Medicating With A Dissociative Disorder

[Poofycat]

@Friday Thanks really interesting information. Thank you for sharing!

My husband is textbook ADHD so I've done a lot of reading about it in order to try to understand what he's going through. And maybe saying I'm 'definitely' not ADHD is too definitive, I guess it can't be ruled out at this point since the PTSD symptoms are so strong that they're likely overpowering any other diagnoses I might have. I have noticed that my dissociation + hypervigilance mimics a lot of how my husband acts sometimes, which is a really fun mix to have in a household!

I wouldn't necessarily call the effect Adderall has on me 'calming'. It's more of a focus thing. Like before I take it all I can see is all the tasks I have to finish that day but I can't figure out how to prioritize or even the steps I need to take to finish an individual task. Once I take it everything becomes more clear. Even during a panic attack I can take Adderall and be able to identify what most likely set me off and work from there to calm down while not dissociation. So I guess I find it very grounding. Which is calming. Huh.

 

[Poofycat]

Regarding the Adderoll acting as a calming effect, it may be the dosage. You take 2.5 mg? seriously?
I thought the smallest dosage made was 10 mg but not sure, and of course they can be scored.

Dosage is definitely a factor. I get 5 mg pills and divide them as necessary. I have my doctor's permission to take up to 10 mg per day as needed. My husband has ADHD and take a MUCH higher dose than I do. At higher doses, for me, it goes from helping me focus to feeling like I drank a ton of coffee which is not a good feeling for me.

My takeaway from my experience with psych meds is that there is an art to prescribing and I feel very fortunate to have found someone who is willing to think outside the box while also not trying to just medicate my problems away. I thought this info might be helpful for people like me who aren't helped, and might actually be harmed, by the traditional thinking of 'treat anxiety with benzos'.

 

[Hope_N_Highwater]

Please don't take my experience as any kind of recommendation.
Taking medication that has not been prescri...

I fully understand your you wanting to state a disclaimer. Thank you 7Cs

 

[Hope_N_Highwater]

This is a very interesting conversation..... an gives me hope that there my at least be an option. I am wondering if there are any studies to indicate that PTSD/ dissociation affects the same part of the brain that ADHD does.... the shut down of the pre frontal cortex..... which would explain why the stimulents of aderall or dextrostat might be effective to help focus and keep a person more "present" with both diagnosis. Any thoughts anyone?

 

[mamachick]

Poofycat I think this information is very helpful. I do think finding a good dr to think outside the box is a huge factor in getting any help. I take xanax for sleep and do need it, but needed the adderoll to function during the day too, even if in smaller doses. I have been scolded for taking less than prescribed....They did not taper me or anything, just zapped it. I feel dumped on my face frankly.

 

[Poofycat]

There are studies that show that people with ADHD are more likely to develop PTSD. Might be related to the med issue.

 

[Poofycat]

@brat17 They just took you off Adderall cold turkey? That's sounds so irresponsible! Did they offer anything as a replacement?

I forgot to mention earlier that I also take L-Theanine as a supplement. It's a very mild stimulant that you can get over the counter. It's an amino acid found in tea.

 

[mamachick]

I didn't know that Poofycat. Yes, cold turkey. I was dropping weight. Was about 125 lb and little appetite with stomach problems (GERD, esophagitis, etc). Lost some over time, but then my sister diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died within 6 weeks. I lost even more, was down to about 90 lbs and husband (really should be ex husband) had all control of meds. Some days I felt like I didn't want to take the adderoll because I was too exhausted when awaking but he wouldn't let me go without. He likes me to get lots of work on house done. When dr saw me deteriorating, yanked the adderoll all together.

In one respect it is good, husband can't force me to take now so I don't have to paint the 3 story house. I have a lot of medical problems and a lot of untreated pain, and the adderoll pushed me through that stuff. The bad is that I feel very disconnected and null energy, motivation, or enthusiasm at all....given up I guess.