Hey whoever reads this! Newbie Kate here asking for some advice....
After I hit my rock bottom, the professionals diagnosed me as an ADD'er with Addiction. Prior to recovery from active addiction I used cocaine and amphetamines so I could focus. It was amazing how those substances can keep you up for days. Now, I don't use any drugs because of the addiction. I changed my diet, quit sugar and caffeine. I do slip up on the sugar on occasion and entertain those around me. What can I say, I've got sweet tooth disorder too. Exercise is a must for me too mainly as an outlet. Mostly cardio exercises, they help me the most. ADD has its advantages but is also a curse at times. If you have it I know you can relate.
Just curious if anyone else has ADD and Addiction and how they manage it without drugs.
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"No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions". Patrick Kennedy
sounds like your doing the right stuff Kate in dealing with your ADD we just have to find ways to cope with the physical ailments and the mental twists , try to seek Gods will in all things and meditate let the answers come its a trip how that works but it always does, i even seek Gods will through other people heck that may be where 80% of my answers come from , others.
i could be wrong but i think most addicts have add' ptsd, ddd and every other ddd there is you seem to have a good program going and that is the best for us addicts keep busy avoid boredom and work the program good luck and higher power bless you
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some of us win some of us lose with god and this program i will be a winner
Thank you BigV. When it comes to managing symptoms of disease and/or disorders, people have things they discovered that work for them, which may not be mainstream treatments.
Praying and meditating does help if I can stay focused long enough. Since I cannot use drugs to control the symptoms, I was thinking of checking out some supplements. Still a little unsure of those out of fear of them being a gimmick or doing more harm.
Coping with the challenges of ADD is hard at times and when I experience them I still want to use and I have been clean for nearly 7 years.
I have spoken with professionals and my friends in NA. My NA friends understand the desire to use in order to escape the pain or to get away from yourself. They listen and can relate but I am responsible for controlling myself.
Thankfully there are positives with ADD. I do my best to try and remember that when facing the challenges and fighting the desire to use.
__________________
"No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions". Patrick Kennedy
i could be wrong but i think most addicts have add' ptsd, ddd and every other ddd there is you seem to have a good program going and that is the best for us addicts keep busy avoid boredom and work the program good luck and higher power bless you
So, what are ya sayin? That I am a 'generic addict'? (i keed, i keed)
I have heard that Rocky. The professionals told me that many addicts suffer from some type of disorder that leads them down the path of addiction. Others develop them because of the brain damage caused by addiction.
Who knows, I spent years using to control the symptoms. To think I was actively using and still functioning is beyond me. Looking back, I don't know how I did it. It started in college and gradually built up over the years. Yes, being bored for us is like extending an invitation to the devil to possess your soul (again). Might sound strange but I remember how evil I was while in active addiction.
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"No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions". Patrick Kennedy
Speaking for myself, it seems that any addict who shows up at a shrinks office will get a diagnosis other than addiction. It can be very helpful if accurate, because it can pinpoint treatments that target the particular disorder. But very often they are wrong. Very wrong....Very often.....Unfortunately psychiatric disorders are not always so easy to define. Unlike cancer for example. So, if you are free of drugs and you are feeling good. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep it up and keep coming back.
I have heard that there new meds out for ADD and ADHD that do not have the abuse-potential of the older ones, like ritalin and adderal.
Many of us are dual-diagnosis, and as someone else pointed out, addiction often mimics or exascerbates various mental/emotional disorders.
I only go to psychiatrists that have at least some grounding in addiction, preferably one who specialises. My psychiatrists, nurses, general practitioners, even EMTs are immediately told of my addiction and recovery.
Many health professionals haven't got a clue about addiction, so I have to be my own advocate! I research each and every medication that any medical professional tries to give me. If the medication in question has abuse-potential, I bring it to their attention, and request something less dangerous to my recovery. If a safer substitute can't be found, I talk to the medical professionals, my Sponsor and members of my support group. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, I decide whether or not I should take the medication.
Over my lifetime, I have been diagnosed as Bi-Polar, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and a few other "isms" that escape me at the moment. Some of these diagnosis were before addiction, some during, and some were in recovery. I'm not so sure about the ones during active addiction and early recovery.
I consider my psychiatric care to be an important part of my personal program. Many have issues with that, so I usually tell them to call their Sponsor!
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I may not be 'All That', but I'm always on my mind!
Speaking for myself, it seems that any addict who shows up at a shrinks office will get a diagnosis other than addiction. It can be very helpful if accurate, because it can pinpoint treatments that target the particular disorder. But very often they are wrong. Very wrong....Very often.....Unfortunately psychiatric disorders are not always so easy to define. Unlike cancer for example. So, if you are free of drugs and you are feeling good. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep it up and keep coming back.
Thank you avid. I do agree with you in that psychiatric disorders are not in most cases easy to define. Believe me, I did do extensive research on ADD after the diagnosis and I do experience nearly all of the symptoms, good and bad. My main issue with managing this is the focus. Focusing is most unmanageable when I need to focus on something uninteresting to me. If I am interested I have laser/hyper focus. Using helped with focus that and that is how I became addicted.
__________________
"No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions". Patrick Kennedy
I have heard that there new meds out for ADD and ADHD that do not have the abuse-potential of the older ones, like ritalin and adderal.
Many of us are dual-diagnosis, and as someone else pointed out, addiction often mimics or exascerbates various mental/emotional disorders.
I only go to psychiatrists that have at least some grounding in addiction, preferably one who specialises. My psychiatrists, nurses, general practitioners, even EMTs are immediately told of my addiction and recovery.
Many health professionals haven't got a clue about addiction, so I have to be my own advocate! I research each and every medication that any medical professional tries to give me. If the medication in question has abuse-potential, I bring it to their attention, and request something less dangerous to my recovery. If a safer substitute can't be found, I talk to the medical professionals, my Sponsor and members of my support group. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, I decide whether or not I should take the medication.
Over my lifetime, I have been diagnosed as Bi-Polar, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and a few other "isms" that escape me at the moment. Some of these diagnosis were before addiction, some during, and some were in recovery. I'm not so sure about the ones during active addiction and early recovery.
I consider my psychiatric care to be an important part of my personal program. Many have issues with that, so I usually tell them to call their Sponsor!
Thank you Tisa2U.
WOW! Seems you have been diagnosed with every mood/personality disorder out there. Definitely food for thought when dealing with mental health professionals. When I was diagnosed I had a to take written tests as well. Not the ones that ask you to rate how many times you have been happy/sad/whatever during the past week. These were academic tests and interviews that indicated ADD was present as well as an addictive personality.
As for the adderall and ritalin, I was told those are psychostimulants that can be addictive. Hmmmm... I wanted to try one of these medications because I am told they help ALOT with focus problems. If I did try one of them I would have to be monitored constantly and a part of me is terrified of spiraling out of control again. I wanna stay drug free if at all possible.
Many of my NA friends do not have much faith in mental health professionals since most of them do not have problems with drug addiction. When I bring up the subject in meetings they sigh as if to say here we go again... ha
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"No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions". Patrick Kennedy
Hi Kate,,, My name is Raman an I am an addict ! Well,here's the weird question, ready for it ?
Whats a nice lady like yu doing in these rooms ? H,haha !!
Hi Raman
My name is Kate and I am and addict too.
What makes you so sure that I'm a nice lady? You know that we addicts come in many different flavors.
My sponsor suggested an online forum since I tend to hibernate in the winter. I do go to meetings but not as often and the internet is another way of reaching out and sharing.
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"No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions". Patrick Kennedy
I know for me my adhd has been there all my life my newest shrink is trying some med called tenex I have yet to begin infact I will taking my first dose this morning I can tell you if it happens to work for me but my doc said it wasn't addictive its kinda older if iheard right but hoping this finds you blessed
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Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. Og Mandino
Exercise is a must for me too mainly as an outlet. Mostly cardio exercises, they help me the most. ADD has its advantages but is also a curse at times. If you have it I know you can relate.
