[archipelago]

I need some quick advice about this drug. I'm suffering from depression and have a final tomorrow. I can't concentrate at all, I mean nothing. I've read over the flash cards almost a dozen times this morning and nothing is sticking at all. I just feel blank.

My shrink called and said he had some Ritalin. He said it would help me with retention and concentration. I've never taken it before and don't know anything about it.

One question I have is that in addition to the low energy and low concentration with the depression, I also have an anxiety issue (PTSD related) so I don't want to become anxious taking a stimulant.

[archipelago]

So I took the Ritalin and it boosted me up but now I'm have tears running down my face though I'm not feeling emotional. I just feel blank. Still not able to really take in stuff. I'm afraid I'm going to fail.

[DePressMe]

hi, relax and try to keep yourself calm. Let the ritalin work. You'll start pulling things together and be okay.....D.

[archipelago]

Thanks for responding. I was feeling like I was hanging out in the wind for a while there. I have stopped tearing up and feel more relaxed for some unknown reason. I do feel better about the exam, not great but better. I have gone to class and paid attention. I have looked over the material. I don't care about getting a good grade. I just want to pass and let it go because I hate this class, which is part of the problem I guess.

[archipelago]

I did calm down enough to study and feel okay about the exam tomorrow morning, but with the Ritalin, I'm wide awake and it's getting late. I took my sleep meds, but nothing so far. Does this stuff eventually wear off so you can sleep? I have been sleeping like 12 hours. Now it looks like less than 6. Not sure what to do if anything.

[DePressMe]

archipelago, at first the ritalin will keep you up if you take it too late. But, your body will adjust to it and it'll be easier to fall asleep the longer you take it. I've learned that ADHD meds slow my brain down, even though I get an energy boost. I also take sleep meds. But, I've found that when my mind is more focused and not as fast because of the Adderall/ritalin that I can fall asleep better. The sleep meds make me drowsy and sorta "put" me to sleep. The Adderall/Ritalin meds make it so I can fall asleep because my mind is quite--I had to teach myself to relax and allow myself to sleep even though I had more available energy. 12 hours is usually considered to be a lot of sleep. Most people function better on 8-9 hours. Too much sleep can actually be an impairment. Although, 6 is not enough either. Good luck on your exam. You are taking the right steps so I'm sure you'll do okay......D.

[archipelago]

Thanks for your nice and positive response. I don't have ADD or ADHD so I'm not taking Ritalin again. It was just to help me through the problem of not being able to concentrate due to seasonal depression that is on the severe side. Hence the over sleeping. But last night I only got 3 hours. Not sure if the med or stress or both was the issue.

Anyway, I felt prepared but bombed the final. But so did everyone else. It's the teacher's fault, not ours. He promised to grade on a curve so if we all did badly we won't actually fail. I'm trying to laugh it off a bit. I need to do one more project and am exhausted.

[DePressMe]

Yeah, I hate it when teachers give a bad exam and then promise a curve. I had one prof. that had exam high scores in the 50%s. I am a very serious student so scoring 50% on an exam, even though it was one of the highest scores, made me feel bad about myself. I think its a powerplay game for them. Keep your head up. At least the end is in sight--one more project then you can rest for awhile. Sometimes life is a about perseverance and pushing yourself but there is always a reward in the end....like graduation!

[archipelago]

Thanks. I think this will actually happen to us that we will all actually fail but since he promised to eliminate questions we all get wrong and grade on a curve, that means we all could get 50% and end up with As??? Go figure.

I used to be a professor so I don't like this type of thing at all. Besides I'm too old now to be so infantilized by a teacher who doesn't even know our names yet and it was the last class. And on top of the terrible final, he insisted that we stay afterwards and listen to another dull power point. I just left. I am not putting up with stuff like that. I have better things to do.