Question : Adult ADD...?...I am going to talk to my primary care physician tomorrow and I need some advice.?

Question

Two years ago I went on Lexapro (4mg) and Welbutrin (300mg) for depression (dosages were determined after a few months of trial and error.) I' ve gained weight (50 lbs) and lost my libido. A month ago, I dropped the lexapro but kept the Welbutrin. It has been an adjustment emotionally - but when I'm not a raging jerk - I want sex finally. However, I am still eating like crazy.
Another part of my story is that when I was younger, I used drugs. This is what I noticed: Cocaine had NO affect on me while pot chilled me out and Meth made me EXTREMELY OCD.
As of the last ten years, I have quit all the other drugs except pot - and since I was about 26 - I basically smoke four times a year (New Years, 4th of July, Camping, etc). I am now 33 years old. and I have noticed that when I smoke - I am more clear-headed about my goals - my bitchy behavior - and my eating. It wears off, however, when the high does.
What does this mean? It seems like a chemical imbalance, but what? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Self medicating is a common thing. You tried various drugs during your experimental phase, and found that pot seems to help you. Not unusual, but somewhat risky legally.

In some states you can actually get a prescription for medicinal marijuana and attempt to use it therapeutically, but the Federal government continues to do all it can to make that as difficult as possible. You can discuss this with your physician, but it's hard to say if they are likely to be helpful. What it means, and if it is a chemical imbalance - it seems likely, but talk it over with your physician, hopefully they can help you figure that out, or refer you to a specialist who can do so.

You are clear headed enough to see the difference between being straight and being high on pot, even when the pot wears off, so there is some hope. You can tell that your behavior and/or attitudes are causing you problems, so try to consciously work on both your behavior and your attitudes. When you have the urge to say something negative, stop for a second and think about it. What really has you upset? Is there a better way to express your emotional state without lashing out? If you are mistreating a close friend of loved one, try to get them to help you. Explain that you are having difficulties controlling your emotional responses, and when you want to lash out, stop and explain that you're fighting the urge to say something inappropriate. Get them to help you work past the anger and express the underlying issue that is upsetting you. Also enable them to call you on it: if you are lashing out, they should feel free to say "that upsets me and is inappropriate." If and when they do so, it is important that you stop the emotional reprisals, take a deep breath, and see their objection as an attempt to help you rather than an attack.

This is not an easy thing, but behavior can be changed with sufficient effort and repetition. Good luck!