I can see clearly now....

[Adam]

WOW.... Let me start off by saying THANK YOU PAUL for this podcast. I have sent you a message or two over facebook, and you were kind enough to share an image I created to visually describe what ADHD feels like.

I'm 42 and have silently suffered with anxiety and ADHD for most of my life. It has gone undiagnosed until recently. Paul's podcast has done SO MUCH to make me realize that it's ok to acknowledge these problems and seek help. When I hear this podcast, I hear the truth. I'm on my 3rd marriage which nearly got ruined because of my illnesses. Thanks to some great doctors, the sliding scale, and the right meds, I almost feel like a new person. LITERALLY.

If you are reading this, PLEASE.... have hope... seek help... any way that you can. That's what I've done.

Going to therapy made me realize that my problems were more than just something that could be talked out. Fortunately, I live in a town with a great facility, and now have a psychiatrist. After a short interview, she knew immediately that I needed some assistance. I was placed on a low dose of Effexor, and I was given some propranolol to help with my social anxiety, which has been crippling. That's a work in progress, but it is helping. This week was the week that was magical, as I was placed on Adderall for my ADHD. I CANNOT believe the difference. I have drive. I do things. I can set goals. It's just so incredible. I'm almost at a loss to really describe the effect, but I am SO thankful!!!! My way of describing the difference is that it's as though my entire life I have been watching TV, and the signal hasn't been great. (pre-digital) It's like there was a white noise that was always present. It affected my viewing, but I just got used to it. Now it's as though it's all crystal clear. I can actually tell when my meds wear off at the end of the day, because I become my usual scattered self. It's remarkable to witness the difference.
And to address what has been said on the podcast and by Paul... Meds don't hide who you are. They TRULY bring OUT who you are! You can be the best self you have to offer.

This week I'm going to try something else based on what Paul has talked about. I'm going to try group therapy. I have come to realize that people without this kind of illness just cannot understand it. I think we have to be OK with that.

I could go on, but I won't. I'm hoping Paul reads these, because it's so important to me to know that he has changed at least one person for the better through his work, and it won't be forgotten. THANK YOU.

[manuel_moe_g]

So happy that professional help has been so beneficial to you. Please take care, all the best.

[Adam]

Thanks, Moe. It's such hard work. Doubly so because my wife has a boatload of issues of her own, so I am trying to navigate my own way and work with hers, too.