Posted by katekite on May 25, 2002, at 22:02:03
In reply to Re: Drug toxicity , posted by Bookgurl99 on May 25, 2002, at 20:03:37
If it something similar to ADD that you have -- problems with directing your attention where it needs to go, trouble maintaining focus, being absent minded, then you may find an ADD coach helpful (whether or not it counts as ADD), or non-medication strategies. There is a book, Driven to Distraction -- has a volume two that I can't recall the name of, which is mainly tips on organizational strategies and ways to cope with having memory and organizational problems. Especially if you didn't grow up with it, behavioral strategies could make a big difference.
For example, you may have been used to carrying a purse.... well, people with ADD lose them and tend to do better with pockets and a small wallet. It is better to accept and embrace a new style than to fight it. Or, you may have been used to reading interesting books at long stretches, for fun.... you may now find you will now love to listen to books on tape while driving, but that it seems tiring to read a regular novel. You may find you like more exciting activities (things that stimulate your brain more) -- off of medication I like down-hill skiing and white water kayaking and one-on-one tennis (whereas medicated I enjoy cross country skiing, sea-kayaking, and doubles-tennis). You may feel frustrated in large group conversations, parties, where many conversations go on at once: now you may find it more fun to do things in smaller groups.
Just knowing what exactly are your difficulties will help you know how to work around them.
Strategies for frustrating activities that are considered tips are: breaking up projects into small manageable chunks, making a schedule for the following day every night before bed (creating external structure) (mornings are often hard as when you're waking up some find their brain less active, less able to organize), using a huge dry-erase board to record important appointments... the lists go on. One person told me: if you lost something and need it desperately, look at your watch and only look for 20 minutes, after that, look at other options. Another person says, make 10 copies of your keys, buy 5 pairs of sunglasses. Innovative ways to deal with it.... who says that we should only have one or two sets of car keys, for example.
My brother, who was very clearly ADD from a young age, manages fine without meds as an adult. He says the most important thing for him has been exercise. He has managed to learn to roll with it.
An ADD coach is someone you pay to help organize yourself, and who provides tips and encouragement. Some coaches work by phone or email. Coaches are very different from therapists in that therapists want to help you figure out deep issues: coaches stick to practical advice and encouragement. They are also cheaper.
If you do end up eventually trying stimulant medication... say in a year or two if you find you are still frustrated with this.... they are among the safest and most researched, most predictably acting drugs around, having been used for close to 50 years for treating ADD. Unlike, say, serzone. I wonder in 50 years what will be known about serzone and the rest of the serotonin drugs that isn't known now. (not that they aren't really wonderful for serious depression)
I just read somewhere that ssris are known to 'lower the chance of recurrences of depression'. That is, if someone takes an ssri they are less likely than someone who doesn't to later experience a relapse, even after they've been off the drug for years. That information, to me, means that there are long lasting, possibly permanent changes in the brain from ssris. That scares me. I mean yes its good that people don't have depression recur, but what other effects are there?
sorry this is so long and a bit disorganized...
kate
poster:katekite
thread:107585
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020525/msgs/107615.html