Try to find a therapist who specializes in ADHD and understands what you are going through. I would also suggest educating yourself about ADHD. There are so many books out there. Also, keep in mind that sometimes it takes a while to find the proper medication dosage that gives the maximum benefit. If you are still having problems it may be that the dose is too small. Is your doctor knowledgeable about ADHD? Finding a knowledgeable doctor can make a big difference. Good luck Elaine

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I had to find a therapist who specialized in ADHD because I kept getting diagnosed with bi-polar. None of the be-polar meds worked for me. When I finally found the right therapist and psychiatrist specializing in ADHD They put me on meds and gradually adjusted the dose of the med and it has worked for me ever since. Hang in there. Thanks.

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I agree a good doctor or therapist is worth their weight in gold. You could also use the FIND RESOURCES section of this web site to locate a life coach who can help you with organizational and behavioral issues. Retrain your old habits into the new improved you. Good luck.

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There is currently no cure for ADHD, many treatments can help manage ADHD symptoms. Well-controlled research comparing different types of treatment has found that the greatest improvement in the symptoms of ADHD results from treatment with stimulant medication combined with counseling.

However, just as there is no single test to diagnose ADHD, no single treatment approach is right for everyone. A treatment plan should be tailored to the individual. Adults with ADHD may benefit from help with behavioral, social, academic, job-related, or relationship concerns. They may also benefit from job counseling, time management and organizational assistance, coaching, academic or workplace accommodations, and behavior management strategies.

A treatment plan that combines medication, education, behavioral and psychosocial treatments is thought to be the most effective approach. Although the research on psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD is limited, several studies suggest counseling focused on support and education can be an effective long-term treatment.

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I am 34 years old and been adhd my whole life but recently seeked treatment witha therepist.My family doctors through the years had me on antidepressents with no relief so I would quit taking meds. Now therepist had me on concerta 36mg.But to expensive.now I am on ritalin 5 mg. I feel slowed down but not more focused. Maybe I need higher dose or different med? I supposed to take 5 mg. this month then 10mg next month.I hope I get more focused I have a long way to go

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Doctors usually start you out at the smallest dose and then increase the dose until the desired effect is reached. I don't know what the maximum dose is for Ritalin. My 15 year old son is on 72 mg. of Concerta. The dose is not based on weight for the stimulants but on relief of symptoms. You are not required to wait a month before increasing the dosage but that is up to your doctor. If increased dosage doesn't help and/or side effects are a problem, then another medication is usually tried. Do you have prescription coverage with your insurance or do you have to pay cash? Some insurance companies will only pay for certain medications because of the cost. Unfortunately, the cheapest medications don't work as well for everyone. My daughter is on Concerta but she had used Ritalin until she had the better insurance coverage. My husband is on the Adderall XR. The Daytrana patch is supposed to work very well because the medication is more evenly distributed throughout the day but since it's newer, it may not be covered under some insurance plans or cost more. Hope this was of some help to you. Elaine

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I alson was diagnosed with bi-polar for many years and like you none of those meds ever helped me. I finally found a psychologist that gave me the diagnosis of ADHD. She placed me with a psychiatrist that specializes in ADHD. He placed me on meds that make a world of difference. As for behavior my therapist had to assist me in learning to change my behavior and learning how to live without blaming everything on my diagnosis. This was just too easy to do for me. I too read books and read articles on the internet. There is lots of info out there. Thanks.

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I've been reading stuff like the Zen Habits blog and David Allen's book, Getting Things Done. They're not written exclusively for ADD, but they seem to attract many ADD/creative types. They're just habits and systems to work on now that you have the medicinal focus.

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There is so much you can do! I'm an adult with ADHD, diagnosed after my son was, per usual. The best thing that happened for me is that I found Ayurveda, India's 5,000 year old Science of Life. According to Ayurveda, ADHD is a Vata disorder - too much Vata (air and space) in the system creates anxiety, inattention, restlessness, etc. By balancing Vata with diet, exercise and lifestyle recommendations, I am so much healthier and more centered. Life is just better all around! To learn all about Ayurveda, and read articles about ADD and Ayurveda that I have written, visit my site: http://www.whatsyourdosha.com

I also have an e-book called "The Healthy Family Handbook: Natural Remedies for Parents and Children." When my son was first diagnosed I researched nine different healing modalities and came up with several different natural ways that you can help to treat ADHD, I have a chapter all about it called "Concentration." You can find it here: http://www.coffeytalk.com/product_details.php?id=103

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I agree wholeheartedly with everyone so far about finding a therapist. I would also recommend the book about ADD and women by Sari Solden. For the life of me I can't get the title right but she was the first researcher to write on women and ADD and her book changed my life.

Good Luck

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