jamesjay
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Post by jamesjay on Aug 6, 2017 21:34:51 GMT
Guys,
I'm at a cross roads, the only time I've felt my symptoms were in some sort of check were whilst I was in the military, the constant discipline and being told where to be and when etc provided the structure I think I need. I often use the saying 'enough rope to hang oneself' as a good euphamism for what happens when I have no structure, very late bed times, very late getting out of bed, no motivation to do anything, not meeting deadlines, no working out, eating very unhealthy, not even tidying my house etc. I'm in a position where I either decide to pursue the diagnosis and medication route which will preclude me from ever rejoining the military or join back up and try to manage my symptoms as best I can, however I really feel like it's affecting the quality of my life and has done for 15 years now.
Can anyone currently taking medication for a diagnosis explain the difference it's made to them and if they feel it is worth it and/or has improved the quality of their life?
Thanks guys,
James
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2017 14:28:33 GMT
The honest answer is that the degree of efficacy of medication is extremely wide. I'm on the very positive end - I am so much better at running so many parts of my life that I cannot imagine how I got anything done before I started on mph. However, my question would be why you think that a formal diagnosis would preclude you from being in the military? Is that something you actually know to be true? I wouldn't think you need to even tell them......
I do realise that the military is slightly different, but to discriminate against you on the grounds of a diagnosis of ADHD would be opening almost any business up to a serious breach of equality and discrimination law - to quote Dr Saleem Younis, a consultant forensic psychiatrist who has a very successful medico-legal practice:
"Under the terms of the Equality Act 2010, applicants are under no obligation to tell an employer about a mental health condition. Under discrimination law, an employer has a duty to assess whether a candidate is the best person for the job on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and experience – without any discrimination for any physical or mental disability."
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jamesjay
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Post by jamesjay on Aug 7, 2017 21:20:23 GMT
Thanks for the reply.
Yes it 100% precludes entry. A waiver must be signed permitting the military to access an applicants medical records in which an audit is usually conducted to screen for any conditions not allowed.
Getting in then getting a diagnosis is an option but I feel fatigued at how much of my life is being potentially affected. I'm aware I could possibly be diagnosed as not having ADHD but I've done a lot of research and reading other posts on here I see a lot of similarities hence me asking the question about the mediation and how much of a difference it makes.
Do you feel it's changed your life?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2017 9:28:44 GMT
Definitely - I've become a different person - in terms of my ability to do things; my control of my behaviour, my productivity, and my relationships. It's not just the medication though - knowing and accepting/embracing my ADHD allowed me to gain a better understanding of my previous behaviour. The coaching - and the reading, is just as important as the medication as far as I'm concerned.
Just a thought.... I run a private online psychiatry service, (I can't say more as I am not allowed to advertise!). We insist on having your GP details as part of our basic sign up - but we allow patients to ask that we do not let their GP know that they are seeing us. I'm sure that other clinics and services do the same sort of thing. You could get the diagnosis - you could even try the medications and see if one of them works for you. (80% do get a major benefit.) It would only be after you had done that, if you decided that you then wanted to keep on the medications, that you would need to get your GP involved. Why don't you get a formal diagnosis privately and then take it from there....
Jon
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Post by vagueandrandom on Aug 8, 2017 10:41:34 GMT
Just having a diagnosis has been really helpful for me.
I'm one of the people who didn't respond to meds . . I still struggle, but it's enabled me
to make positive life changes. I've changed jobs and understand myself better, meaning
that I don't beat myself up so much.
This forum and support groups help me feel that I'm not alone.
Medication can be really helpful for a lot of people.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2017 22:41:47 GMT
Life with medication = semi-shit.
Life without medication = GREAT then very, very, very, shit then GREAT then very, very, very, shit. More shit. Drowning in shit. I think things were good once?
Life without medication for friends and family = very, very, very, very, very, VERY SHIT INDEED.
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jamesjay
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Post by jamesjay on Aug 9, 2017 13:50:20 GMT
Life with medication = semi-shit. Life without medication = GREAT then very, very, very, shit then GREAT then very, very, very, shit. More shit. Drowning in shit. I think things were good once? Life without medication for friends and family = very, very, very, very, very, VERY SHIT INDEED. Boost, what difference do you think it's made?
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Post by easilydistracted on Aug 9, 2017 21:30:27 GMT
Workplace performance:-
On a scale of 1 - 10 where 1 is useless waste of space and 10 is "Wow - we need him to be running the company"
Without medication- Anywhere between 1 and 10, generally in the 1/2/3 range, if the stars are in alignment, an 8/9/10 (sadly far too rare)
With medication A more consistent 4 or 5
Socially:-
On a scale of 1 - 10 where 1 is "Can we kill him now?" and 10 is "I want to make babies with you"
Without medication- Anywhere between 1 and 10, generally in the 1/2 range, if the stars are in alignment, a 4 (sadly far too rare)
With medication A more consistent 3
It's not a cure but it does take the worst of the edges off
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jamesjay
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Post by jamesjay on Aug 10, 2017 13:57:24 GMT
Workplace performance:- On a scale of 1 - 10 where 1 is useless waste of space and 10 is "Wow - we need him to be running the company" Without medication- Anywhere between 1 and 10, generally in the 1/2/3 range, if the stars are in alignment, an 8/9/10 (sadly far too rare) With medication A more consistent 4 or 5 Socially:- On a scale of 1 - 10 where 1 is "Can we kill him now?" and 10 is "I want to make babies with you" Without medication- Anywhere between 1 and 10, generally in the 1/2 range, if the stars are in alignment, a 4 (sadly far too rare) With medication A more consistent 3 It's not a cure but it does take the worst of the edges off Easily distracted thanks for the reply. What difference does the medication make then to how you feel and how you're able to act? I'm just curios to know how it'll help me improve myself I do end up getting it
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Post by easilydistracted on Aug 10, 2017 19:20:20 GMT
This may or may not make sense - it's my head and for all that adhd is one diagnosis it comes in a lot of different forms - best comparison I can think of is that London is one city, but to say all Londoners are the same is obviously wrong!
With the "Your mileage may vary" bit hopefully covered...
A bit more centred, less internally noisy, less of a ping-pong ball.
There is the guy that shoots from the hip, there is also the magician that pulls rabbits from hats.
The thing is when you quieten one you also quieten the other.
So when you mute the gobby twat the magic also goes away.
Or while you might be able to stick the chores a bit better that which flew into your grasp before now takes more effort.
Btw, one of the biggest improvements at work isn't medicinal - I can now put my headphones on when I'm having difficulty filtering*
Yes, even medicated there are still bad days
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2017 22:05:42 GMT
In real terms? Tricky! I'll do my best to answer. ### Number 1 benefit for me: I'm just nicer and more considerate to my family and friends, in general. ### Background: I love helping people. Always have. Why? Everyone has a 'story' and I'm no different. If I can save someone *any* level of perceived strife or heartache, my big mouth opens and the 'help' starts flowing. I know help must be requested by those who need it. "AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FO DAT!!!" Every word that falls from your lips is being associated by some bizarre memory index I cannot seem to use for my own benefit yet is readily available when my empathy radar detects conflict/depression/fear in others. Turns out, people don't like being told what to do. Constantly. Turns out, it pisses me off when people don't take my 'excellent advice' but continue to make the same mistakes as before, derailing themselves and others. Taking those tablets allows me to, usually, STFU or at least try to reframe without offending. ### Real world example: I realised I had a serious problem when I accidentally made my daughter cry once. Completely my fault. I'll never forget that day because I felt like a terrible father. Here's some Eminem lyrics which almost perfectly encapsulate the problem: ### Why exactly do the tablets help? Who knows. My thoughts: I had the same amount of empathy pre/post dx. Too much! The tablets appear to insert just enough latency, in the brain, to allow for a fleeting pause that simply does not exist without them. The pause allows me to respond more appropriately to the emotions I detect in myself and others. I suspect all the benefits I could attribute to the tablets are simply me learning to 'exploit the pause'. I sometimes wish I wasn't such a slow learner. It is what it is
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jamesjay
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Post by jamesjay on Aug 10, 2017 22:40:10 GMT
I can relate to what you're saying minus the medication. I see things in very black and white terms and I'm often very judgemental in relationships, I find if my partner is having an external issue and I feel she is wronged I'm often very forceful with my advice and see only the one right answer to how to deal with it. When situations aren't dealt with in what I see as the 'right' way I become angry that a transgression against her will continue to be perpetuated. She often says this is controlling behaviour but nothing related to jealousy, but to my inability to accept any gray areas in response.
I've never thought of this before as an issue with considering a response, 'flying off the handle' and 'walking on egg shells' are terms people often use to describe me. It's difficult to even admit this and recognise it's an issue in how I deal with people.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2017 23:49:11 GMT
Sounds very familiar, unfortunately.
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jamesjay
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Post by jamesjay on Aug 13, 2017 0:11:48 GMT
Sounds very familiar, unfortunately. And do you think the medication has helped you change that?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2017 11:43:28 GMT
Absolutely.
Tablets open the door you never knew was even there.
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jamesjay
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Post by jamesjay on Aug 13, 2017 11:50:11 GMT
Absolutely. Tablets open the door you never knew was even there. That gives me a lot of hope
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