Unspecified
Sea Gull
Joined: Jan 05, 2012
Age: 45
Posts: 207
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 Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:37 am Post subject: New member (sort of) says hi! |
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To be perfectly honest, this is my second account here.
For my first one I chose a user name I also use several other places, but then I figured I might want to disclose things about myself here that I don't want people to find if they google my other username, so I registered once again.
I hope this doesn't violate forum rules (too badly).
My first user has only two posts and I promise not to use it again.
OK, that said, I suppose I should offer a little bit of a bio. 
I was recently diagnosed with ADD, with additional "Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Not Otherwise Specified".
Hence my name.
I'm in my 40s, and I have a good job and a family, but I have had my issues over the years, and wasn't all that surprised to receive a diagnosis after the (very well played) process I have gone through the last year or so.
Right now I'm in a dealing-with-it phase, which has had both highs and lows, although the lows win hands down.
One specific high came at a rock concert where I decided to let go of a long standing set of inhibitions I've imposed on myself to "fit in". This made the experience so much better, and I don't think I made that much of an ass of myself, so there's some hope in that approach.
Lows include all sorts. I have always felt that if life is a race, I'm late for the starting gun (which might explain why I've always loved Pink Floyd), but the realization that I'm somewhat handicapped means I've probably been signing up for the wrong race anyway, and this is a profound insight. Feel free to help me untie that particular knot.
Anyway, I have been told that I'll be started on Ritalin shortly, and this is about 50/50 terrifying and intriguing. Your input on this is one of the things I came here for in the first place. I would love to hear your experiences with this.
That's it for now, Unspecified signing out wishing you all the best in 2012!
Cheers! |
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Unspecified
Sea Gull
Joined: Jan 05, 2012
Age: 45
Posts: 207
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Hm.
I tried to write a blog entry, but it got nixed.
Apparently, "clickable links" aren't allowed until I've been a member for 5 days.
I didn't include any clickable links, so that's a bit peculiar.
To prevent that what I wrote just gets lost, I'll post it here for now.
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Attempted blog entry follows:
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Part of my motivation to join this community was to learn about Ritalin.
My motivation to learn about Ritalin is that I'm about to start taking it.
This is an attempt at documenting my experience, and the blog format might just suit this idea well.
I was recently diagnosed, and since I haven't started the meds yet, I can invite you to the whole process as it unfolds.
So here goes.
I'm a man in my 40s, with a good job, a slightly dysfunctional but mostly delightful family, a few good friends and many acquaintances. I score ridiculously high on IQ tests, and I learn everything fast. My interests often turn into obsessions, before they're discarded for the next big thing, but this means I have fairly good knowledge about a fair amount of things.
My crippling difficulties are with the daily little things.
I can't balance my budget, and even with an above average income, I'm always in some sort of financial straits.
I can't seem to stay abreast with daily work related tasks like paperwork, which causes friction, less money and no promotions.
I can't seem to finish anything I start, and many things I don't even start.
Even things that I feel DEFINE me are put on hold for so long it makes me cringe to think about them.
And I often ignore or fail to realize the needs of those close to me. (While this clearly is the worst of the lot, it doesn't always feel that way. Which adds to the suffering of my family. )
In sum, these and other aspects of my life has made the whole thing a continuous struggle, and nobody, including me, can understand it.
So I asked my doctor for an assessment, and during most of 2011 I showed up for a variety of sessions, including but not limited to interviews, therapy sessions, and several standardized tests.
In December, the responsible psychologist finally decided on a diagnosis, which in many ways feels like a 'best fit' affair mostly arrived at through elimination of others:
ADD, plus PDD - NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified). Woohoo! 
The more he probes, the more certain he feels. I've teased him about the unspecified bit, but I approve of his conclusion, and feel that the diagnosis has been reached through a thorough, honest process. I also feel that he is more interested in finding solutions and coping strategies for me rather than trying to find a hole to fit my particular shape of peg. If you get my meaning.
OK. So.
Obviously, many people with ADD benefit from taking Ritalin and other related meds, and he's recommended I try. Medication commences within the next few weeks.
Hence this blog; if you are interested in my play-by-play experiences with Ritalin, watch this space.
Cheers!
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See? No clickable links, which makes this automatic response a bit annoying:
'Sorry. Clickable links are not allowed in blog entries until you've been a member for 5 days.'
Does this seem like a good idea, or should I just forget about the whole thing? |
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Tim_Tex
Professor Hineybottom
Joined: Jul 03, 2004
Age: 33
Posts: 41865
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Welcome back to WP! |
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AardvarkGoodSwimmer
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 27, 2009
Age: 50
Posts: 5003
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: New member (sort of) says hi! |
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| Unspecified wrote: | To be perfectly honest, this is my second account here.
For my first one I chose a user name I also use several other places, but then I figured I might want to disclose things about myself here that I don't want people to find if they google my other username, so I registered once again. . . . |
To me, that's very understandable and I think it's fine. I think it would also be fine if someone merely wanted a fresh start. Now, if someone were to set up a second account to do some kind of good cop-bad cop thing or to use one account as an attack dog, that wouldn't be so cool. But you are not doing anything like this. What you're doing is very legitimate and very understandable.
And so, Welcome to Wrong Planet!   
As far as the advantages of finding out about the autism spectrum (I'm self-diagnosed Asperger's), now you know you have a tribe. And also the possibility of bridging some gaps (I tell myself engagement, not conformity as kind of a zen mantra). If I'm in favor of neurodiversity as I am, I'm also in favor of human beings who are neurotypical. I just don't agree with the belief that 'normal' is the only way to be.
We just had a post about use of stimulants. Some of it was a little scary talking about over-the-counter or even illegal use. Will include a link because I do believe in talking and free speech, and it does have some good first hand information.
“So, this is what it's like to not have AS and be normal 4-FA”
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt185626.html
I tried to make the point, as with antidepressants, it's probably trial and error in a respectable sense. That Ritalin might help some people, not so much others, and no doctor in the world can predict in advance. Just that human biochem is complex and somewhat individual. So both you and your doctor need to be willing to take medium step, see feedback, and then adjust. (And sometimes also important to step down in phases even if the drug doesn't seem to be working.)
I'm kind of the same way with paperwork! I mean, something like calling the bank or calling the insurance company is a major project which can drain my best energy. If I was rich, I'd hire a college student to come over once or twice a week and do some of this as I listened in the same room while working on another project. And I wish we had a local autism spectrum networking group with volunteers who would be willing to do this for free. I'd rather save my best energy for constructive things like participating here with Wrong Planet.
Part of it is that my gift is authenticity, and these kind of dealings with officialdom are anything but!
And with creative and/or intellectual projects, I think a large number of unfinished projects are actually kind of helpful. Like you say, you learn a lot about a lot of different things. |
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AnonymousAnonymous
Is Not A Science Experiment
Joined: Nov 24, 2006
Age: 23
Posts: 22779
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome back to Wrong Planet!
_________________
Silly NTs, I have Aspergers, and having Aspergers is gr-r-reat! |
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CockneyRebel
Mick Avory, Sensitive brown-eyed Sweet Pea
Joined: Jul 18, 2004
Age: 38
Posts: 87360
Location: In a quiet and peaceful garden, where gentle Mick Avory-like Sweet Peas grow.
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Unspecified
Sea Gull
Joined: Jan 05, 2012
Age: 45
Posts: 207
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:31 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for welcomes and comments.
I should add that I have a teenage son that has autism. I have been an "NT" parent for as long as I remember, and so I am no stranger to the "spectrum". |
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AardvarkGoodSwimmer
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 27, 2009
Age: 50
Posts: 5003
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Congratulations on having a child. Although not a parent myself, I am impressed with how active and forthright our Parents' Discussion is. |
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Moog
Pussycat
Joined: Feb 26, 2010
Age: 34
Posts: 17643
Location: Untied Kingdom
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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Howdy
_________________
Not currently a moderator |
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Unspecified
Sea Gull
Joined: Jan 05, 2012
Age: 45
Posts: 207
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:40 am Post subject: |
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OK. So I didn't understand my diagnosis at all, did I?
I have PDD-NOS.
ADD is just an add-on that may or may not be treatable with meds, but whatever happens with that, I'll still have my ASD.
I feel less inclined to take brain-altering medicines now.
I think my doc underplayed the PDD because the ADD and the problems it causes with getting off my ass and then finishing what I start might be treatable or at least he has some hope of doing something positive about that.
And maybe he saw how depressed I was from the whole diagnostic process and didn't want to upset me any further. I don't know.
Anyway. Square one. I wasn't expecting that. My wife was, but I wasn't. |
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Mithos
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 22, 2012
Age: 22
Posts: 685
Location: Ponyville, Equestria.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:44 am Post subject: |
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Hola como estas Me Amigo!
_________________
{{Certified Coffeeholic.}}
I have Severe ADHD (Diagnosed), Tics and Mild OCD. [Fully Alert, Test Retaken.]
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Your Aspie score: 128 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 72 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie |
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