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Post by Sarah Jane on Apr 6, 2010 12:11:40 GMT
Umm... Hello there... To be honest I'm a little bewildered by all this. Just read an article in The Times today and was a little taken a-back by some of the symptoms described. Hate the idea of being one of those people who recklessly self diagnose, but having spent the whole morning scouring the internet for information having read that article, and finding EVERYTHING I'm reading here making sense, i feel i should probably investigate more... The fact that i went to the doctors a year ago concerned with what i thought might be the early onset of Alzheimer's is saying something towards the level of my forgetfulness (!) but after being laughed at by the doctor (at the age of 30 i guess i can kind of see why he thought i was being ridiculous!) I felt a bit silly asking any more questions and just thought I'd be better off accepting I'm (very) forgetful/chaotic/clumsy/restless (the list could go on and on!) as a side effect of having an artistic temperament! BUT I DIGRESS!! What I'd like to know is if there are any meet ups going on in London? I'd like to chat a bit more with other people who have gone through this before i make a fool of myself in front of the doctor again And if in fact i need to go to the doctor at all? Am i being silly? Am i just feeling a little stressed (i live in London, of course I'm stressed ) Maybe I'm just gearing up to becoming a neurotic grumpy old lady! who knows but maybe this mail is the first step towards finding an understanding in what has been a rather disjointed life...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2010 12:27:07 GMT
No worries The London contingent will be along shortly to invite you to their meets (I'm yoo lazy to look them up myself ) and we have lots of experience with GPs. Hang around here a few days and you'll find out what's what.
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Post by Atticus on Apr 9, 2010 12:33:32 GMT
The central London group's next meeting is on the Tuesday the 4th of May. Details here: sites.google.com/site/joyfivolous/homeYou're very welcome to come along. If you sign up to this forum we can exchange PMs if you have any questions. As I believe the Jedi Knights say: May the Fourth be with you. I'll get me coat...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2010 16:53:56 GMT
Hi Sarah, Gosh you sound so much like me. I recently went to America and as I was suffering such acute anxiety that seemed never=ending, my friend suggested I see her Psychiatrist. So I did, and he said I was a clear case of Adult ADHD. I was quite shocked, as I'd always done well at school so had always dismissed that idea when my friend suggested I might have it.
Anyway, on this last Monday, I went to see a private Psychiatrist (at great cost - £350!). Probably a bit rash but as the NHS don't seem to know much about Adult ADHD and having just seen an NHS GP who was extremely negative about Adult ADHD, saying the NHS do not recognise or treat it (which I later discovered to be untrue).
Anyway! I went to see this Psychiatrist, and he just laughed when I said an American Psychiatrist had diagnosed me with Adult ADHD. He said they are always diagnosing people with that, it's a 'popular' diagnosis. I don't know if this is true. I do know that British doctors really seem to have an attitude about American doctors! When to me, they seem well ahead of the game when it comes to mental health.
The appointment felt quite negative, as I was literally in the end having to convince him that I might well have ADHD. He said he wanted to be open and not just dismissive of things, and amazingly he prescribed Ritalin for me to try for 2 weeks. So it's just been 2 days so far, we'll see.
My symptoms are: I have suffered with mild depression for most of my life, since I was a small child. 7 years ago, it became moderate to severe, and I have been slowly making progress back to full health ever since (I am now 33). It seemed to come from my parents' divorce, and that's all I assumed it was. I also suffer from anxiety, and have had to develop various 'mechanisms' to deal with it since I was 12. I've had loads of great counselling, and now feel that the parents things is all dealt with and there's nothing left to talk about.
However! I have been working full-time for this past year (first time since getting the depression more severely), yet have consistently struggled, having a high absenteeism level. In October I started taking vitamins and herbs from a herbal shop in an attempt to improve, and they really helped. A lot of the tiredness left me. But then, by December, I was hit with acute anxiety which just wouldn't die down. Really seemed like a chemical imbalance in the brain.
I am also pretty hyper a lot of the time. I always have been, and my Mum says yes, she remembers me being like that since a child, that that stood out to her at the time. I also have memory issues like you do, the simplest thing I just can't remember, even something I've just heard. My coping mechanisms I think have been the reason why I did so well at school, as when I push thoughts through me head (sounds mad I know!) it seems to get my brain going a bit, and I can remember things a bit better. But it's an effort that doesn't come naturally. I am bright, so school was easy to me, and it wasn't till my A-levels that any problems showed, as I failed one very unexpectedly.
Well I'm waffling! Another thing I tend to do! I am also forgetful, miss appointments regularly, suffer anxiety, partly as I am afraid of forgetting things and looking like an idiot, or not being able to think clearly so having nothing interesting to say. Low self-esteem, consistent depression and anxiety that now seems to be there for almost no reason, poor at completing tasks, except short and exciting ones, avoid longer tasks.
The doctor I saw on Monday said that all of my symptoms are explained by anxiety and depression, and the emotional upheavel of my parents' divorce and then not seeing my Dad for 10 years. But I'm not convinced. I'm in regular contact with my Dad now and there's no pain there at all.
What shall we do???
Marion
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Post by Atticus on Feb 1, 2011 17:07:43 GMT
Central London meeting tonight. Details here... sites.google.com/site/joyfivolous/homeSorry, should have put this up sooner, you know the reason. (But at least I got my tax return in on time this year - wow!)
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Post by mavster on Feb 1, 2011 17:12:52 GMT
Central London meeting tonight. Details here... sites.google.com/site/joyfivolous/homeSorry, should have put this up sooner, you know the reason. (But at least I got my tax return in on time this year - wow!) Jeez . I understand but its a tad late to arrange childcare and set off now
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Post by kakema on Feb 1, 2011 19:16:26 GMT
I'm on my way!!!
(fckfckfckfckfck always late missed train work in middle of sodding nowhere grumble grumble)
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Post by mavster on Feb 1, 2011 19:26:34 GMT
I will have to wait till next month , look forwards to seeing how many think that I am a head case
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Post by kakema on Feb 1, 2011 19:54:04 GMT
Do we really have to wait a month before deciding??
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Post by mavster on Feb 1, 2011 20:27:36 GMT
Do we really have to wait a month before deciding?? Bit bellow the belt . I am assured that I am a lot easier to get along with in person
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2011 21:40:51 GMT
oops I forgot >_> sorry.
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Post by kakema on Feb 2, 2011 0:27:14 GMT
Do we really have to wait a month before deciding?? Bit bellow the belt . I am assured that I am a lot easier to get along with in person Oh, come on! You asked for that one ;D You can take the p*ss out of me relentlessly next month as payback - won't be difficult, really!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2011 13:20:42 GMT
Was nice to meet you all last night;). Will hopefully make it a regular thing.
Cheers,
jah
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Post by Atticus on Feb 3, 2011 17:58:13 GMT
Just so as you all know, the next meeting is on Tuesday the first of March.
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Post by kakema on Mar 29, 2011 19:56:19 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]BUMP[/glow]
Central London meet - 5 April, 7-9pm, Costa Coffee on Argyle Street, round the corner from Oxford Street tube.
...and for the real keen beans, the pub across the road afterwards.....
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Post by Ravendarque on Mar 31, 2011 8:41:10 GMT
I can't do Tuesdays as I have to pick my girls up from cubs after work. I was thinking I'd come along to the next one too. Will have to wait for school hols.
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Post by kakema on Mar 31, 2011 10:54:02 GMT
Well, now could be the time to say that I'm thinking of kicking off a Sarf London meet...I think that there are a few of us about and we might just be hitting critical mass.
I'd like to wait until I'm 'official' (hopefully next week) and then I'll get my arse in gear. In the meantime, put yer hands up if you'd be up for something in the Croydon area, prob near E Croydon station for those who might have to travel a bit.
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Post by kakema on Apr 4, 2011 21:50:43 GMT
Again with the BUMP!
Central London meet tomorrow night (Tues) 7 - 9pm!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2011 11:35:43 GMT
OOO. I may have to pop along in the future - Raven & I can be the Hampshire contigent!!!
Raven - have you been to the Southampton group?? I think its during the day tho.
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Post by Ravendarque on Apr 5, 2011 12:03:50 GMT
I'm intending to go to the next one which falls in a school holiday, but I work in London so it's not a hassle for me. If you want to come up for one then I'd be happy to meet you at Waterloo.
I haven't been to the Southampton one. I can't imagine what I'd get from a support group full of strangers which I don't already get from this community. I'd much rather meet the people I've got to know on here.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2011 16:08:35 GMT
ooooshiny
I had every intent of coming along to this tonight (I promise!) but it ain't going to happen. Ever so sorry and I hope it's a fun evening.
Until next time!
PS I like the south london idea. May I suggest wimbledon as opposed croydon, it may be easier for peeps to get to as it's on tube line and mainline and tram etc? Was going talk to you about that this eve but ... it's only a suggestion and ignore it if it's no good.
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Post by kakema on Apr 5, 2011 17:08:27 GMT
Wimbledon is good! As you say, excellent transport. Trams!!! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2011 22:37:12 GMT
It's apparently not the usual thing to report back here, but I enjoyed today/tonight. =D
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Post by kakema on Apr 5, 2011 22:44:53 GMT
Me too!
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Post by Ravendarque on Apr 6, 2011 9:51:54 GMT
Trams WTF?! Wimbledon is also on the South West Trains mainline to Waterloo so opens it up for the Hampshire Hogs among us.
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Post by Atticus on Apr 6, 2011 10:10:40 GMT
There seems to a big enough core to set something up in Wimbledon. Shall we put Oooshiny in charge?
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Post by Ravendarque on Apr 6, 2011 10:14:37 GMT
Yay! shiny for president!
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Post by kakema on Apr 6, 2011 10:31:20 GMT
Keep this up and Shiny will head for a bunker and hole up there until the UN arrive.
Don't know Wimbledon very well but I'll get the TRAM over there and do a recce to see if I can find a venue.
Watch this space...
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Post by Atticus on May 3, 2011 9:54:06 GMT
Blimey, it is the first Tuesday in the month yet again. That sneaked up quietly! I suppose it was Easter, the Wedding etc.
Anyway, central London meeting tonight same time, same place...
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Post by kakema on Jun 6, 2011 18:00:05 GMT
BUMP!
Atticus has nodded off, so - Central London meet tomorrow night, 7-9pm, in Costa Coffee on Argyle St near Oxford St tube.
All welcome! We'll be in the back, on the ground floor - and if Atticus remembers it, there'll even be a (discreet) sign! ;D
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