New One
Ok, Let me try to organize my thoughts here. For the last few weeks I have been reading about ADHD and I have taken tests and Man! all symptoms describe me 110%. So I run into this site, I have been touched with posts in here 1: because I now know that I am not alone. 2: Even though I have no clue where to start, i can at least now put a plan together as how to deal and manage ADHD.
All my adult life I have tried to be who I am NOT, makes me sad and upset that I never look into ADHD until recently while in therapy even though I have known that there is something unusual about my luck of focus, concetration, easily gets mad about lillte things, procrastination, mood swings, cannot stand being happy..... I feel like i don't know who I am
Thanks
I'm so happy that you've found us.
There's a lot of us here who were only recently diagnosed as adults and although finally finding out that there's a reason you've been the way you've been it also leaves you with many other questions.
Everyone here is so supportive and helpful.
Welcome
miniwhinny
For sure there is. See once i determined that I do have ADHD, was like heavy load lifted off my shoulder. How ever, now I am having these confusing thoughts. I am not even sure if I should tell family and friends or not
I know how you feel about having that heavy load lifted. It's amazing how freeing it is just knowing what you have.Since I found out I've told just about everyone. 1) I figured they'd laugh and say something like "oh, I should have known that was what was wrong" lol or 2) if they don't say anything perhaps in the back of their minds they'll be able to accept me a little more.
The most trouble I've had is with my younger brother and my mom (my dad has passed) they not only don't believe I have ADD but don't believe it's a real thing ! I can't tell you how mad that makes me. My 77 year old mom has neuropathy, macular degeneration, arthritis and restless leg syndrome and I don't go round telling her that I don't believe her and that those things aren't real...what gives people the right to do that with ADHD? If a doctor said "you're a diabetic" why is that diagnosis any different that "you have ADHD"?
The only piece of advice I'll give you with regards to telling close family members is to make sure that you are at peace with your past since discovering what you have. What I mean by that is this.... (and I've read this is fairly common) my childhood was devastating to me because of my ADD. Because I had a high IQ I was put down, made to feel stupid, lazy, told I never tried, embarrassed at school and generally hated by every teacher I had. I was never good enough for my parents and just had it drilled into me that I was a failure...add to that the fact that I felt like a failure because I lived in such a fog and you end up with a suicidal, bulemic, depressed kid. Now I've found out that I had a real and physical problem for finding school work so hard I'm furious that no one tried to help me as a kid. I almost think from some of the posts I've read on this board that part of their denial of what I have today is because to admit it would be to admit that they completely messed up when I was young.
So, wear your badge proudly because it is who you are but don't expect everyone to react in the way you want them to.
...and when the going gets tough...come here for some support
Even though it's so painful for you and us all, it's a bit comforting to see that others have this problem of what to share about their diagnosis. But I think, for me anyway, the opinions that we can only take care of our own feelings and have no control over other people applies. The best thing about the diagnosis for me was I agree with Miniwhinny when she said it took the weight off her shoulders. Me too--I can forgive myself for all my symptoms much easier, where in the past I hated myself for not measuring up to the mainstream, and spent much of my life ruminating on how I screwed up and could improve next time. Now that I'm older, I have physical problems that were caused by the anxiety. But at least I've mostly gotten over the anxiety, because self-acceptance is so much easier.
None of my family of origin wants to talk about the diagnosis. My older brother said I didn't have ADD, I'm just weird, that's all. So they're not going to accept me no matter what my diagnosis. But one thing that helps me deal with that is remembering that it took me 2 years of reading and research to believe it myself, and nobody else wants to do any reading, etc., even though they get annoyed by my ditziness when I'm around.
I'm sorry to keep rambling, but I have to say one more thing. Last night I was at my married daughter's house, and was moving around playing with the child after I tried a new recipe of hers. Then she said, "Mom, pick up your plate!" She gets annoyed too, but that was exactly what my mom used to say, in the same tone. I never seem to be able to focus on more than one thing at a time. But I decided to tell her what I just said, as she won't talk about the ADD either. I'll just try to gradually tell her I'm not going to change, but she'll have to try to accept me as I am now that I'm better able to accept myself.
Well, I'm not sure this long monologue sounds very optimistic, as so many people like Miniwhinny are helped by medication. I just have some complications in that regard, but most people seem to do fine. Welcome to you, Newbie. This is a great board!
Mig58
mig,I'm sorry that you have physical problems because of your anxiety. I'm not surprised just knowing my anxiety level at times and how bad stress is for the body. I hope that whatever you have isn't bad enough that it affects your lifestyle.
Shooa,
right just now you may be feeling so alone or confused with your newly found "diagnosis". Just remember that we're all here and we're all experiencing similar things but unlike the "outside world" we KNOW what you're going through ((((HUGS))))
Thank you miniwhinny
I have schedule with my therapy for result next week, I am 100% I have it so I expect nothing less. Like you I take my health very seriously I have been blessed. I haven't had reason to take a pill for 20 years. I am not even sure how my body will react to it but if will help me focus I am for it. Have you noticed any uncomfortable side affects?
I just started to study for industry test and as usual I have to read five times before sink in. So frustrating.
I was on CNN and if found this
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/Child/Famous-People-with-AD D-or-ADHD/2/
Thank you both mig and miniwhinny for your in put
Honestly I am still having difficulties fully accepting it. One thing though is that I am more aware of what i say or do, one of my problem has been that I have tendence of reacting without thinking carefully and later regret.
miniwhinny
Your childhood was exactly like mine, some of family member and teachers always said i was lazy. To top it my dad pretty much denied me as his son, he never really said why. I haven't talked or see him since i was 22 and I don't miss him.
Looking back, now this make peferfect sense, I am not in pills, but i guess if will help my focus i will have take medication. Is there any has found medication helpful?
Now i know what i know I want to go back to school and complete my BS i have one more year.
Thanks
Shooa,
I'm sorry about your Dad. It sounds like you are handling it as best as you can but I bet deep down inside it's still hurtful.
When you get your "official" diagnosis your doctor will be able to help you with meds if you choose to take them.
Let me tell you about myself and meds...I started with Ritalin. I took it for three months and it did absolutely nothing. I may as well have been swallowing tic-tacs.
Three weeks ago I switched to Adderoll EX 20mgs. The first week was a little scary - to be honest I was high as a kite on it ! The second week I started to balance out when I hardly felt that high feeling but my symptoms were really starting to become more under control. This past half week has been an unreal experience. I'm right at the end of the course I'm taking online. This week I've managed to sit down ALL day and study with the odd break just to get up and do chores rather than feeling like I had to get up every 5 minutes or I'd go crazy AND the biggest change....
I feel that the ability to "learn" has always been hidden behind a curtain - just out of reach. I don't understand how this is happening but I actually feel that what I'm learning is making sense for the first time ever. Even math...I'm grasping concepts and instead of it going in one ear and out the other I'm understanding things. I can only presume....as I've never felt this way before in 51 years lol...is that the adderoll is allowing my brain to think about what I want to think about and not about every other thought/sound/color/distraction/idea that comes my way.
I've always tried to take care of my health so getting used to having to take meds is something I'm having to work on but being able to function and not feel so out of control all the time is well worth it.
Let us know how you get on.
Congratulations, Miniwhinny! I can't believe the first medicine you tried worked so well! It must seem like a miracle, and the news gives people that are newly diagnosed like Shooa lots of hope.
My physical problems aren't earthshaking. Just some IBS and a breathing disorder from my anxious breathing so many years. And they say doing exercises with a physical therapist should help.
Mig58
I have very recently been diagnosed ADD, and my PCP gave me a month's supply of samples of Strattera, and while I did not notice any major affect, I was given a script to continue with it. Between my PCP and myself, we decided on the Strattera because it is a non-controlled substance, and I could be given a prescription with refills. If we were to go to a controlled substance, I was told that I would have to go back to my PCP every month and get a new script for the next month, that she could not put refills on the script. Well, I went to get the Strattera script filled (after the month of samples was used up) and it was rejected by my insurance company. The insurance company sent me a letter explaining why it was rejected, and told me that I needed to be on a choice my insurance company's choice) of 10 different meds for one month, and that my PCP could decide which one to try. Well, she picked one and gave me a script for that, and my insurance company rejected it again, but I have not received a letter explaining why yet. I am wondering if there is an alternative other then meds to help get my focus and my concentration and my organinzation into a better position than it is now.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks :)
Insurance companies make it very difficult to treat this condition. My insurance company flat out does not cover any ADHD medications for individuals over age 18. Like they think it just goes away on your 18th birthday or something.
There are alternatives. Check the threads on the alternative boards. Some people take different herbal medicines. I utilize CBT with a therapist even though my insurance is limiting in the number of visits with her too.
Support is crucial. Getting support here helps and getting support from friends helps too. I have told my sister but the support from her is limited and spotty.
Books. Read, read, read. There are lots of websites online that will offer suggestions for addressing specific issues.
Coach. Some people enlist the help of a life coach. Some can be quite expensive but if I could afford one, I would hire one in a heartbeat!
Good luck to you grumpy.
The first week I had a really dry mouth (noted as a common side effect) and I was a little "wired" so had trouble sleeping but those went away once my body adjusted to the new meds.
It's now almost a month into taking them and the dry mouth has gone and I'm sleeping really well.
The only side effect that I've had consistently from the start to now is loss of appetite! Oh, and something really REALLY wierd...I'm a chocoholic ';-) I LOVE chocolate...I've completely lost my taste for it. I haven't eaten any since going on the Adderoll lol. I'm struggling to keep weight on. I lost 8lbs over the first couple of weeks (not good - I'm a 5' 7" mom who now weighs 118lbs!) I'll be in good shape to run a marathon but do need to keep trying to overcome the feeling of not being hungry that comes with the medication.
Benefits SO outweigh any side effects. It's as if I've lived my life in a valley filled with fog and suddenly the suns come out and its all cleared away and I can see forever
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