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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nekko17 on May 13, 2008, at 21:22:55
In reply to Re: Subutex / buprenorphine, posted by MindReseacher on September 8, 2004, at 22:23:03
i wanted to let anyone who is in Recovery from drug or alcohol addiction and is having trouble staying sober, to know that more than half of addicts/alch are known to have add or adhd. if you are intelligent and it seemed like you would do very well in life when you were young, but you ended up "not reaching your potential" and ended up with addiction and depression for long periods, there might be a good chance you have it. some people feel add or adhd does not exist or psychiatric medication are bad because its just taking more drugs. i thought so, too.
but then i spent years relapsing and was desperate to try anything that might work. i really wanted to get sober but despite AA and NA and therapy, i just couldn't...
so then since i was diagnosed with ADD years before, i tried taking a combination of wellbutrin and adderall. i thought it wouldn't help if i treated my ADD since i was an off and on addict and in bad shape..... well, i was surprised.
treating my ADD had effects i had not anticipated. my impulsiveness went way down, which definitely connected to my urge to use again or relapse. i stopped just "using before i even knew it." it also reduced my anxiety. some people don't realize ADD and ADHD cause chronic anxiety for a variety of reasons. not being so anxious definitely made it easier to stop using drugs ! wellbutrin had a side benefit as a light antidepressant of leveling my mood swings.
for the first time, i felt much more motivated and finally able to show up for meetings, work, appointments, etc. i needed to help myself recover. i could finally show up to help myself ! i could do what i intended and really wanted to do. this is why i believe people when they say they want to get sober, but have tried and just "cant." sometimes you need help. scratch that, WE ALL NEED HELP OF MANY KINDS TO RECOVER ! (and sometimes that help just might be treating ADD or ADHD...)
suffice to say, i finally did achieve long-term sobriety. i have nearly 2 years at this point.
and by the way, never give up. i relapsed a lot, both before and some after i tried these medications. but it got less and less and i became more and more healthy and sane. my life got normal, stable and the old life seemed awful, insane and hectic in comparison. i got here even though it seemed at times like i never would.
i did it with 12-step meetings (*** definitely doing the Steps with a Sponsor is a necessary and important part of it - it did not get this for the first few years and wondered why it wasn't working... duh!) GET AS MUCH HELP FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. by the way, no alcoholic or addict likes asking for help... they all hate it. every single one!!!! but to anyone who got sober and stayed sober, had to do this. i guarantee it. you have to call people for help when you don't even know them. it won't kill you, and hey it's better than wasting your entire life being in pain and misery ! do it, even tho you hate it... you'll be glad you did. a few cold calls are worth a golden life. (for me, therapy was an extra source of help, but i'm sure it's possible without it, too. there are public clinics in every city that have sliding-scale therapy with training interns for as low as $15 or $20 a session. it is worth it.)
i just needed my ADD to be treated before i could even complete the actions i really wanted to do, that i just couldn't seem to do, before i was medicated. (not to mention the fact that not being able to get things done caused me shame and depression my entire life as i blamed myself for being lazy and worthless! i wanted to escape feeling hopeless like this my entire life.)
FOR ALL THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO RECOVER AND GET THERE LIFE BACK:
NEVER GIVE UP. YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FUTURE HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON KEEPING UP THE EFFORT EVEN IF YOU FEEL DISCOURAGED AT TIMES.
AND THERE IS A REASON WHY EVERYONE SAYS YOU GET MORE THAN YOU EVER DREAMED YOU WOULD WHEN YOU DO THIS.... ESSENTIALLY IF YOU REALLY DO THE WORK, YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER THAN IT EVER WAS, PERIOD. START LOOKING FOR MENTORS OR TEACHERS WHO ARE STRONG, HAPPY, PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE AND TAKE THEIR ADVISE ON HOW THEY GOT THERE. (i know not everyone in AA or NA is disapointment-proof. everyone is human, and some are further along than others. choose the best you can, then stick to that person unless they are abusive or really extreme. no one is perfect, but you do need one person to work with you consistently through at least the 12 steps. as long as they show up to take your calls regularly and meet with you when they say they will, it can almost be anyone. you just need this piece to get where you need to go ! so don't turn it down if someone is there offering to you.)i just wanted to let anyone know who feels hopeless about escape from addiction, that if you keep your eye on the prize, there is victory possible out there for anyone. i'm a therapist now so i know this possible for everyone no matter how messed up you believe you are! (i've seen it all and there are no exceptions to this !) good luck and keep up the good work...
if you need some support or advise, feel free to email me.
Posted by ClearSkies on May 14, 2008, at 9:26:40
In reply to ADD , ADHD , addiction , wellbutrin , adderall, posted by nekko17 on May 13, 2008, at 21:22:55
Thanks for your refreshing post.
I just want to point out that my personal experiences within the walls of the 12-step meetings have been less than receptive to dual diagnosis issues - so I'd like to add a note of caution to people who use those resources.
Getting a good sponsor is critical. If you don't have the absolute best sponsor - find another one!
For me the route included an alternate to the 12-steps, called Women For Sobriety, which is based on empowerment. Peer to peer support, though, is a constant theme - others who understand what we are going through. I was able to achieve success with WFS, therapy, medication (Campral for alcohol cravings and the anxiety associated with them).
(My underlying mental health issues turned out to be chronic major depression and anxiety rather than ADD.)
ClearSkies
Posted by Katebloomer on July 28, 2008, at 19:48:14
In reply to ADD , ADHD , addiction , wellbutrin , adderall, posted by nekko17 on May 13, 2008, at 21:22:55
I agree that probably many, if not most, addicts have ADD -- the root for both is poor impulse control. I have been on adderall for over a year, and although it has been helpful in many ways, I would be very, very careful with it. It definitely provides a rush, you can build up resistance, and yes, you can absolutely get addicted. Fortunately, in small doses, it is not dangerous, but it is tempting to increase your dosage to get that initial rush. DO NOT DO THIS. And be aware that its efficacy will almost definitely wear out. With this in mind, if you are using ADD stimulant medication, think of it as something with a time-span, or a deadline. As in, you probably have maybe 2 years where this drug will continue to work, and then you will crash. So use that time to set up NON-DRUG DEPENDENT structures -- relationships, work habits, exercise/diet regimens, etc.-- that will support you when the medication stops working. Because it will. It's speed. That's the nature of the drug. Don't let books or doctors tell you otherwise.
Posted by WhyandHow on October 11, 2008, at 2:46:43
In reply to Re: ADD , ADHD , addiction , wellbutrin , adderall, posted by Katebloomer on July 28, 2008, at 19:48:14
I hate to say this but ADD is mostly a diagnoses created by the huge pharmecutical companies to get you addicted to something more powerful - Adderall. Adderall is really no different than Meth Amphetimine!! iTS THE SAME THING! So, if someone was goody 2 shoeing through the 12 step stuff while on Meth, what would we say? I'm not saying doing the drug is a bad thing if it helps you - in fact I am jelous because most doctors or shriks will not even give a script to anyone with a history of drug or alcohol abuse. I get mine illegally. I guit the 12 step stuff a while back because I was smoking pot and how could I be real about recovery if I was smoking pot ? - just a different drug. Well, Adderall is 100 times more potent than pot - it totally eliminates my need for pot too! Its all a big joke really. The same people that say drugs are evil are feeing their little children the equivelent of Meth just so they get better grades without the parents having to take responsibility for anything.
Posted by Gmill on July 13, 2009, at 19:33:32
In reply to ADD , ADHD , addiction , wellbutrin , adderall, posted by nekko17 on May 13, 2008, at 21:22:55
The Lexapro and Vyvanse has snapped me out of my condition. I agree, half of the problem is asking for help and wondering what other will think about you. Sure, some turn away but are not true friends however most will actually want to help and support you in recovery. It gives them a sense of well being knowing that they helped save a life! I just ignore the people that say I have failed and a drug addict. To me they are just covering up their own issues in life. Hang in there and hope the best for all of us!!
Posted by ross2009 on September 18, 2009, at 0:40:35
In reply to Re: ADD , ADHD , addiction , wellbutrin , adderall, posted by Gmill on July 13, 2009, at 19:33:32
I agree. I was using adderall for almost a year, and I must say it provide good effects to some extent but it's highly addictive. I got hoooked to it and had a very hardtime withdrawing but thanks to my family and friends and some non-prescription/supplement drug that I saw here in the net which helps a lot tackling the horrible sypmtoms of withdrawal.
Posted by dlpt2a on March 11, 2010, at 19:25:23
In reply to Re: ADD , ADHD , addiction , wellbutrin , adderall, posted by Katebloomer on July 28, 2008, at 19:48:14
Yes its true, its all about business. I take it too but in my way which usually is never the way "they" want. The drug is just the good old crank you could buy on the street years ago but 100% pure and enhanced to make it work for many hours.
Of course is addictive, most of the really effective phsyco-drugs have some potential for addiction, some people can handle it and some people can't. That doesn't make the drug bad or evil, for me is just a tool, a good one. It makes things easier
I don't have ADD, never had a problem and personally I believe ADD is a bogus condition created by the industry.... Anyway still amazing me how easy was to convince my srink that I have a bad case of attention deficit disorder. I walked out with a 10 mg prescription for 30 days, next visit I got 20 mg twice a day. That dose can probably get anyone in trouble, adderall is a powerful drug it can cause some very nasty vascular side effects.
Only when I anticipate a specially hard and long day I take half a pill,about 10 mg, very early in the morning with cup of coffee, I actually snort it, I've found out that if I break the pill in pieces with a size of sugar crytals so it dissolves slowly it last longer that way and wears off more gradually along they day, some times if my nose is dry it gets me going from 5am to 8 - 9 pm.
I still have more than half of the 60, 20mg bottle that I've got over two years ago... Its not the substance, its what you want to do with it.
This is the end of the thread.
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