At my first psychiatry visit, the doc considered a diagnosis of AADD along with depression. He gave me Wellbutrin and said it has ADD-fighting properties too. He also gave me a 2-week course of Ambien.

The morning after the first night of real sleep, I had focus and concentration for once.

Last night was the follow-up visit. I mentioned that I was still having the focus problems, but he said he wanted to give the Wellbutrin a little longer to take affect before considering a stimulant on top of it. Then I said "well, you know, while I was on the Ambien I had normal energy and could act on the motivation the Wellbutrin was giving me, and focusing on work wasn't much of a task at all." Then he said that a chronic lack of sleep will cause cognitive impairments and memory and concentration problems. If getting sleep does the same thing for me as being on a stimulant would do, he's more than willing to keep me on a low dose of Ambien long term.

Now I'm wondering how many other people who suspect they have ADD are really battling sleep difficulties.

All I know is that, for me, sleep is the "miracle" cure I've been looking for. I'm not cranky and irritable, I'm not ready to go to bed by 7:00 p.m., I can finish my work faster, I have time to do things with the kids in the early evening. Gosh, I even managed to drive the 25 miles to town one night after work because I'd finished up early enough AND wasn't too tired to consider driving "that far, that late at night."

I love a good night's sleep.