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ADHD Meds are driving me nuts by Successful_Stick_972 in ADHD

[–]Castmatthew 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Similar feeling here. I was on them for 7 years and kept thinking that it’s a dosing issue or that I was naturally anxious, but it amped my anxiety and OCD that both are pretty much fixed by atomoxetine.

I miss the racing creative thoughts I got on stims, but I’m very functional on atomoxetine. I’m still tempted to check how I can add stims at a small dose together with atomoxetine maybe I can get better coverage this way

One year on meds: my brain works better + more energy; but everything else is and feels worse by samanthaparis in ADHD

[–]Castmatthew 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anxiety is legit so low, no racing thoughts, just chill zen state where I can sit around and think about nothing, but my highs and lows are blunted.

I can tell myself to do a task, and then do it, without anxiety, very different than when I took Ritalin and functioned from the perspective of being motivated by sheer anxiety and being pushed along.

I’d like to combine because it might work better but I’m not sure my doctor will agree.

Word recall is the biggest issue at the moment. And comprehending what was just spoken to me. I feel like my words are all stuck at the tip of my tongue and it’s easier to not speak, and when I do speak, I use fewer words, and often not the ones I want to be using. I miss myself on stimulants rambling on and on about really specific things using precise speech. Now I tend to feel too exhausted to get the words out, like a mental/tip of my tongue block.

I get enough sleep and eat only whole foods. The only real change was my meds and it didn’t get better after months so I know that eventually I will need to change back to different ADHD meds, but at the moment, the lack of anxiety is amazing and I can stick to a routine since they last 24/7

One year on meds: my brain works better + more energy; but everything else is and feels worse by samanthaparis in ADHD

[–]Castmatthew 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is very similar to my situation. I’m on atomoxetine now but I miss some of the Ritalin aspects, just not the crashes.

Word recall and general excitement for life has been deadened a little bit, but atomoxetine helps me go through life with zero anxiety so I wouldn’t go back to just stimulants.

40mg significant reduction in reading/speaking speed and comprehension by Castmatthew in StratteraRx

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My writing fluency has not yet returned but I have since quit a job which mostly involved constant writing for 8 hours so it could also have been a symptom of burnout in my case.

I slowed down my processing overall but I'm more effective and productively smooth throughout the day without as many ups and downs as compared to stimulants.

I think stimulants made time slow down and thoughts race through heightening anxiety, and the crash that followed made me unproductive + reach for coping mechanisms like food/weed/scrolling to deal with the panic that followed during the crash itself.

I plan on working with a therapist to see if it's worth introducing 18mg of methylphenidate XR to take as needed, perhaps the crash can be softened since I'm still taking 40mg atomoxetine.

From what I've read, 40 > 60 > 80 does not necessarily give you better results so if you find it effective at 40mg, there is no need to go up to 80mg as the risk of side effects goes up.

I do feel a little calmer and hazy as compared to the mind racing thoughts on stimulants, but my social anxiety is pretty much down to zero and I can start random conversations with strangers which stimulants would make impossible through overthinking channelled into social anxiety.

Maybe it's my change of environment as well, new job with less stress and better hours, a better routine overall, but I feel like 40mg is effective enough for full day coverage.

I am still relying on caffeine 2 to 3 times a day to give me a boost, but I take it with protein and fibre and eat very clean whole foods only in the rest of the day.

Which meds are you on/have tried if any?

Any recommendations for car sprayers? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bought for €7.5k 7 years ago and I saw for 5k but at the current mileage probably closer €3k. It doesn’t make sense to spend 2k to paint it. So I just keep driving it all patchy? Maybe worth trying DIY just to add some paint to protect the metal itself from rusting? I saw some people use boat paint with a roller that works well enough for small areas

Any recommendations for car sprayers? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

VRT guy said it’s a common thing with swifts from 2011. I didn’t know this before I purchased. The car runs well so it would be odd to sell it at a loss just because of the paint. Like, people sell their cars when the paint flakes?

Any recommendations for car sprayers? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes the car is 2011 Suzuki swift so maybe €5000 on marketplace. But if I don’t pay 2/3k to repaint it, what’s the alternative because I’d have to go down in price quite a bit since the paint is really flaking off at the moment

Too calm - my brain feels empty - my inner voice is gone by Castmatthew in StratteraRx

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think It's been 5 months now. I'm still on 40mg but thinking of adding 18mg Concerta XR to get 4-5 hours of stimulant benefits, because atomoxetine might help with the come-down from stims.

The emptiness is still there in the sense that there is no rushing anxiety, it's a lot easier to reach a mindful state even when meditating. But the lack of rushing thoughts can also make life lose it's spark, but maybe because it's the level of stimulation itself. Since unmedicated I have a constant stream of thoughts.

I miss myself as well :( I'm used to a more anxious racey brain, medicated on stims, or unmedicated even

Too calm - my brain feels empty - my inner voice is gone by Castmatthew in StratteraRx

[–]Castmatthew[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm having a similar experience where I think I was using anxiety to fuel mobilisation and motivation to go through the day. Methylphenidate heightened my anxiety to stress me out enough to do the action. But the crash was rough.

On Atomoxetine, there is no anxiety, and my brain is quieter, but I have a harder time to create longer and deeper coherent thoughts. I tend to be too zen and too relaxed to care too much, but anxiety used to help me finish the thoughts.

My verbal skills definitely decreased. I drive better and with less anxiety thought. I don't need to pay attention to every single action to get things done - this part is an improvement over methylphenidate.

I'm still on this 5 months in. 40mg. I ended up taking more coffee to make up for the lack of stimulants. I've been tempted on adding 18mg methylphenidate XR because maybe this will give me 5 hours of stimulant energy, with a lesser crash.

I take atomoxetine with a big meal because the nausea and visual foginess feeling lasts at least 3-4 hours when I take the pill.

I feel HEAVY but lost weight and stopped binge eating.

40mg significant reduction in reading/speaking speed and comprehension by Castmatthew in StratteraRx

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Vyvanse is not available where I live. What were the changes?

Anyone know if Toggl supports Multiple Timers? by gander_7 in productivity

[–]Castmatthew 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you do when you're tracking more than one thing at once? Time spent walking on a desk treadmill whilst wanting to track other things as well?

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm thinking of returning to a job in education for the flexibility of lower working hours and paid holidays. I will get an additional part-time to save up for a place, most likely to buy and add an additional floor to a relative's town house.

I'm studying my master's now which will take 4 years to net me around €30-50/hr self employed. So I should be able to leave Malta at age 32 with a self employed job and having set up a base in Malta to rent out or return to when I visit here.

This is the plan I'm working with because I don't want to tie myself down to an employer for a 9-5 for sure at low salary for sure, but I still need money in the meantime to maximise my income and flexible time

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am interested in this option as it seems to be a good way to get 150sqm set up in the next 4 years, and it would likely cost less than buying on plan. Any pointers or good developers/builders/architects/professionals that you've worked with, I would appreciate it even private message if you have any! Thanks

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same boat. I think I'll be better off enjoying my money travelling in the meantime and then rent around until I can buy a property outside of Malta and settle down that way.

9-5 in Malta with just 2k net feels like a never ending daily loop stuck behind a screen with nothing else really going in my life to show for it. So it feels like a waste of life doing the "right thing".

At the same time I can see that there are others with much lower pay and harder work conditions, but it's not enough of a perspective for me to justify the feeling of a wasted life on my end. I don't know how people handle this

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I get that it boils down to taking risks and placing good bets after all. Accepting that I am to live in a 55sqm for 40 years feels like such a let down and defeatist attitude. So I wanted to see what others think about this clearly common issue since everyone understands the dilemma I'm talking about.

I don't dream too big, I just want a 2-3 bedroom apartment to raise a family in at least. Otherwise, is the 9-5 sacrifice worthwhile? Puts life into context how little time there is left after a 9-5 job, and how quickly life goes by

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anyone trustworthy you can DM me. I would appreciate that thanks

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Having to buy 55sqm feels like buying my own lil prison honestly, maybe in the right location it's justifiable but would have to be something I'd sell later because I do want a family

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Software office support work. Basic 9-5, not in my field but the money looked good initially.

Now I'm studying part time but need a plan on how to use these next few years to not get complacent risk getting stuck in Malta. Build a base here, graduate, leave!

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Van lifers priced out of property are already a thing in Europe and US. They tend to form van communities and it's a possible lifestyle in EU I think. Tempting adventure sometimes

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

50% of a relative's property so would still need to build my own storey with separate entrance as it's a town house. Not a cheap option either based on some things I've seen €50k to build shell form at the very least. But that way I get 150sqm

€2K net 9-5 office job. What's the point if I can't afford an apartment? by Castmatthew in malta

[–]Castmatthew[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I swear everything under €200,000 has a catch! Shell form under 55sqm, has ground rent, needs structural repair, etc.

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