Not sure if I have GAD or ADHD! Please help!

[Badger55]

Hi all, I will try to make this short. I am a 24 year old male, with a good family, friends, job, and good overall health.

In high school, I got mostly B's, when I was capable of As. I was tested for ADHD. They told me I did not have it, but I could benefit from Ritalin, so I gave it a try.

I really liked it, but my grades didn't improve, so I stopped taking it. I remember being in a good mood, and getting a lot done.

From the end of high school (2007), to 2010, I wasn't on any medication. This was my first two years in college. I was nervous a lot, didn't get good grades, and didn't have luck with the ladies.

In 2010, I saw a psychiatrist who said he detected a bit of depression, so he put me on Xanax. It sucked. It put me to sleep, so I asked for something else. He gave me Lexapro.

I've been on Lexapro since late 2010. It calms me down. I can organize me thoughts, am much better with women etc. I used to have a problem with my temper, but no longer, as long as I remember to take it each day.

Unfortunately, in the past 6-9 months or so, this stuff has really bogged me down. I'm not sure if its the cold, or what, but I don't like it. If I don't have work one day, its very hard for me to get out of bed and do things. I'm not depressed or anything, I just don't want to get out of bed. I run on the treadmill every day, but I REALLY have to try hard to get up off the couch and walk to the treadmill. It just seems everything takes effort. I'm just bogged down.

Any thoughts on what might be the cause?

[kconnors]

Hello Badger55,

Welcome to the forum . . . glad you stopped by and shared your experiences with us . . .

You seem to be managing many aspects of anxiety and Lexapro appears to be working for you . . . You say that in the last 6-9 months, "this stuff" has bogged you down . . .I'm not sure what you mean by "this stuff" . . . do you think it is a reaction to the Lexapro? Perhaps, since you have been on Lexapro for 2 years, you might consider a reassessment as to the effectiveness of the drug and/or the dosage . . . my colleague had a similar issue, not with Lexapro, but after more or less two years the dosage needed to be increased . . . not by much, but it seemed to do the trick . . .so, you may want to chat with your prescribing doctor re: Lexapro and/or dosage.

If you find that the cold weather has an impact on you, it may be seasonal affective disorder which is not unusual . . . I live in Canada and when it is snowing and overcast and icy and I have to put on 50 layers of clothes and walk like a penguin, well, most days, I don't even want to get into real clothes . . . now, some folks take medicine for seasonal affective disorder . . . I usually make a deal with myself . . . if I get out of bed and do x, y, and z including eating properly and exercise (even if it means looking and walking like a penguin), then I get to do a, b, c as my reward (that is usually homemade hot chocolate as my evening snack made with the good chocolate) and, I dare say, an oatmeal cookie . . . .yep, it is a bit of a childish approach but it does get me up and moving . . . I find that once I start doing something, then I am good to continue . . . .you have the treadmill which is fantastic, but don't stop there . . . even if you have to do things in a step like fashion . . .for example, Day 1, get up and get dressed and do a, b, and c and then veg for 30 minutes then get up and do x, y, and z . . . do this for several days . . .then on Day 10 or whatever, get up and get dressed, but don't go back to the couch until it is 7 p.m. and fill your day with activities . . .anything from the treadmill to housework to going outside and walking to whatever . . . .this may help you break the attraction to your couch  . . .

Do consider a visit back to discuss your meds and perhaps you might even consider volunteering on your days off to give you a reason to get up off the couch . . . . let us know how you are doing and you are not really bogged down . . .you've hit a bit of a speed bump, but with all you have accomplished in managing your symptoms, I am confident that you will succeed in putting this speed bump in the distance . . .take care, kc