It's funny how our working memories can be practically nonexistent, and our ability to recall information on demand is practically nil, and yet we apparently, in the long run, remember almost everything we take in and then have the (subconscious?) ability to make abstract connections between completely disaparate things.

Maybe our inexact, incomplete memories allow us to compare seemingly "unimportant" aspects of, say, Catch-22 and a medieval folktale. I thought of a throwaway line about a crazy man sitting in a tree- I can't recall who, but the fact that I can't recall the details means I can see the similarities between this character and an Irish folktale I read ages ago. That spurs me on to make lists and lists of madmen who are vaguely connected to trees, and to compare the folktale/poem to the book- and lo and behold, the parallel is exact, intentional, and previously unnoticed. As are the similarities between this obscure folktale and Lancelot in L' Mort d' Arthur (OMG, there is no way Malory* didn't know about this Irish folktale)¹. I ended up writing about Lancelot, since modern lit was a little out of my range, but my point is that ADHD's effect on memory is a funny thing. A blessing in disguise, perhaps, if you can remember the point you're trying to make! :)

Anyone else have experiences like that? Crappy short-term memory, but a ridiculous range of random facts and memories that you're not sure how you acquired? I love that we have all of these random, wide-ranging resources at our mental fingertips and yet we can barely remember to lock the door on the way out to work. ;p




1. There were about a billion other folktales and stories and, um, factors involved in the actual research and/or paper. This is a condensed summary.
*Or someone who Malory read.

Oh shit. I'm still on my parent's health insurance, but that ends next year, and I've just realized that ADHD probably counts as a pre-existing condition as far as insurers are concerned. How would that work? Would it just make it more expensive? ("Just", hah!) Would I have trouble getting coverage? And if that were to happen, how much would generic versions of Adderall cost me?


Ack! (I panic in your general direction!)

It's kind of weird being without meds for a week, after being on them almost constantly for over 2 months (geez, only 3 months since I got diagnosed...).

• I'm losing EVERYTHING. I just can't keep track of where I've put stuff down.
  
• I'm moody as all feck and very easily pissed off.
  
• I can't stay in social situations for as long because I start to overload much more quickly (and am fortunately more aware of a looming overload), and I think this is also why I'm moody.
  
• I'm more impulsive and having to take a lot more care when shopping that I only buy what I actually came to buy, and that any purchase not on my lis is one that I have most definitely been planning for at least a fortnight.
  
• I'm so much more hyperactive. I can't sit still. I spent over an hour yesterday peeling the top layer of paint off my sunglasses because I noticed it coming off. I can't sit still and I just get so bored and restless... I'm a pain in the arse, basically :-p
  
• The brain fog. Oh gods, the brain fog! I feel like I've lost my peripheral vision, yet at the same time I hear EVERYTHING.
  

It's bizarre

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http://www.mothering.com/education/does-adhd-even-exist

a friend posted this on fb and I'm just fuming. No point in arguing much there so I left a comment and am bringing the article here for your perusal. It made me angry to read, because I really hate when people act as if we could do just fine without meds or without changing anything because essentially ADHD is not
real.

eta-I didn't even see the date on the article and didn't realize how old it was.

Hi, everyone! *waves*

I just now got back from a screening of Sherlock Holmes, and there's a scene where he's sitting in a restaurant, taking in absolutely everything and getting overwhelmed by it. It struck me as a good example/portrayal of what happens to me when I can't focus and I freak out/freeze/have to take a time-out to gather myself. Anyone else seen it?

People don't believe me when I say I need distractions to help me concentrate. I mostly just need background noise. Music is especially helpful. I just can't be in total silence, I need to fall back on something.

For example, the only reason I can drive is because of the radio. There are plenty of people who have seen this to be true, if I don't have some type of music playing while I drive I'll run red lights, stop signs, swerve...because it's really hard for me to focus without something (how do I put this) tuning out my own thoughts. In the same way, I can't sleep without music or my mind races.

Music doesn't distract me really, but everyone considers it a distraction. I can focus on the music playing, and therefore, can focus on whatever the task is at hand...music is almost like meditation, it calms my mind.

So now I have a problem. The music is a good solution for simple day to day tasks, like cleaning, driving, homework, computering, sleeping, etc...but what is my solution for things like work or school? Or when I'm out in public? Would it be too odd for someone to constantly have in earphones?

Also, what would be the best way to incorporate things like music into all everyday tasks? I've just started using my iPod and earphones constantly, but I don't know how healthy that is for my ears (they are already hurting). And along these lines, how do I explain that it helps to people who are unbelieving?

Is this a normal thing for AD/HD people? What different "distractions" do you have that actually help?

I've been on vyvanse for a number of months. I started off at 20mg and I'm now up to 60mg. At 50mg, I noticed that I'd have some anxiety set in a few hours after I took it. The same is happening with the 60mg; they level of anxiety hasn't gone up with the 60mg, but it's definitely noticeable. However, the vyvanse isn't very effective for the adhd symptoms under 60mg, so I'm trying to just deal with the anxiety.

Has anyone else had similar anxiety effects on vyvanse? Did they eventually go away? I've been at 60mg for about five weeks or so.

How long does it last, and what does it feel like?

It's now day 3 in-a-row without it. I feel foggy and headachy and tired (sleeping a LOT more as well), but I also need to factor in hayfever, a possible virus and Female Monthly Madness.

Anyone got experiences to share?

Can I say how hard 5 months without medicine was? How long & frustrating & worthless those 5 months were? And how grateful I am to have my adderall again? Does that make me sound like a drug addict? I hope not - but really, knowing what I'm capable of when I can focus - how the depression leaves, the anxiety fades, and I can get things done. I'm a better student, wife, and most importantly a better mother. Yeah. Thankful this Christmas eve for the miracle of hope!

There are symptoms of ADHD/ADD that I didn't even know were symptoms (possible symptoms). Currently, I am most curious about how anger can be a symptom of ADHD. Can someone give me some insight on this?

I have anger problems that I've dealt with since forever. The first time I realized that anger could be a symptom was when I was looking over a checklist someone posted within the past couple of days, "55.___Quick responses to slights that are real or imagined 56.___Rage outbursts, short fuse." Those are both most definitely me.

I understand that my anger may not be related, but now I'm curious that they might, and how that would work. Does anyone else deal with this? How?

Does ADHD make PMS symptoms worse?

Does medication help?

We're not supposed to take Ritalin with Cold&Flu medication. Fair enough - they act in similar ways (I'm told) and it can be... Wacky.

What I'm wondering about is whether taking Ritalin while sick will make you feel any better? I mean the exhausted, crappy feeling. I hate it, and I'm trying to decide whether I should medicate just to feel better about that (in a sort of drug holiday atm - not taking the meds unless I need them, so haven't had to take them in a couple of days).

Anyone have any experience with Ritalin and the common cold?

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In an odd* sort of way, my research brought me to a rather interesting blog that some of you might find interesting as well. It's called What Sorts of People Should There Be? It's not directly related to ADHD, but I think you will see some of the possible connections of interest. The entry for 18 December should catch your attention. I don't imagine all of the entries will be that related, but I haven't browsed through them, as I don't have time, since I'm down to that severe crunch while the university deadlines are just at my door...

http://whatsortsofpeople.wordpress.com/

Cheers!

---

* It is odd only because the topics and theme of that blog have absolutely nothing to do with my research. And it wasn't a random thing, nor a distraction thing. But I won't reveal how I happened upon it, because it's far more fun for you to imagine it however you like. ;D

This article is from the NY Times. Its very interesting and talks specifically about Wellbutrin. Apparently, although the active ingredient and strength have to be the same, the absorption of the drug can be slightly different.

www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/health/19patient.html

Also, I just wanted to say that since increasing my Bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) to 450mg, I feel so much better. Like how I felt years ago, before I was depressed. I've never had any side effects as far as I can tell. It also helps with my ADD symptoms, so I haven't had to take separate meds for that.

I wish I had tried Wellbutrin earlier and not wasted my time and money on those SSRIs that just made me sick.