As a mum of two adult children on the autism spectrum I'm not at all surprised you noticed a teeny tiny amount of your current meds kicking in so quickly. I'd describe that as a thing a neurodivergent brain can do. I'm so glad your experience with these meds is looking positive so far!
Colin you are such a good, articulate speaker, seeing everything in a balanced way. Fortunately for me, l have none of these problems, but my daughter suffers from anxiety and my younger son is on the scale for autism, so l have an interest in what you say. Please do take us with you on your experience with this new treatment, you are a great ambassador.
Glad you're on form now. So many battles fought. I remember an afloat vlog. You, curled up in bed and wretched. Poor Shaun, suffering in a different way. PS: I still dislike Pine Martins.
Another fantastic and honest vid, Colin. You have a great outlook on life and you are totally correct when you say not everyone is the same or experiences things the same. I hope the meds keep on working well for you with as few side effects as possible. Keeping MY fingers crossed for you too, matey.
I was diagnosed with Aspergers aged 38. I'm 56 now I've found out I have ADHD too. I'm exactly like you. None of these things have helped me at all. Venlaflaxine almost killed me. My psychiatrist took me off antidepressants and told me I'd tried all of them and that it was autism causing the anxiety and depression and antidepressants just don't work for me, not to let anyone prescribe them for me again and to learn to ride the peaks and troughs of anxiety and depression. When it comes to the CBT and everything else, I've also tried them all. I don't know if you'll understand what I mean because my psychologist didn't but a nuerodivergent brain is 'wired up' differently to an NT brain therefore its logical to me that these therapies are designed for NT brains, not our brains. She didn't understand what I meant. It seems so clear to me.
CBT didn't work for me either. I was later told by a psychologist that it generally doesn't work for autistic people because we think in a different way. The problem is that the NHS lives CBT. It ticks a box.
"Everybody's different and you have to do what works for you." Wise words 😊 We both wish you the best of everything, and hope this medication helps you Colin. Thank you for a really informed vlog. Take care. Love to you both, from both of us xx
Thanks for sharing this. Autism and ADHD are fairly new knowledge to the medical profession, I feel, and certainly weren't part of the diagnosis available when I and my children were younger. My daughter's second and third children were diagnosed as autistic when toddlers, and this opened a whole world of new knowledge to me. My (ex) wife & I just thought our son was somehow educationally backward once he started school - he was nearly expelled on his first day (biting a teacher) and had difficulty accepting the discipline of others 'being in charge' of him, but once the grandson was diagnosed autistic, things began to fall into place when I read the subject up. Someone even mentioned that some things I do could be 'just on the edge of the autistic spectrum', and for the first time looking inwardly I began to understand that might well be true. I did discuss it with my son, who said that growing up he felt 'everyone else was different to him' - not the other way round. As the years progressed, things at work got to be more stressful (a bus driver, Shaun might understand) which led to me becoming depressed, which caused additional stress. A few more years pass, I change employer but it's just the same, and eventually i have a HUGE meltdown at work, causing me to be off sick for a year, getting into debt and eventually having to sell my house (divorced and kids grown and moved out by then) which enabled me to pay off the debt, retire 2 years early and move into a rented flat, after which life settled down a bit. 12 years on, still here, much fewer problems but still on antidepressants (Citalopram) as I never want to feel that bad again. I can't say I/m the same as you, but we have travelled along similar paths. My best wishes for continued 'feeling better'.
My son (also AudHD) has had a journey too. We started with a stimulant (Focalin). It caused panic attacks. We switched him to Wellbutrin. That worked well, but he is a teen and metabolized it too fast. We added a stimulant to it (Adzynes). The combo worked well, but he stopped eating well and became underweight. We had to stop Adzynes. We then combined the Wellbutrin with the Focalin. That has been the winning combination for him. The Wellbutrin helps prevent the panic attacks, and the Focalin gets him through the school day. We stuck with the journey because it was important to him to feel in control of his brain instead of letting his brain control him (how he describes it). His doctor kept saying "there are over 200 meds, we will find something that works." People were really judgy about us medicating him, but the benefits outweigh all of that. Good luck on your journey! Hang in there.
Autism wasn't really recognised or accepted in Britain until the 70s. I have a daughter who is now in her 30s who was diagnosed in the 90s, at the time I thought that statementing and help would be easy, but I experienced so many problems with the social worker we were allocated all because she didn't want a disabled child on her books and was not sympathetic to autism, and there are STILL social workers who believe that autism is a lifestyle choice. I feel for you, please don't think I am being patronising, for I know and understand the difficulties you have experienced. You may not believe this, but, you are an inspiration to parents of children who have been diagnosed with autism. When a child is diagnosed there is a void of desperation, and fear, not knowing what the future holds. With your videos though, parents can have hope.
Great vlog, Colin. I avoided meds for a long long time thinking I could just think myself happy and calm. Finally a friend verbally slapped my upside my head and told me not to be a dope. Glad I did. Have to adjust constantly, change meds as my chemistry changes. And I hear ya about being the 1÷ who gets the oddball side effects. Same here. Part of our charm😅 Sending love
It took my doctor 6 months to get my blood pressure meds right, a year before they found an antidepressant that helped my dad. Good luck and keep trying.
If you've met a person with AuDHD you've met one person. People struggle to understand that everybody is different, even with the same diagnosis. No one treatment can work as a panacea.
Thank you Colin - I'm sure we all feel that we are ALL FRIENDS. Really appreciate your honesty and openness 💙 - haha yep I also always read the whole "story" that comes with my meds. I am SOOO glad these meds seem to be working for you 💙🦋
I am VERY grateful for this vlog. It can be difficult for neurotypical people to understand how to interact with those with autism and/or ADHD without causing discomfort or offense. Wishing you every success in your efforts to find the solution that works best for you.
What an amazing and thoughtful conversation! Yours always are, Colin. 🤞 I can still remember the morning I woke up (after I was finally diagnosed with depression and anxiety and started on meds in my 50s) and thought, "THIS must be what most people feel like when they wake up!" It was a life-changing moment.
Colin. Thank you for such an informative vlog and for being so honest about your ADHD journey so far. As I have told you before my son-in-law is about to start ADHD medication and I am quite sure, he will be anxious about how it is going to work. Our oldest grandson is also taking ADHD medication and so far so good. Middle grandson will probably be on the same journey as he has been diagnosed with ADHD as well. I will keep my fingers crossed that your new meds carry on working and you continue to feel calm and focused. Thank you so much for talking about ADHD, ASD and your journey.
Colin, this was an A+ presentation; well structured and clearly demonstrated the amount of research you’ve done. I’ve been following you since before the Silver Fox adventures and I’m clearly watching a different version of the man I first met. It’s obvious to me that you’ve been working hard all this time to improve how you experience life. I do hope this medication does help! From New Hampshire, Patricia. 👵🏻🤗😘
Hi Colin, I just want to say as the father of a son who had his own struggles as a young man, I think these videos you do describing your own experiences are enormously helpful. People who are suffering on their own, and the loved ones of sufferers can learn so much from a clear, insightful, account of these conditions. Thank you. By the way, I've been a continuous cruiser on my narrowboat for nearly seven years now and while I'm not on any ADHD or autism spectrum canalside generators really irritate me as well!
You are so interesting to listen to. The way you explain things makes it easier to understand. I'm on venlafaxine, i've been on it a while. Thank you Colin x
Hi Colin, big respect to you for talking about this. Fingers crossed the new meds start working for you. I'm still at the early stages and have struggled all my life with ADHD and autism traits. I don't yet have a diagnosis from the NHS and have been advised it could take 3 to 5 years to go through that process. Now considering going the private route. I'm 45 years old and have a sister who suffers badly with autism and is fully diagnosed. I've kept a lot of my struggles private and wish I had addressed them sooner. This video has given me the drive to act now and start the journey. Love the channel and been following you both for the last 5 years. Really hope you find a good balance with the medication. ❤
I’m glad the med is working for you, you may not need the full dose, you may function well at a lower dose, time will tell. 🤞I try to not read all the side effects when trying a new med so I’m not starting out expecting problems. Every person has their own body/mind make up so of course drugs will act differently. Stimulates really helped me and I took them for several years until I knew I didn’t need them anymore, the changes were permanent, I’m a much more calm person now. I still get excited about starting new projects and find I get bored with them eventually so there are unfinished projects around but not nearly as bad as it used to be. I’d start a new hobby, buy everything possible to get started and then after a time it just became a box full of my shame😂. You learn to cope eventually, I sit on ideas , watch a bunch of videos and think about the commitment needed , if I think I can actually follow through or will I just be happy to watch someone else do it. I really hope the med works for you Colin, it’s a big relief if it does.👍🏼🥰🙋🏼♀️
I’ve learned the last almost 10 years we all have different ways and meditations that work for each individual. Collin thank you for talking about it. Sometimes we have to also change things to help our issues and age.
Such an eloquent vlog and thanks for sharing your experiences. Every response to meds and treatments is different so you have to search for what suits. I have learnt from an experience with my father undergoing treatment (long story, unrelated to mental health) that doctors are not able to predict the future and it is always an educated 'best guess'. Actively participating in your treatment, asking questions and weighing up the pros and cons yourself is a really good strategy but some old school 'Doctor knows best' types will fight you on it. Keep on trying to find your solution and keep us updated if you feel able. Love and hugs. Xxxx
THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS INFORMATION IS SO HELPFUL. MY DAUGHTER’S STORY IS VERY SIMILAR TO YOURS AS IVE MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE. SHE’S TRYING TO GET AN ADHD DIAGNOSIS AS NHS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WILL NO LONGER HELP HER. SHE HAS NEVER FOUND A MEDICATION THAT WILL HELP HER BUT HAS JUST HAD THE TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS. SHE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND HAS WANTED TO TRY THE MEDICATION THAT YOU’RE ON FOR A LONG TIME. I WILL MAKE SURE SHE SEES THIS AS SHE IS ABOUT TO GIVE UP ALL HOPE. LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU AND I HOPE THIS MEDICATION REALLY HELPS XXX
I absolutely love the fact that you establish early on that there is no panacea for everyone Colin. What you say rings so true for my 30 plus years in teaching. I was lucky enough to teach many Olympic medalists as well as students who survived atrocities without ever using them as an excuse to inhibit them. I found that compartmentalising sections of your life and having an established routine where you can see those goals being achieved helps everyone wether they are labelled with a condition or not. It is wonderful that you have put in so much effort (so many would have given up and suffered) and being reaffirmed with a decent medical professional should not have taken as long as it has. It will be a real relief to many that it is perfectly normal not to have the magic medical, or theraputic treatment that they are often presented with. Well done fella!
This was a very interesting vlog. Thank you for your willingness to share.. Another thing I'd to say, I've really noticed a difference in your appearance. You look glowing, younger, better in the last few vlogs. I pray it is more than just "looks like."
Thank you for this video Colin we appreciate it. I hope that it keeps on working for you in the future. It's such an interesting thing to see you on some of these videos, You sound so intelligent and almost come off as a physician. While the flip side is you as a comedian, and an entertaining one at that. I've been on many of the medications in the past that you listed. Please continue both of these paths, we're all in need of the information and healing from both sides of your personality. Thank you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Shaun and all❤
Happy to hear you are still looking and seeking what works for you. A good therapist would work with you and along side to discover what assists you. It wonderful that you keep moving forward and havre not given up! Keep up the good work.
I've got my fingers crossed for you and it's awesome to hear that you're feeling good. I hope they continue to make you feel good and maybe not have to increase your dose (fingers crossed again). I hope both of you have a very blessed day
Your ability to analyze and articulate your condition and advocate for yourself has opened you to new options for treatment. Your subscribers are rooting for your success. ❤
I am so pleased you got meds and that the signs are promising. I have just been told that they are stopping doing ADHD diagnoses in our area. Hope that's not something which catches hold.
I got to agree with you, Colin. Why would Therapy work for you? You're not ill, you're just wired a bit differently! Been there, done that. I get 2-5 day bouts of heavy depression. Best defence I learnt against depression was when I was depressed one day and realised that a couple of days before I had been fine. Therefore (I reasoned) I'd be fine again in another couple of days = so live with it. And I was fine in a couple of days. And that simple bit of realisation+experience broke the back of my depression.
It is so great to hear that you at last have got some tablets that are working. Very long journey! Thank you for the thorough explanation. And I too tend to read the information in the medication packages 😂 The doctors don't always take this info into consideration. So it is best to be in control 😊 Best of luck and Merry Christmas 🎉🌲🤶
Thank you for sharing. This along with the kidney stone issues are proof that YOU and Sean are your own best advocates when it comes to your physical and mental wellbeing.
Watched this late last night, and can’t remember if I left a comment (though I always try to!) Figured it wouldn’t hurt to potentially leave one more. I sure hope that this is a good way forward for you. You deserve it. Nobody but you truly knows the path you’ve taken and I sincerely hope that this helps. Cheers!
WOW Colin. What an amazing vlog! You had my attention all the way through that it was so interesting. I really hope the tablets work out. TBH I have done the same with meds over the years, cut them in half or quarters if I wasn't sure how it would react.
Getting to and coming to accept an ADHD diagnosis has made the biggest difference in my life. I had a similar experience with long term attempting to medicate or therapize my anxiety and depression. I take Vyvanse at 60 mg. It can cause dehydration but my peeing is normal. I had the same feeling that there was finally something that helps! My work is better and I have largely lost any of the ADHD impulsiveness that has caused a lot of problems in my life. I wish I had this help many, many years ago.
Good grief I can almost mirror your experience. Was diagnosed as Autistic at 58 and waiting for ADHD assessment. Was previously diagnosed Bipolar and BPD. These I now don’t believe I have due to taking soooo much medication and them not helping. I too studied Psychology at degree level and too find it hard when I have any kind of criticism. The best side effect I had was ‘sudden unexplained death’. That made me laugh as I thought, if I die suddenly it won’t be unexplained it’s there in black and white. Good luck with your journey. X
I have an ADHD and ASD diagnose too. If I look at my own experience and what I see around me (work in primary education) I am wondering if it is right that autism and ADHD are treated as two different things… I am keeping my fingers crossed for your medicine to keep on doing the right things🤞🏻
With all the precautions that you said about this being early days, I think this is really positive. I have everything crossed, too, that it will work out for you, Colin.
I am so happy for you Colin, Things seem to be coming together. The NHS has given up on me. You are so brave sharing this with us. You are an inspiration to all people with mental health problems. James.
Thanks Colin, thought provking. My story, diagnosed with ADHD at 62, after many tears on Citalopram, which dulls emotions including my anxiety, but slso sexual and sensual pleasure. I had to pay for my assessment privately, and my health authority dont do shared care on medication. I have high blood pressure, so i woukd need to oay for a cardiologists opinion, and all the medication and private medical appointments if i want to try medication. Very expensive, but hearing your experience, maybe worth it. I tested borderline for ASD too, but thats another £700 for a diagnosis. I have found the ADHD diagnosis very helpful though. Especially so as woman , because we didn't get diagnosed with AUDHD, but depression or anxiety. Now, i can forgive myself all my "character flaws" lateness, messy, disorganised etc, and see them as different wiring. Please do keep us updated as your eloquent narrative is so helpful. Ironically i loved your first blog on Autism because it described my grandson, and helped me understand him. Now i realise i am neurodivergent too. I woukd love that focus and clarity you describe. My ADHD is really difficult at the moment. Keep sharing with us, it helps everyone. I also find Dr Russell Barkley very informative.
I was diagnosed Asperger’s at age 50 and recently self diagnosed ADHD (although the psychiatrist agreed but said it wasn’t worth an official diagnosis!) I think with neurodivergence there are as many ways of dealing with the conditions as there are people who are neurodivergent! My passion in conservation, biodiversity and ecosystems help me divert special interests there. The desire to research to oblivion and do whatever you are doing to the absolute peak of ability. For me, my biggest issue is I have to carry out tasks for others to the highest standard. If gold is 98, for example, satisfactory is 90 but because I have achieved 200 once before I expect myself to achieve that all the time! For me, my biggest concern with all of this, how many people over a certain age are undiagnosed but being diagnosed for depression and anxiety.
Colin I am a dyslexic man, and I agree with you, that what doesn't work for you might work for others, same with help for dyslexia, what helps some doesn't help me, take care!
Hey Colin. Great information. I have ASD & ADHD too but I'm lucky that my anxieties are fairly mild & don't have depression. I've thought about medication but I don't want to have to engage with the health system to any large degree. I also feel worried that the right drugs might make me normal & force me to realise my whole life could've been better if I'd been medicated. That's a terrible thought. I'd still be married, still work at a keyboard & still live in suburbia. Aaaaargh, nooooooooo, take it away!!!! I'd probably feel different if I was unhappy so I would be delighted to hear that you have found a solution that you need. It'll make me think about the options but what if you stop being you?
Thank you so much for sharing your mental health. I am currently going through a lot of medical issues from brain tumours that have been zapped with stereotactic radiation but It has been deemed a failed procedure due to swelling. Had surgery on my elbow which won’t heal due to steroids for the tumour. Torn tendon in my leg due to falling over again and again. The list is extensive however I’m on copious amounts of drugs which I have not researched and tba is having a negative affect on my wellbeing. Again thank you for discussing your health. From now on I will do more research in to my own health and look closely at the affects the prescription meds are having.
A very informative and balanced video Colin. My wife was diagnosed with ADHD a few months back, she ended up going private to get a diagnosis as the GP's here in Edinburgh dismissed her, she is on the stimulant medication but our issue is trying to source the medication every time she needs it, none of our local chemists stock the right doseage or have ran out, we found a chemist about 6 miles away that stocks the right doseage. Another issue we had was trying to get medication as part of shared care on the NHS, which apprently does not happen until a locum doctor at our surgery ballsed up to our advantage and signed it off that the NHS Would take it on 😂😂 Be intrested if you follow this up a few weeks done the line but we have noticied a diffrence with my wife since she started.
ADHD ruined my life. Diagnosed in my 70’s. Life in shambles. In Canada GP prescribed Vyvanse 20 mg. when I asked for meds after failed ADHD clinic. Same amazing results as yours. Eureka! I’m a different person. I took Vyvanse for 50 days. Had 10 pills left when I picked up new prescription for 30mg. Couldn’t wait to take higher dose. If 20mg was great then 30mg would be better. Took one pill at 30mg and had a heart attack. Consequently, I was told to stop taking them and a psychiatrist, when consulted ,refused to prescribe any other meds. Chaotic life returned. 5 years gone by, now I’m 80.
Hi Colin - thanks for sharing - I too have suffered with depression in the past and was prescribed many various drugs, some of which made me suicidal and made me self harm. I am now on citalopram - 20mg - which seems to work for me. It makes me feel calm but not zombified if you know what I mean? I have never been diagnosed with ADHD or Autism but some of your experiences ring so true to me. I don't like social events and tend to shy away from gatherings - in fact i think i would love to be a hermit in all honesty!! 😆Please keep up us updated on your journey. ❤
I hope you have found the answer to your anxiety problem. Maybe you will just continue on with the strength that you have now. I'm just glad you are seeing and feeling success already. Quite a blessing!
Great new beginning Colin. Took some time but my doctor finally agreed that "anxiety" wasn't the issue I was having. Off label Non-stimulant does a realitively good job of slowing down my mind and improved motivation. I have wondered about trying a stimulant medication but the monthly renewal would put a limit on my retired ability to take longer "vacations"...
What a long journey you have been on. I’m sending all of my good hopes and wishes that this or another medication works for you. I don’t have mental health issues and I’m very motivated, but your video made me stop and appreciate that I just got lucky.
🤞 At 21 yrs I was diagnosed with PTSD (now C-PTSD), at 50 ADHD was also diagnosed, and lastly at age 60 I was diagnosed with ASD. Oddly, after decades of therapy and multiple drug treatments failed utterly, I had a series of small hemorrhagic strokes and it was then that I saw so clearly how chaotic and traumatic my childhood and adult life had been up to that point. On one hand it’s devastating to have gotten that awareness so late in life, but on the other, I feel a sense of freedom to become the person I always tried to be. I use a tiny bit of weed nightly, or CBD when I do a T-break every few weeks. It’s not perfect, but it certainly helps! I love your positive wellness updates of late!
Really appreciate this honest vlog Colin, not going into to much detail but I do have very close experience with this, husband and son, son has diagnosis of adhd with traits of autism , when he’s stressed the autism is more apparent, he’s also tried meds, and failed , it’s a minefield and so frustrating trying to get help and understanding I’d like to hear Shaun’s side, if he’s up for it, as a partners side , it’s rather difficult at times for both parties, I’m just sat here nodding my head getting a bad neck 🤣with everything you are saying, much love to you both and thank you 😊
❤ i've got everything crossed for you and I really hope it works you deserve to be happy and thanks for sharing this information with helping so many people
I am keeping both my fingers and toes crossed! So happy to hear that you seem to have found a medication that might work. My experience with medication, I use phenobarbital due to epilepsy, is that if you are going to have side effects, they will show up quite soon. I had a neurologist some time ago ( ca 35 yrs) , who claimed that phenobarb wasn't the right medicine for me and my type of epilepsy, so he put me on two or three other kinds of medication. Within a week i had all the side effects listed, and then some! The worst was a constant tremble, especially around my mouth, so it seemed like I was about to start crying all the time. On top of that, my appetite spiked like crazy and my metabolism went way down. I did not stay on that medication for very long and I found a new neurologist, who agreed with me, that if my old medication had worked my whole life, why change it? The problem with phenobarbs is that they might cause liver damage in the long run, so I try to be careful with alcohol and I have use Ibuprofen instead of Paracetamol. I do hope you will keep on feeling good with your new medication. I know that it can be very tricky finding the right kind and the right dosage of ADHD-medicine, but you seem to be on the right track!👍
I have to say that in this video you did seem more focused, good luck with the new meds, and lets hope for minimal side effects, I took a new diabetes medicine for a week, and it took me a month to clear the side effects, and when the doctor said he really thought i ought to try it again i really despaired at the thought.
Congrats on being so candid about what is really a personal set of problems. I do find it hard to believe you aren’t confident in a social setting. Good luck on your “what the fucks going on?” journey.
Finger's definitely crossed for you. What you describe about the second drug pretty much exactly matches what a friend described when she first took ADHD meds. The first ones she tried triggered major mood swings pretty much instantly (within 24 hours), so she had to quickly change to a different one, which didn't have side effects for her. My son was on vyvance, and I don't think it was quite working for him as well as it could. He said they made no difference for him, but everyone around him saw a marked difference in his ability to manage life. Unfortunately, when we had supply issues a year or so ago he stopped taking them and now refuses to go back on them (because "they make no difference"). Obviously he's his own person and must make his own choices, but I can't help but think he's lacking the self-perception to fully assess this situation. Clearly that is not your experience though. I do hope you experience no significant side effects, and continue to have the benefits of the focus and (for lack of a better word) motivation.
I have a generic disorder, Tuberous Sclerosis, which is physical and means I can't suppress tumours throughout my body. What is interesting is that the incidence of ASD and ADHD in this population is higher than 50% and may be as high as 80%. Quite a proportion of us are nonverbal or have developmental delays. Some, like me, are capable of postgraduate study. I was bullied all through school and have quirks like yourself; I have a high sense of being able to read others' emotions and body language in a group. I socially isolate myself whilst deeply wanting human interaction. I haven't been diagnosed with ASD or ADHD however, am pretty suspicious that I would be positive. I take Amitriptyline for arthritis pain at night as other pain meds cause insomnia. Luckily I can get up in the am although I tend to have an afternoon nap.
you know your mind and what does work. I am on a lot of medication. I have tried cbt dbt and itdoesnt work for me but it just helos so much to hear from another person. thank you so much for sharing.
Fiona and I are delighted that, at least at this point in time, you are experiencing a very positive effect from the new med. We have our fingers, toes, eyes, etc crossed for you!! Love and best wishes from a couple of crazy Canucks! (Ask Debbie and Mark, they’ll confirm we’re crazy Canucks. 😉😁)
I often chuckle at people who persist in the delusion that we have free will. We are but passengers in imperfect bio-mechanical vehicles; optimised for surviving long enough to pass on genetics and little else. Unfortunately our evolutionary path bought to us self reflection and the ilusion of agency. The result is that we are constantly in the process of post-hoc rationalisation of acts and thoughts that we have no control over whatsoever but are conditioned to think that we are responsible for. This is not conducive to sanity in any rational sense of the word. Some people appear to be more able to navigate this conundrum than others. For those of us that do not find it easy we can only try (with the agency that we do not have?) to accept what we are. But there are drugs which can prove helpful in balancing brain chemicals for some people some of the time. You are a bright enough to find the best path for you Colin - do not despair.
Will keep fingers crossed that this is going to work, and work well! You may pronounce it however you wish. Makes no difference what you call it as long as it works. Good for you never giving up on a solution. Your journey, and results, may eventually become a standard practice for people who deal with issues as you have.
I've heard research that CBT doesn't work on neurodivergent people like us. I've found some value in parts of DBT, mostly the taoist stuff. My most recent therapist did EMDR but she agreed to modify it for autistic adults based on some documetns i found from a Netherlands practice. She went out of her way to make me feel like I had a voice in my own therapy decisions on a per session basis.We customized a lot based on my self awareness of my different communicational needs already. Like using sounds instead of pointers or lights because those distract me. The timeline was much slower and there was a lot more time built in to explain and let me process the parts of the process we were using. Going slow had to be allowed.
I was diagnosed with AD(H)D more than two decades ago, as an adult. Went on an antidepressant (escitalopram) and a stimulant (Concerta). The former took a few days but softens my rough edges, and gives me a sloshy head if I miss a dose or two. The latter worked RIGHT away, and has little effect if I miss a dose or several. I think stimulants for ADHD work immediately IF they work at all.
@@FoxesAfloat Or, more properly, my personal anecdote. I feel lucky, especially after hearing your experience, that I didn't have to go through multiple experiences of adverse reactions.
Hi Colin and Shaun, hope your well and happy! Well, I think I can sign everything you said blank! I am older than you, even a little older than Shaun and looking back at my life and how things came to be, I am very convinced that there is a chance, perhaps even a large chance, that I am part of the autistic group and ADH/ ADHD seem very likely too! Over a period of approx 15 years, I was on various medications such as Citalopram, Escitalopram, various epilepsy medication of which I can‘t even remember the names, Duloxetin and due to osteoarthritis and damaged ligaments in both my shoulders Tilidine and Amineurin. They didn’t seem to have side effects on, but I never really had the impression that they were helping me. The only really noticeable and, for my life and the lives of my family especially my wife, son and our dog, utterly negative effect was enhanced fatigue! It got to a point where I was so exhausted and tired, that I slept almost all day! Luckily enough I sensed the possible consequences of this and I have weaned myself off my medication. I still like to enjoy my little nap, but at least I‘ m off the chemicals! Nevertheless I spoke to my neurologist about it and we’re going to find out, if my thoughts and assumptions could be correct! We‘ll have to wait and see what comes out of this! Wishing you, Shaun your 2 pups as well as all animals in your care a wonderful and peaceful Christmas, take care 🤗🥰😘!
I admire you sticking with trying to get better. I am doing the same thing. I have had some things work for me that you say don't work for you. I agree. I kissed a lot of therapy and medication frogs. I will say that with legal hemp in the US and legal cannabis in other places, I found relief with them. However, I also know people who got very paranoid. All I can say is that there is nothing that has been perfect. BUT... thanks to you talking about this, I was able to talk to my therapist and discover that I have autism. High-Masking or whatever, but it explained so much. Thank you for talking about the work you are doing, because you're being frank about what works and doesn't work creates a space for those of us who try everything but know that the best we can do is manage things. I know I will never be 100%, and I think the best therapist I have had reminded me that neither is anyone else really. I might just be more aware. It sucks to have all of the things going through my head, but I think I would hate it more if I could not process the amount of stimulus that I do. I have no actual advice, because I am not a therapist. I don't know your unique situation. I just want to say: THANK YOU! for being willing to share your experience in a public way. It's helped me realize that there are people like me out there (well maybe not quite like me, because we are all a little different).
As a mum of two adult children on the autism spectrum I'm not at all surprised you noticed a teeny tiny amount of your current meds kicking in so quickly. I'd describe that as a thing a neurodivergent brain can do.
I'm so glad your experience with these meds is looking positive so far!
Colin you are such a good, articulate speaker, seeing everything in a balanced way. Fortunately for me, l have none of these problems, but my daughter suffers from anxiety and my younger son is on the scale for autism, so l have an interest in what you say. Please do take us with you on your experience with this new treatment, you are a great ambassador.
Glad you're on form now. So many battles fought. I remember an afloat vlog. You, curled up in bed and wretched. Poor Shaun, suffering in a different way.
PS: I still dislike Pine Martins.
Another fantastic and honest vid, Colin. You have a great outlook on life and you are totally correct when you say not everyone is the same or experiences things the same. I hope the meds keep on working well for you with as few side effects as possible. Keeping MY fingers crossed for you too, matey.
Great to see things are working out at the moment. Hope it continues.
Very open and honest. Well presented two.
A positive start on that medication! Fingers crossed that it continues that way with no side effects.
Hugely informative vlog,many thanks for sharing,hoping the new tablet works for you xx
I was diagnosed with Aspergers aged 38. I'm 56 now I've found out I have ADHD too.
I'm exactly like you. None of these things have helped me at all. Venlaflaxine almost killed me. My psychiatrist took me off antidepressants and told me I'd tried all of them and that it was autism causing the anxiety and depression and antidepressants just don't work for me, not to let anyone prescribe them for me again and to learn to ride the peaks and troughs of anxiety and depression.
When it comes to the CBT and everything else, I've also tried them all. I don't know if you'll understand what I mean because my psychologist didn't but a nuerodivergent brain is 'wired up' differently to an NT brain therefore its logical to me that these therapies are designed for NT brains, not our brains. She didn't understand what I meant. It seems so clear to me.
I’m so happy the medication seems to be working for you. Very exciting news!
CBT didn't work for me either. I was later told by a psychologist that it generally doesn't work for autistic people because we think in a different way. The problem is that the NHS lives CBT. It ticks a box.
"Everybody's different and you have to do what works for you." Wise words 😊 We both wish you the best of everything, and hope this medication helps you Colin. Thank you for a really informed vlog. Take care. Love to you both, from both of us xx
Thanks for sharing this. Autism and ADHD are fairly new knowledge to the medical profession, I feel, and certainly weren't part of the diagnosis available when I and my children were younger. My daughter's second and third children were diagnosed as autistic when toddlers, and this opened a whole world of new knowledge to me. My (ex) wife & I just thought our son was somehow educationally backward once he started school - he was nearly expelled on his first day (biting a teacher) and had difficulty accepting the discipline of others 'being in charge' of him, but once the grandson was diagnosed autistic, things began to fall into place when I read the subject up. Someone even mentioned that some things I do could be 'just on the edge of the autistic spectrum', and for the first time looking inwardly I began to understand that might well be true. I did discuss it with my son, who said that growing up he felt 'everyone else was different to him' - not the other way round.
As the years progressed, things at work got to be more stressful (a bus driver, Shaun might understand) which led to me becoming depressed, which caused additional stress. A few more years pass, I change employer but it's just the same, and eventually i have a HUGE meltdown at work, causing me to be off sick for a year, getting into debt and eventually having to sell my house (divorced and kids grown and moved out by then) which enabled me to pay off the debt, retire 2 years early and move into a rented flat, after which life settled down a bit. 12 years on, still here, much fewer problems but still on antidepressants (Citalopram) as I never want to feel that bad again. I can't say I/m the same as you, but we have travelled along similar paths. My best wishes for continued 'feeling better'.
My son (also AudHD) has had a journey too. We started with a stimulant (Focalin). It caused panic attacks. We switched him to Wellbutrin. That worked well, but he is a teen and metabolized it too fast. We added a stimulant to it (Adzynes). The combo worked well, but he stopped eating well and became underweight. We had to stop Adzynes. We then combined the Wellbutrin with the Focalin. That has been the winning combination for him. The Wellbutrin helps prevent the panic attacks, and the Focalin gets him through the school day. We stuck with the journey because it was important to him to feel in control of his brain instead of letting his brain control him (how he describes it). His doctor kept saying "there are over 200 meds, we will find something that works." People were really judgy about us medicating him, but the benefits outweigh all of that. Good luck on your journey! Hang in there.
Autism wasn't really recognised or accepted in Britain until the 70s. I have a daughter who is now in her 30s who was diagnosed in the 90s, at the time I thought that statementing and help would be easy, but I experienced so many problems with the social worker we were allocated all because she didn't want a disabled child on her books and was not sympathetic to autism, and there are STILL social workers who believe that autism is a lifestyle choice. I feel for you, please don't think I am being patronising, for I know and understand the difficulties you have experienced. You may not believe this, but, you are an inspiration to parents of children who have been diagnosed with autism. When a child is diagnosed there is a void of desperation, and fear, not knowing what the future holds. With your videos though, parents can have hope.
Great vlog, Colin. I avoided meds for a long long time thinking I could just think myself happy and calm. Finally a friend verbally slapped my upside my head and told me not to be a dope. Glad I did. Have to adjust constantly, change meds as my chemistry changes.
And I hear ya about being the 1÷ who gets the oddball side effects. Same here. Part of our charm😅
Sending love
It took my doctor 6 months to get my blood pressure meds right, a year before they found an antidepressant that helped my dad. Good luck and keep trying.
I'm glad you and shaun met each other. True love is wonderful even in the worst of times.
Great chat Colin. Very informative. Good luck and I am keeping everything crossed for you.
I agree with the idea that different things work for different people, and no amount of trying will make any difference.
Well, it did to me, and to many other people sharing their stories, so…👋🏻
If you've met a person with AuDHD you've met one person. People struggle to understand that everybody is different, even with the same diagnosis. No one treatment can work as a panacea.
Thank you Colin - I'm sure we all feel that we are ALL FRIENDS. Really appreciate your honesty and openness 💙 - haha yep I also always read the whole "story" that comes with my meds. I am SOOO glad these meds seem to be working for you 💙🦋
I am VERY grateful for this vlog. It can be difficult for neurotypical people to understand how to interact with those with autism and/or ADHD without causing discomfort or offense. Wishing you every success in your efforts to find the solution that works best for you.
What an amazing and thoughtful conversation! Yours always are, Colin. 🤞 I can still remember the morning I woke up (after I was finally diagnosed with depression and anxiety and started on meds in my 50s) and thought, "THIS must be what most people feel like when they wake up!" It was a life-changing moment.
Colin. Thank you for such an informative vlog and for being so honest about your ADHD journey so far. As I have told you before my son-in-law is about to start ADHD medication and I am quite sure, he will be anxious about how it is going to work. Our oldest grandson is also taking ADHD medication and so far so good. Middle grandson will probably be on the same journey as he has been diagnosed with ADHD as well. I will keep my fingers crossed that your new meds carry on working and you continue to feel calm and focused. Thank you so much for talking about ADHD, ASD and your journey.
Colin, this was an A+ presentation; well structured and clearly demonstrated the amount of research you’ve done. I’ve been following you since before the Silver Fox adventures and I’m clearly watching a different version of the man I first met. It’s obvious to me that you’ve been working hard all this time to improve how you experience life. I do hope this medication does help! From New Hampshire, Patricia. 👵🏻🤗😘
Hi Colin, I just want to say as the father of a son who had his own struggles as a young man, I think these videos you do describing your own experiences are enormously helpful. People who are suffering on their own, and the loved ones of sufferers can learn so much from a clear, insightful, account of these conditions. Thank you.
By the way, I've been a continuous cruiser on my narrowboat for nearly seven years now and while I'm not on any ADHD or autism spectrum canalside generators really irritate me as well!
You are so interesting to listen to. The way you explain things makes it easier to understand. I'm on venlafaxine, i've been on it a while. Thank you Colin x
Well done for sharing your experience and so clearly explained. I will certainly keep everything crossed for a positive outcome. xx
Hi Colin, big respect to you for talking about this. Fingers crossed the new meds start working for you. I'm still at the early stages and have struggled all my life with ADHD and autism traits. I don't yet have a diagnosis from the NHS and have been advised it could take 3 to 5 years to go through that process. Now considering going the private route. I'm 45 years old and have a sister who suffers badly with autism and is fully diagnosed. I've kept a lot of my struggles private and wish I had addressed them sooner. This video has given me the drive to act now and start the journey. Love the channel and been following you both for the last 5 years. Really hope you find a good balance with the medication. ❤
I’m glad the med is working for you, you may not need the full dose, you may function well at a lower dose, time will tell. 🤞I try to not read all the side effects when trying a new med so I’m not starting out expecting problems. Every person has their own body/mind make up so of course drugs will act differently.
Stimulates really helped me and I took them for several years until I knew I didn’t need them anymore, the changes were permanent, I’m a much more calm person now. I still get excited about starting new projects and find I get bored with them eventually so there are unfinished projects around but not nearly as bad as it used to be. I’d start a new hobby, buy everything possible to get started and then after a time it just became a box full of my shame😂.
You learn to cope eventually, I sit on ideas , watch a bunch of videos and think about the commitment needed , if I think I can actually follow through or will I just be happy to watch someone else do it.
I really hope the med works for you Colin, it’s a big relief if it does.👍🏼🥰🙋🏼♀️
Hi Colin. I too have ASD and ADHD. Thank you for sharing your journey. Also have health anxiety. It's all such a crazy trip. All the best ❤
Happy for you. Hope it keeps working for you ❤
Thank you for telling your story with all these medications - it’s really beneficial to keep talking.
You’re welcome ☺️
I’ve learned the last almost 10 years we all have different ways and meditations that work for each individual. Collin thank you for talking about it. Sometimes we have to also change things to help our issues and age.
Such an eloquent vlog and thanks for sharing your experiences. Every response to meds and treatments is different so you have to search for what suits. I have learnt from an experience with my father undergoing treatment (long story, unrelated to mental health) that doctors are not able to predict the future and it is always an educated 'best guess'. Actively participating in your treatment, asking questions and weighing up the pros and cons yourself is a really good strategy but some old school 'Doctor knows best' types will fight you on it.
Keep on trying to find your solution and keep us updated if you feel able. Love and hugs. Xxxx
THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS INFORMATION IS SO HELPFUL. MY DAUGHTER’S STORY IS VERY SIMILAR TO YOURS AS IVE MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE. SHE’S TRYING TO GET AN ADHD DIAGNOSIS AS NHS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WILL NO LONGER HELP HER. SHE HAS NEVER FOUND A MEDICATION THAT WILL HELP HER BUT HAS JUST HAD THE TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS. SHE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND HAS WANTED TO TRY THE MEDICATION THAT YOU’RE ON FOR A LONG TIME. I WILL MAKE SURE SHE SEES THIS AS SHE IS ABOUT TO GIVE UP ALL HOPE. LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU AND I HOPE THIS MEDICATION REALLY HELPS XXX
I absolutely love the fact that you establish early on that there is no panacea for everyone Colin. What you say rings so true for my 30 plus years in teaching. I was lucky enough to teach many Olympic medalists as well as students who survived atrocities without ever using them as an excuse to inhibit them. I found that compartmentalising sections of your life and having an established routine where you can see those goals being achieved helps everyone wether they are labelled with a condition or not. It is wonderful that you have put in so much effort (so many would have given up and suffered) and being reaffirmed with a decent medical professional should not have taken as long as it has. It will be a real relief to many that it is perfectly normal not to have the magic medical, or theraputic treatment that they are often presented with. Well done fella!
This was a very interesting vlog. Thank you for your willingness to share.. Another thing I'd to say, I've really noticed a difference in your appearance. You look glowing, younger, better in the last few vlogs. I pray it is more than just "looks like."
Thank you for this video Colin we appreciate it. I hope that it keeps on working for you in the future. It's such an interesting thing to see you on some of these videos, You sound so intelligent and almost come off as a physician. While the flip side is you as a comedian, and an entertaining one at that. I've been on many of the medications in the past that you listed. Please continue both of these paths, we're all in need of the information and healing from both sides of your personality. Thank you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Shaun and all❤
Happy to hear you are still looking and seeking what works for you. A good therapist would work with you and along side to discover what assists you. It wonderful that you keep moving forward and havre not given up! Keep up the good work.
I've got my fingers crossed for you and it's awesome to hear that you're feeling good. I hope they continue to make you feel good and maybe not have to increase your dose (fingers crossed again). I hope both of you have a very blessed day
Your ability to analyze and articulate your condition and advocate for yourself has opened you to new options for treatment. Your subscribers are rooting for your success. ❤
I am so pleased you got meds and that the signs are promising. I have just been told that they are stopping doing ADHD diagnoses in our area. Hope that's not something which catches hold.
Colin everybody has to feel contented and comfortable in their own skin, I really hope it works 🤞
I got to agree with you, Colin. Why would Therapy work for you? You're not ill, you're just wired a bit differently! Been there, done that. I get 2-5 day bouts of heavy depression. Best defence I learnt against depression was when I was depressed one day and realised that a couple of days before I had been fine. Therefore (I reasoned) I'd be fine again in another couple of days = so live with it.
And I was fine in a couple of days. And that simple bit of realisation+experience broke the back of my depression.
It is so great to hear that you at last have got some tablets that are working. Very long journey! Thank you for the thorough explanation. And I too tend to read the information in the medication packages 😂 The doctors don't always take this info into consideration. So it is best to be in control 😊
Best of luck and Merry Christmas 🎉🌲🤶
Thank you for sharing. This along with the kidney stone issues are proof that YOU and Sean are your own best advocates when it comes to your physical and mental wellbeing.
Blessings Colin praying for a most benevolent outcome love from Queensland Australia
Watched this late last night, and can’t remember if I left a comment (though I always try to!)
Figured it wouldn’t hurt to potentially leave one more. I sure hope that this is a good way forward for you. You deserve it. Nobody but you truly knows the path you’ve taken and I sincerely hope that this helps. Cheers!
WOW Colin. What an amazing vlog! You had my attention all the way through that it was so interesting. I really hope the tablets work out. TBH I have done the same with meds over the years, cut them in half or quarters if I wasn't sure how it would react.
I hope so too!
I don't think you can definitively say where ASD ends and ADHD begins they are in a sense 2 sides of the same coin
Getting to and coming to accept an ADHD diagnosis has made the biggest difference in my life. I had a similar experience with long term attempting to medicate or therapize my anxiety and depression. I take Vyvanse at 60 mg. It can cause dehydration but my peeing is normal. I had the same feeling that there was finally something that helps! My work is better and I have largely lost any of the ADHD impulsiveness that has caused a lot of problems in my life. I wish I had this help many, many years ago.
I truly hope these tablets work for you Colin!
🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼😊
Good luck 🍀😊
Good grief I can almost mirror your experience. Was diagnosed as Autistic at 58 and waiting for ADHD assessment. Was previously diagnosed Bipolar and BPD. These I now don’t believe I have due to taking soooo much medication and them not helping.
I too studied Psychology at degree level and too find it hard when I have any kind of criticism.
The best side effect I had was ‘sudden unexplained death’. That made me laugh as I thought, if I die suddenly it won’t be unexplained it’s there in black and white.
Good luck with your journey. X
I have an ADHD and ASD diagnose too. If I look at my own experience and what I see around me (work in primary education) I am wondering if it is right that autism and ADHD are treated as two different things…
I am keeping my fingers crossed for your medicine to keep on doing the right things🤞🏻
With all the precautions that you said about this being early days, I think this is really positive.
I have everything crossed, too, that it will work out for you, Colin.
I am so happy for you Colin, Things seem to be coming together. The NHS has given up on me. You are so brave sharing this with us. You are an inspiration to all people with mental health problems. James.
Keep fighting. The blue sky is there!
wow, you are such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing this and for trying again even after the effects of the first pill! ❤
Thanks Colin, thought provking. My story, diagnosed with ADHD at 62, after many tears on Citalopram, which dulls emotions including my anxiety, but slso sexual and sensual pleasure.
I had to pay for my assessment privately, and my health authority dont do shared care on medication. I have high blood pressure, so i woukd need to oay for a cardiologists opinion, and all the medication and private medical appointments if i want to try medication. Very expensive, but hearing your experience, maybe worth it. I tested borderline for ASD too, but thats another £700 for a diagnosis.
I have found the ADHD diagnosis very helpful though. Especially so as woman , because we didn't get diagnosed with AUDHD, but depression or anxiety.
Now, i can forgive myself all my "character flaws" lateness, messy, disorganised etc, and see them as different wiring.
Please do keep us updated as your eloquent narrative is so helpful.
Ironically i loved your first blog on Autism because it described my grandson, and helped me understand him. Now i realise i am neurodivergent too.
I woukd love that focus and clarity you describe. My ADHD is really difficult at the moment.
Keep sharing with us, it helps everyone.
I also find Dr Russell Barkley very informative.
Thank you for being so open with your experiences dealing with the various medications and how they have affected you. I found it very informative.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It helps to understand more.
I was diagnosed Asperger’s at age 50 and recently self diagnosed ADHD (although the psychiatrist agreed but said it wasn’t worth an official diagnosis!) I think with neurodivergence there are as many ways of dealing with the conditions as there are people who are neurodivergent! My passion in conservation, biodiversity and ecosystems help me divert special interests there. The desire to research to oblivion and do whatever you are doing to the absolute peak of ability. For me, my biggest issue is I have to carry out tasks for others to the highest standard. If gold is 98, for example, satisfactory is 90 but because I have achieved 200 once before I expect myself to achieve that all the time!
For me, my biggest concern with all of this, how many people over a certain age are undiagnosed but being diagnosed for depression and anxiety.
❤appreciate your sharing ❤
Colin I am a dyslexic man, and I agree with you, that what doesn't work for you might work for others, same with help for dyslexia, what helps some doesn't help me, take care!
Hey Colin. Great information. I have ASD & ADHD too but I'm lucky that my anxieties are fairly mild & don't have depression. I've thought about medication but I don't want to have to engage with the health system to any large degree. I also feel worried that the right drugs might make me normal & force me to realise my whole life could've been better if I'd been medicated. That's a terrible thought. I'd still be married, still work at a keyboard & still live in suburbia. Aaaaargh, nooooooooo, take it away!!!!
I'd probably feel different if I was unhappy so I would be delighted to hear that you have found a solution that you need. It'll make me think about the options but what if you stop being you?
Thank you so much for sharing your mental health. I am currently going through a lot of medical issues from brain tumours that have been zapped with stereotactic radiation but It has been deemed a failed procedure due to swelling. Had surgery on my elbow which won’t heal due to steroids for the tumour. Torn tendon in my leg due to falling over again and again. The list is extensive however I’m on copious amounts of drugs which I have not researched and tba is having a negative affect on my wellbeing. Again thank you for discussing your health. From now on I will do more research in to my own health and look closely at the affects the prescription meds are having.
A very informative and balanced video Colin. My wife was diagnosed with ADHD a few months back, she ended up going private to get a diagnosis as the GP's here in Edinburgh dismissed her, she is on the stimulant medication but our issue is trying to source the medication every time she needs it, none of our local chemists stock the right doseage or have ran out, we found a chemist about 6 miles away that stocks the right doseage. Another issue we had was trying to get medication as part of shared care on the NHS, which apprently does not happen until a locum doctor at our surgery ballsed up to our advantage and signed it off that the NHS Would take it on 😂😂
Be intrested if you follow this up a few weeks done the line but we have noticied a diffrence with my wife since she started.
ADHD ruined my life. Diagnosed in my 70’s. Life in shambles. In Canada GP prescribed Vyvanse 20 mg. when I asked for meds after failed ADHD clinic. Same amazing results as yours. Eureka! I’m a different person. I took Vyvanse for 50 days. Had 10 pills left when I picked up new prescription for 30mg. Couldn’t wait to take higher dose. If 20mg was great then 30mg would be better. Took one pill at 30mg and had a heart attack. Consequently, I was told to stop taking them and a psychiatrist, when consulted ,refused to prescribe any other meds. Chaotic life returned. 5 years gone by, now I’m 80.
Sorry to hear that x
Hi Colin - thanks for sharing - I too have suffered with depression in the past and was prescribed many various drugs, some of which made me suicidal and made me self harm. I am now on citalopram - 20mg - which seems to work for me. It makes me feel calm but not zombified if you know what I mean? I have never been diagnosed with ADHD or Autism but some of your experiences ring so true to me. I don't like social events and tend to shy away from gatherings - in fact i think i would love to be a hermit in all honesty!! 😆Please keep up us updated on your journey. ❤
I hope you have found the answer to your anxiety problem. Maybe you will just continue on with the strength that you have now. I'm just glad you are seeing and feeling success already. Quite a blessing!
Great new beginning Colin. Took some time but my doctor finally agreed that "anxiety" wasn't the issue I was having. Off label Non-stimulant does a realitively good job of slowing down my mind and improved motivation. I have wondered about trying a stimulant medication but the monthly renewal would put a limit on my retired ability to take longer "vacations"...
Thank you again for being so open.
Great. A really helpful episode. Thanks
What a long journey you have been on. I’m sending all of my good hopes and wishes that this or another medication works for you. I don’t have mental health issues and I’m very motivated, but your video made me stop and appreciate that I just got lucky.
🤞 At 21 yrs I was diagnosed with PTSD (now C-PTSD), at 50 ADHD was also diagnosed, and lastly at age 60 I was diagnosed with ASD. Oddly, after decades of therapy and multiple drug treatments failed utterly, I had a series of small hemorrhagic strokes and it was then that I saw so clearly how chaotic and traumatic my childhood and adult life had been up to that point. On one hand it’s devastating to have gotten that awareness so late in life, but on the other, I feel a sense of freedom to become the person I always tried to be. I use a tiny bit of weed nightly, or CBD when I do a T-break every few weeks. It’s not perfect, but it certainly helps! I love your positive wellness updates of late!
Happy time is hear for you. So glad it seems to work👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻bless you all
Thanks for sharing that, Colin. I can relate to some of that but not all of it. ❤
What a beautiful message. I hope it helps lots of others.
Really appreciate this honest vlog Colin, not going into to much detail but I do have very close experience with this, husband and son, son has diagnosis of adhd with traits of autism , when he’s stressed the autism is more apparent, he’s also tried meds, and failed , it’s a minefield and so frustrating trying to get help and understanding
I’d like to hear Shaun’s side, if he’s up for it, as a partners side , it’s rather difficult at times for both parties, I’m just sat here nodding my head getting a bad neck 🤣with everything you are saying, much love to you both and thank you 😊
❤ i've got everything crossed for you and I really hope it works you deserve to be happy and thanks for sharing this information with helping so many people
I am keeping both my fingers and toes crossed! So happy to hear that you seem to have found a medication that might work. My experience with medication, I use phenobarbital due to epilepsy, is that if you are going to have side effects, they will show up quite soon.
I had a neurologist some time ago ( ca 35 yrs) , who claimed that phenobarb wasn't the right medicine for me and my type of epilepsy, so he put me on two or three other kinds of medication. Within a week i had all the side effects listed, and then some! The worst was a constant tremble, especially around my mouth, so it seemed like I was about to start crying all the time. On top of that, my appetite spiked like crazy and my metabolism went way down.
I did not stay on that medication for very long and I found a new neurologist, who agreed with me, that if my old medication had worked my whole life, why change it? The problem with phenobarbs is that they might cause liver damage in the long run, so I try to be careful with alcohol and I have use Ibuprofen instead of Paracetamol.
I do hope you will keep on feeling good with your new medication. I know that it can be very tricky finding the right kind and the right dosage of ADHD-medicine, but you seem to be on the right track!👍
I have to say that in this video you did seem more focused, good luck with the new meds, and lets hope for minimal side effects, I took a new diabetes medicine for a week, and it took me a month to clear the side effects, and when the doctor said he really thought i ought to try it again i really despaired at the thought.
Congrats on being so candid about what is really a personal set of problems. I do find it hard to believe you aren’t confident in a social setting. Good luck on your “what the fucks going on?” journey.
Finger's definitely crossed for you. What you describe about the second drug pretty much exactly matches what a friend described when she first took ADHD meds. The first ones she tried triggered major mood swings pretty much instantly (within 24 hours), so she had to quickly change to a different one, which didn't have side effects for her. My son was on vyvance, and I don't think it was quite working for him as well as it could. He said they made no difference for him, but everyone around him saw a marked difference in his ability to manage life. Unfortunately, when we had supply issues a year or so ago he stopped taking them and now refuses to go back on them (because "they make no difference"). Obviously he's his own person and must make his own choices, but I can't help but think he's lacking the self-perception to fully assess this situation.
Clearly that is not your experience though. I do hope you experience no significant side effects, and continue to have the benefits of the focus and (for lack of a better word) motivation.
I have a generic disorder, Tuberous Sclerosis, which is physical and means I can't suppress tumours throughout my body. What is interesting is that the incidence of ASD and ADHD in this population is higher than 50% and may be as high as 80%. Quite a proportion of us are nonverbal or have developmental delays. Some, like me, are capable of postgraduate study.
I was bullied all through school and have quirks like yourself; I have a high sense of being able to read others' emotions and body language in a group.
I socially isolate myself whilst deeply wanting human interaction.
I haven't been diagnosed with ASD or ADHD however, am pretty suspicious that I would be positive.
I take Amitriptyline for arthritis pain at night as other pain meds cause insomnia. Luckily I can get up in the am although I tend to have an afternoon nap.
Colin , it only you who know its going to work , fingers crossed for you , you looking ready good right now ❤ Xx
Very informative...thanks😊
What great balanced insightfull and balanced video. Best of luck to you both.
Happy for you that this works. ❤
you know your mind and what does work. I am on a lot of medication. I have tried cbt dbt and itdoesnt work for me but it just helos so much to hear from another person. thank you so much for sharing.
Fiona and I are delighted that, at least at this point in time, you are experiencing a very positive effect from the new med. We have our fingers, toes, eyes, etc crossed for you!! Love and best wishes from a couple of crazy Canucks! (Ask Debbie and Mark, they’ll confirm we’re crazy Canucks. 😉😁)
I often chuckle at people who persist in the delusion that we have free will. We are but passengers in imperfect bio-mechanical vehicles; optimised for surviving long enough to pass on genetics and little else.
Unfortunately our evolutionary path bought to us self reflection and the ilusion of agency. The result is that we are constantly in the process of post-hoc rationalisation of acts and thoughts that we have no control over whatsoever but are conditioned to think that we are responsible for. This is not conducive to sanity in any rational sense of the word.
Some people appear to be more able to navigate this conundrum than others. For those of us that do not find it easy we can only try (with the agency that we do not have?) to accept what we are. But there are drugs which can prove helpful in balancing brain chemicals for some people some of the time. You are a bright enough to find the best path for you Colin - do not despair.
Will keep fingers crossed that this is going to work, and work well! You may pronounce it however you wish. Makes no difference what you call it as long as it works. Good for you never giving up on a solution. Your journey, and results, may eventually become a standard practice for people who deal with issues as you have.
Captivating. You are so right......... we are all different. Well done you. 👏👏
Good news Colin. Hope all continues to go well. Love from us both. 💞🐾🐾🐓🐝🦉Xxxxx
Good luck! Sounds very promising!
I've heard research that CBT doesn't work on neurodivergent people like us. I've found some value in parts of DBT, mostly the taoist stuff. My most recent therapist did EMDR but she agreed to modify it for autistic adults based on some documetns i found from a Netherlands practice. She went out of her way to make me feel like I had a voice in my own therapy decisions on a per session basis.We customized a lot based on my self awareness of my different communicational needs already. Like using sounds instead of pointers or lights because those distract me. The timeline was much slower and there was a lot more time built in to explain and let me process the parts of the process we were using. Going slow had to be allowed.
sorry my typos. youtube dark mode makes my typing all black where i can't see it.
I was diagnosed with AD(H)D more than two decades ago, as an adult. Went on an antidepressant (escitalopram) and a stimulant (Concerta). The former took a few days but softens my rough edges, and gives me a sloshy head if I miss a dose or two. The latter worked RIGHT away, and has little effect if I miss a dose or several. I think stimulants for ADHD work immediately IF they work at all.
In your opinion…
@@FoxesAfloat Of course. Sample of one.
@@FoxesAfloat Or, more properly, my personal anecdote. I feel lucky, especially after hearing your experience, that I didn't have to go through multiple experiences of adverse reactions.
Hi Colin and Shaun, hope your well and happy!
Well, I think I can sign everything you said blank!
I am older than you, even a little older than Shaun and looking back at my life and how things came to be, I am very convinced that there is a chance, perhaps even a large chance, that I am part of the autistic group and ADH/ ADHD seem very likely too!
Over a period of approx 15 years, I was on various medications such as Citalopram, Escitalopram, various epilepsy medication of which I can‘t even remember the names, Duloxetin and due to osteoarthritis and damaged ligaments in both my shoulders Tilidine and Amineurin.
They didn’t seem to have side effects on, but I never really had the impression that they were helping me.
The only really noticeable and, for my life and the lives of my family especially my wife, son and our dog, utterly negative effect was enhanced fatigue!
It got to a point where I was so exhausted and tired, that I slept almost all day!
Luckily enough I sensed the possible consequences of this and I have weaned myself off my medication.
I still like to enjoy my little nap, but at least I‘ m off the chemicals!
Nevertheless I spoke to my neurologist about it and we’re going to find out, if my thoughts and assumptions could be correct!
We‘ll have to wait and see what comes out of this!
Wishing you, Shaun your 2 pups as well as all animals in your care a wonderful and peaceful Christmas, take care 🤗🥰😘!
I admire you sticking with trying to get better. I am doing the same thing. I have had some things work for me that you say don't work for you. I agree. I kissed a lot of therapy and medication frogs.
I will say that with legal hemp in the US and legal cannabis in other places, I found relief with them. However, I also know people who got very paranoid. All I can say is that there is nothing that has been perfect.
BUT... thanks to you talking about this, I was able to talk to my therapist and discover that I have autism. High-Masking or whatever, but it explained so much. Thank you for talking about the work you are doing, because you're being frank about what works and doesn't work creates a space for those of us who try everything but know that the best we can do is manage things.
I know I will never be 100%, and I think the best therapist I have had reminded me that neither is anyone else really. I might just be more aware. It sucks to have all of the things going through my head, but I think I would hate it more if I could not process the amount of stimulus that I do.
I have no actual advice, because I am not a therapist. I don't know your unique situation. I just want to say: THANK YOU! for being willing to share your experience in a public way. It's helped me realize that there are people like me out there (well maybe not quite like me, because we are all a little different).