Posted by JayD on 11/1/2008, 7:26 pm
70.238.133.122
My mom, who's never smoked a day in her life, was diagnosed with lung cancer 2 years ago, so I decided "no more smoking for me," since I felt so guilty about smoking and was scared about my own genetic risk. (Thankfully, my mom's cancer was caught in Stage 1 and has been in remission.) I had not smoked in almost 2 years and just picked it up again (no more than 4 or 5/day), because of work stress and an inability to stay focused on any detail of job that doesn't intellectually challenge me. My poor concentration at work had frustrated and worried me so much recently, because I really feel my work performance and the company are suffering as a result.
I had an appointment with a psychologist through my employer's EAP, and she
diagnosed me with inattentive ADD. The diagnosis I think is spot-on, and I wish I had consulted a mental health professional years ago. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist next week to get on an appropriate medication. I've read there's a much higher rate of smoking among ADD sufferers than the general public, and I certainly understand why! After smoking, I've found myself able to concentrate on those boring details and tasks of my job much better. The nicotine has helped my concentration on things I really have no capacity to focus on. There are healthier ways to medicate, of course, and I hope to get on them soon. However, I have 2 very important weeks coming up at work, since I'm having to prepare for a company audit, so I may be doing some self-medicating with American Spirits, too.
I'm curious if there are any others on this board who battle ADD and are self-medicating with cigarettes? Any word of advice? Did going on medication for ADD help reduce your need to smoke? I'm still in the closet, and want to stay that way (my wife still has no idea, and my parents would be devastated), so I have no desire to develop a full-fledged habit.
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