Discussion ADHD experiences

[Carrot]

Anybody wants to share their experiences with ADHD? It doesn't have to be suicide related.

I'm trying to understanding somebody who has diagnosed ADHD. I read a bit about it, but their behaviour doesn't show anything similar to the description.

I understand that not every sympton needs to appear in every person, and that people can mask things if they try or if they take drugs.

I'll probably talk to them about their own experiences, but would like to hear from others too.

Thank you in advance.

 

[YandereMikuMistress]

Id have to think rn can't on the spot but I've was diagnosed with ADHD in kindergarten

 

[Seaghost]

I was diagnosed when I was 24. Far too late. Youth was already ruined and other things too. I tried with my former therapist all possible medication. The results were always the same. I was getting colder to my surroundings an when the effect decreased I was feeling like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It was a horror BUT I was able to work.
Even a hospital stay couldn't help. The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde feelings were getting lower but instead I was getting panic attacks DAILY.
After all I kicked the shitty pills in the garbage. Working wasn't possible anymore but I was myself again. I did that after my former therapist was asking my if I took the pills for me or my surrounding.
The fucking bittersweet feeling on this whole story was when I first tried the medication and this big restless sea in my head was getting frozen emidiatly. That was the first time in my life I was calm in my head. But for which costs? FOR WHICH FUCKING COSTS???? Being damaged on both sides of the medalion is really sick.
Simply not curable

Just another story why I'm here and want to end this surviving day by day.

 

[LancyLoew]

I was never diagnosed with ADHD, but a lot of my behaviors and tendencies align with it.

I have had a notebook for several years now that I use to keep track of my whole life basically, especially during active times like school. I used to get very stressed, and would often feel like I was forgetting something; because I sign up for lots of activities, remembering all of the dates and requirements can feel rather overwhelming. Also, just knowing that as long as I write everything down, I will never miss anything is an *immense* comfort.

Another thing I feel as a necessity is having my work be as dynamic as possible; during art classes for example, I would have at least three things going on that I could switch between to keep myself engaged. I'd have bottles and a spray for mixing liquid paints; a pallet and multiple, differently sized brushes; a paint knife (that is entirely unnecessary, it's just an excuse to have something different to hold); and my phone, which I frequently pick up to change the music I listen to. I also fixate on the details an excessive amount, and work very slowly; when I asked my teacher 'in how much time he could've done the work I did in a day', he said "20 minutes, give or take."

I talked to my psychiatrist about it, and took a couple tests, but she told me that *if* I have ADHD, it's on the very end of the spectrum.

 

[iamanavalanche]

not having the attention span to read the whole post T_T

 

[countdowntoecstasy]

I was diagnosed just a few months ago. This coupled with some other disorders have really ruined my life. There's an inattentive type and a hyperactive type basically. I show more inattentive symptoms which basically means that I have a hard time choosing on what to focus on. I can focus on something that really interests me but I don't have much control over it. It obviously makes doing anything remotely productive difficult but it also affects just about every facet of my life. It makes it hard to have a conversation sometimes because I feel like I am simply on autopilot. I couldnt do work very well if it wasn't very stimulating because I would go on autopilot and lose focus. I have poor memory too because of it. I forget instructions soon after they are said and I always...always forget to do things and forget where things are. There are some hyperactive symptoms that I have too. I can't sit still for super long and I can be a little impulsive. I could keep going on as it strains all of my relationships with people and I literally mean affects every part of my life.

Overall, I hope you do not have it because I believe it would be easier to treat if you didn't have this problem in the first place. I will say you learn to mask symptoms overtime, which can make diagnosing as an adult difficult. I'm still not medicated despite being diagnosed by multiple psychiatrists.

 

[spero_meliora]

personally I was diagnosed late in life. for years I struggled to understand why I was different to everyone else, why it was so much harder for me to study or work, relationships etc... it was a bit of a lightbulb moment when I got diagnosed.

it also contextualised the impulsiveness, the forgetfulness, the difficulty in managing time, and the emotional ups and downs... so it was a lot to process, but it also brought a sense of relief and understanding.

since I now understand why my brain works the way it does, I can be a little kinder to myself and make adjustments as needed. neurotypical people want you to check in with them a lot more, whereas I personally could hear from someone for the first time in five years and be grand to just pick up where we left off like nothing ever happened. it also let me understand why normal socialising sucked for me.

since getting diagnosed I've been able to maintain a relationship and hold down a proper, steady job, so it does make a difference... but man, having your brain work in a completely different way to most everyone else's sucks.