Adult ADD

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

My comprehension is fine, thanks. Im sorry you didnt get the point, but I have more important things to do than explain it to you.

You must be talking death stats, sure, tobacco wins in pure numbers.
Cigarettes will cause health problems, and may kill you.
Crystal meth? Meth is immediately devastating, for sure, if you get hooked, which is almost guaranteed.
My apologies for the derail.
Matt, please PM me if you like.

[stagebanter]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Meth is immediately devastating, for sure, if you get hooked, which is almost guaranteed.

The reason most people think this is because the dysfunctional open-sore rotting-teeth addicts are the most visible ones. In reality, there are plenty of "functional addicts" who are dependent on all sorts of different substances. You probably know some opioid-dependent people without even realizing it, for example.

Also, the "addiction potential" for methamphetamine is quite a bit lower than that of heroin, cocaine, alcohol or even tobacco. There are many people who casually use methamphetamine. This is NOT exactly cut and dry as there is no 100% definite method to quantify addiction potential, but looking at the body of evidence it becomes pretty clear - to me at least - that amphetamine is not the "monster drug" most people make it out to be. It is however quite physically damaging, especially during binges, which may also contribute to public perception of amphetamine as an instant-addiction life-ruiner.

Also, a side note, Vyvanse is REALLY COOL. It's an amino acid with amphetamine substituted for the side chain, which means its release is limited by your body's production of the enzyme that lyses that specific amino acid. Cool, huh?

[ArtGuy9516]

Originally Posted by JakeF

Some good advice here. I did a test recording and strangely enough my playing is a bit better as well.

I'm keeping a diary for the first month of the daily effects so I can refer back if I have any suspicious behavior. So far my interactions with people have improved substantially, its weird, its like a gap being filled in my behavior overnight. Focus is better, everything feels fine but moving my focus from one object to another is much slower. Heavier.

Also it has made me a bit sleepy. I for the life of me can't understand why its called "speed."

Anyhow, don't read into the post too much, it is just for my hyper-detailed diary to monitor myself.

I'm another adult with ADD. I'm also a mental health professional. The journaling is a good idea so you can evaluate if the medication is benefficial or not. You can share your observations with the perscribing physician as well if you begin to notice any change in your level of focus, side effects, etc.

Ideally the medication should help improve your focus yet simultaneously it is benefficial for you to help develop stratagies to help your attentional deficits which will help enhance the benefit you receive from the medication. If being on the medicine bothers you, once you have developed stratagies that help deminision the attentional deficits you might not need the medication any more.

Psychotropic medications are beneficial yet not the soul answer in addressing mental health concerns. For some of the responders to this post who have communicated that taking an medication to address ADD is akin to taking "legal speed," or a buy in to legal drug users or an indication of using a cructch would you make the same recomendation to a diabetic who needs insulin or someone who has high blood pressure not take their medications?

[CrewsControl]

Originally Posted by JakeF

Well, with everyone dropping in their 2 cents, all of which has been fascinating, let me restate my question.

Did the medications any of you were prescribed influence/effect your playing?

My tempo seems to have improved. It is more solid with less drift. Anyone else have similar effects?

Others in my class noticed I can sing and play much better. I did too.

[Kmonk]

Originally Posted by Beej

I meet the diagnostic criteria as well. Coincidentally I'm also a registered mental health professional. ADHD medication tends to be stimulant based, it's not as counterintuitive as you'd think though. We've long seen the effects of stimulants, paradoxically calming the thought process and increasing capacity for executive function in people with ADHD diagnoses. The extrapolated reason for the success is that the stimulant stimlates the frontal cortex, which houses executive function, and allows the executive functions to improve, which results in increases in self-regulation, improved concentration, judgment, critical thinking, etc.

Smokin' Toaster has a point, but it's a common error seen in less than rigorous clinical situations. The problem for many people who start a stimulant (especially in adulthood) is that initially, you "really feel it, man". That's a good thing because you can feel the effect of the stimulant and associate that feeling with the quantitative clinical effects. The problem is that we all naturally experience the process of "accommodation" where we become "used" to the effects of a drug, or change in routine, etc. Takes approximately 6 weeks or so for this to take effect. After that point, despite the drug still working perfectly, we no longer "feel it". Consequently, we see user-based increases in frequency or dosage rates, and in some/many cases, the prescribing clinician goes along with that. We have also seen research though, where if the amount is controlled and the frequency is controlled, even though the subject no longer "feels it" or notices the physical effects, all of the previous gains in executive function are still there upon testing. So the need to increase over time, is actually not true. This is a tough one to get support from drug companies on though, as guess what? They want to sell more drugs and make more money!

I agree with this. I have a B.A. in Psychology and have researched autism and ADD. People think that medications are a cure all but different individuals react differently and many become accustomed to the drug and they no longer feel the same effect they did when they first started on the medication.

[hernameisrio]

I'm now reconsidering going on medication to cope with how scattered and overloaded I constantly feel, because it is really getting to me at work. It is starting to drain me of my energy and when I then go to rehearsal/gigs/auditions, or even practice at home, I find it harder to get into "the zone" and I just feel exhausted all the time, even physically fatigued.

If a job starts to hurt my brain too much, I just can't do it...I start to kinda shut down and it really sucks. This all kinda came to a head over the past couple of weeks and due to the way things are changing at my job right now (they are in a transitional phase and looking to hire new management + implementing new rules, which=stressful to me because I am still new), I don't see it getting better anytime soon.

The funny thing is when I play bass, I CAN focus...in fact, it often feels like that's the ONLY time I can focus. Any other time, it's like my brain tries to process ALL THE THINGS and just can't. It is not a matter of "Trying." I "try" all the time, constantly, and that's why I basically already feel like I'm on speed but also feel just kinda emotionally and physically taxed...like a computer with a failing hard drive, trying to crunch all this data and it's just becoming too much. I have cut back on caffeine and have been eating better, taking vitamins, and taking naps. Maybe I just have to establish a better routine and/or a better defense system.

But yeah...I am leaning towards trying either those nootropics I mentioned before, or Adderall. That said, I am always reluctant to alter my natural brain chemistry after everything I've already been through, and also because I don't want to go through any side effects which might further compromise my performance at work or in bands/etc. I don't have time for therapy, either...I really truly don't, it is not simply a matter of "making time". The thing with having time for stuff in New York City is that you have to immediately factor in subway or bus travel, which instantly kills at least an additional hour if not longer, given the way the MTA is these days. So it's tough.

Right now I am still part-time at my job and I'm trying to just use my Fridays off as Me Time™ or time to work more at my own pace. But it's funny that this thread popped up because suddenly I can't seem to follow my own advice and it sort of constantly feels like my head is going to explode.

[pocketgroove]

Well, I'm back to an impasse. I'm getting yelled at during work for not paying attention, and my personal organization is suffering.

I'll be going off to school for lutherie soon for six months; I really want to be at my best and get a lot out of it, but I'm worried this is going to get in the way. It's part of the reason I quit community college.

I still don't have a diagnosis, though, or even know if ADD is the problem. It's hard to know what to do from here, besides trying to buckle down and force myself to concentrate.

[JakeF]

If you need help, get help.

Inform people around you and have them watch you. If a problem occurs trust and listen to them.

No apologies.