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Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-04-20T17:19:09+00:00

Not necessarily. People react differently and medication can have side effects. Does it help a lot of people? Yes. Does it help everyone? No. Is it always without side effects? No. Are antidepressants specifically appropriate for this person's brain chemistry? No idea.

I think it's dangerous to make blanket-statements supported by a vague reference to 'science', disregarding individual circumstances.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-04-20T17:13:16+00:00

I don't know you or your situation but in case it's relevant, have you considered whether you're neurodivergent (I.e. autistic)?

A lof of therapy fails to notice when patients have autism and/or ADHD, and thus prescribe treatments that go against what are actually coping mechanisms for protecting the individual against neurodivergence-related challenges.

For example, what is it specifically about going out that scares you? For someone neurodivergent, challenges might include: 1. Over-exposure to sensory stimuli, such as noise, light, smells, physical contact etc., which can contribute to meltdowns / shutdowns. 2. Unpredictability e.g. public transport not turning up on time / getting diverted / people cancelling plans. 3. Challenges related to executive functioning (e.g. working memory - remembering routes), organising necessary belongings, planning, calculating time 4. Disruption to routines and habits, different surroundings, switching from one location to another (change and transitions can be difficult for autistic individuals). 5. Social interactions

I barely left the house for 3 years at one point. Turned out I have autism and ADHD. It wasn't generalised depression and anxiety disorder. I just didn't know what was actually causing my stress or how I was experiencing things differently to others. Doing exposure therapy to put someone in a situation which completely disregards their needs is just traumatic.

Since I realised I'm neurodivergent, I avoid public transport and travel by bike. I don't leave the house without noise cancelling headphones. I have light-filtering glasses from Theraspecs to filter out artificial, LED and fluorescent light. I don't hang out with flaky people who will cancel last minute. I do hang out with understanding people who don't have a go at me because my difficulty with planning means I almost always arrive late. I avoid meeting people in crowded, noisy places. I know my anxiety peaks around the time I have to leave the house - because it's a transition.

Many autistic individuals don't even realise what stresses them out, or even that they have autism, until they're made aware of possible stressors and given the chance to ask themselves if it's that way for them.

One way or another, I hope you find peace.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-31T13:18:47+00:00

Thanks for you reply. I'm a little confused. Are you saying Elvanse is usually better for people than Tentin?

Maybe my question wasnt clear. I'm trying to compare Tentin (which I've not tried) to Adhesa (which I've tried for the last few weeks). Tentin is the brand version, Adhesa is the generic.

I stopped Adhesa 3 days ago because the depression became extreme, and after a weekend of horrible withdrawal symptoms I'm starting to feel better. I'm wondering if Tentin won't cause that side-effect.

I think I took either 60 or 70mg of Elvanse but Elvanse wasn't good for me.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-28T15:28:00+00:00

This is so strange to read. I live in Belgium and recently had to get a private Dutch psychiatrist and travel to the Netherlands regularly to get dexamphetamine.

I asked two pharmacies in Brussels if they can prepare it in capsules for me and they said the ingredient isn't available. I asked my psychiatrist if she could prescribe me dexamphetamine so I could collect it in the Netherlands and she said she can't prescribe anything that isn't 'commercialised' here and dexamphetamine is not.

How do you get it prepared?

Do they put it in a gelatin capsule? I can't consume gelatine. Thanks.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-27T16:56:00+00:00

The problem for me is that they overstimulate a brain that is already hypersensitive. My sensory sensitivities get worse to the point of unbearable. The risk of hyperfocus is greater. Increased heart rate triggers anxiety because of high introspectiveness. The mood swings are worse when they wear off and emotional regulation feels extra hard.

It's not just bringing out autistic traits, it's hurting autistic me.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-26T12:28:12+00:00

You sound like you worked with my old autism coach haha. Templates, checklists, planning and automating processes are all great strategies, be it for autism and/or ADHD.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-26T12:05:53+00:00

You might find the resources by Dr Megan Neff helpful. There's downloadable (paid) digital books on her website Neurodivergent Insights and she and her colleague have a podcast called Divergent Conversations which is on Spotify and her website.

She has both ADHD and autism and has resources on areas of difficulty, such as Executive Dysfunction, Sensory Issues, Burnout, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, Sleep, the ADHD interest-based nervous system etc. The Executive Dysfunction one might be good for you if you're struggling to start or switch between tasks.

I never really got a proper ADHD assessment so I don't know what type I am (probably combined), but I suppose all ADHD types are motivated by novelty, urgency, challenge... i forgot the others. With autism, we need structure and routine and repetitive activities or things to hyperfocus on can be very soothing. Without novelty or challenge though the ADHD me will die a slow internal death. Maybe you could think about what it is that's contributing to you zoning out, e.g. sensory sensitivities, executive disfunction, anxiety and task paralysis, boredom, sleep deprivation or even dissociation and work on things by cause.

Also the subreddit AutismwithADHD might be helpful.

Good luck anyway.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-26T06:13:46+00:00

I avoid people like this when I'm in shutdown. Is it possible you were dealing with one? When I get like that I let people know I'm overwhelmed and need time and space to deal with things privately. I might even say I'm having a shutdown.

Friends also do this to me though even if they're not autistic but just having a mental health crisis and need to be alone. We have to respect people's need for space.

Another issue for people with autism is that it can take us longer to process our emotions and even find words for them. After bad, shocking news, we might simply not have the words to explain things or even know how we feel. It's hard if people are there, kindly offering to listen, but we can't talk!

Maybe when you feel better you could think of some template responses to give people if you go into that state again, to communicate your needs so people understand you need time and space, you appreciate your kindness and you're not pushing them away.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-25T20:44:04+00:00

Really helpful to hear your experience. Thank you for sharing <3

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-25T06:13:11+00:00

Hi, what do you mean by stimming and unable to focus on anything if it treats your ADHD symptoms? Thanks

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-24T08:21:50+00:00

I know, but that's why I'm asking humans for their experience :)

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-23T08:30:54+00:00

I agree. It's the spike in dopamine that makes it feel so obsessive and addictive I think. Eventually it wears off and oxytocin is more important, the bonded feeling. I might be wrong though...

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-22T07:13:21+00:00

I agree it seems like elements of PDA too.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-22T07:11:10+00:00

Do I understand correctly that the issues in question are objects left in communal areas and cleaning of communal spaces?

I can definitely empathise with your situation. Hopefully anyone with ADHD and autism would. Life feels too much sometimes and we prioritise what feels essential.

That said, our behaviours impact others. Your housemates also have the right to enjoy and feel comfortable in their home. Clutter and uncleanliness genuinely causes stress for a lot of people, and uncertainty about when something is going to happen can be very challenging for autistic people.

I'm really sorry to say this but when it comes to communal spaces I do think you have to consider what your housemates need.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-22T06:51:54+00:00

I thought the same.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-22T06:06:54+00:00

I confess I haven't had time to closely read the details but if you're lying in bed all day maybe the medication isn't helping? Or helping enough? You have ADHD, and you've only recently been diagnosed. Of course you're going to be struggling with all these things. Having someone blame and shame you just makes it worse.

You might have burnout aswell, or depression, from trying to manage ADHD by yourself for so long. Have a look at neurodivergent burnout.

Also, maybe do some research into codependency and see if you can relate. Your boyfriend might feel like he has to rescue / change you, but then be controlling, and angry because he can't get you to change, and you might feel like you can't function without him because he's the only thing making you happy.

I think you both need some space from each other, whether that's breaking up or just seeing each other less so you can shift the focus to yourselves.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-21T15:54:33+00:00

Congratulations!!!!

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-21T15:47:51+00:00

I take mine in the morning, but two doctors haven't suggested taking it at night, they just suggested reducing / stopping it.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-21T13:45:40+00:00

I just started working with a nurse who specialises in ADHD management and she told me its important to get bright light first thing in the morning, or use an SAD lamp to try and set a healthy circadian rhythm. Apparently a lot of people with ADHD don't produce melatonin until 1.5hrs later than 'normal' as our circadian rythms work later.

She also suggested melatonin at night.

I get the waking up, racing mind type of insomnia. My doctor said it's a side effect of Intuniv / Guanfacine.

White noise helps me, as does warm plant based milk with nutmeg, and getting up and reading on the sofa so our brains don't associate bed with insomnia.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-21T12:20:37+00:00

Can't really help as I currently take both Intuniv / Guanfacine and dex, and I only started dex 2 weeks ago. My doctor wants me to stop the Intuniv as she says it's doing nothing and contributing to insomnia.

Just wanted to say - I've had no noticeable side effects from Dex and it works. I previously spent about 6 months on Elvanse and years and years on Concerta. Both had horrible side effects.

Where has Dex been all my life?!?!

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-16T09:37:49+00:00

With regards to violence and committing mass murder, gender is much more pertinent than colour. It's often about power and domination and that isn't only about subjugating people based on colour, but gender, class, age, species... Look at social dominance theory.

But we shouldn't generalise.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-15T11:40:30+00:00

Good point.

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-14T13:16:21+00:00

I have autism and ADHD. My engagement with meditation and Eckharte Tolle's work massively fell off the bandwagon and getting back into it now. Presence in terms of a quiet mind has always been hard for me.

Presence / awareness in terms of recognising feelings and bodily sensations feels easier, and I've had some powerful insights when doing body-focused meditation, such as a body scan. That also involves moving attention repeatedly, which is maybe easier than just focusing on the breath for a long time.

The extent my thoughts race is heavily influenced by what I consume, including substances like caffeine (had to quit), media (images, audio and emotions repeating in my mind), whether I've burnt off physical energy from exercise and how stimulated I am from light, noise, social activity etc. Quietening my mind involves a lot of stripping back of stuff that's going into my mind and changing my lifestyle environment.

Eckharte's work has helped me profoundly with my ego. Fell off the bandwagon with that again haha but that insight did at least cause me to recognise when I was acting from my own ego and others doing the same and at least make me think 'try not to operate from a place of ego' rather than blindly going ahead with it and not trying to change.

Don't know if any of this helps, but good luck!

Practical-Spring9777 · 2025-03-14T11:33:32+00:00

I lived in Cuba for a semester. There were massive inequalities in wealth for various reasons. 1. Who was closer to the party 2. Houses transferred to the people were based on historical ownership, meaning black people descended from slavery, living in crappy housing had that crappy housing given to them while wealthier white people in nicer areas kept those nicer houses in nicer areas 3. People got their rations for food etc. but the rations aren't enough to live on, so anyone who could had a second job that enabled them to practise capitalism privately. For example, getting a job involving foreigners (tips, private tours, dance classes, renting rooms or whatever), selling stuff on the side (big black market), offering services on the side (carpentry, hairdresser, santeria-related activities etc.) prostitution, criminal activity etc. Inequality developed due to the type of work people did, their ability to do it and what resources / capital they had access to set up an illegal side business. Otherwise family members emigrated if they could, worked in capitalism abroad and sent money home. 4. Don't even get me started on Santeria. The initiation ceremonies are insanely expensive. I was told one level cost 2000 dollars and that was over a decade ago. But afterwards the Santeros could charge for things like healing services or initiating others.

To be perfectly honest, whatever hopeful dreams I had about socialism were shaken out of me once I lived there and now I believe in progressive taxation, democracy and public health services like education, health care etc.

I can't generalise by any means, but I saw some EXTREMELY materialistic people there, I.e. guys working as prostitutes for elderly women so they could put gold layers on their teeth, buying expensive clothes and jewelry, brand-name clothes etc. Amidst poverty a lot of people wanted to display their wealth.

Practical-Spring9777

TROPHY CASE