Adult ADHD

Just to echo the above. Diagnosed 6 months ago and still finding out more about ADHD and how it impacts the brain. The diagnosis was it for me - there was no explanation or follow up - here's your diagnosis, it's a 9 month wait to see the nurse re meds, off you go.

I'm a bit tired of 'everyone is a bit ADHD now'. There's a significant difference between short attention spans and ADHD. Just like there is a difference between liking your bathroom cleaned a particular way and OCD or being crap at eye contact and autism.

Yes I agree. ADHD and ASD can both be debilitating and exhausting, and make it very difficult to live life in a normal way, it's quite insulting when people say everyone is a bit ADHD or they think they are because they have a short attention span/trouble concentrating and misplace things sometimes.

I would say the diagnosis has helped me as it has helped me accept that I do struggle and the reasons why. It also validates me thinking I might have these these conditions, you don't ever know that you actually have them until you get the diagnosis and now I do I am starting to be able to come to terms with things that have happened in both childhood and adulthood and the tough time I have always had. It's like I can forgive myself a little bit and realise it hasn't always been my fault for everything. I do work and I have DCs and appear relatively competent to others but I get overwhelmed a lot and crash and just can't do some things especially on bad days, and this explains everything really.

I've been diagnosed with ADHD and ASD. The ADHD specific aspecs that I've always struggled with in adulthood are the complete inability to start on lots of tasks unless someone breaks the cycle/thought process, even with basic things such as getting a drink, taking medication, going to bed. Then constant streams of multiple thoughts, scenarios and conversations in my head all the time, often playing in video that I can't switch off and so I often appear not to be listening, miss information and can't sleep, as well as being constantly anxious and on edge as I replay situations and think about what could happen all the time. Obviously ASD hugely affects me too but these are the worst ADHD symptoms for me. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety in the past and have had issues with self harm since childhood which is common with ASD and ADHD being diagnosed as an adult.

Not medicated either but knowing that I'm not just lazy or useless or a failure and there is an underlying reason I find it so hard to plan my workday or to complete a task helps a lot in no longer loathing myself. I can use techniques and tools more effectively to plan things out and deal with essential tasks that have to be done. I'm able to have reasonable adjustments at work and do basic things like shut down my email for two hours to allow me to focus on what I need to do . It made sense of my school and university days and also the ridiculous risk taking I did in my teens and 20s especially around drink and sex.

I'm a bit tired of 'everyone is a bit ADHD now'. There's a significant difference between short attention spans and ADHD. Just like there is a difference between liking your bathroom cleaned a particular way and OCD or being crap at eye contact and autism.

I had ADHD suggested to me when I was under the care of EIP. Never even crossed my mind before, but I had a three hour assessment that went into great depths and was diagnosed 2yrs ago.

Suddenly, my life made sense!

I am medicated, but the local ADHD people are crap at prescribing. I can be taking meds, request a script, they tell me when to collect it, its not there, its not been sent, I have to wait another three weeks and so on and so on. So the disruption of being on and off meds is worse than the ADHD!

Diagnosis helps, as its provides an explanation. It doesn't necessarily change the reality. (I can't currently take medication.)

As to how the adhd affects me... its bloody awful. Sorry, having a bad morning and can't elaborate more but I am reaching the end of my tether with it.

I hope that you're able to get the help that you need.

I think modern life is making us all have traits of it, because we’re constantly surrounded by distractions and comparisons and new information.