Adult ADHD

[Didiplanthis]

Hi, has anyone had a diagnosis of adult ADHD ? What difference did it make to you if so ? I've got an assessment this week and I'm not sure what I want from it. On the outside I'm a together, high achieving professional with children. Inside I feel I'm living my life on the edge of chaos and I'm so very tired. I lose everything, I massively struggle to complete any tasks or meet deadlines, my house is a total mess (really bad!) I know I am bright but I spent my childhood being told i was disappointing and under achieving, I did ok but I knew I could do so much more I just couldn't get it together to do it. I have lots of high achieving Neuro diverse members of my family and my children have ASD. One also has ADHD and I feel I am watching me as a child.. it's surreal. I have tried treating my anxiety, and low self esteem with medication and CBT. It's helped but it's almost uncovered how chaotic I am.. I'm hanging on to this appointment in the hope something gets better !

Can I ask how long medication took to settle for some of you? I’ve been started on Adderal and have gone from 2x5mg a day (short acting) to 2x10mg. So far I don’t really notice anything different except that I am slight less impulsive possibly. I’m not being scraped off the ceiling so at least the ADHD diagnosis seems right, but not sure how much more they might try me on before deciding that stimulants aren’t for me. I was so looking forward to the speedy improvement I’ve read about from others!

I've just started methylphenidate (short acting stimulant) and moved up to 2 x 10 mg. It was fairly subtle I'd say, the main differences being I can start things more easily, less distracted, easier to come back to things, can work through the day.

A surprising effect is how much less anxious and less negative I feel, I had no idea I spent so much time worrying about the impact of things on other people and how well (or not) I am doing.

I still have to direct my attention and have the will iyswim, it doesn't work at all if I am tired or haven't eaten.

I think they tend to take it to the max dose and then if that's not working switch.

Thanks. That’s exactly what I’m on. I wonder if I’m expecting too much.

I also feel far more at peace with myself I feel in general but that came with the diagnosis not the drugs!

It's possible, if the effects were very noticeable you may feel the other way - that it was too intense!

I made sure I read the good and the bad before starting. Some people have a marked improvement initially which levels out. Not everyone responds to the first one they try. For a minority of people none of them work.

There is a facebook group Adult ADHD UK where I picked up a lot of information.

That's all really positive how you are feeling

I'm a long-time Mumsnet lurker but joined just so I could add to this thread!

My son was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago. Since then, I've become convinced that I also have it. I recently did a course for parents of kids with ADHD and it was eye-opening about my own symptoms (as well as being really helpful as a parent!).

I'm not sure whether it would be beneficial to pursue a diagnosis, or even possible. But it's so good to find others in a similar situation. It's been quite mindblowing realising I've probably got it too (I also think my dad, my brother and two of my cousins have it - the ADHD is strong in our family!).

You are well on your way with doing a course @BettyEagleton.

I wasn't planning to but things got worse and I had some time off and I thought it might help me with work in the long run - if I ever needed to disclose and get support. I suppose also (knowing myself) also the thought that a diagnosis might underline me looking for specific strategies.

Russell Barkley is brilliant / well-respected in the field, if you haven't already come across him - "30 essentials for parents" on You Tube.

Oops I just started a thread about this, my searching was clearly rubbish today.

It's kind of upsetting looking back over life and wondering if this is why people thought I was lazy etc. :/