Just diagnosed

[Anonymous]

This past week I was just diagnosed with adult adhd and i have experienced many emotions. Relief that I know there truly is a problem. But also a sense of depression as if i am to blame but all in all it is good and I look forward to starting meds next week.

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[Anonymous]

I was diagnosed 3 months ago and I have gone through a whole range of emotions as well. Overwhelmed would be a good way to describe how I am now. For me I am pushing to make a lot of changes…I think I need to focus on a few things at a time

Hang in there. There are some good books that are motivating and helpful. ‘Delivered from Distraction’ might be a first book for you to read.

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[Anonymous]

Thanks Robert I just purchased that book and am looking forward to reading it.

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[Anonymous]

When I received my diagnosis I felt a sense of relief (not to say any of your emotional responses have been incorrect). My relief stemmed from finally getting confirmation that there was something very ‘different’ about how my brain was working in relationship to how others’ brains were functioning. You know, those looks from others with the raised eyebrow, mystified stares or look of wonderment when I’d wander way, way off-topic in the midst of some professional discussion. 😳

Whatever was going on? My head was so different than everyone else! Well, turns out there was a real reason for all of it!

My brain wasn’t ‘wrong’ in how it did things, it just goes about doing it in a differently. I knew I had ‘brain smarts’ but for some reason or other, I always took the most round-about way to get to a solution or the ‘finish line’ that friends and co-workers reached in a direct route- what seemed like seconds to me.

Knowing there were actual reasons for all the other things I struggled with (the list is way too long for here!) gave me permission to forgive myself for the mental beatings I gave myself.

I am just ‘me’ and I’m perfect as I am. Sure, I get from Point A to Point B in my job by taking all the circuitous routes and it takes me hours longer to get it all done.

The good thing about a diagnosis? Knowing the source of my detours/potholes has given me the power to adjust or make changes to help myself avoid them.

No, I’m not always successful but I know that even those we deem to have reached ‘the top’ still sometimes arrive at work wearing two different shoes. No one is perfect.

Your diagnosis has given you permission to take flight and to enjoy life. Congratulations!

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[Anonymous]

Wow thanks zsazsa that is very encouraging. That is where Ihope to go on this new adventure

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[Anonymous]

carllakin,

I am glad you picked the book up

when you read the book I will be willing to bet you will see a lot of your strengths that others in non-ADD world don’t have

Also when I read it, it allowed me to start accepting my ‘gifts’

zsazsa

Thanks for your post! It is an optimistic one

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[Anonymous]

I am also just diagnosed my self, I am 21 years old.

The reason i diagnosed my self is because i know my self better then any one else, ” the answer was for any one wondering why i didnt seek professional help”

I also found my self to be ” DIFFERENT” from all my peers since i was in school and doing activity’s. I guess i would call my self lucky that i fought with my self for so long that i actually know when i am spacing out and when my head is skipping with subjects that are relevant to what i am trying to listen to or pay attention to. This made me actually happy knowing that i have add, because for the longest time i have been beating my self up to be better and try harder. Well for the most part it wasnt easy, my biggest issue is Inattentive part is the worst part. I am in and out of, like a cameras focus thats gone crazzy almost lol.

I take this disorder to be to my advantage you could say, because i am a big subconsciousness thinker which also explains why i am such a different thinker then a lot of people. Every thing has a down side, i cant stop thinking which overwhelms me all day long, it feels like im boxing Muhammad Ali in my head and i am also my own drill sargent so i am constently yelling at my self ” stop thinking and pay attention, pay attention, stop focus to the convo, stop stop….” I also feel like my spiritual energy is at a low all day long so im drinking coffee or energy drinks. The only thing that i would like to do is try to focus on my school work, the thing with me is that i want to learn and i want to focus but my head just wonders of on its own and then comes the discouragment.

I also misplace my car keys or my cell phone, i cant find it sometimes for 15 mints and if my life depended on it i would die probably but then after doing that for so long. I just learned to go back to the places i have been in the last 10 mints and after a little searching its usually in front of me lol.

I dont want to get on medication because i have done my research on medicine that work on your mental issues and its scary as hell. i think i rather deal with my self rather then do my self more bad then good. I have one question if any one paid enough attention to this last part but my questions. Does weed really help with ppl with ADD?, I dont really need info from articals but personal opinions.

Thanks for taking your time to read something about me.

and i am glad to have ADD

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[Anonymous]

Zen,

I think if you have identified yourself as ADHD then get it confirmed by a specialist. There are advantages

to it and there are specific strengths. The problems it causes are things you will find over time. It can have a negative

impact on every aspect of your life.

As far as ‘weed’ is concerned a lot of people with ADD have tried to cope abusing drugs and alcohol.

If you really want to screw yourself up keep going down that path

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[Scattybird]

Hi Zen

For what it’s worth I agree with Robert about the weed. NOT because I am an old f**t but for two reasons:

The first is that weed nowadays isn’t like it used to be, it has been bred/developed to be much stronger than ever before and some psychiatrists now worry about the effects it can have on some people (like increasing paranoia, memory loss etc.); the stuff in my day was mild and OK in comparison.

The second reason is that you sound JUST like I used to be. Yeah that’s what I might have and I can deal wit it but with a lot of help from energy drinks.

I got to the point where energy drinks were fine but I needed so many of them that I was heading for an ulcer or some sort of gut rot anyway. But like you there was no way I’d take ADHD medication!

BUT then I got diagnosed and decided to try Ritalin and am SO grateful that I did. I got over my worry about using mind-altering drugs. That’s not really what Ritalin is about. It just helps to get your dopamine levels a bit more balanced. So yes maybe you could call it mind altering but I am so glad I take it.

Why? Well it helps me regulate my emotions, I can sit through meetings and concentrate and I can give people the attention they deserve. I am more likely to get my work done too. It’s not perfect – notice I said it helps me do these things, it doesn’t do them for me.

Ritalin can be given is fast release doses so you can regulate taking it for maximum impact and it drops out of your system quickly.

Ritalin might not be the best choice for you so you ought to get a proper diagnosis and professional advice.

I was like you in my attidude towards ADHD and the drugs but I WISH I had found out about it years earlier. As you progress through life it becomes harder to deal with becuase you will have more and more responsibilities and more to remember and deal with. It is so much easier knowing for sure what you are dealing with and also with help from proper meds. Weed is not the way to go with this.

Read zsazsa’s post further up – it’s excellent.

Good luck!

(Excuse typos – doing this on my phone so screen tiny)

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[Anonymous]

Scattybird

I agree with your two points regarding use of weed.

My reason for being very clear about not using weed and other ‘recreational’ is based on

people I know who have used. In one case it was masking depression and other

symptoms that made it extremely difficult to diagnosis the underlying problems.

If you have ADHD/ADD then treatment doesn’t take away the good things like creativity, etc.

It makes your quality of life better.

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[trashman]

when I used to smoke a lot of pot it would make my brain slow down. my concern nowadays is that they would lace the pot with crack or meth and then they own you. i still like being in charge of my self. so no thanks.

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[Anonymous]

It will slow your brain but what was your level of functioning?

You wouldn’t have been able to work in that condition

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[Anonymous]

carllakin

I have responded well to my medication and am amazed how clear my thinking is and he clarity in describing my

emotions at a given point in time

One of the things I have been going right now (almost 3 months since being started on medication0) is a feeling

of great loss and some anger.. It has been almost 30 years since university and when i reflect on how hard I

struggled to get through school and the negative impact it has had on my relationships, work and overall well-being.

I know i have to work through this and i do have things to be thankful. The diagnosis has changed my outlook

and has provided some much need answers

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[Author]

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