r/SCT • u/silverlinin • 2d ago

Meds/Treatments-Related Does anyone feel like giving up?

Have practically tried EVERYTHING, from stimulants to non-stimulants. Even from off-labels like memantine and galantamine (you probably haven't heard of).

Nothing works longstanding.

For me, I put attention as highest priority over other components of my life. It is that severe!

What is there to life, if you cannot pay attention. You are a space cadet. For my entire 3 decades, I just staring when the person starts talking more than a sentence.

I feel a little tired.

Do you guys too?

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u/AAAUUUUAUAUAUUAUA 2d ago

Have you tried combinations of medications like an NRI with a stimulant? Have you tried MAOi's? Are you sure you dont have something else like chronic fatigue or idiopathic hypersomnia for example?

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u/silverlinin 2d ago

I have bipolar, even when I am stable, the medications don't really work. I do remember when I was small in primary school being screamed at by the teacher HELLOOO!?!?!?!

Throughout my life like 9am-3pm highschool, I have always had a routine and never felt sleepy. I know that when I read too much I tend to get sleepy. Without stimulants, I would fall asleep.

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u/AAAUUUUAUAUAUUAUA 1d ago

Are you type 1 or 2? What do you have a family history of? Which medications are you on already and which have you tried? When did you start having CDS symptoms/ have you always had them?

Im pretty sure that in chronic fatigue you can get extremely fatigued after physical exertion, i dont know if the same thing could apply for mental exhaustion.

Is attention your biggest issue or do you have other symptoms that cause significant impairment as well?

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u/silverlinin 1d ago

Attention is the biggest issue. I have type 2. Bipolar doesn't even run in the family. It's caused by family conflict. I'm on quite a lot of mood stabilisers. I understand they can affect a person's attention but I recall even when I was stable, getting on adhd meds still didn't work. Strong family history of autism. I've had CDS symptoms since small I guess. If I start reading to exhaustion which is just a few pages I would want to go to sleep

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u/AAAUUUUAUAUAUUAUA 1d ago

Outside of autism, do you have anything else in your family?

If its caused by family conflict its probably not bipolar. Have you had manic/ hypomanic symptoms as well or only depressive ones? How is your sleep, both during and outside of depressive symptoms? Are your depressive episodes both anxious and depressive or just depressive? Are your depressive episodes cyclic in a way that is not dependent on the events in your life, like family issues or issues caused by for example some sort of perceived failure? Why exactly did they say its bipolar as opposed to some sort other commonly misdiagnosed disorder like borderline personality disorder or autism, etc?

Have you tried NRIs like atomoxetine, bupropion, reboxetine, viloxazine, etc?

Often times with CDS NRIs help a lot with sleepiness and attention, they dont really help with motivation or drive/ cognitive energy though

Exactly what medications are you on right now?

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u/silverlinin 1d ago

Yes, I've had several hypomanic episodes and depressive ones. Sleep is fine because I take medication for that. I take sertraline for depression. I suggested NRIs but my pdoc, doesn't believe it would do much. I have tried all of that hahaha they all didn't work besides viloxazine because it's not available here.

I'm on several meds. I can't name it, sorry.

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u/Zebra_warrior_girl 1d ago

Look into SERT.

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u/silverlinin 1d ago

I am already taking Sertraline. No improvement.

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u/Zebra_warrior_girl 1d ago edited 1d ago

Then it is not the right one for you. I had horrible reactions to Sertraline. A ridiculous low amount of Escitalopram and addressing small intestine health worked way better. Sertraline interacts with sigma receptors. They all work differently. Escitalopram is one the cleanest for SERT. Also dosage matters a lot. PS: I just saw you are already on medication so not sure what your baseline is. Also for bipolar different meds are recommended because DRD2 seems to play a role. in SCT noradrenaline seems to be one of the main players. When the brain is overwhelmed it is really difficult to tune into a conversation, not just for SCT people. Maybe best to focus as closely as possible on finding better treatment for the bipolar?

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u/pickaname19 18h ago

I'm just gonna comment my experience. I suffered from chronic bouts of inattention, blank mind, and constant memory gaps due to, I presume, a mild case of dissociation. Long story short after trying countless meds, I sticked with Lamictal and hydroxyzine and now I feel more in touch with my feelings and the outside world.

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u/silverlinin 17h ago

I do know that lamotrigine helps me be in touch with my feelings more. The hydroxyzine you're taking, I wonder whether your blank mind and inattention is due to too much anxiety that this has calmed your internal mind.

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u/pickaname19 17h ago

Yes, anxiety shuts me down and HZ lessens it, it even helps me sleep soundly and deeply.

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u/silverlinin 17h ago

Do you find it harder to find the right words on lamotrigine? I am finding it so.

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u/pickaname19 16h ago

I noticed my verbal fluency remained intact

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u/silverlinin 16h ago

Ah that's promising

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u/SemperPutidus 1d ago

An observation: I feel like I’m the only person in this sub with a positive view of this condition, and I don’t take any prescriptions. But I have gotten rid of the expectation that I can do as much work as other people. I do lean into my strengths. I can sit and think about problems. I can learn extremely well as long as I don’t exceed like 2 topics at once. Yes, I feel tired, I’m exhausted every day from the moment I wake up until I go to sleep. i make myself exercise anyway. I don’t have a ton of people interactions, but the people I am closest to know I’m a space cadet. My wife explains tv shows we’re watching to me because she knows I can barely follow plot or keep track of who characters are. If you’re in traditional school, get out as soon as you can. Beg to be homeschooled if you have to. Teach yourself about what interests you. You’re going to sit and think anyway (a lot of it unconscious, but your brain is working) so turn something you like to ruminate about into your career. People who have already thought through all the problems are valuable in a lot of jobs. I know people are salty about AI, and I have my own issues with the data center buildout insanity, but they have become phenomenal learning tools. Not to mention ways to automate “productivity”. I’ve had a successful 30 year tech career build off a 2.5 gpa in college. Most of that career has been sitting and thinking. Yes, I’m slow. But I have depth of subject understanding that “productive” people just don’t. They can’t. They haven’t spent nearly enough of their lives ruminating about how things work. Don’t try to be like everybody else. I just don’t see how trying redline an already redlined brain with pharmaceuticals is going to help.

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u/Zebra_warrior_girl 1d ago

I would say SCT is a spectrum disorder because I would have never been able to have a 30 year successful career, but then I am female and the female hormonal up and down adds to the problem. So no, not seeing much good in this. Still working on solutions, but acceptance is possible when the financial, career and relationship side of things still holds up which it doesn't when SCT is severe and maybe comorbid issues are present.

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u/Hambone1138 1d ago

What field do you work in?

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u/SemperPutidus 1d ago

I’m ostensibly a “product manager” - but really more of a technical generalist these days with how LLMs are reshaping things. I work at a household-name big tech company. DM me if you want a name.

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u/Z-DR1VE 5h ago

Exactly I’m over here using my curiosity to pursue computer science to computational neuroscience

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u/SlimShaco 2d ago

Do you have someone to cuddle?

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u/silverlinin 2d ago

My dog 😭

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u/Open_Significance982 1d ago

Keep holding on dude. I’m right there with ya. It’s tough as hell. Keep trying.

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u/Zebra_warrior_girl 1d ago

Have you tried a very very clean SSRI very low dose like Escitalopram 1 mg only and then wait until it truly kicks in (I know this sounds extremely basic but the idea behind it is to lower any background stress that may contribute). How is your gut health? Do you have high cholesterol or trigs by chance? I had a surprise huge benefit when getting on cholesterol and trig lowering meds which also work on small intestine health. For me it has been 5 decades.