Breathe.....take on step at a time. Thats all anyone can do wether they have ADHD or not. First...stop allowing your mind to become so over whelmed. I know its hard and some times it seems an impossible task just to pick one thing at a time to think about. Stress and worry add to this in a huge way.

The only way to deal with it is to change your "perseption" about those things that concern you most. Instead of worring about moving away...consider what an exciting adventure it is. Instead of focusing on getting fired from a job you don't even have yet....remember that if you get in a bind that it will only be temporary and that you can always move back home and regroup. Thats OK you know, its not running away or failing; its picking your moments when you feel confident about when to take your next step.

I always say this to myself when I feel overwhelmed.." I have another fifty years to live, this moment will pass soon and I will be fine!." Puts things into perspective for me every time I remember to say it!

It helps to only deal with tasks that are relevant to TODAY...not weeks or months down the road. You've already desided all the bad things that are going to happen to you in a month and your making yourself stressed, frightened, sad and it hasn't even come close to happening yet!!! It probably won't be anywhere near as bad as you feel it will be!  Don't you see how silly its is that you've just ruined your whole next few months when they haven't even happened yet and in reality,  those things may never happen?

You do have valid concerns but please stop playing out tragic and negative senarios and freaking your self out about it....acknowledge what you are afraid of and be sensible about how you might handle it. Don't create additional " BUT or What if's"...... just the basic concerns and know your family or friends are there for you. Here's a story I heard once, it'll help I think.....

A man was walking on a beach near his home. A woman walked passed and made idle chat. "Hello...nice to meet you. I've just moved here!' she said...

"Oh, where did you move from?" the man asked.

"A beautiful little town in Oregon. We really loved it there, we had alot of friends, a beautiful home and a wonderful community but we always dreamed of retiring here. Could you tell me how you find the community and your niegbours? Are they as friendly?" 

"I think you'll find everyone pretty much exactly as you knew them at your last home." replied the man.

"Thats exactly what I already thought! I'm so looking forward to making new friends! Thanks and bye for now." And off she went on her walk.  

 A few days later the man met another woman in a local store who also had just moved to the area. He smiled and asked her "Where did you just move from?" 

"A lousy little town in the Mid West. The weather was so hot and dusty, the people were mostly thieves and just rude. I always locked my house. It really never felt like much of a home while we lived there. My husband was laid off but got a job out here so we just picked up and moved. About time too!" the woman said and then asked the man "You say you live around here...tell me, how are the town and the people here?"

"I think you'll find everyone pretty much exactly as you knew them at your last home." replied the man.

"Thats exactly what I already thought! Most people are just no damb good." she said and went on her way.

Karen

I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. There is so much stuff going on in my life and it's making my mind spin faster.

I'm moving to a different state, I'm trying to go to school, and I'll be living on my own on my own (far from family) for the first time in my life. When I think of my future careers as either an actor, a writer, or a historian, I start to feel like I can't do it. Like it's too much for someone with my level of ADHD. I'm 22, and I start thinking what if I'm too young for this?  What if I'm too old?  How do I move from state to state?  How do I do my taxes?  How does insurance work?  What if I can't afford a head shot?  What if I get a nice job and I screw it up like I always do?

What if I can't do it? What if I can't live on my own and have a real job ever because of this stupid disorder? How am I supposed to live in a world that hardly recognises it?

I'm scared.

Pmacca01 - love your goals!

Just take one task at a time.  I used to sit and wax neurotic on ALL the worries I had.  Especially at your age - I bit off what seemed more than I could chew. 

IT GETS BETTER.

Moving from home - wow what memories - it scared the crap out of me too.

Just remember - most famous writers were also dishwashers while they waited for the first book to hit.  Same with actors, singers and comedians.  Don't give up - just don't starve.  Take public transit when you can - and become acquainted with the subtle flavors of noodle packs and mac & cheese! LOL

Just keep the stress where you can off you and deal with what can't be removed.  I found that if I kept focused as much as I could - and limited my goals to 3 month "chunks" it was easier.  I'll say sadly most of my attempts failed miserably by my own hand - or a crappy roommate.  Oh, screen roommates by talking to previous roommates of theirs.  Just do it - trust me.

Good luck guy - I envy you because you are just getting to the fun stuff!

Been there, done that and still living it in my 30's!!!!

I know exactly how you feel......

 CHEATED BY THE DISORDER FROM HELL and further more you're constantly in a CATCH-22 because of some OTHER DILLWEADS who have ignorant social stigmas about your disorder and intend to exclude you or even exploit what they see as an easy target if they should need to!!!!

The parents are just a taste of what is to come with the whole stigma issue.

In my experience I actually grew more as a person when I left my state and got the hell away from my unsupportive parents.

They still have the attitude that they where doing right by me and didn't understand why I cut off from them as an adult. Well it's toxic when peoples own stigmas are forced on you with a bring-ya-down attitude about everything! (to never deliver on the promise of college because they thought it was more important to own freakin status cars and b.s. to impress people is not a help to me by any standard but their own)

The fact is that ALL people (those at work,school, or home) will try screw you over twice as frequently if you ALLOW it be KNOWN that you have the disorder and there are few protections under the law to benifit you should you have a problem. Keep your cool no matter how hard it is and most of all, don't blurt it out and make yourself their prey-especially at work!

The best way to combat these degenerates is not to let them know and most of all, not to let them win! (i.e. screw you over)

You just have to get a nasty sort of "no... not screw me...but screw these inhumane people" Attitude and if that's what it takes to protect yourself, than by all means, INWARDLY adapt that frame of mind (dont display in rage if possible)

Use that kind of firey determination to CONSTRUCTIVLY combat any dickheads that come your way and keep yourself in good standing any way you can!  

PS: Yes it's a raw deal but on the bright side:we are far more creative, than the folks that get in our way ! Thinking outside the box is a big plus - so use it to your every advantage because it's the one advantage you have in spades by comparison to others.

Hell becca - I know where you are at.  I grew up terrified of loud voices - and my mother although she was most often loving and kind was a german farmgirl in raising and tended to blow her top at my actions - not in raising a fist but in her voice.  It shook my soul and was like someone stabbing me the feeling was sometimes.

I've always had bad reactions to adrenaline and I'll bet that's your problem too.  It kept me from being daring in school or trying new things.  Every time I'd venture out and screw up because of my ADHD - the adrenaline from the fear and anxiety would bend me over with the sick stomach, tears in my eyes and shakes for hours - sometimes the whole day and night.  I went along with a schoolmates idea to "break in" to his dad's garage window - and lucky me I was butt in the window when big bad daddy started yelling and flying off the handle.  I am ashamed to say I did some embarassing things to my corderoy pants, totally became a bag of oatmeal and threw up for days after that.

If you have a strong family member who is understanding of what you go through - have them calmly sit and talk with papi.  Have them explain that although you know he means no harm that when he just lets out his booming voice you sometimes relate it to frightening experiences.  Perhaps if papi is understanding you will get some low tones when he enters the room.  I hope so for you.

Again I really, really relate and your post brings back some not so nice memories for me.  It's good though as I need to remember this stuff to help others like us survive and thrive.

I'm better with adrenaline now - I've had to slowly try new things that are barely scary - working my way up to confronting people who are not nice and doing the right thing.  THAT was scary!!  The medication I'm on and the support of my therapist, my family and my friends online help me greatly and maybe you too!

Good luck and please let me know how I can help if at all.

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