First real thread in a while...

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"I dunno it's like I wish I could change... but change on my terms and in my way."While I fully understand and sympathize that it might not be the way you want to change don't confuse that with not being on your terms. The meds are a tool nothing more. Whether you ever use them is entirely up to you. The extent to which you use them is also entirely up to you. Like I told Bob in an early post, there are times that I don't want my mind calmed. I just plain don't want to calm down, if anything I want to calm up, I enjoy my mind raising from one subject to another or my hyper focus on some weird ass bullshit, it's my natural state. On some days, regardless of what the scrip said, I wouldn't take the pills. In as far as that, I was medicated on my terms.>>>"Maybe I'm afraid that pills will just dull me down and in essence sort've change what makes me ME!"I had those exact same fears and as far as ADHD meds are concerned they really aren't applicable. Like I just explained if I wanted my mind running on overdrive one day, I would just skip that days meds. All they do is allow you to slow down enough to focus.Don't misread me. I'm not trying to sell you on going out and getting meds right now. All I'm trying to do is explain the actual use and effect they have on your life. If you need 'em, don't fear 'em. If you get along okey without 'em, great.I do want to emphasize something a little more here that I made reference to in an earlier post. You will probably find, as I did, that out in the working world your "bullshitting" skills aren't going to cut it, unless your going to be a politician. Work is about production, increasing, much to our detriment, specialized production. Production requires focus, often monotonous stringent focus. That may not be fair, it may be unhealthy, it may not be what nature designed the human body for, I can and have made all those arguments, but that's reality. If you find yourself in this situation someday, and more than likely if you are ADHD you will, don't let prejudice or fear hold you back from getting help. The pills are only a tool. A tool that allows you to cope in the world of everybody else.

Well, on Wednesday I forgot to call.On Thursday, I got far too drunk.On Friday, I felt like crap and couldn't bring myself to even bother calling the doctor.I kinda saw this coming...

Well don't beat yourself up about it, get on the phone first thing monday, if you have to get people to remind you, and stick post -its all over your room LOL so you didn't do it, that doesn't mean you wont do it.........cos you will, or boy can i nag and nag and nag.........you get the idea cuddle

Well, my sister stole my money and went off down the country with it. But I told my mum that I was going to the doctor and she said that she'd give me a cheque.

In reply to:I suppose if I did take meds I could go off them if I did't want them. My thing is convincing my parents to help me out in going. They think I'm just honest-to-God lazy! They would be like "Why do you need a therapist dammit? Just apply yourself for crying out loud and you'd be fine! You don't need doctors or medicine!" Wow, that is exactly what my parents would say.Except my dad would also say I needed to eat more red beans and cornbread, no joke.I can really relate to what y'all have described.I am not big on writing and Bob, Oldfolks, Hyperion has pretty muched covered what I have been dealing with. I apologize for jumping in late. Thanks for this thread, it is nice to know I am not alone.The HotDog

In reply to: Except my dad would also say I needed to eat more red beans and cornbread, no joke. Thats funny cause I told my parents this weekend that I was gonna go see the doctor and the first thing they did was talk about my eating habits. They have decided to put me on a new diet and claim that all my troubles will be over as long as I just eat right.

Forget the diet. See the doc.

Wow, small world. I have been trying to eat better myself, but for different reasons. Things have been getting better for the past few days for me so that's good. Hope things get better for you too.

Well I have to see the doc anyway to get my second shot to attain life-long immunity to Hepatitis. I was just in Mexico over the summer and had a shot before I left. Anyway I've made a point to bring this topic up and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist who may be able to help determine what I to do to manage myself a little better. Thanks for all the support and advice

Good!

Thanks to my parents, I have found the cure to my ailments! COD LIVER OIL!!! Apparently it will cure everything, my dad guaranteed it. With this, and my new "diet", I shall have no more problems with my concentration.Now that the sarcasm is over, the new diet that my folks said they'd put me on is non-existant. Today I ate a few chips, a microwavable chicken korma and a some sweets left over from last night. Its true, I don't eat a lot and when I do, its usually crap. (emo alert) The parental units say that if I went to the doctor saying that I can't concentrate and he asked about my diet, he'd think I'm an idiot. So no doctor for me, I had enough issues without thinking about being laughed at by the doctor. I know that he wouldn't actually laugh, but I've just been thrown off going to see a doctor.So some good food, cod liver oil and a good dose of self-mutilation will have me back on course!! Well, not back on course since I've been like this for as long as I can remember, but ya know what I mean...

Plenty of people eat poorly, and the doc's don't laugh. They can help. If I can muster up the energy, I am heading in...again...
I have been on and off antidepressants for a few years now. The doc has never laughed at me, or scrutinized me for living. (except smoking, EVERONE gets on the smokers though)
Figure out how to get in there, it will help. I DO understand, that it's easier said than done. Or I would have it done already for me. Wanna come join me with my blanky and pillow?

Holy crap, you're really procrastinating, and your parents don't seem to be much help.Much of the world eats a crap diet, and they're not all depressed/hyper/whatever. Your diet may need to be addressed for the sake of your general health, and your doctor may be able to help there...or you can do your own research. But you have our permission not to be a martyr.

Buddy you and me are in this shit together. If I have to go see a doctor and unload my baggage on a stranger... you do too! Sometimes strangers are helpful people... like the people on this website.
I have always had extremely irregular sleeping patterns and I'm always on again, off again dieting/eating good food. Your parents sound a bit like mine. You just have to be adament about it. You NEED to see a doctor/shrink. I NEED to see a doctor/shrink! The longer we put it off the further we spiral my friend.

And Pepsi-Chaser... if he won't join you... I will! Isn't it funny how human beings need to be touched, even when it's just cuddling or simply lying beside eachother? It has always been a fascinating concept to me.

Very true. Good books on the subject:Ashley Montagu, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin -- 3rd ed., 1986 (This is the classic.)Jules Older, Touching is Healing -- 1983Tiffany Field, Touch -- 2001 (The author runs the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine)

Im sorry bob but i think you should go to the doctors and this time, on this subject take no notice of your parents.......(can't beleive i just said that!!!!)you owe it to yourself to be happy, so YOU do something about it, go and get yourself sorted, only you knows how you feel, your parents don't seem to be able to understand. You know you should go, don't - for once - listen to your parents LOL when you know they are wrong!

Bob I'm sure you already know this but I want to reinforce it, diet isn't going to do anything for a hyper-active mind. At least that has been my experience. That kind of remedy may or may not have merit for a six year old that just had a pound of sugar for breakfast but I don't know of it having any effect on anyone much over the age of twelve.My diet is about as erratic as my personality. I'll be a health food nut for a few months eating raw oatmeal in the morning, snacking on fruits & nuts throughout the day and then eating vegetables and free range chicken or bison at night. Then for the next few months I might eat candy bars, chips and pop. Then I may go a month without eating, only drinking water, all that ever did was make me tired. The point is regardless of my diet my mind still does what it wants to do and I would bet your's will be the same.I would encourage you to take matters into your own hands this time, your 18 right. Let the doc draw his own conclusions, your parents don't need to draw them for him. Since your Angels property listen to her and get this taken care of. You don't want to fuck your life then go get help years later and wonder, "Why didn't I do this earlier."

Argh! Far too many people helping me here, its making the replies so much more complicated!Pepsi > I know that the doctor won't actually laugh at me or anything, but I've just got the feeling that the doctor will do as my parents have done and just blame it on my food intake. And who am I to say that its not? I have always eaten shite, it could be! And I'm already under a blanket on the couch with my cat. Its fucking freezing in my house and the heat is broken!Steve > I am a Level 1 Procrastinator, I've got it down to an art! And as I said, I've just been completely thrown off the idea of going to the doctor.Hyperion > OK, you go first, then I'll follow! Angel > SHOCK Don't listen to my parents?? Oh, if only your kids were reading... :P I don't blame my parents for thinking this, I don't really tell them a lot. I don't really tell them anything. But it doesn't change how I feel about going to the doctor, there is no doubt in my mind that he will tell me the exact same thing as my parents did. Whats worse is that I know that is a completely irrational thought! OldFolks > I can never stick to a healthy diet, its just not in my nature. The closest thing I can do is make apple sauce, and thats just I've got an apple tree in my garden! My parents' plan for me was to make sure I'm up every morning and have a nice big breakfast, but so far this week they've just fecked off to work without even waking me up. So much for that plan, there is no chance that I'll do it for myself.And I know that I should see the doctor, but the part of me that wanted to is just gone now.

Right i have had just about enough of this rubbish Bob stern look kinda like the avatar LOL you KNOW that the doctor will say something more than take cod liver oil LOL i will slap you if you don't go................and for the record i wasn't having a go at your folks at all, i know you don't tell them everything, and in that they CAN'T understand what you are going through and hence CAN'T give you the right advice. You're not a child anymore hon, take control and do something you know you have to do to make things better - or else