Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

311–320 of 401 posts

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#311

Post by username90 »

tootie wrote: post #282
stevewodil wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's really that hard to get engaged into something that you aren't innately interested in but that you know you "should" do, I would seek an ADHD diagnosis. It's a pretty big symptom. Sometimes it really is not possible and even if it is it's extremely difficult and you feel dumb for it (but obviously you shouldn't, it's not your fault). It's like your mind throwing a tantrum and refusing to engage with the work…

This is my struggle. But also, nobody likes to focus on something uninteresting. What's the difference between ADHD and just not wanting to do it?

Not wanting to do it and not being able to do it are two different things. To an adhd person boring tasks aren't just boring to do, they are impossible to do even if they were paid a million dollars to do it.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#312

Post by solarmist »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #219
anonymouse008 wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you ever experiment with Adderall, Vyvanse or Ritalin? How did you end up with Strattera? I’m trying to triangulate a course for myself and still can’t pull the trigger on any of these for fear of side-effects or dependence.

For what it's worth, my psychiatrist friend who has ADHD and specializes in ADHD practice swears by non-stimulant medications for long-term treatment. His personal preference is Intuniv (Guanfacine). He says the only reason it's not more popular is that the start-up side effects can be unpleasant for a while and proper dose titration takes more work on the provider's side to get it right. Stimulants don't necessarily…

I've used Guanfacine. It gave me heart palpitations and high blood pressure without helping my ADHD at all.

Non-stimulant medications can be good, but none of them worked for me. ADHD too broad a category to have a good idea of which medications will work for one individual or another.

The only ADHD medication that's worked for me is Adderal (and XR which I'm currently on). Otherwise the only other medication that's helped me was memantine (an Alzheimer's drug) that helped with sensory processing disorder.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#313

Post by solarmist »

subroutine wrote: post #44
corobo wrote: post #2

I've been on medication for about a week now and I've not thought about offing myself once since starting. That seems dramatic but honestly that used to be the default go-to answer for any problem that couldn't be resolved within a day or so. Seems a bit excessive of a response to problems now.. It really looks like my depression might be rooted in undiagnosed ADHD. I can also if not properly focus on tasks at least…

I'm not sure which med you are on, but I've been on adderall for about 12 years. Started during 1st year of a phd program. In my experience with adderall... everything initially good about this particular Rx eventually fades away. Amphetamine makes you feel great. At the beginning really, really, great. It certainly helped me focus on whatever was in front of me, whether it was math homework or an iphone game. It bec…

I had a similar experience, but after the 1st year both the positives and negatives wore off (now it doesn't feel like I'm taking anything it just feels normal) and I was simply left with the ability to choose my focus (about 80%).

Now if I don't take my adderall on a given day I have trouble focusing and by midday I get pretty restless and antsy.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#314

Post by solarmist »

I'm also 2e or "twice exceptional" and for me it was the opposite.

I could never manage to save anything longterm and when I started wanting more responsibility in my career I hit a wall without treatment.

Once I started treatment at 35 I was finally able to start making progress and being seen as reliable by management not just good jumping from project to project or great in an emergency, but being able to follow through with projects long term.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#315

Post by thatcat »

throwasquirrel wrote: post #241
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recommend discarding any anecdotes from people who recently started taking stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, or Ritalin. The parent comment is correct in that early stimulant usage is associated with euphoria and motivation that do not last. If someone describes Adderall like the magic drug that Bradley Cooper takes in the movie Limitless, they probably haven't been taking it very long. Tolerance quickly builds to…

How long does someone have to be on stimulant medication before you consider them qualified to comment on its effectiveness?

You can comment anytime, but people who have been using it less than a decade won't be able to comment on the medications post-tolerence decrease in effectiveness and side effects.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#317

Post by dkdk8283 »

Spivak wrote: post #309
dkdk8283 wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t agree with your anecdote. Your previous doctor could have forwarded your medical records. If multiple doctors are of the opinion they won’t prescribe it I don’t think that justifies drug seeking behavior.

You clearly have never experienced medical gatekeeping. It can be really frustrating to be forced to change doctors or insurance and have to fight for years to continue the treatment regimen that actually works for you. Your PCP is the tier-1 tech support of the medical world. They have basically zero specialized knowledge to evaluate different medications outside the brochure the sales rep gave them. There's a reaso…

Rather presumptive to think I haven’t been through the medical system or ran into bad doctors. My experiences will be left as an exercise to the reader.

You get medical records sent and see multiple doctors until one is aware of your ailment. Strategizing on how to lie is unacceptable to me. Happy to agree to disagree on this one.

If one of my reports used work resources to collude for substance abuse I would do everything I can to fire them.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#318

Post by dkdk8283 »

Ancapistani wrote: post #300
dkdk8283 wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t agree with your anecdote. Your previous doctor could have forwarded your medical records. If multiple doctors are of the opinion they won’t prescribe it I don’t think that justifies drug seeking behavior.

He did. The state discouraged prescribing it. I wasn’t seeking “drug seeking”, I was seeking the only medical intervention that I’ve found that ameliorates a diagnosed condition. You really equate that with someone looking to get high?

I was under the impression that without peer coaching you couldn’t get a prescription. If state guidelines are at fault how did you find a in state doctor sympathetic?

I apologize but I can’t get over the notion it’s drug seeking and/or doctor shopping.

I must assume that there was a reason for the doctor not wanting to prescribe you that medication. If state guidelines were the true root why was another doctor amenable?

Using performance enhancing drugs is a losing game. It makes it harder for those who wish to use their natural cognitive abilities.

In time it forces everyone to dope up.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#319

Post by Spivak »

dkdk8283 wrote: post #317
Spivak wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You clearly have never experienced medical gatekeeping. It can be really frustrating to be forced to change doctors or insurance and have to fight for years to continue the treatment regimen that actually works for you. Your PCP is the tier-1 tech support of the medical world. They have basically zero specialized knowledge to evaluate different medications outside the brochure the sales rep gave them. There's a reaso…

Rather presumptive to think I haven’t been through the medical system or ran into bad doctors. My experiences will be left as an exercise to the reader. You get medical records sent and see multiple doctors until one is aware of your ailment. Strategizing on how to lie is unacceptable to me. Happy to agree to disagree on this one. If one of my reports used work resources to collude for substance abuse I would do ever…

So "lying to get a treatment that alleviates the symptoms of their medical condition in a system that punishes honesty" is substance abuse now?

I literally wish every time I go to the doctor that stimulants didn't get non-ADHD people high so I wouldn't have to deal with this crap.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#320

Post by username90 »

thatcat wrote: post #315
throwasquirrel wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How long does someone have to be on stimulant medication before you consider them qualified to comment on its effectiveness?

You can comment anytime, but people who have been using it less than a decade won't be able to comment on the medications post-tolerence decrease in effectiveness and side effects.

If it takes a decade to build up tolerance and a month to completely get rid of it then sustainability seems clear, no? The problem isn't physical dependence but mental dependence, ADHD forces you to become super strict with yourself to get anything done at all, medication makes you lazy since you just pop a pill and get things done, if you stop trying after getting the pills you will start having problems again just like normal people, but if you keep working as hard as before you took the pills then their effects doesn't go away.
Post reply on HN