My child has ADHD. I think I do too!!!

[HolyCalamityJane]

Hi everyone.

We now have an official dx of ADHD for DD. It has been a hell of year sorting all this out running between appointments etc and to cope for the first time ever I was prescribed anti depressants Sertraline to be specific. What a difference they have made. I used to permanently awaken in a bad grumpy mood and DH would be walking on eggshells around me. I was doing everything at 100 miles an hour getting agitated and upset about the smallest thing, flying into temper tantrums, obsessing and worrying about the smallest of issues and going on and on about them. I couldn't sit still and was permanently on the go. This behaviour has been consistant throughout my life and at school I was disruptive talking too much keeping the class back I even had to sit on a table of my own away from the other children. I also can be quite socially inept usually talking too much or talking over the top of people interrupting them
So all of a sudden I realise that I have got ADHD. It is so blinking obvious I wonder how on earth I missed it before. In a way it has made me feel more positive and understanding about DD as I know I was just treated like a naughty kid by school and my parents who also told me I was a drama queen when I became overly distressed about things.

So my question is do any of you lovely people have any suggestions on what treatment should look like as I have said the Sertraline seems to be really helping me but not sure if that is just a fluke???

Sorry about length of post thanks for reading.

No idea. But glad that somethings working now.

As always, i'd recommend multivitamins - omega, zinc and magnesium.

Then I guess you need to talk to your GP? Or stay on what you're on?

HolyCalamityJane

It is the same for most who have children who have these types of genetic disabilities, we can only discover the nature of our own disabilities when trying to help our children. It happened with our family, and many members of some adult support forums have had a similar experience.
This really demonstrates how far the awareness of these types of disabilities has improved over recent years, as neurological research moves at such a rapid pace these days. This types of issues where not so well recognised if at all when we were much younger.
You should ask your GP for as referral for an assessment and diagnosis.

most adults have worked out coping strategies, or find their issues manageable. i think your realisation is actually all you need to be able to function more effectively.

very few adults bother with 'treatment' for adhd, and even kids who are medicated usually decrease and stop their meds once puberty is done and dusted, because they have developed strategies.

diagnosing adhd is beneficial for schools and to ensure adaptive procedures in schools (as it sometimes causes difficulties with behaviour/ learning), but is generally not bothered with in adulthood. and kids who have adhd that aren't causing problems fortheir peers are often left un-dx and untreated.

what do you think? if the sertraline works for you, and you now realise that you might need to implement diff strategies, what else do you think could help?

(i should add, both ds1's teacher and his psych have adhd)

HolyCalamityJane

If you do have an assessment and diagnosis, it will help build the family history of the disability, and enable you to talk to others teachers, schools etc from a proven personal experience when trying to help your DD. It will also help your DD not feel so isolated in that Mum is the same as her.
You could have a look at my Attention Disorders collection of links

or this one

This is Rory Bremner's experience
of being diagnosed as an adult

There is new guidance for the NHS about ADHD in adults pages 13-17; your GP would probably need advice from the local psychiatry team.

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately the area I live in does not have any psychiatric consultants who diagnose or treat ADHD. I will definitely make an appointment to see my GP in the new year but as you say Pizza just having the realisation that it is part of me makes things easier and I know that I can help DD in the future.
Will definitely have a good read through all your recommended links and a good think about what I can do differently. Thank-you all so much

I have ADHD-diagnosed in my 40's. Its not necessarily a bad thing a such . Its a kind of difference.

Have just turned 40 Candy! What a way to kickstart the 40's!!!

my DS had ADHD and I am pretty sure DH too! They've got me in a pincer movement!!!

this link is very useful, and I would certainly discuss this with your GP when you have read up on the subject of adult ADHD.

Yes and its not so bad. I do have sort of ambivalence to be honest. I feel as though the rest of the world is out of step with me.
I am nearly 50 now. I think I might become a proper English Eccentric !
Join our club, Holy

My DS was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when he was 15, 8 years ago, and we both think I have it too. Thinking about it, it would explain loads of things in my past.

Thank-you Candy glad to be a member. I know what you mean Id rather everything just kind of slots into place a bit doesn't it and it makes you think well if I can get through it all then our kids will too. Thanks for the link Sneezecake a bit of light reading for me this afternoon I think with chocolate plenty of chocolate.

I hope when I go to see my GP she doesn't laugh me out of her office. You really do not associate ADHD with a 40 year old woman do you?

I only found out about my ADHD when I worked for a time for a local charity that helped people with neurological problems. I found a basic self-diagnosis checklist and ticked every box. It was enlightening and explained so many things. Like why I have the attention span of a gnat, and "overreactions" to certain situations.
My GP was very helpful, with information/support, but really I have developed my own coping strategies.
I have problems with time management and that causes problems at work. I cant say that everyone has always been very understanding, or patient but I just get on with it.
Having mild dyslexia and discalculia has caused me more grief, generally.
I take zinc supplements as well. They have certainly helped me stay on a more even keel.
Alcohol makes me much worse. Like a complete, hyper madwoman so I avoid it in the main.
Can feel my concentration going now so putting the kettle on !

I think I have adhd too :) I tick all the boxes and it does explain a lot from school days. Could never concentrate and overreacted a lot. As an adult my time keeping is poor/ cant finish tasks/poor money skills.

unfortunately my doctor is pants and its virtually impossible to get an adult diagnosis here in wrexham they just keep flinging tablets at you and say your depressed.

Ha at being a drama queen. I've had to stop myself from having a rant on fb over the fact that everyone has ignored my pleasant statuses for the last week! How pathetic and drama queenish is that?!!

Ah yes dramatics over facebook been there done that lol!! Even worse when someone has de-friended you and you can't work out who it was !!!

Think I will print off one of these self diagnosis checklists and go armed to GP with it. I have become super organised lady over the years because I was so poor my boss sent me on a planning course many years ago and I now have checklists for EVERYTHING (which in itself is a bit OCD isn't it) My main concern though is my interaction with people my new year resolution is to stop myself from interrupting people with whatever is going on in my head even when they are boring the backside off me!!
And obsessing over stupid things I can turn the smallest thing into the biggest problem must knock that on the head!

My son has ASD and ADHD, I am certain I have ADHD or Aspergers (or both), your first post rang an awful lot of bells with me too. Like you it was only when I was seeking a diagnosis for my DS that I suddenly realised how similar he was to me as a child.

My GP will NOT refer me though as she says it's pointless as I am 45, have achieved well in my life and medication is addictive (I know).

ooooh, I've always thought I was ADHD, but my son's ep thinks I may have asd (he is awaiting diagnosis). It does make total sense now, as I've always struggled socially and have a social phobia to boot.

I do still think we could both have ADHD too.

Hi. I have a DS who has ADHD (diagnosed two years ago when he was 8). When I started reading the books, I realized I had the inattentive type of the condition myself. In the book, "The 6 Types of ADD" by Dr Daniel Amen, there are 6 types and I can't recommend this book enough. It was like a lightbulb was lit up in my brain and I had a "Eureka" moment. I thought, this is what's been wrong with me all my life. I have always felt like a fish out of water and now I know why!! Often, women with ADD can be inattentive but don't always have the hyper element to the condition. Anyway, we have tried both types of medication (Ritalin and Strattera) for my son but neither worked. I have taken my son off medication and he is on Melatonin tablets to be able to sleep. We have had absolutely no joy from CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) in Hampshire - I can honeslty say they are the most pointless, ineffective waste of space imaginable. So much so, that I have written to my local MP to make a formal complaint about them (on the advice of my lovely and very understanding GP). My DS has been a patient with them for 2 years and never once have I turned up to an appointment and thought it was worthwhile. They are not a service but simply an outfit. So, if you end up dealing with these guys, don't hold your breath. I went to be tested for ADHD and the health service people who tested me wrote back and said that I was just the same as all the other mothers with a child who has ADHD. Don't expect the authorities to do much for you unless yoiu live outside Hampshire. We have to find our own strategies of coping. The book "Hunter in a Farmer's World" by Tom Hartmann is also brilliant. It outlines the positive aspects of the condition. I am thinking about coming off my antidepressants so I can feel like a real human being instead of a robot on automatic pilot. I would like to have real feelings again but am fearful of how I will cope without my "prop". Anyway, rant over for the time being and you are not alone. ADHD is very much an inherited condition.

Does anyone know of any support groups for parents of children with ADHD? I can't find anything on the internet that seems to be nearer than Dorchester or Southampton. I live between Ferndown and Ringwood. Ta.

There are two Yahoo forums (groups ) which may be of interest.
AspergersUK
and ADHD Bulletin Board - UK (which was set up by a guy from the USA)

Me too ... although not formally diagnosed, my son's paed (who diagnosed him), said she was almost 100% sure I had it .... was a 'lightening bolt' moment for me. Agree with Dolfrog's post ref only realising your own symptoms when you are going through the support/diagnosis process with your little ones. I can be a pain in the arse at times .. very chatty and can't sit still, but I truly believe my ADHD has only enhanced my life!

I know where you are coming from. Doctors don't know what to do with us. Tablets have not helped my son. I think it is really a question of walking away or counting to ten! I can't get my son to do this, however. What i'd really like to do is tell these people they are crap. I have done this to my son's psychiatrist and boy, did it feel good. She is crap. She can't even remember my son's name! You are not the only one who wants to kick off!

Boring people deserve to be interrupted. Keep doing it!!!!!!!!!! They need to be silenced!