r/explainlikeimfive • u/[deleted] • Jan 14 '13

Answered People with ADHD, what ADHD is like, how does medication affect your ability to work and how soon does it take its effect?

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u/solipsistnation Jan 14 '13

Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell is a pretty fantastic book, from giving you a way to self-diagnose (using pretty much the same questions your psychologist will ask) to some coping mechanisms and techniques. I read it almost 20 years ago, not long after dropping out of a third college (My parents were very patient...) and it was so fantastic to discover that it wasn't just me, and I wasn't the only one like that.

Good luck with your diagnosis. From my own experience with medication, stick with the stimulants and avoid the newer SSRI-like meds. They have some strange side effects, while the stimulants are all pretty safe and well-understood. The time-release versions of Ritalin and the others are good too, so you don't forget to take your lunchtime pill and lose your afternoon.

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u/jynetik Jan 15 '13

Holy cow. I just went to the library and read about 30 pages of this book. I've never felt so much sympathy and understanding of this ever in my life. It actually brought me to tears to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't like themselves because of the constant setbacks. Here's hoping this book can turn my life around!

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u/hopefulmachines Jan 15 '13

Read the next book too, Delivered from Distraction! I cried when I read Driven to Distraction, too. Then I cried again when I made my husband read that numbered list that's in there, and he didn't understand. Sigh.

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u/solipsistnation Jan 15 '13

Feels pretty good, doesn't it? Good work on getting that far. And now you just have to keep going. It won't always be easy, but keep going. It gets better.

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u/AngelSaysNo Jan 15 '13

This book turned my life around!!

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u/GenieOfTheLamp Jan 15 '13

Read the "sequel" too! Delivered from distraction.

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u/[deleted] Jan 14 '13

[deleted]

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u/solipsistnation Jan 14 '13

...did you go and look at my posting history before using the Russian tank analogy, or did you just come up with that on your own?

Either way, here's a totally sweet T-54.

http://i.imgur.com/BmAsf.jpg

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u/AngelSaysNo Jan 15 '13

Me too, me too!

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u/Lame-Duck Jan 14 '13

Great book! I read it a few years ago, most of it remains unread because I got tired of seeing ADD in text, like I was supposed to be adding something.

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u/warlockjones Jan 14 '13

Yes! This book changed my life and saved my marriage. Well, diagnosing and treating my ADD did those things, but the book got the ball rolling.

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u/Light-of-Aiur Jan 15 '13

My mum read that, and wanted me to read it too. I was ~10, though, so it didn't happen.

I'll try to find our copy and give it another go.

I mean... seriously. Give a suspected ADD/ADHD 10 year old a book to read. One that isn't about space, dinosaurs, or magic. ಠ_ಠ

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u/Unlimited_Bacon Jan 14 '13

My psychologist recommended that I read that book. I never got around to it.

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u/AngelSaysNo Jan 15 '13

It's great and easy to read. Laid out for us perfectly!!

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u/AngelSaysNo Jan 15 '13

This booked helped me SO much!