Hello ladies and gentleman,
This is my first post. I am a middle aged man in his early 50s. I have ADD symptoms. Although I am intelligent, tests have shown that my processing speed is not as fast as it can be in some area. This might be due to depression, self loathing, or just because of a brain inflicted by ADD. I really am not sure.
I am college educated. I have a Bachelor's degree. In addition, I have a lot of computer skills. Unfortunately, my work history is poor given someone of my age. Don't get me wrong, I like to work. I like to think I am a hard worker. I show up every day on time and leave on time, for the most part. However, my work history has suffered because of attention issues, but mostly because of issues with depression and moods. I have not had a full time job since 2009! And like I stated above, my work history is poor. I desperately want to change this.
My work issues are affecting my marriage. It is affecting my self esteem. And I fear I am a bad influence on my daughters.
Is there hope? I am looking into Executive Function and how it might be improved in my life. Also, perhaps a low dosage of Adderall.
I hope there is hope. I am tired of this.
Thanks.
IMust,
Submitted by NLKohlenberger on
IMust,
First of all, it is good you have reached out for help and support. I hear some overwhelm and confusion in what you say here. However, I do think it would be very wise of you to seriously consider taking medication, and I hope you can go to a doctor who can assess your ADHD, as well as your mood issues, and find the right combination of meds that will work for you. Some people do very well with Adderall or Vyvanse combined with Wellbutrin to deal with both the dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain. It is not at all unusual for ADHD and depression to be present together, and as you've noticed, it can be a challenging combination. Hopefully, if you have a good doctor he or she can help you with both.
That would be a good start to working with what you have brought forward here. There are also behavioral supports you might put in place like reminder systems and calendars.And, if you have not read Melissa Orlov's book, The ADHD Effect on Marriage, I recommend you do so. It would help you tune in more effectively to your marriage.
I wish you the best.
IMust
Submitted by sunlight on
Hello IMust,
My husband was diagnosed in his mid-50s - yes there is hope for you! I understand that you might be nervous about medications but don't feel too apprehensive. Some of the most common meds would be out of your system in a few hours, so if your doctor finds you healthy enough and recommends them then keep an open mind and take it as slowly as you wish. It will help you if you can involve your wife by keeping her aware of your meds and asking for her feedback since she should be able to tell you if she sees any effects in your behavior. Understand at the outset that you may need to try various doses or meds, and try to get your wife's co-operation and understanding.
My husband sees a psychiatrist once a month to review his meds and for prescriptions - he takes Adderall and has great results with it, the other common first-line stimulant (Ritalin) doesn't work for him at all - so everyone is an individual and if a med doesn't work well for you it isn't the end of the world but you should give your doctor as much information as possible.
You've already taken a huge step forward just by posting here - now the best thing is to learn as much as you can about ADHD and keep putting one foot in front of the other! Good luck to you and your family.