Finding a therapist
I was just wondering who out there goes to therapy and what type of therapist do you see?? I started with a new therapist who is quite good, but I fear she doesn't get the ADHD thing. After mt last session, she ended it by saying, "remember to exercise, eat right and take care of yourself." Great advice for those who don't have trouble getting out of bed and out the door with three kids. Am I missing the point? I am newly diagnosed and am in the stage of trying to climb out of the chaos we live in.....it is getting better...as long as my meds are in check.
Do you do to an ADHD specialist? What do you work on? I never thought I had ADHD, even with two seperate diagnoses. When I came to this site, I saw myself in so many of your stories! I'd love to hear how you cope with your lives!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Heather on -
I am on Vyvanse now but, it is not helping very much! It might be that I am not taking enough! I do however have to agree it does taper off more slowly so not so much of a crash. I was on Adderall XR for about 5yrs and I was getting ticks... So, I am so glad I have a Dr. appt. today!!! Lets see what happends.
Heather
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Permalink Reply by Christine on -
I have tried both, first Vyvanse and then Adderall XR and IR. I went off Vyvanse because I was getting toxic.. too much too fast. I tried Adderall second. I like Vyvanse soooo much more than the XR. It is more calming and noo edginess, at least not with my antidepressant. It is smooth. I get tired when it fades, and occassionally I get emotional. My PDoc has me back on Vyvanse 30mg. with Adderall IR when it wears off/ or IR in the AM and then add Vyvanse later in the day. I am going to titrate slowly this time around, though. She gave me enough to boost up to 60 mg when needed, but I will break it apart first. It is such a great medication that I want to use it appropriatly.....slowly. My husband is on it....keeps him even keeled...YIPPEE!! My son just started it 2 weeks ago and is doing FANTASTIC!!! He can now finish his school work and enjoys reading...YIPPEE!!!
My nephew, who is 24, takes Adderall XR and really likes it. He does, however, get the edginess in the pm. He also takes Prozac, so I don't know if an anti deppressant will take all the edginess away.
Most adults need about 60/70mg a day. Titrating slowly is the way to go, though. I'd love to hear your experience with it, Heather. Good Luck!!
Jen said:No, I've never tried Vyvanse but I have heard nothing but rave reviews about it. The only stimulant I've taken is Adderall (both XR and IR) and for the most part have had good results. Sometimes it does make me a little (ok, a lot) edgy, and I notice it more right after it wears off. Most docs seem to think the best way to counter the edginess is to add an antidepresant. Do you find that Vyvanse tapers off more when it wears off, so that you don't get such a dramatic crash? I'm interested in trying it.
Christine said:I was just wondering, have either of you ever tried Vyvanse? i know it is the new prodrug that everyone is promoting. I tried it and found it to be fantastic! I find it to be more calming than adderall.
Jen said:That is so funny that we've all blown up eggs!! It does help to know I'm not the only one. And thank you both, Christine & Heather, for the kind encouragement regarding my cooking inadequacies. It has taken a while, but I am able to recognize the good things I do as a mother, which is why I really do what I can to simplify my cooking regimen. And the good part is that I think my 2 yr old has learned to appreciate plain, easy and sometimes bland food because that's what he's been given. Friends and relatives are always amazed that he scarfs down plain broccoli. Poor child hasn't really had much of a choice!
Chistine - yes! I have learned SO much from Dr. Charles Parker's website. I only learned about it a few months ago, but it has really made me question my docs about various med combinations. GREAT source of information. The other one you mentioned I have not heard of, but I've read several books by Ned Hallowell, and I also have learned a lot about how ADHD in women - sorry I'm rushing so I can't recall everything at the moment, but lots by Patricia Quinn & Kathleen Nadeau. I have also considered going to VA to meet w/ Dr. Parker. My husband is another story - until recently, I feel like I'm the only one willing to learn and work with my ADHD and I have definitely seen personal improvement from my efforts. He has always just expected to take a pill & then gets discouraged when everything doesn't just fall into place. However, I have seen some real effort on his part over the last month or so, and us going to this psychiatrist together is HUGE progress. So, I'm very hopeful. I just know that w/ our gene pool, more than likely our kids will have ADHD, so in order to be patient and parent them to the best of our abilities, it is CRITICAL that we make our treatment a priority.
Heather, I have taken Zoloft off and on for about 13 years, but in hindsight and w/ the info on ADHD that I've learned, I think doctors were treating my depression when actually ADHD was my primary problem. The depression stemmed more from the disorganization, chaos, & not being able to hold everything together. Anyway, Zoloft worked OK for me in the past initially, but then would stop working. I had not been on it in about 5 or 6 years, but after my 2nd child was born, my primary care doc (actually a nurse practicioner) suggested I try it again since it had worked for depression in the past. Well, this time it was a complete train wreck. It was like I was in a deep fog - that's the only way I know to describe it. I was only taking 50 mgs, but I felt foggy and my concentration & focus DID NOT improve. After that, I began taking Strattera, and it works faily well for evening out my moods. In the past, I have had the best results from a combination of Strattera (40 - 60mg) and Adderall XR (10 - 20mgs). However, I've had one appointment with this new psychiatrist & he wants to wean me off or atleast reduce the dosage of the Strattera and begin w/ primarily a stimulant only treatment in order to maximize the effectiveness and get the dosage accurate. As of right now, I take 40 mgs Strattera every day and I have a prescription for IR Addrall (10 mgs) that I take once a day. That's another story in itself, but I don't have time to get into it right now. I'm completely in a trial/error phase for a bit. Charles Parker has some interesting info on his website about combining SSRIs (Zoloft) w/ stimulants that you might want to check out. I have heard very different opinions about combining various antideppresants and stimulants, but I really trust what he says.
I could go on and on to both of you, but I'm heading out of town w/ the kids to my mom's this weekend, so we're in the process of attempting to get out of the house -- CHAOS!!
More later. I hope to continue chatting w/ you two. I've learned a lot already!
jen
Heather said:It is so funny but, I have also blown up boiled eggs and left a pot on the stove cooking with nothing in it!!! I feel the same exact way about cooking! My husband for the most part cooks or we have something very easy! I keep trying to put together a menu for 2 purposes. 1st to help having the food in the house to cook and 2nd to try to budget! The 2nd thing I have been working on it feels like my entire life! It pains me to take my kids to the store so my husband usually goes on his days off. I keep trying to get organized in every area of my life, house and work! I think I know I spend more time trying to get all the things I think I need to help me get organized than doing. I agree that you should not measure yourself as a good Mom by if you can cook or not! I have a 4yr and 5yr old and it takes me at least 2hrs. to get out of the house. I usually try to have everything ready for the A.M.. My older daughter is in PreK and she is also ADHD and has some sensory issues so it takes me at least 45mins just to get her dressed… I just came up with a chart to help her get dressed and make it to the bus without any melt downs! It has been working great except for when I don’t get up on time!!! We got a note sent home saying she has had too many tardies. This of course is my fault! My husband works shift work and when he is working nights he can get her off and she always makes the bus and never late! He said do you see what you are doing to our child! (he is always teasing me about my lateness)
I know I am all over the place but, I seem to be really bad right now! I can not at all seem to stay on task! Thank God I have a Dr. Appt. on Monday! I am in avoid mode and am so worried about my job…As you can see what I am doing! Lol! This is the only thing that is helping me right now. Oh if I can ask what Meds are you taking? I am currently on Vyvanse, Zoloft and Wellbutrin. I have been on the Zoloft for at least 15 yrs., have only been on the Vyvanse for about 4mths and about a year for the Wellbutrin. Thank you both for advice and just to have someone who understands…
Heather
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Permalink Reply by Heather on
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Ok went to the new psychiatrist on Monday… He seems to understand ADHD but, not sure how much experience he has with it. It was kinda funny because he referred to Vyvanse as the now pro-drug and that it and Adderall are the best for ADHD-PI type! So he increased my meds to the max! It does seem to be working better. The issue I have is he did not suggest working with someone else like a counselor, coach or therapist. I do believe with all the years of dealing with the ADHD I need to work with someone! During our meeting I mentioned that I like to read up and get as much information about my problems as possible. He did not seem to take it very well and made the comment he tells his patients no to believe everything they read. Well we will see!
On to something new I have decided to start a blog for all this in my head! I would love some feed back if anyone is interested in reading it please let me know!
Heather
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Permalink Reply by Christine on
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How much Vyvanse are you on? You may need to take something else, and IR in the pm as your body adjusts. Do you take any antidepressants with it? Just curious of what drugs people are combining....
You may just have to allow him to do meds for now. My nurse didn't even know about coaching. Personally, I'd go with a coach, because they TRULY understand and can address your day to day living issues. I get more from this site than I do my therapist. I also find the books out there are great...most of them. I don't think a lot of professionals read them and specialize ADHD. I think it is trivialized and thought of as a child's disorder in the mainstream.
Maybe a local coach could help you fing an ADHD specialist therapist. That may be the route I take. My nurse told me to just tell her we need to do Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to unlearn behaviors. I need someone with glasses to help me see them , sometimes....I think that is the ADHD??
Good luck with Vyvanse. I think it is the best drug out there...at least for me!
Heather said:Ok went to the new psychiatrist on Monday… He seems to understand ADHD but, not sure how much experience he has with it. It was kinda funny because he referred to Vyvanse as the now pro-drug and that it and Adderall are the best for ADHD-PI type! So he increased my meds to the max! It does seem to be working better. The issue I have is he did not suggest working with someone else like a counselor, coach or therapist. I do believe with all the years of dealing with the ADHD I need to work with someone! During our meeting I mentioned that I like to read up and get as much information about my problems as possible. He did not seem to take it very well and made the comment he tells his patients no to believe everything they read. Well we will see!
On to something new I have decided to start a blog for all this in my head! I would love some feed back if anyone is interested in reading it please let me know!
Heather
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Permalink Reply by Heather on
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I am now on 70mgs and I am and have been on Zoloft! I agree with you about how it is trivialized and thought of a child's disorder. That is what I think drives me crazy... Do to living with this my entire life it is hard to know what is and what is not! I have read several books and find them all helpful!
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Permalink Reply by Jen on -
Heather, hopefully this new psychiatrist will help you get your meds straight. I completely understand how frustrating this can be. As I mentioned earlier, my husband and I are seeing a new psychiatrist. We went a couple of weeks ago together, but we were only able to get through husband's history. So, I'm going this Friday, and hopefully he can help me sort through this medication thing. He seemed very knowledgable, and he actually encouraged us to read as much as possible and to feel free to share our findings with him so that we can all work together. Even though my experience with therapy has been good, I have never dealt with anyone who really seems to get how ADHD negatively affects my life. I mean, I understand that I need to change certain behaviors, but I know for myself, I have a much easier time doing that when my medication is working. This is where I think a coach would be helpful. For me, therapy has been WONDERFUL for sorting through things in my past and helping me recognize things I need to do differently as I move forward. It has also helped me accept things in my past that I can't change. I guess the decision to do therapy or not really depends on your particular situation and what you want to accomplish. Even though I had been to therapy prior to my ADHD diagnosis, I found that once I was diagnosed, I had lots of new emotions that I needed to sort through, and for that, the therapy really helped. My plan is to pretty much use the psychiatrist for medication management and periodically check in w/ my therapist. I don't think a coach is in my budget at the moment, but I'm definitely open to it in the future, and in the meantime I'll read and learn on my own and try to implement some behavioral changes. I have a really hard time with routine, but I do much better establishing habits when I'm on a stimulant. I'm going to ask about Vyvanse on Friday. I'm interested in trying it. At the same time, I've had really good results with Adderall XR and IR, so perhaps I should just stick with what works. We'll see. Good luck w/ your blog - I'd love to check it out. I had a really good therapist recommend writing therapy a few years ago, and it was very helpful to me. He would give me an assignment, and then I would bring it to my next appt and we would discuss it together. For me, it was a concrete way to examine some of my faulty thinking, and I made great progress while working with him.
Heather said:I am now on 70mgs and I am and have been on Zoloft! I agree with you about how it is trivialized and thought of a child's disorder. That is what I think drives me crazy... Do to living with this my entire life it is hard to know what is and what is not! I have read several books and find them all helpful!
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Permalink Reply by Christine on
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I TOTALLY agree with needing meds to make the changes necessary! I did Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for years and found it fantastic, but there were and are some things that cannot be done without the aid of stimulants. Being on time and making a routine are the biggest obstacles for me. A routine is something I find painful. If you cannot change these aspects of your life, how can therapy help? You need to be able to implement change to feel good. Isn't most self esteem earned by accomplishment.
I don't know why, but I don't have any issues with the past and my ADHD. It explains a lot of my "mediocre" performance and why college was soooooooo much work. I just want to make it easier for my kids!
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Permalink Reply by Tania B on -
I have read that excercise, a nutritious diet and adequate sleep help diminish negative ADD symptoms. I definitely find that I feel better able to focus and deal with day to day details when I pay attention to these things. It is easy to let them fall by the wayside when I get distracted by all the other "to do"s in my day, but I feel much better when I take the time to do these things.
I'm not in therapy, but I meet every six months with a physician's assistant at the Attention and Memory Center of North Carolina Neuropsychiatry. We talk for awhile about how the meds are helping, how I am coping with life in general and she checks my heart and blood pressure and prescribes my meds.
I was in couples therapy for awhile with my husband, but it seemed she didn't know much about ADHD so I'm looking for someone who does couples therapy with couples who have one or both partners with ADHD.
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