Comments on: Crystal Meth’s ADD / ADHD Connection Part 2

By: Pete Quily

Pete Quily — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:15:20 +0000

Sally would suggest finding someone who knows enough about adhd to diagnose it properly. many do not know. ask your closest adhd support group for a list of names of those who do. bipolar can look like adhd, adhd can look like bipolar and you can have both. Anyone who knows adhd well should be also able to diagnose bipolar. ADHD folks are pretty entertaining but be on meth long enough and you won’t be.

“i go really quiet and just want to be by myself and organise things and get all the things done i have been putting off.” that sounds like a common description of someone with adhd on adhd medication. Unlike crystal meth there’s no drano involved and shouldn’t make you paranoid.

Girls and women with ADHD have much higher rates of Anorexia Nervosa, 2.7 time higher here are some reasons why
http://bit.ly/olT5Cr

By: Sally womack

Sally womack — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:15:52 +0000

Also i have had 2 assessments for bipolar recommended by therapists but the patterns weren’t fitting i havnt feel right for a few years now but most of the time im so happy and enthusiastic about life but there are random days when im a depressed mess for no reason i just wish i wasn’t like a yoyo all the time

By: Sally womack

Sally womack — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:06:05 +0000

Hi guys I’ve been reading all your comments and just wanted some advice if you can spare the time. I havnt been diagnosed with ADD and never thought anything of it till recently. I’ve always been a loud bubbly girl very childlike and appears confident but at the same time too serious and mature for my age. im now 21 have had serious issues with anorexia which i have now overcome but am left with so much anxiety its unbearable at times. I thought the way i am was just due to that but after reading into symptoms of add im confused. I can never sit still always playing with something or figiting i try so hard to concentrate and im getting better at it but only when i am used to doing the specific task if its something new im just unable to listen think clearly or follow a set of instructions which just makes me panic. I don’t know y but i find myself putting people in awkward situations that i know they don’t feel comfortable in or being really inappropriate thought thinking. I’ve always been lively and weirdly unique and most people who meet me think im either drunk or high. I have taken meth on a fair few occasions over the past year and everytime i feel so relaxed i have no thoughts in my mind still get the rush which is the best bit then after that i just feel mellow and i go really quiet and just want to be by myself and organise things and get all the things done i have been putting off. After a while i get paranoid when around others even close friends because i know im acting so different i feel like a different person but i know when to stop and i want to because im bored of feeling no emotion which makes me think do i really want tks find out if i have add will it take the fun out of me? Thanks for reading this any advice is appreciated

By: addled

addled — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:40:27 +0000

Oh, and laaaaate response to David. I fully relate! I’m gay too – well 90% lesbian, which one psychiatrist deemed the source of my problems. Not homophobia of course! Or ADD..or anxiety..would love to hear via email what your thoughts on the GLBTQ (have I missed anyone??) community thinks about ADD/ADHD. I’ve only told 3 people, 2 think I’m a slave to the medical establishment…the other one’s autistic, she’s ok with it

By: addled

addled — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:33:52 +0000

As a typical ADDer, I haven’t checked the web for a while, and can’t find your email addresses Mike and April…did I mention I’m having a Dex holiday? Disorganised incredibly. But it does make me angry that others are forced to self-medicate with meth for years because their doctors won’t believe they aren’t simply drug-seeking. There is an easily observable difference between an ADD/ADHDer on meth (quiet, concentrating, more confident at times) and a regular addict (super-energy and strength, focus all over the place..kind of like us without meds)!
What country’s health system are most of the posters dealing with here? I am guessing America, so tough on drugs and yet a country that recognises ADD/ADHD. Surely there’s a decent doctor who can understand and put you on the right meds somewhere? Here in Australia, where they don’t recognise it as a ‘disability’, I told my doctor (and the Health Department, which gives authority for Dex) bluntly that I had been previously addicted to meth and it was for self-medication reasons. They still gave me a script..would it help if you went to rehab for a bit? I did, and I think maybe that helped them trust me.
I wish all the best for Mike & April and all the other untreated people who are risking themselves in a stupid ‘War on Drugs’ that doesn’t recognise that most addicts (not just us) are self-medicating something and need help, not punishment.
Good luck all and fight the medical establishment drongos (Aus for asshole, in a polite way:) for your rights! And happy holidays…..;)

By: mike and april

mike and april — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:51:38 +0000

ADHD is not a myth like alot of people think. My husband is and I’m 33. We both have been fighting addictions since we were young kids. We would like to find a way out of this disease, but come on we all know we can’t be honest with dr’s about our self medications with drugs because then they will not treat us as many of you already know. we are both extreme hyperfocusers and try to deal with everyday life the best we can. To all of you untreated adults we wish the best for you and just remember you’re not alone in this world and we do understand all of you. We all are special people and deserve a chance with life. Good luck to everyone. Feel free to email us anytime….take care and remember you are never alone

By: mike and april

mike and april — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:32:32 +0000

We totally understand all you ADHD/ADD’ers who struggle with self-medication. We don’t judge people for what choice of drugs they use. It’s so sad that people in our age groups were never diagnosised or treated for our disease. Alot of people notice Mike and I are different than them and sterotype was as abnormal or strange. It’s sad that people don’t understand this disease and only think of us self-medicators as drug addicts…..it’s no wonder many of us fall through the cracks. My husband was an alcoholic for years and has been sober from the alcohol for almost two years. We do self medicate with meth occasionally which does slow our racing minds down.

By: mike and april

mike and april — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:24:40 +0000

To all ADHD/ADD ers we fully understand how using meth calms the mind and body. We have gone all our lives untreated by doctors. We are 48 and 33 years old and both addicts and know we are addicts. We use meth occasionally, but the calming effects help us

By: Pete Quily

Pete Quily — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 07:30:46 +0000

Hi Lauri,

just fixed the contact page, give it another try.

Sadly linkrot is the downside of the internet. I’ve listed the name of where i think the study is from can no longer find the study on their site or elsewhere. let me know if you can find it.

By: Lauri

Lauri — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:39:11 +0000

Very interesting material! I have bookmarked this site so I can learn more about the ADHD-addiction connection.

I was disappointed to find that the link to contact Pete Quily is invalid, as is the one (at the beginning of this article) for the “word document that lists various articles”; will have to try Googling the article mentioned.