[mommaserene]

I've been seeing my psychiatrist for almost 5 years now, bipolar...a few months ago my meds all just up and stopped working. I was as manic as I've ever been in my life, and panicked about it. Since then he's doubled the Adderall I was on to stay awake (I thought!) and told me I have ADD. He never said that before, and like I said, I thought I was on Adderall to stay awake because my other meds make me sleepy. The double dose does seem to be helping, though.

My question...can ADD just happen like that? Is it more likely that I've had it for a long time and didn't know it?

[Skully]

More than likely you have had it for a while. Sometimes it is obvious while other times it isn't. Bipolar and ADHD are hard to separate sometimes.

[mommaserene]

Thank you; this is all so very confusing. I started getting in trouble at work for falling behind in November and it just keeps getting worse. I have an incredibly boring job and I just can't get focused on it. I'm trying like mad to get into a department where I get to use my brain again, but in the meantime, boy, is my job tough for me. My 7yo son could do my job, and that's just not ok for someone who's been a top performer and super-multitasker all her life. I joke sometimes that I lose an IQ point every time I walk into work.
I hate being on so many meds, though. The copays add up, so I feel like I'm depriving my family, but if I don't take them, it's like punishing my family. I hate feeling dependent on medicine, but in the end I'd rather that than what I once was. I guess a decent quality of life is worth a lifetime of ups and downs on meds...sucks any way you slice it, but it could be worse.

[justasmallpiece]

Meds are the key! It's like if you are a diabetic or have high blood pressure. The job may be menial but it is keeping food on the table and it is helping with your decent quality of life!

Bless you,