bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 18, 2012 21:13:34 GMT
I had a bit of a loud, aggressive etc. episode a while back. Very much out of character. I managed to cut down the booze a lot afterward (being unemployed helps!) , it really shocked me and a few other people too! I decided to drink differently, only buying nice beer! Avoiding the cheap and cheerful stuff meant that I would drink slower and less often ! I've managed to drink nothing since i came on Concerta 4 weeks ago. I do miss it, it was always my crutch. Self medication'a gogo. I have managed to avoid some of the places and people I used to hang around with. It seems to help. I've forgotten what my point was Maybe, just that I know where you're coming from. Take it slow, try and stop mixing booze and meds. It'll be ok !
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 15, 2012 18:26:03 GMT
I've managed to get an hour into Soldiers of Fortune, Christian Slater and Sean Bean in the worst film I've seen in a very long time (worse than Lambada).
I'm going to take it in to my next psych appointment, make him watch it while screaming "look what your drugs have done to me".
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 15, 2012 10:53:36 GMT
I'm seeing a councillor for the usual (pre ADHD diagnosis) depression, but we need to refocus after my diagnosis as it's not something she's not really familar with.
CBT seems to be a last resort if a patient is refusing all meds.
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 15, 2012 10:41:20 GMT
..when you turn up for a meeting a day early but are still 10 minuets late.
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 15, 2012 10:25:57 GMT
How do I tell my son I'm ADHD ?
I'm in the process of being kicked out of Uni ! The main reason is my inability to concentrating and lack of motivation. My depression diagnosis became ADHD 4 weeks ago, not enough time for me to get the right drugs + get me into a place to be able to study effectively (if that will ever happen).
I've occasionally brought my son into the Uni Library and talked a lot about what I was learning (trying to...).
How do I tell my son I've failed ? How do I do it without putting him off higher education ?
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 15, 2012 10:08:08 GMT
think I'm done. How I though I could handle 8 exams in 10 days, I don't know? I've been sitting in the library for two and a half without being able to focus on anything, the banging, sawing and drilling don't help (renovation work). I've been able to do a minuscule about of revision for courses I've missed half of anyway. While my usual ADHD symptoms (racing thoughts, poor focus) have diminished slightly, the side effects from both my ADHD and antidepressant meds have kicked in lovely (headache, nausea and, my favourite, a metallic taste on my tongue). There is no realistic possibility of achieving an adequate mark in the resift exams, and nowhere near enough for me to even consider continuing to December. Realistically it's going to take a while to find the right combination of meds at the right dose. I don't know what I'm going to do now but I think I'll start with a coffee and a cake
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 15, 2012 10:05:19 GMT
Never really growing up is maybe another trait Some papers I've read suggests that the bit of the brain which 'causes' ADHD develops a third slower in ADHDer's.
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 14, 2012 15:48:57 GMT
Yep, me too. It seems that my brain just gets bored with the conversation and moves on to something else . I go so far as to practice conversations in my head and even to steer a conversation onto a conversation I have already planned.
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 14, 2012 15:38:31 GMT
From what i've read, here and elsewhere, the drugs take time. Both the type of drug and the dose effect individuals diffrently. I've been on concerta XL 27mg for 4 weeks. Apart form some side effects the only effect i've noticed is some tiredness and racing thoughts an hour ish after the concerta should have worn off. Your other half is lucky to have you, not only for support but for an objective view on his symptoms. I'd suggest both of you keep a (separate) diary which will give you + your doctors baseline on which to assess the effectiveness of the drug treatment.
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 13, 2012 0:18:37 GMT
Next meet for Swansea group August 14th. www.swanseaadhd.org"" We also meet at the Cwmbwrla day centre, every second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 till 8:30. (See dates below) This group is open to anyone over the age of 18 who suffers with ADHD or is in contact with anyone with ADHD. Eg. Partners, carers, parents, teachers and health professionals. Refreshments are available free of charge. Dates: - August 14th, September 11th, October 9th, November 13th, and December 11th ""
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 11, 2012 20:04:38 GMT
For the literature reporting of severity depends on who you ask self, teacher, spouse, doctor etc.
I think I was assessed on the Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) but I have absolutely no idea the actual value. The Nice guidelines use something called Clinical Global Impression Scale .
Maybe we could agree on a metric before we argue who's big is bigger than someone else's big?
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 10, 2012 11:22:35 GMT
Jack of all trades, master of non!
Does anyone recognise this as a ADHD trait?
Ive always tried to have a go at everything but there is nothing I would consider myself an expert?
I had some Psychometric testing through the careers service a while back. In the report they suggest 20-30 jobs which would suit my personality type, I was amused to discover that I'd allready done most, 60-70%.
Does this ring a bell with anyone?
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 10, 2012 10:59:49 GMT
Again, your not alone. A couple of weeks ago I was shocked when a lecturer praised me for having a good idea.
I'm never happy with anything I do, I've taken to not doing things in place of producing something which I feel is substandard. Not so great in the world of work or academia.
Even in the face of compliments from clients, well executed jobs, good reviews and professional qualifications I still put my self down. I've even gone so far as to attempt to refuse a bonus because I felt the work I had done wasn't good enough. Yep I'm crap!
The only thing I can suggest is to define an acceptable outcome before you start a piece of work and monitor yourself against this. The response shoud be a yes or no. Did I achieve this?? Then give a reason, worked late, poor planning, started too late, etc. Record separate yes/no lists and stik them either side of your monitor. Over time you'll find it easier to identify what you need to do to create a posative outcome, yes list grows, no list shrinks.
This week I have actually considered making my self a star chart !!!!
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 10, 2012 10:34:22 GMT
After the diagnosis he outlined the choice of meds, 4 hour or 8 hour. He did suggest that I wait until my exams were over but I decided to go with concerta straight away. Looks like it makes little difference to my productivity. Then he gave me two websites to google, a suggestion to look at he NICE documentation and an appointment for a months time. That's about it.
He did ask if I had any questions but I was still trying to come ot terms with the diagnosis, my brain was elsewhere
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 8, 2012 12:46:16 GMT
I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago.
Family, ditto! Appointment, ditto!
The 6 week appointment is probably to review dosage and how you're coping in general.
I'd read/watch as much as you can. There are a few good youtube videos in the forums video section. If you can, discuss it with someone who knows you well and get them to look at the videos too.
The hardest bit is the 'what if's'. What could have been if I was diagnosed 20 years ago? Why did nobody spot the obvious signs ?? Where would I be now ?? Pretty pointless worrying about but I can't stop it.
My next appointment is in 2 week's and I'm going to go in with a huge list of questions!
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 6, 2012 19:13:56 GMT
The main reason I'm considering 'coming out' is that I am about to fail my Masters. Everyone I know knows that I've been at Uni. Nobody knows how much I've missed/not handed in due to my health problems (that most have no knowledge of).
Most important of all is my son. He's 6 years only and lived with his mum most of the time. I've absolutely no idea what to say to him. I want to be honest but don't want to put him off education/learning or for him see his father as a failure.
Next there's family and close friends. As a family we just don't talk, never have. Close friends are few and far between, mainly due to years of isolating behaviour and multiple house moves.
Then there's the rest.
Coming out would mean that I could stop lying to everyone, but would inevitably lead to more questions !
(This forum should have procrastination popup every 20 min with the words "You have been procrastinating for 20min, time do do something else!)
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 3, 2012 19:32:10 GMT
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 3, 2012 19:22:01 GMT
8 days ago at 34 years old.
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 3, 2012 18:30:37 GMT
Dr. Russell Barkely discusses ideas for parents of children with ADHD
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bobjones
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Posts: 103
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Post by bobjones on Aug 3, 2012 14:40:44 GMT
When it comes to mental illness I'm firmly in the closet !
Nobody knows everything ! I just don't talk about things, not even to my parents. I have no friends who I feel I can be 100% honest with (and I don't want to burden them anyway, they have lives of their own).
Only 11 or 12 ish people know about my depression, only a handful of them know it's lasted more than a decade.
Only 4 or 5 know about my ADHD, as I was only diagnosed last week, thats's not surprising.
How would you suggest I should come out to my friends and family or more importantly, should I ?
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 3, 2012 14:30:45 GMT
Thank you all for your responses. I am up to my eyeballs in extenuating circumstances. I'm between a rock and a hard place. The best option would be to repeat the year but thats not something I can afford to do! My finish date has already been extended until December. There is only so far the Uni will go! I have submitted extenuating circumstances for both terms and exam times. My marks are ok, only one less than 65%, for what i've actually handed in. I missed all the January exam and one in June, also a lot of lectures + coursework. I have been seeing a Mental Health Mentor (due to long term depression) for most of the year and a councillor for a couple of months. Ironically, now I need them, access has been difficult due to term ending, training days, annual leave and me being rubbish! All this compounded by financial problems and legal issues around access to my son. Ahhhhhhhhhh Everything has all come at once! Does anyone know this Saturday's lottery numbers ??
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bobjones
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Post by bobjones on Aug 2, 2012 11:30:56 GMT
I'm a 34 year old MSc student. Long term depression issues and was diagnosed with ADHD last week!!! Started on Concerta XL 27mg. I started my MSc in September and it hasn't gone well, missed exams and coursework. I'm due to be sitting the missed exams (8 in 8 days!) starting in 2 weeks. Can anyone recommend any ADHD focused strategies or tools I could use to help me revise and be able to sit my exams ! (Apart from praying )
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