Does anybody have any experience dealing with ADHD here in CH?
Any information greatly appreciated
I've been here about six months now and meaning to look into this, but dealing with anything involving a doctor gets me a little stressed out i think, not to mention my partner has a strong feeling that theres no reason to look into it. My mother has talked to me a bit about she recently being diagnosed with ADD (or HD, i cant say i know too much about either) and that i should look into it as well. From what she says, if i were in the states i could easily be prescribed Strattera or Adderall or something to help with it. So first of all, if i were to go talk to a doctor im not even really sure what kind of doctor i should be seeing since i assume there would be necessary tests, and in addition to that i have no idea what drugs are used here in place of the forementioned. Also, like i mentioned, my partner explained to me that ADD/ADHD is sort of looked at as a mental thing and so its rare to have a doctor willing to prescribe you something to help with it, so i feel like looking into it seems like a waste of time.
There are some threads that turn up if searched with ADHD, like this:
ADHD support in Lausanne Publics
I hope you'll find the information useful.
I guess maybe to be more specific, im an adult and not currently in school. I think what i really would like information about is perhaps somebody english speaking or from the USA, diagnosed here in CH with ADHD or diagnosed beforehand in the USA and their experience with doctors,drugs, etc
Sent you a PM. Some of the resources for kids are helpful because at least people can point you in the direction of specialists who deal with adults. As for doctors, you probably need to see a psychiatrist, and you might need formal testing, either from the US or here.
Dear Punky,
I just spoke to my son's pediatrician last week about ADHD/ADD because I think that my son might have it, and the pediatrician told me some very surprising statistics. He told me that supposedly, 1 in 4 kids in Switzerland is "handicapped", and that health insurance providers love to give their people that label so that they will fall under the disabilities act and the health insurance providers do not have to cover the costs for them. The pediatrician thinks that doctors are encouraged to label people as having ADHD/ADD. Given this, if I were you, I would prefer to pay more for a private doctor or psychiatrist rather than go to my regular GP in order to not have it on record that I might have ADHD/ADD, unless you might be keen to be labelled as "handicapped." I don't know how true all that stuff is that the pediatrician said, but he is a university professor, a very knowledge man and superb human being, so I trust his opinion.
Interesting. I don't know anything about the disabilities act in Switzerland. My health insurance (in Switzerland) pays for my medication, and it did pay for my one visit to a specialist. My primary care doc prescribes my meds.
This site might have some info for you. It's got ads on it, but it also has a list of various support groups and etc. ELPOS in Bern was helpful to me.
the med is called ritalin in Europe. It is much much harder to get than aderoll in the USA simply because we are not a Medicine fed society here. my father (Psychiatrist) prescribes it but VERY rarely
Does your father specialize in add/ADHD? Just asking because my experience with a specialist here was that he prescribed all the same meds they do in the US. Ritalin is not the same as alderall (or however you spell it).
You can go to a neurologist or a psychiatrist to be diagnosed and prescribed medication for ADHD (or ADS). Normally a psychiatrist. Usually the diagnosis involves questionaires that suggest whether you had ADHD in childhood. Disability insurance won't pay for anyone diagnosed after age nine.
Psychologists are generally the individuals to be consulted with these questions, and more specifically child psychologists, as attention problems are generally recognised as issues for children in school/ learning.
My uncle is a psychologist and has had one of his kids on Ritalin for most of his childhood -there is a considerable amount of controversy about this...
In my personal opinion (and in my view the most measured opinion of psychiatrists/psychologists / psychiatric specialists) long-term use of mental/activity suppressing drugs on children for undefined attention problems is rash, to say the least. But it does go on, to an almost systematic extent in America, for kids who in general could probably do much better without chemical suppression.
My Cousin makes a good long term study though, he was always hyperactive, loud, easily upset, strong of character, and angry, the Ritalin seems to have removed all these personality traits and calmed him down, but also now he lacks individualism and the ability for free thought. He is studying vet science and is incredibly studious and has also developed some belief in God, and also doesn't appear to be interested in the opposite sex.
Who knows what effects the Ritalin had on his development, but it did have an effect, is it really sensible or morally acceptable to chemically or otherwise change the personality of another human being?
I am a coach and have been working with ADD/ADHD people for about 13 years in Zurich. I do neurofeedback training which is a great alternative to medication. A close relative was on ritalin and I got into neurofeedback to provide the alternative. This person had some of the same feelings as mentioned. Also it affected their growth, sleep and appetitie. (note all medications have side effects)I have been around ADD for about 25 years.
Ritalin is an amphetamine like cocaîne but it of course is a smaller dose and is long lasting.
ADD/ADHD stands for attention deficit disorder or attention hyperactive disorder. I particularly do not like this term because it includes the term "disorder" which is basically indicating broken. In my opinion there are many different types of people.
The basic issue with ADD type people is a problem with paying attenion, impulsivity and being distracted and in some jobs this can be a problem such as accounting. ADD type people are very creative energetic out going . I have worked with many ADD adults and children. I enjoy working with these type of people because they find life interesting.
There are many things that can affect people's attention. One thing is food. Many people get tired and find it hard to pay attention in the afternoon. This is because they eat a lunch consisting of starch, pizza, noofles, bread etc. The body converts this to sugar and then the body counteracts with insulin and then you have a crashe and then couple with our natural circadian rythyms(we all get a little tired in the afternoon) this can be a big problem. Attention can also be affect by stress, anxiety, depression, allergies, etc.
Tyical ADD is when the brain produces uncontrollably a brain wave where the mind wonders. The brain can be trained to produce a faster brain wave.
Regards
John
I came to this thread this morning because of something my boss said to me yesterday. I was with my boss at a meeting and afterwards she said to me that my body language showed I wasn't listening and that I was fidgeting in my chair the entire time.
I was first diagnosed with ADHD in 1996 and put on Ritalin. I have been independently diagnosed by 4 other doctors since then as a result of moves. The last doctor recommended against continuing Ritalin because of the side effects, and since 2005, I have been unmedicated.
I'm not in the habit of claiming ownership of this disability. As a general rule of thumb, people with mental disabilities are treated with insensitivity, while a person with a physical disability is treated with compassion. Therefore I've generally found it better to say nothing about than to let everyone know I have it.
I had recuctantly told my boss about my ADHD about a week ago when she brought up another observation about my behavior that is also a symptom of ADHD. It's not affecting my work, she just doesn't like my behavior. When I told my boss about the ADHD her response was to "do something about it". Aside from medications, there really isn't much I can do except help other people to understand the ADHD. I refuse to be medicated again. I don't think medication is the answer.
So... my questions are:
1) does anyone know an ADHD doc in the Basel area?
a. What purpose would it serve to see a doctor if I don't want medication?
2) What do I do about my boss?
3) Is there anything in law that protects people with disabilities?
3) Is it reasonable to notify HR and what exactly should I tell them?
As a scientist and not a quak (sorry but this is the only word coming to my mind), methylphenidate is a psychoactive stimulant used for more than 40 years in the treatment of conduct disorder that then has been known as ADD or ADHD. Ritalin is the commercial name for it, Concerta is another commercial names. Adderall, also used in the treatment of ADHD is an amphetamine and finally Sttratera is a non-stimulant used in its treatment as well.
Methyphenidate, is NOT an amphetamine and does not work like an illicit drug! I am appalled by someone who has treated one patient can draw such conclusions, I even wonder what his credential could be.
If you are worried by ADHD consult a psychiatrist, if he/she believes you would benefit from medication he/she will prescribe a medication. ADHD is not seen as a "mental" (as in cookoo) disorder, it is a disorder of conduct that has a range of treatments from behavioral to medicinal. The psychiatrist will evaluate you and see what you need, psychologists cannot prescribe medicines, only a psychiatrist can. If I were you I would consult one with experience in ADHD, there are many here specially in the Zurich area. And I know this because I have credentials to my name, and I have just attended the ADHD meeting in Berlin.
Please, to those who are doing it, stop dissinforming people on the sake of your own hidden agendas...
To me it seems you are more the unnattentive type than the hyperactive type, let me find out with a fellow friend of mine and see if I can find a psychiatrist that could see you. Do not feel bad about having to go to one, beleive me everyone goes at least once in their lives
Please do not hesitate to contact me via PM
Are you aware of the whole controversial discussion on ADHD?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attenti..._controversies
We are talking about a "disease", which isnt really appropriate. We are discussing kids not being able to sit on a desk for ten hours, although evolution has created humans to move around.
ADHD is a typical prosperity disease of a 24h TV- and PC-society, caused in the lack of moving, playing around in fresh air and being creative with your manual skills.
ADHD is nothing but the rebellion of our body to the modern office-lifestyle.
Do you know that lots of sportsmen, actors, artist and musicians are diagnosed with ADHD?
But instead of filling themselves with medication they tried to turn on their creativ side on this issue.
Swimmer Micheal Phelps?
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/fami...elps-interview
Cyclist Kit Karzen?
http://www.karzenracing.com/Bio.html
Remember Robin Williams in Mrs Doubtfire?
http://www.celebrities-with-diseases...-add-2020.html
Remember Jim Carey in The Mask?
http://www.celebrities-with-diseases...adhd-1886.html
Singer Elvis Presley?
http://trialx.com/curetalk/2011/03/d...sley-has-adhd/
Singer Ozzy Osbourne?
http://www.stivesyouththeatre.co.uk/...as-adhd-on-tv/
http://www.musicianswithadhd.com/
http://www.adult-child-add-adhd.com/...ous_people.php
http://www.learningrx.com/famous-peo...lities-faq.htm
http://organizedwisdom.com/Slideshow...ties_with_ADHD
http://www.amazon.com/Famous-people-...R1B5I0YD78J9IS
We are not all meant to become bankers or professors. But interestingly lots of ADHD-people performed even better on their studies than their comrades after treating their issue with favourite sport/music/etc.
Good luck!
I can understand you have a point of view, as ridiculous as it might be, but please do not quote quakery and give some scientific proof...Ill be sitting waiting
I was not sure whether I should reply to this message or not because it can be very contentious indeed.
I am not sure whether I want to get into a long debate either.
Someone close to me was diagnosed with ADHD about 24 years ago and was put on ritalin. This person took it for about 10 years. There were lots of side effects and this person decided they wanted off because they felt they were not in control of themselves.
To help this person I learned about a training called neurofeedback and trained them. It calmed them down and they are now functional and doing well. 14 years later I am a neurofeedback coach and trainer. I have trained many people children and adults since that time.
There seems to be two camps on this issue. There are those who support medication and can be quite strong in their support of it and those who do not. I am one of those who does not from personal and professional experience.
I also refrain from using the ADD label as it does indicate broken in my opinion. The last D stands for disability and no matter which way you look at the words is disability which is negative in tone. I am sure we can debate that one for quite awhile.
I must say that I have enjoyed working with people who have these characteristics as they are full of life and find life interesting. Unfortunately in this conforming world especially in Switzerland it can make life difficult. There are businesses who support and hire these type of people because of their intelligence, creativity and energy. I believe that it is my job to help these kind of people learn to live and cope with the modern world of today.
Personally I do not support medication for this area and others like it but this is my opinion. I have written my opinion before on this forum and have been attached. I suppose this will happen again.
So in all you draw your conclusions from seeing 1 person, how do you know your so called "adverse effects" are not part of the disease? From what you say you are in no way qualified to make the statements you did before.
ADD is attention deficit disorder, it does not mean dissability...really Focus get your story together...
If you had read my message thoroughly you would have seen that I have worked with more than one person.
Once the medication was removed the side effects disappeared. If you are so knowledgeable you would know that there are side effects to not only ritalin.
I can think of no better qualifications than a person such as myself.
I suppose I can admit a mistake by saying disability. My goodness are you telling me that if I am labelled as disordered that everything is fine.
LOL modest aren't we?
Yes I am knowledgeable and I do not need to prove it, and as a matter of fact you should know that ALL MEDICATIONS have side effects, even herbal medicines have side effects.
And a person who has a disorder is not a disabled person, and I have never heard of anyone being labelled as "disordered" are you creating terms now that you are so knowledgeable?