[sweetmadness]

Hi, I'm 25 I have schizoaffective and Adhd. I struggled at first to understand what all this means for me, and which treatments to pursue.

My main issue is: I get manic easily, but I try to keep it under control. I have been substituting a lot of my emotional issues with keeping constantly busy because my last psychiatrist didn't seem to grasp the depression issue.

But on the flip side, I had what appears to be adhd. I am on a very small dose of Adderall to help with that. I don't know how to describe adhd but I do know that it helps. I'm just not sure if I need to take it every day for life, or how long I will take adderall and how long it will help me.

This is extra advice I'm seeking not to replace a doctor's.

People don't understand depression. I get like this, I get chest pains from how severe the sorrow and depression is. I get fatigued and I don't want to go anywhere.

So recently I made a step in finding a new psychiatrist. I told him as much as I could, and he prescribed me Wellbutrin to help quit smoking, adderall in the morning and abilify.

I feel guilty about taking Adderall, but I need it. I need it to stay alert but is that what real ADHD is about? Like I fidget non-stop and I keep looking around the room because I am lacking the chemistry/energy to make up for it.

I just don't know, it's really hard having all these labels. I'm trying to be careful mostly when I start Wellbutrin I will be making sure I don't get euphoria or mania but why can't I just focus like everyone else?

Are there any other things that can benefit long-term energy and fatigue biologically? I know that medications can supplement some help but should they work like this? I don't want to replace something vital.

Hope this made sense. I've felt happy for the first time in months and months since taking my first dose.

Does this mean I lack dopamine or what? Does any of this make sense chemically speaking?

EDIT: To sum it up, I'd feel more comfortable if I knew exactly to a T what's wrong with my brain/biology to cause these blocks.

[Tangerine87]

I'm no doc but if ure manic or get mania, Wellbutrin might cause a manic reaction because it is a anti depressant. I had terrible reactions to wellnutrin.

[sweetmadness]

I'm going to see if Wellbutrin works and at least give it two months. I still am nervous about Adderal but it's prob the most important aspect of my treatment that's why I hate that it's a controlled substance. It helps me focus and I couldn't drive a car before I started taking ADHD meds. Two weeks after I was first prescribed stimulants I got my license. It improves my memory so it is good for me. Memory is affected by bipolar and schizophrenia which I have that's why it's been a life saver and I can't function without it not because I've taken it but because it actually works and makes me feel normal.