Posted by Lasagne on June 23, 2003, at 13:42:11
In reply to self-medicating with food? , posted by bookgurl99 on June 22, 2003, at 23:33:27
Hi:
I have read that some people do self-medicate with food. It is also possible that your over eating is due to the impulsiveness associated with ADD/ADHD. As well, some people over eat as a means of calming their underlying anxieties. It's possible you have several things going on. The only way to know is to find a doctor who specializes in these disorders.
Yes, it's too bad that they don't have a simple test to tell you conclusively whether you have ADD or not. From the Driven to Distraction book I learned that a proper diagnosis is put together via a self-evaluation survey (there are several kinds out there that doctors use) and a full history. The doctor should ask you specific questions about your childhood that are key indicators of the disorder as well as other questions that deal with your current functioning. You might want to do a search on the Internet. At one point I found a web-site that had a proposed list of the type of things/questions the doctors should ask you in order to piece together an adequate history on you.
Also, since cappucino has caffeine, it works like a stimulant, which explains the calming effect it had on you. My brother who was having a difficult time finding the right stimulant medication actually self medicated through coffee and tea products for quite a while. Plus, he has experiemented with illegal drugs as well. In my opinion it is better to use prescription drugs according to your doctor's advice. They have better formulas out now that have give you controlled release so that you aren't having to recharge your focus during the day by drinking caffeinated beverages. The right antidepressant will also give you some 24 hour control of ADD symptoms. After witnessing with my brother how out of control self-medicating can become, I am a firm believer in using proper medical treatment and having close monitoring by your doctor. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right combination of prescription medications, but I think this reduces the liklihood of forming addictions that is so common with self medicating.
Lasagna
poster:Lasagne
thread:133458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030619/msgs/236344.html