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im currently thirteen years of age and ive been told i have adhd. I visit a counselor every once and then who tests me with games like sorry or abalone.
for the past 3-4 months, ive had to take the adhd slow release pill 'Concerta.' Within the last week or two, my dosage was increased from 36mg to 54mg because of a grade issue in school. my parents figured that my old dosage had 'worn off' and I 'outgrew it'
i was concerned as if there were any side affects or anything to this... i have an anxiety problem and im sort of shy, but socially, i have lots of friends and fit in well. however, ever since i got this new dosage, i come home from school extremely depressed. I feel like ive lost my friends, and my house feels so gloomy. My house is something i dread on my way home... none of my friends live near me and school is possibly the best place of the day for me to go to.
im physically active and i enjoy biking, but ever since i started this new dosage it seems like I can't have good times anymore, and I can't remember the enjoyable times i used to have in my house.
for me, finding out i had adhd was extremely dissapointing, because i dont find myself to be that type. my parents do little to help me when im depressed, because all they care about is my school work. They ask me what i would like to do to be happy... Usually i can't think of what would make me happy besides a dirtbike which they would probably never get me.
the only thing i could think that would make me happy is my friends, which i have a lot of. I miss my normal state, when i didnt feel so lonely at home, and miss school so much. if my medicine has anything to do with this, please give me any good tips or advice. i really never figured id have adhd, but of course, all adults say 'its common' or 'its ok' or whatever to make me feel better. seriously though, i didnt need to know that.
I dont know why my dosage is so high... i feel more depressed then overactive or anything like that. I'm not hyper, my friends take me normally, and i think this whole adhd thing (no offense to anyone out there) sucks :(
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Do you have a counsellor you can see at school?? It is always good to talk about sad feelings.
Ask your parents to take you to see the Dr again. If you are uncomfortable ask the Dr if you can talk alone and tell him/her everything you said here. Write it down before you go in so you don't forget anything.
Maybe try to chart how you feel and when. Like how you feel before your dose, and after, at the end of the day and at school things like that. That would help.
You need to feel happy. I don't know anything about your meds, but I do believe that you know you best. If something isn't right then you are the one who would know.
The only other thing I would suggest is that maybe puberty is affecting your meds. If you have just had a growth spurt or a big change in hormones it could be affecting things, or if you are just coming off of a growth spurt and eating less. ( I know gross Mom-like thing to mention...but I have 2 teens and a tween all boys...)
As for your meds. If you are ADD they will help. Don't stop taking them suddenly...that would be bad for you.
Hang in there. Ask questions, let someone know how you are feeling. You aren't alone.
If you need someone to talk to, I will listen. I have a 13 YO who is ADD too...
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I am a little confused as to why you were diagnosed with ADHD at thirteen...sorry but my warning bells are going off, and it does not sound like you have ADHD if it was diagnosed in your teens. Esp since you are having a hard time with your medication, there is something definetly out of wack. First off to put you on Conserta after finding out you are ADHD all I have to say to that is "WTF". Conserta is more or less kiddie cocaine, its effects are the same as an adult taking cocaine, including the withdrawl symptoms. It is a "release" tablet that last 12 hours, but what you are discribing is not a side effect, When taking Concerta its like drinking 11 pots of coffee, you are in no way numb. you are basically flying high. Most children on this drug have to take something to calm them down at night. As far as your school studies??? Gosh how is that drug going to help? I believe I remember seeing this drug advertized on tv saying that it will help kids with school work..
They first started using this drug to treat narcolepsy, it works well for this, but is still being tested for ADHD. The only benifit so far is that it is a once a day tablet,
I am very interested in why they diagnosed you with ADHD, and if they looked into the possibility of you having Bi-polar, from your discription on how you are feeling you sound manic.
I would definetly talk to a school councillor and or your doctor.
Hugs
Melissa
Have you talk to your parents about how you feel? I'm sure they would be willing to discuss it with your doctor.
Sometimes doctors and parents make decisions for children that children don't like, but it still may be what's best for you. Adjusting your dosage might help.
I am a little disturbed by the adult responses to this 13 year old. Even adults can have ADHD and I'm sure her parents are not taking the issue of medication lightly.
