sort of the layer that sits on top of our underlying systems - whether they be behavioral or emotional - and allows us some level of conscious a…

Since we're comparing notes, do you find yourself hearing sounds that nobody else hears? Executive function may be involved, but the inability to filter sensory information is a pretty big part of things for many people. When I'm two rooms away shouting "What is the dog eating?" to two people who are sitting in the same room as the dog, that's not about executive function.

> that's not about executive function.

Actually, I'd argue that it is. The other people's executive function is what allows their sensory filtering: they can almost completely filter out sounds their brain has decided is unimportant.

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#392

Post by anonsivalley652 »

vonseel wrote: post #47

I’m 31 and have ADHD (diagnosed in my teens) and I’m pretty sure NOBODY with ADHD is going to have the wherewithal to read this entire article! Unless it happens to magically coincide with their hyper-focus topic of the moment! In all seriousness, I skimmed parts of the article and kept scrolling and it just kept going and going and going... like the Energizer bunny. I guess the author found a doctor to prescribe sti…

I'm homeless, live in a vehicle and can't hold a job (getting along with people). My parents insisted ADD was a fad and that I was normal, yet all of my peers said I was weird. Not many friends. Under-treated depression until 30. Lived withdrawn for several years. Finally on atomoxetine at 40, which helps some. Lots of plans but no sustained focus and execution to get anything done. I somehow slogged through getting a CS degree over 10 years, but went bankrupt and have $9k in undischargeable student loan debt. My cognition is declining, I sleep on a very odd schedule and don't really have any purpose or use because I'm too old. Intervention earlier and don't do as I did... because you can basically never recover from homelessness without help but there is no help.

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#393

Post by jacobush »

caleb-allen wrote: post #267
matheusmoreira wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Unless it happens to magically coincide with their hyper-focus topic of the moment! It's funny. People with ADHD suffer from attention deficit but at the same time they display hyperattention when they encounter a subject they like. I've experienced it as well: once I start programming I have no problem doing it for 12 hours straight. I've found this trait in many ADHD patients. There's usually something that reall…

My favorite explanation is that of a hunter. Those with ADHD spend 90% of their time imagining, thinking, doing everything and nothing. And to any observer they look stupid, or undisciplined, or lazy. Like the hunt, when somebody with ADHD encounters an situation with very high (perceived) consequences, they will lock into intense hyperfocus, completely singular in their goal. So the modes of operation are 1) philoso…

I have had the exact same thought. I have imagined myself being predisposed to being a great hunter. I would have no problem just idling away, alone in nature all day, until the final moment came.

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#394

Post by anonsivalley652 »

matheusmoreira wrote: post #67
vonseel wrote: post #47

I’m 31 and have ADHD (diagnosed in my teens) and I’m pretty sure NOBODY with ADHD is going to have the wherewithal to read this entire article! Unless it happens to magically coincide with their hyper-focus topic of the moment! In all seriousness, I skimmed parts of the article and kept scrolling and it just kept going and going and going... like the Energizer bunny. I guess the author found a doctor to prescribe sti…

> Unless it happens to magically coincide with their hyper-focus topic of the moment! It's funny. People with ADHD suffer from attention deficit but at the same time they display hyperattention when they encounter a subject they like. I've experienced it as well: once I start programming I have no problem doing it for 12 hours straight. I've found this trait in many ADHD patients. There's usually something that reall…

It's can be a fleeting or an obsessive focus. Also, if you tack on depression, it's difficult (for me) to prioritize and proportionality/negative cognitive distortions get in the way of almost everything and depression makes everything seem and feel 1000x harder.

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#395

Post by fasteo »

Worth noting that ADHD is often misdiagnosed, in the sense that there is an underlying condition, and ADHD is just one of the symptoms.

Case in point: my now 14 years old kid was diagnosed with severe ADHD when he was 6. Medication improved his condition a lot. Last year we started to notice that he would have brief periods of absence, resulting in a battery of neuro tests. He has been diagnosed with generalized absence epilepsy and he is now on valproic acid. He is now much better - especially with mood stability - since started epilepsy meds.

Yet, I am afraid that epilepsy is again, just another symptom. Structural damage was discarded (brain mri was normal), but we are now running a battery of genetic testing to find out. First test - cgh array - came out negative and we are now waiting for a whole exome sequencing to see if we are able to identify an underlying genetic condition.

My take away: If you have severe ADHD, go to the neuro and ask at least for an EEG and a brain MRI to discard underlying conditions.

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#396

Post by gremlinsinc »

vonseel wrote: post #47

I’m 31 and have ADHD (diagnosed in my teens) and I’m pretty sure NOBODY with ADHD is going to have the wherewithal to read this entire article! Unless it happens to magically coincide with their hyper-focus topic of the moment! In all seriousness, I skimmed parts of the article and kept scrolling and it just kept going and going and going... like the Energizer bunny. I guess the author found a doctor to prescribe sti…

I agree, have ADHD this ran on so hard... I got bored so fast. Got some points here and there but skimmed all the h1 tags.

When writing to us... maybe just try bullet points.... Don't run past the page fold - or I'm out.

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#397

Post by gremlinsinc »

siljon wrote: post #379
saulrh wrote: post #333

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Attention Deficit isn't an inability to focus, it's an inability to exert executive control over focus. When there's nothing interesting going on this manifests as wandering attention. When there's something interesting going on this manifests as a crippling inability to process background events like appointments and bedtime.

I have had this problem through my whole life... My parents and I have never understood that this definition is ADHD and always assumed it was inability to focus. My mom have always been big about don't take pills unless you absolutely have too. However it isn't until older age I finally been able to force my exert executive control to focus. It has taken a lot of practice and challenging myself and it wasn't until t…

I went down into dark depression 2 years back. Wife just had our first baby. I was 38. I used my kid to draw me out of depression so I didn't do anything stupid to myself. Went to therapy over a year ago, was diagnosed with ADHD. At the same time I started doing crossfit and lost 90 pounds in 3 months. My PCP prescribed me Vyvanse, and just being able to focus a little better and see my life change for better and maybe some of the coping stuff I picked up from therapy and I've not had any depression really since day one of therapy.

Honestly, I think therapy had the least effect except realization what was wrong. Drugs I think helped the most.. lately it feels like they're not as good though, or I feel like I'm in a funk. I don't know if that's just life or being overworked or just I need a dose change. Maybe if I cut it cold turkey a week, then get back on it'd reboot or something.

TLDR: I just feel I'm getting off track a lot more lately than I was the previous 14 months. Not sure what I should do, maybe go back to therapy? Maybe focus more on mindfulness/stoicism? Up my dose of Vyvanse? Go back to the gym? All the above?

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#398

Post by attentin »

bobly_today wrote: post #332
Gene_Parmesan wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So I'm not a researcher, just a sufferer, but my understanding is that yes, emotional regulation issues are common with ADHD. Attention-deficit is kind of a misnomer; a lot of doctors now think "executive functioning disorder" would be a better name. Executive functioning is sort of the layer that sits on top of our underlying systems - whether they be behavioral or emotional - and allows us some level of conscious a…

I get impossibly bad social anxiety from stimulants and can’t use them

I've had the same probleme since my doctor prescribed dexamphetamin to me instead of the other ritalin crap.

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#399

Post by gremlinsinc »

caleb-allen wrote: post #267
matheusmoreira wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Unless it happens to magically coincide with their hyper-focus topic of the moment! It's funny. People with ADHD suffer from attention deficit but at the same time they display hyperattention when they encounter a subject they like. I've experienced it as well: once I start programming I have no problem doing it for 12 hours straight. I've found this trait in many ADHD patients. There's usually something that reall…

My favorite explanation is that of a hunter. Those with ADHD spend 90% of their time imagining, thinking, doing everything and nothing. And to any observer they look stupid, or undisciplined, or lazy. Like the hunt, when somebody with ADHD encounters an situation with very high (perceived) consequences, they will lock into intense hyperfocus, completely singular in their goal. So the modes of operation are 1) philoso…

Well, you described me to a T. So, I'd say yes it's pretty accurate. I think there's also some overlap w/ ASD, which I think I may also have to an extent. Undiagnosed though on that front.

Re: ADHD, a Lifelong Struggle (2018)

#400

Post by timwaagh »

why did you settle on adhd? adhd people are typically overactive. It means Attention Defecit Hyperactivity. I mean, it is literally about being 'hyperactive'. Like my friend. He's like always walking super fast and very extraverted. He does stuff every hour of the day and never gets tired. I try to keep up but really he has to wait on me. He did have trouble with school, but that's because he's always running off somewhere, not because he's sitting at his desk fidgetting. these days he runs his own company and has a full time job, a lot of social commitments, sports etc. He can't gain any weight because he's always running and lives life at a higher pace than normal so he's very skinny. Also it's widely known ritalin and aderall help everyone with concentration, not just adhd people. so you can't diagnose yourself based on the fact that it helps you. I am not saying you don't have a problem, but i find your case to be atypical for adhd. generally people with concentration problems without hyperactivity end up under the 'add' label. But i don't know everything, of course. it could be something else. or nothing that has any label. it's just that what you wrote about doctors and that you are not listening. you might want to consider listening to them a bit.
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