ADHD and substance use disorder support

[Colorfulme2020]

Hi there. New to this site. Just officially diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 56 after years of dealing with substance use disorder. My question is, can you guide me to any virtual/ZOOM meetings that deal with ADHD and addiction?

Thanks!

[Tiggerakafidgity]

Hi Color

Well done for asking out.

I’m afraid I cannot hell you in that area but both addiction and adhd very much include unwanted emotions that one cannot deal with easily.

I’ve been clean blimey I think about 15-16 yrs now.

Wow when I stopped did I have to deal with my own emotions.i hadnt been diagnosed at that time with adhd

Good luck

T

[Colorfulme2020 in reply to Tiggerakafidgity]

Thanks for the reply. I may think about starting my own support group!😀

[Tiggerakafidgity in reply to Colorfulme2020]

Hi that’s a good idea.

But I would say that if you’ve just been diagnosed,first of personally I would get to know your adhd first and concentrate on dealing with your own set of circumstances.

I remember when I was diagnosed I was just advised a few books to read to help understand adhd and learn to except it gently.

Are you on any meds ?

Have you been asked if you would like to go on any meds ?

As this is the first step.this can be completely world and mind changing also.

Also just to make you aware that using substances can cancel out the effects of adhd medication and put you further back.

I guess dealing with substance abuse was to help deal with the fact that you didn’t like who you were in your self and felt slightly departed from the norm in society

Good luck though

T

[Tiggerakafidgity in reply to Colorfulme2020]

Hi again

Here is a link that may help you understand more about substance abuse and adhd

I hope you don’t mind

healthline.com/health/menta...

[Colorfulme2020 in reply to Tiggerakafidgity]

I really appreciate your feedback and support. I have been on Vyvanse for about 3 months. At first it was a game changer (felt really focused and less lethargic) now, even after a dose increase I'm back to feeling sluggish with unorganized thoughts.She put me on Vyvanse because it is less addicting but I'm wondering if I should try Adderall or Ridalin.

[Tiggerakafidgity in reply to Colorfulme2020]

Hi

I’m on 70mg of vyvsnse

But as I said if you start mixing it with other distances it’s not going to work.

Ok felt some Days that the meds have not worked but you can have have a bad day but they do say it can take up to six months for the meds to fully work.

What you do have to remember is the the meds arnt suddenly going to make you organised etc etc.this is up to your self to change this and change your ways.think as the med slowing and calming your brain to a level where you can then practice your physical

T

[JW621 in reply to Colorfulme2020]

I’m on 70 mg of vyvanse and 20 mg adderall i still feel sluggish

[JW621 in reply to Colorfulme2020]

What is your drug of choice?

[Colorfulme2020 in reply to JW621]

Was alcohol, but now after my second relapse and third time in inpatient rehab, I am a polysubstance abuser. Interestingly enough, last year I became addicted to the stimulants (coke, meth), which makes sense with the ADHD.

[JW621 in reply to Colorfulme2020]

I’m in recovery for cocaine and got diagnosed with adhd

[JW621]

Hey there. I just been diagnosed and going through recovery.

[Colorfulme2020 in reply to JW621]

I started in recovery in 2009 with AA. DOC then was alcohol. Then moved to abusing prescription pain meds and combining with the alcohol. Scary combo. I'm lucky I'm still here! Looking back I feel like there is so much that I missed out on because of my undiagnosed ADHD and then my struggles with substance abuse. Interestingly enough, back in 2009 I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. Then, about 6 months ago my new therapist mentioned that alot of people who actually had ADHD were actually being missed diagnosed with Bipolar! Finally, it all made sense.

[JW621]

Check out unity recovery

[MorningDanceTrece in reply to JW621]

What's that, unity recovery, please?🤔

[Neurolancer]

Hi -- I was diagnosed with ADHD around the age of 45 when my kids were diagnosed. About the same time I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When I was in college I had access to high quality amphetamines for a year. I took a couple of doses recreationally and immediately figured out that I felt calm and focused and had an even energy level, among other benefits. I took a little every day until I ran out. I also had access to cocaine but this was disastrous with jagged ups and downs -- I stopped that entirely. A few decades later I realized that I'd been self-medicating -- an attempt to manipulate my chemical imbalances with other substances. Because that's what you have -- a neurochemical imbalance that you were born with. There is NO SHAME in having tried self-medicating -- it's in fact a reasonable positive adaptive behavior, but we all know the problems. When I was diagnosed I started taking Vyvanse and Adderall, which are very similar to the stimulant I took in college, and it helps me focus, calms me and helps feel more like myself.

You should research ADHD and SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER or DUAL DIAGNOSIS and you'll find options. EXCELLENT places to start are NAMI, SAMSA, CHAD. These sights offer quality research/data, and the first and third are run by people who have lived-experience or are family members.

Here's a 12-step site for DUAL DIAGNOSIS (that's any neuro-physical or mental health or emotional disorder (includes ADD/ADHD) plus substance abuse). draonline.org

Here's a recovery/rehap center that has EXCELLENT information on ADHD and substance use disorder -- check out this page: therecoveryvillage.com/ment...

It's NEVER too late, so keep up the desire and effort!

[JW621]

I also am recovering from addiction with adhd

[MorningDanceTrece]

Welcome.

I'm a member of an organization called SMART RECOVERY.

People use it for Alcohol Use Disorder, Substance Use Disorder, and a host of maladaptive behaviors.

Many of us also have ADHD.

SMART RECOVERY has a 4 Point System with about a dozen tools many of which are helpful and useful to deal with ADHD traits.

While SMART RECOVERY's purpose and goal isn't to address both SUD and ADHD many of us do do so.

They have a plethora of ZOOM meetings.

I'm certain that some meetings are more accepting of discussion of ADHD than others.

Here are 3:

Sunday night, Monday night, and Friday night (in Massachusetts, USA) there are three meetings that are on ZOOM that are connected to Emerson Hospital in Concord Massachusetts.

There is a free SMART RECOVERY app for people in USA and a website for everyone else through which the ZOOM meetings can be accessed.

I hope this helps.