Posted by viridis on December 18, 2002, at 13:49:33
In reply to Re: Neuropsych testing for ADD? » viridis, posted by mattdds on December 16, 2002, at 21:22:25
Hi Matt,
I'm not in NYC, but I can imagine that these "alternative" approaches would be especially popular there. I did CBT for a while, and like the various kinds of therapy I've had, it was helpful to a limited extent. I've found that with therapy, each time I discover a few things about myself, gain a few insights, and learn ways of modifying my behavior. Then it just seems like I'm spinning my wheels and the therapist eventually says I need a better medication regimen.
I definitely do best with meds, generally at low doses. Now that I'm on a good drug combo and have a psychiatrist whom I trust and can talk with freely and openly, I don't feel the need for therapy, although there is considerable evidence that for many, a combination of meds and therapy is the best approach.
I resisted the ADD diagnosis at first and frankly, was skeptical that this was a "real" disorder. But now I'm quite convinced that's it's a genuine syndrome although (as I infer my psychiatrist thinks too) it probably encompasses a spectrum of brain disorders that have similar and/or overlapping symptoms. In any case, I'm a real convert to pstims and find Adderall very helpful for concentration, focus, and enthusiasm, with essentially no side effects.
I also don't think ADD is necessarily a bad thing -- it's more the fit of an ADD person into a highly structured world that can be difficult. I once asked my psychiatrist if I needed all of my meds in a "fundamental" way (i.e., if I had a different career and lifestyle, with less stress and detail-oriented requirements, would Adderall etc. be necessary). He just shrugged and said who knows -- probably not, but he's treating me for my situation, and my situation and context definitely warrant drug treatment.
I think a lot of this is classic "genotype by environment interaction": people have different genetic predispositions to certain mental disorders, but the environment they're in can have a big effect on how (and if) the conditions manifest themselves.
poster:viridis
thread:131883
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021217/msgs/132338.html