Can I share my story???

Hello everyone,

I am 50 yrs old and have been diagnosed with depression and ADD. My psychiatrist had some trouble figuring this out and I think she still does not know exactly what I need med wise. Gosh, this started out with me on Valium onto another med that was overkill, made me feel like a zombie, sorry I have been on so many over the past 3 months I can't keep up. I thought I was bipolar, and I may be, but she is leaning towards ADD with depression which from her experience is very hard to treat. Recently I was on 75mg of Lamotrigine and 10mg of Celexa. I am not sure that the Lamotrigine is doing anything other than causing hot flashes. I do know for sure that the Celexa helps me a lot with the depression I am assuming. I am just so much easier going, and things do not bother me near as much when I am on the Celexa. She started to feel like I have ADD so she put me on Concerta along with the above. The Concerta pumped incredible life into me, like taking a diet pill or something, I wanted to go go go. But in the afternoon I would crash badly. I couldn't stand it anymore so I stopped taking it. So then she put me on Welbutrin along with the lamotrigine. The Welbutrin was not as intense as the Concerta with very little crash in the afternoon but it made me irritable as hell. She told me to stick with it for 10 days so I did but nothing changed, I hated what it was doing to me, basically amplifying my irritation. I went back to the Celexa with Lamotrigine and things are better but again, I still have the ADD problems. The Celexa has a sexual side affect that I hate, very hard to reach orgasm but no impotence problem.

My ADD is not as bad as some. I am fairly organized, I like a clean house, I do not have an issue with ignoring my wife and going off and doing my own thing. I do have a problem with needing attention, I always have since I can remember. One way that I need attention is through sex. I am just now realizing this on my own. I could never understand why sex was so important to me but I know now that it is because of the one on one extreme attention I am getting. Also the feeling of feeling of being extremely wanted. Lots of problems for me in the workforce and dealing with management and co workers. A serious problem of hanging on to things and not being able to just let it go, dwelling. A feeling that everyone is against me. Many failed relationships, etc. Easily addicted to gambling, always taking risks because of the thrill. My life has been a living hell because of my behavior. I could go on and on but I am just wondering if there is anyone here that has similar issues, if so would love to here from you. Thank you. Jim

Hello Jim: I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to Psych Central. And thank you for sharing your experiences. I can certainly relate to quite a bit of what you wrote. And I'm quite certain if you continue posting your own threads, as well as replying to other members' posts, you'll find quite a few other members who will too.

One forum in particular, here on PC, that may be of interest to you would be the Psychiatric Medications forum. Here's a link:

https://psychcentralforums.com/psychiatric-medications/

Here's a link to an article, from Psych Central's archives, on the subject of ADHD & depression:

ADHD and Depression: Common Bedfellows

I hope you find PC to be of benefit.

Hi @IfIonlyknew- do you identify with what I quoted below? The reason I ask is because what you shared doesnt sound so much like adhd but I am assuming you were just summarizing.
ADHD in Adults - HelpGuide.org

Quote:

Signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults In adults, attention deficit disorder often looks quite different than it does in children—and its symptoms are unique for each individual. The following categories highlight common symptoms of adult ADHD. Do your best to identify the areas where you experience difficulty. Once you pinpoint your most problematic symptoms, you can start implementing strategies for dealing with them. Trouble concentrating and staying focused “Attention deficit” can be a misleading label. Adults with ADHD are able to focus on tasks they find stimulating or engaging, but have difficulty staying focused on and attending to mundane tasks. You may become easily distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds, bounce from one activity to another, or become bored quickly. Symptoms in this category are sometimes overlooked because they are less outwardly disruptive than the ADHD symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity—but they can be every bit as troublesome: Becoming easily distracted by low-priority activities or external events that others tend to ignore. Having so many simultaneous thoughts that it’s difficult to follow just one. Difficulty paying attention or focusing, such as when reading or listening to others. Frequently daydreaming or “zoning out” without realizing it, even in the middle of a conversation. Struggling to complete tasks, even ones that seem simple. A tendency to overlook details, leading to errors or incomplete work. Poor listening skills; for example, having a hard time remembering conversations and following directions. Getting quickly bored and seeking out new stimulating experiences. Hyperfocus: the other side of the coin While you’re probably aware that people with ADHD have trouble focusing on tasks that aren’t interesting to them, you may not know that there’s another side: a tendency to become absorbed in tasks that are stimulating and rewarding. This paradoxical symptom is called hyperfocus. Hyperfocus is actually a coping mechanism for distraction—a way of tuning out the chaos. It can be so strong that you become oblivious to everything that’s happening around you. For example, you may be so engrossed in a book, a TV show, or your computer that you completely lose track of time and neglect your responsibilities. Hyperfocus can be an asset when channeled into productive activities, but it can also lead to work and relationship problems if left unchecked. Disorganization and forgetfulness Man sitting at disorganized desk When you have adult ADHD, life often seems chaotic and out of control. Staying organized and on top of things can be extremely challenging—as is sorting out what information is relevant for the task at hand, prioritizing your to-do list, keeping track of tasks and responsibilities, and managing your time. Common symptoms of disorganization and forgetfulness include: Poor organizational skills (home, office, desk, or car is extremely messy and cluttered) Tendency to procrastinate Trouble starting and finishing projects Chronic lateness Frequently forgetting appointments, commitments, deadlines Constantly losing or misplacing things (keys, wallet, phone, documents, bills). Underestimating the time it will take to complete tasks. Impulsivity If you suffer from symptoms in this category, you may have trouble inhibiting your behaviors, comments, and responses. You might act before thinking, or react without considering consequences. You may find yourself interrupting others, blurting out comments, and rushing through tasks without reading instructions. If you have impulse problems, staying patient is extremely difficult. For better or for worse, you may dive headlong into situations and find yourself in potentially risky circumstances. Symptoms include: Frequently interrupting others or talking over them Poor self-control, addictive tendencies Blurting out thoughts that are rude or inappropriate without thinking Acting recklessly or spontaneously without regard for consequences Trouble behaving in socially appropriate ways (such as sitting still during a long meeting) Emotional difficulties Many adults with ADHD have a hard time managing their feelings, especially when it comes to emotions like anger or frustration. Common emotional symptoms of adult ADHD include: Being easily flustered and stressed out Irritability or short, often explosive, temper Low self-esteem and sense of insecurity or underachievement Trouble staying motivated Hypersensitivity to criticism Hyperactivity or restlessness Hyperactivity in adults with ADHD may appear the same as it does in kids. You may be highly energetic and perpetually “on the go” as if driven by a motor. For many people with ADHD, however, the symptoms of hyperactivity become more subtle and internal as they grow older. Common symptoms of hyperactivity in adults include: Feelings of inner restlessness, agitation, racing thoughts Getting bored easily, craving excitement, tendency to take risks Talking excessively, doing a million things at once Trouble sitting still, constant fidgeting You don’t have to be hyperactive to have ADHD Adults with ADHD are much less likely to show hyperactivity than their younger counterparts. Only a small slice of adults with ADHD, in fact, suffer from prominent symptoms of hyperactivity. Remember that names can be deceiving and you may very well have ADHD if you have one or more of the symptoms above—even if you lack hyperactivity.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IfIonlyknew Hello everyone, I am 50 yrs old and have been diagnosed with depression and ADD. My psychiatrist had some trouble figuring this out and I think she still does not know exactly what I need med wise. Gosh, this started out with me on Valium onto another med that was overkill, made me feel like a zombie, sorry I have been on so many over the past 3 months I can't keep up. I thought I was bipolar, and I may be, but she is leaning towards ADD with depression which from her experience is very hard to treat. Recently I was on 75mg of Lamotrigine and 10mg of Celexa. I am not sure that the Lamotrigine is doing anything other than causing hot flashes. I do know for sure that the Celexa helps me a lot with the depression I am assuming. I am just so much easier going, and things do not bother me near as much when I am on the Celexa. She started to feel like I have ADD so she put me on Concerta along with the above. The Concerta pumped incredible life into me, like taking a diet pill or something, I wanted to go go go. But in the afternoon I would crash badly. I couldn't stand it anymore so I stopped taking it. So then she put me on Welbutrin along with the lamotrigine. The Welbutrin was not as intense as the Concerta with very little crash in the afternoon but it made me irritable as hell. She told me to stick with it for 10 days so I did but nothing changed, I hated what it was doing to me, basically amplifying my irritation. I went back to the Celexa with Lamotrigine and things are better but again, I still have the ADD problems. The Celexa has a sexual side affect that I hate, very hard to reach orgasm but no impotence problem. My ADD is not as bad as some. I am fairly organized, I like a clean house, I do not have an issue with ignoring my wife and going off and doing my own thing. I do have a problem with needing attention, I always have since I can remember. One way that I need attention is through sex. I am just now realizing this on my own. I could never understand why sex was so important to me but I know now that it is because of the one on one extreme attention I am getting. Also the feeling of feeling of being extremely wanted. Lots of problems for me in the workforce and dealing with management and co workers. A serious problem of hanging on to things and not being able to just let it go, dwelling. A feeling that everyone is against me. Many failed relationships, etc. Easily addicted to gambling, always taking risks because of the thrill. My life has been a living hell because of my behavior. I could go on and on but I am just wondering if there is anyone here that has similar issues, if so would love to here from you. Thank you. Jim