Posted by hrguru on May 7, 2010, at 19:33:20
In reply to Re: Started Vyvanse today/Fingers crossed, posted by chujoe on May 7, 2010, at 14:52:14
Stargazer,
Chujoe's post summed it up very, very well. Don't worry about the time you've lost. I lost so much time when I was abusing drugs and alcohol. When I became sober, I spent so much time ruminating and punishing myself for time I'd lost. I realized that if I kept spending time worrying about the past, I'd never be able to move forward with my future. I know it's so hard to do that when you have depression to deal before you can move forward with future plans. But you're taking the right steps to search for a way to relieve the depression. Don't give up! :) It might be difficult to do this right now, but try to envision all the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead for you. These possibilities and opportunities will still be there waiting for you, once you're ready. The right med will help out a lot- it did for me. Most certainly it will help in the workplace.
ADHD is very difficult to deal with in the workplace. If coupled with depression, ADHD can lower your self-esteem even further. I know, because before I was on the right meds, this is often how I felt. I left a job because of the resulting depression (more than once). I once had a supervisor who bullied me about my ADHD, though not in so many words. For example, one time she asked me, "Do I need to speak more slowly so you can comprehend what I'm saying?" And that's just one example of her bullying. The comments were in context to my having ADHD, which I never should have told her I had. She didn't have the right to say these things, but it still hurt tremendously. It's a struggle to get your work done in (just about) any work environment when you have ADHD. But the right meds, time management tools, and organization methods help so very much!
When you also have depression, it sometimes gets to the point where you have to stop working and get yourself on a track towards wellness. And that's okay! :) Like I said, I've been there. Quitting the job (with the boss I referred to before), was one of the best decisions I've made.
The right meds are often crucial, though. And what works for one person may not be effective for another. I had to try a lot of different AD's, before I found an effective one that worked for me. It was frustrating, but in the end, WELL worth the painstaking effort! So far, so good in my case :)
What I have also found with depression, is that it's not just the right meds that get you back onto a healthy track. There are additional things which help in conjunction with the meds. Talk to your doctor and people on here for some ideas. I have a website that I love, and use for tips on how to combat depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder (as I'm dx'd with BP). Here's the website if you ever want to check it out:
www.facingus.org
It's an off-shoot of the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Organization) Website.
You mentioned Adderall XR vs. Vyvanse. I'm on Adderall IR (the instant release version), which I've heard is completely different from XR. I haven't taken XR, but I have taken Vyvanse. It was moderately effective for my ADHD symptoms, and it seemed to be very effective for my depression, but that's because it caused mild euphoria. Drug-induced euphoria is not a good thing for an ex-opiate addict. It only worked 6 hours for me, and then it had a rough drop off. This really affected my mood, as you can imagine. I also noticed it made me a little bit anxious. Adderall has been much smoother, I've found, so it's a better fit for me. Plus, it doesn't make me feel euphoric at all (another reason it's a good fit for me). Vyvanse is an effective drug, though for many people- it just wasn't right for me.
I've noticed that with stimulants, you tend to be able to notice side effects soon after you first start taking the med. For me, I noticed the side effects mentioned with Vyvanse after day 1 or day 2 of first taking it.
So if it's going well for you, then that is GREAT! Don't worry about it not working well in the future. I've been on Adderall for a year and a half and it still works just as effectively as it did when I first started taking it.
Best of luck with the Vyvanse, and please keep us updated! :)
poster:hrguru
thread:944334
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100504/msgs/946710.html