GinaPera :- ADD / ADHD Community -: Support Group

GinaPera

Joined: 02/05/2010

My Story:

My foray into the field of ADHD began by chance. In 1999, I picked up a library book about the brain. And what I read changed my life and my husband's life. Funny enough, that book was Dr. Daniel Amen's Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.

In that book, I read about something called Adult ADHD, and suddenly I had a clue why, as much as we loved each other, my then-fiancee and I were driving each other nuts! I showed the book to my husband, a neurogeneticist who, as luck would have it, could vouch for the authenticity of the material. "Doesn't this sound like you as a kid?" I asked him. " And, well, doesn't it sound like you now?" He agreed. And off we went to navigate our mental healthcare maze. Meanwhile, I figured other "partners of" were in a similar position, so I started an online discussion group.

It's not enough to say that I was stunned at the widespread ignorance about ADHD, including among professionals. Frankly, I was outraged. There is quite enough suffering in the world that cannot be prevented. The suffering that comes from unrecognized ADHD is not one of them. We have a strong knowledge base about ADHD. We have good treatment strategies. All we lack is more people willing to step into the 21st Century.

Deciding to put to use my background as a print journalist, I became a very persevering (nagging?) advocate for better awareness and evidence-based treatment standards—by lecturing, writing, and leading discussion groups in Silicon Valley and a 600-member Internet group for the partners of adults with ADHD internationally. Oh, and yes, you've probably seen my comments around the Internet. When you are an unpaid advocate for 10 years, you go to war with the army you have: my keyboard.

After a few years, the need became clear for a nuts-and-bolts guide to Adult ADHD, especially as it affects relationships. A guide not only to understanding Adult ADHD symptoms but also the "emotional baggage" that comes with late-diagnosis — baggage carried by both partners in the relationship. I also wanted to provide readers with a consumers guide to Adult ADHD treatment strategies — the particulars of therapy to seek (and avoid), the medication protocol that so few prescribing physicians seemed to know about (and perhaps that's why so many people had unnecessary side effects), and, that big deal breaker: how to get through a loved one's "denial."

That's why I wrote Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D? Stopping the Roller Coaster When Someone You Love Has Attention Deficit Disorder (1201 Alarm Press, San Francisco. 2008).

I am grateful to the many top experts who granted interviews, fact-checked chapters, and endorsed the book. It has won four national book awards and, last I checked, has 65 five-star reviews on Amazon. It's a book I am thrilled to be able to hand to people who are struggling. (Because, after all, I couldn't keep typing the same advice in our support group for another 10 years!)

The book and my unpaid advocacy have been a giant labor of love for several years now, and is my greatest joy to have connected with so many thousands of people and played a small role in elevating their lives.
I write three blogs on Adult ADHD:

http://www.YouMeADD.org
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.org
http://www.ADHDPartner.org

Thank you for your interest in Adult ADHD, and please try to keep an open mind if you are just beginning to learn about it. One fact is clear: ADHD is real, and it affects real people's lives. Maybe even your own or that of someone you love.

Best wishes,
Gina Pera

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Reply: Not sure where to start

Wonderful advice, Raven!

Posted by GinaPera

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Reply: Not sure where to start

Hi J, You are wise to educate yourself before going to the doctor. In fact, count on the...

Posted by GinaPera

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Reply: ADD and coordination

Hi volley, The general answer is yes, ADHD can affect coordination . Your question,...

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Reply: AADD Medication Question

HI there, It is hard to say, because you don't mention if you are taking brand names or...

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Reply: Help

Hi MrsSeitz, You say you are a "really busy family and really don't make plans. We go...

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Reply: Misdiagnosed with ADD

Taking 105 mg Adderall is an extremely high dosage. I encourage you to learn more about...

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Reply: I don't know what to do at this point..

Hi Jrifrenberg, You have my deepest sympathies. It's just not right, is it? For you to...

Posted by GinaPera

Hi Jrifrenberg,

You have my deepest sympathies. It's just not right, is it? For you to have some clear indications that a first-line ADHD medication might work for you and yet this psychiatrists doesn't "get it."

Unfortunately, I'm afraid this situation is more common than the reverse: Psychiatrists who understand the treatment protocol for ADHD.

For one thing, Wellbutrin/Buproprion is not a first-line medication for ADHD. It does help some people with ADHD and for others it makes symptoms such as anxiety worse. It just depends on the individual.

Some psychiatrists mistakenly assume that Wellbutrin is great for their patients with ADHD because it hits several targets that usually require two or more medications. For example, some people with ADHD do well on a stimulant and an antidepressant (simply put, targeting dopamine and serotonin). In this way, some psychiatrists see Wellbutrin as a "twofer."

The other perceived advantage is that it's not a schedule II controlled substance, as are the stimulants. So it requires less paperwork on the physician's part (also a special license).

You would serve your interests best by learning about a methodical medication protocol for treating ADHD and sharing it with your physician (if that's the one you're stuck with). I offer one in my book because I felt it was important for patients to learn how to be more pro-active, given that so many psychiatrists just don't do well in treating ADHD.

I would encourage you to keep advocating for yourself. You sound smart and knowledgeable about what you need and where you'd like to be. Yes, the marijuana usage is a bad idea; it can further exacerbate low initiation, working-memory deficits, etc. So you need to stop. The problem with some psychiatrists is they take a black-white stance on this, instead of seeing the marijuana usage as a possible symptom of untreated ADHD (using it to deal with the anxiety). And using that information to provide better treatment.

It's completely unfair that people with ADHD have to work so hard to get the care they deserve. I wish it were different. But that's the reality. Be pro-active. Be persevering. And know that you are well within your rights in doing so.

Good luck!
Gina PeraView Thread

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Reply: Dr. Quinn / Dr. Perra / Others Advice Please

Hi there, Just to let you know, I'm not "Dr." Pera. Dr. Patricia Quinn is the medical...

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Reply: Dr. Quinn / Dr. Perra / Others Advice Please

HI there, How kind of you to want to reach out to this person. When you say "very...

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Includes Expert Content

Reply: What type of dr/professional do i need for adhd/de...

HI there, First, you should know that you're not alone! I've talked with dozens of young...

Posted by GinaPera

HI there,

First, you should know that you're not alone! I've talked with dozens of young mothers with ADHD who coped rather well in life until the birth of their children. Even women who were very organized and successful at work (and, relatively speaking, in the rest of life) found that their coping strategies broke down at home, including when they became stay-at-home moms.

The biggest problem they report? There is no structure! Self-structuring is not considered an ADHD strongsuit, and when there are few cues in the environment (deadlines, a meeting at 3:00, a boss's email asking when that project will be completed), it's easy to get lost in the minutiae. Instead of focusing on the tasks at hand, it's easy to let anxiety spin out of control. When that happens, it can be tricky to discern what is innate, neurogenetic anxiety or depression and what is the fallout from untreated ADHD.

First of all, I would not dismiss the importance of establishing an effective medication regimen first. Too many people with ADHD (and their physicians) fail to realize just how critical is finding the right medication (and dosage) for you. After that's on board, you can focus on what's left over.

Some people will do best with a professional organizer who has expertise in ADHD, someone to help establish routines, schedules, and organizing systems. Some might benefit from a coach. Until you start the medication, though, it can be hard to know exactly where you need the most help.

As far as finding a professional, it really depends on the resources in your area. Typically, psychologists conduct the evaluation and then you see a psychiatrist for the medication.

In my experience, it's best to identify the most experienced psychiatrist you can find (being board-certified in ADHD should help insure expertise) and ask if they work with a psychologist who can do the evaluation. (Some psychiatrists perform the evaluation, or they might work in a clinic where another professional performs the evaluation.)

If there is a CHADD chapter in your area (check at http://www.chadd.org -- chapter locator), attend a meeting and ask others for recommendations to local professionals.

You can also ask your health insurance company for referrals to specialists in your area.

Overall, there are many ways to find a specialist. No one way. The most important factor is that you have a rapport with the professional and feel confident in his or her expertise. The best way to do this is to educate yourself first on what to expect of ADHD treatment.

I hope this helps.
GinaView Thread

Posted byGinaPera

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