Adult ADHD support thread

[Completmentfille]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with combined type ADHD last year at the grand old age of 30 and am medicated. Medication very much helps but I still struggle with lots of things day to day, and lockdown has not helped.

I just wondered if there were any more of us about and if a support thread would be helpful?

Sorry about the formatting of my post, not sure why that happened!

It’s actually disgusting the way people with ADHD are treated. Constantly having to try and prove themselves to Drs. I’m really angry about this. If I went to my GP and said I’m depressed but can still work etc I’d walk away with a prescription for anti-depressants. If you work when you have ADHD it’s just proof you don’t have it?

Sorry. Getting more and more worked up at having to spend hundreds to get medication that will change mine and my children’s lives.

I have had private diagnosis and started on 20mg Elvanse a few weeks ago. Bumpy start but now has settled down and I feel a million times better. Everything just feels easier, less torturous to do. I just get on wjth it without the mental angst. I still numb out on phone too much, but i feel more productive motivated and mentally lighter. It has also stopped me binge eating which is a big problem for me. I don't drink but I would say that was also a huge symptom for me before I stopped. I feel quite emotional at how different my brain feels in terms of less impulsivity and mood swings have diminished greatly. No more outbursts of overwhelm.

Hey everyone. Just checking in and seeing how you're all doing.

I have a quick question and I'm wondering if this is a bonus side effect? So I'm currently on furlough and have been for most of the year bar one or two months. But my drinking had really got out of hand. I think it was mainly boredom. But I've noticed when I take my Concerta that urge seems to go away in the evening? Is it the medication? Obviously I think this is a good thing! And I'm wondering now if it was because my dopamine levels were low and I was looking for some sort of hit? If that makes sense. Just wondered if this has happened with anyone else

@BippityBoppity87 I’m exactly the same with food. It has to be a dopamine thing for both of us.

Yes, that makes a lot of sense. It's also a form of self medication, so when you're properly medicated you don't "need" it any more.

I think I've found my tribe. Undiagnosed but in the last few years have read more and more and can identify with so many 'symptoms'. I haven't read all of the thread- I got bored but it is making think I need to get further investigations. I've always thought I was just shit at adulting but maybe it's a psychiatric thing.

I wrote my dissertation in the 24 hours before it was due, don't have the attention span for films and hyper focus on tasks. I started a craft project and knew that if I didn't go at it 'full pelt' I would loose interest in it, so worked on it for 14 hours on a day off, forgot to eat and my hand still hurts, 2 weeks later, from the repetitive action of sewing. I also turned up for a job interview a whole day early even though I thought I'd written it correctly in my diary.

Thinking about it, I believe my late father may have suffered with it. He led an utterly chaotic lifestyle and I think witnessing him and how he didn't cope has made me evolve some good masking techniques. Thank you. I already feel less useless.

@BertieBotts does that mean when I finally get medicated I’ll shed a few stone?

Anyone else struggle to sleep on the medication? Medication helps me but I can’t take it as I can’t sleep while I am on it.

Santa lots of people do, especially as stimulants have an appetite suppressing effect.

Mare it sounds like you need to adjust the dose or timing. For example instead of an extended release you might need to take an instant release in the morning, and then a smaller dose at lunchtime when that wears off.

Just found this thread and it sounds like I am reading about my dd who is 17. In Yr12 and concentration absolutely awful, says she cannot focus on conversations even with friends. Has always been disorganised but I just thought that was her. Leaving things till the last minute which drives me so mad.
She is consulting her gp which I have to admit at first thought was ridiculous but look at the nhs website the inattentiveness reads like her completely.

I have not mentioned this to her as I want to see what the gp says when she has an appointment. But can anyone give me any advice about how they got help. She is desperately worried about A levels as her mocks were terrible.

Has anyone had symptoms that gradually got worse of suddenly appeared? She has never been great at focusing and certainly always been dreadfully disorganised but this year with everything else has no motivation and not being able to focus is making things worse.
Can this be ADD/ADHD ???

Hello, I got diagnosed on Monday with ADHD (inattentive type) and will be starting titration for meds next Monday.

Having initially felt relief at being diagnosed, I now feel really angry and also sad for the wasted life I've had thus far, what could have been etc.

I wish I had been diagnosed as a teenager or younger. I really envy women my age (mid 30s) who have careers, friendship groups, stable relationships. I feel like this will never happen for me/it's too late.

I dropped out of sixth form, joined another one, scraped A Levels then dropped out of uni. Had children very young. I've never stuck at a job for more than a few months.

I pick up new obsessions/interests/routines and just can't keep them up after a few days.

I'm starting to wonder what the point is in being here to be honest, apart form being a (crap) mother to my 3 daughters.

And yes I binge eat like mad too, just cannot stop doing it. I'm so hoping medication will help.

@Ineedchocolate21 Yes it sounds like your daughter has ADHD. It typically gets worse/makes itself known the more there is for that person to deal with/organise/remember. It also presents differently in women to the 'classic naughty boy' stereotype of ADHD in males.

I thought this was great.

I self diagnosed in 2007 having read a book which provided my 'A-ha!' moment.
Rang my mum to tel her the news and was met with 'Oh we've always known that Rural!' wtf?!?

At work it's a super power as my ability to only focus on something for a few seconds or minutes at a time make it possible to have multiple projects at a time plus energy levels others don't appear to have.

At home it means I'm always struggling but the following helps - action EVERYTHING as close to immediately as possible and write everything down in a notebook.
By notebook I now have a bullet journal which is brill as my everything book - diary and jottings.
Routines sort of help but a rebel from them. Tried for years to do menu planning but never worked. Now subscribe to recipe box and has been revolutionary for us.
Batch all domestic chores to a dedicated home admin day on Saturday.

@myhouseismadeofpaper that is a brilliant image thanks for sharing. Good to see we are not alone.

Can anyone please let me know how on earth they managed to get diagnosed on the NHS?

I have knows for a few years now that I have ADD (albeit undiagnosed) and I finally plucked up the courage to speak to the GP about it on Monday and was told that they would not refer me based on my "diagnostic curiosity". I relayed all my symptoms, of which there are many, and gave examples of how this severely impacts my daily life yet all he took in from what I said was that the combination of all my symptoms and the effect on my life has lead me to become anxious and with a very low mood and as such, he has decided I'm just depressed and I've to self refer for counselling.
It was almost as if he was telling me I don't have ADHD yet surely the GP cannot make that diagnosis? As I am married and have held down a job, he's dismissed all of my symptoms and suggested I'm just looking for a cop out for my behaviour.
I would rather not pay for a private diagnosis, so any tips as to how you managed to push for a referral would be much appreciated.

@myhouseismadeofpaper I feel the same.
More pissed off as time goes on (diagnosed recently).
What a waste of a life - 😢

@HorticulturalGraveyard

Can anyone please let me know how on earth they managed to get diagnosed on the NHS?

I have knows for a few years now that I have ADD (albeit undiagnosed) and I finally plucked up the courage to speak to the GP about it on Monday and was told that they would not refer me based on my "diagnostic curiosity". I relayed all my symptoms, of which there are many, and gave examples of how this severely impacts my daily life yet all he took in from what I said was that the combination of all my symptoms and the effect on my life has lead me to become anxious and with a very low mood and as such, he has decided I'm just depressed and I've to self refer for counselling.
It was almost as if he was telling me I don't have ADHD yet surely the GP cannot make that diagnosis? As I am married and have held down a job, he's dismissed all of my symptoms and suggested I'm just looking for a cop out for my behaviour.
I would rather not pay for a private diagnosis, so any tips as to how you managed to push for a referral would be much appreciated.

Your GP is crap, no they are not qualified to make the diagnosis. He/she is also woefully ignorant because the myth that you cant have ADHD if you have a job has been debunked for a while. Ask to see a different GP.

psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose/

Go to the above link, fill in the ASRS form and amend their letter template. Take it to the GP. They can't refuse to refer you!!!!!!!!

Good luck @HorticulturalGraveyard.

I'm so fucking sick of ignorant GP's gatekeeping access to care.

@myhouseismadeofpaper thank you so much for the link. I will definitely fill out that form and try again with another GP.
I agree, the GP was fucking useless and I'm so enraged that they had the audacity to suggest I've made everything up and it's been my choice to not fulfil my true potential, to be damagingly impulsive and a total scatterbrain...."that's just the path you've chosen in life Horticultural" 🤬

[quote HorticulturalGraveyard]@myhouseismadeofpaper thank you so much for the link. I will definitely fill out that form and try again with another GP.
I agree, the GP was fucking useless and I'm so enraged that they had the audacity to suggest I've made everything up and it's been my choice to not fulfil my true potential, to be damagingly impulsive and a total scatterbrain...."that's just the path you've chosen in life Horticultural" 🤬[/quote]
It's outrageous. Keep persisting, put your foot down! It's so worth it xxx

I’m so sick of being on the outside because my family don’t understand me. I’ve always just been lazy or lacking in ambition to them. All I’ve ever wanted was to have a career and be successful in some way. But the second I mentioned what I wanted to do I was laughed at or obstacles placed in my way so I never bothered. Im 42 at uni now but I don’t want to work in this field any more. 20 years of feeling like I can’t do it has made it impossible for me to actually do it. I have done really well on the weekly quizzes but the major assignments….. I had a meltdown and almost had to withdraw from my course.

My life has been seriously impacted by what I am now sure is ADD and I am devastated at what could have been. But any diagnosis will be ignored by the family. Thankfully my DH is an absolute rock.

Bumping this thread.

I've been trialling methylphenidate this summer. TBH I'm not sure it's making a difference. It was a private diagnosis and I'm due a consultation again soon but wanted to reach out here too.

Currently on 30 mg. I'm back in work for the first time today. Very small office and just me in actually, we'll be coming back as and when. Was aware wfh brought its own distractions but I'm really surprised today how much I'm all over the place. Brain flitting around and can feel the medication as I quite often can. I'm often not mindful enough to tell how the medication affects me or what I'm like without but with the quietness here today I can really tell.

Has anyone any experience of methylphenidate actually making distract-ability worse? (Or just me....). I'm aware there ste other medication options to discuss with consultant.

Bumping for the evening crowd...

After reading this thread and some more about ADHD, I've privately booked myself an assessment with Psychiatry UK. However, one of the assessment forms asks for blood pressure and pulse rate and when I sent a message about this, they told me to go to my GP for it. However, I don't have a private GP.

Sorry if this is a stupid question but has anyone done this before using an NHS GP but as a self referred private patient patient for Psychiatry UK? What did you tell your GP? One of my reasons for being a private patient was not having to justify my reasons for seeking an assessment.

I bought a blood pressure monitor from the local chemists. £20.