Guilt-Free ADHD! Finally...

[ADHDGuiltFree123]

Diagnosed with ADHD (combination type) when I was 19 years old. Yet I denied that this disorder existed. For several years, I lived in guilt, shame and tried my best to “keep it together” until last year I was at my breaking point. This year, I decided to fully accept, embrace and thrive with ADHD while learning how it works for me. I joined this online community to meet others who are no longer in the shadows of hiding with ADHD. Live in NOVA area. Started CBT therapy, no medication prescribed as of yet. Look forward to participating in group.

[CB500Honda]

in a case where you may come from a family of hyper people and that's as far as it goes, I know what you are saying. I suspect combined as well as I am high energy at times others floaty/spacey. I like those traits, but could never get a handle on why. Blamed it on bipolar disorder. The ADHD hung out with bipolar and at times didn't know what condition was running me. Throw in some PTSD. It was rough a lot of the time. ADHD people are resilient beasts, we tend to be perfectionists about certain things and negligent of others. DBT works, but its like anything. You feel good in therapy and then within hours you get back into your routine of spinning around. I am not an meds advocate as a rule, but they are helping me, without changing me. Slowing me down to the here and now speed. Living the accelerated life seems to be the norm that is why it doesn't show in many people. But when you can't shut it off and end up doing the same things repeatedly they can certainly help. Welcome. Assuming NOVA is my part of the world too. (Canada's east coast)

[ADHDGuiltFree123 in reply to CB500Honda]

I respect your transparency and I know exactly where you’re coming from!

[dubstepMaul]

hiya GuiltFree, welcome to the community! There are lots of supportive and helpful peeps here. I'm happy that you are embracing your neurology. Good for you!

[happy_kitty]

Welcome to the community! I'm glad you decided to embrace your ADHD.

I was diagnosed young so I grew up knowing I was different but that was all I knew. It wasn't until high school that I started to realise that I wasn't alone and I started doing some research for an essay on learning disabilities my senior year and I realised just how much I didn't know about myself.

I started college last year and joined this group probably right around 1 year ago and I started doing more research on my own time. I would definitely recommend doing your own research if you aren't already. I was amazed at what the doctors didn't tell me or my mom. I found that the youtube channel "How to ADHD" is a really great source for life tips and scientific explanations in a fun and easy to follow format.

Good luck moving forward, and welcome again to the group.

[My_ADHD_Journey]

Hello! I just joined this group today and happy to see there are others that are just now discovering support groups too! I was recently diagnosed and have many feelings/questions about ADHD and hope to learn more here too! I understand the guilt. Even with my diagnosis, I've kept it a relative secret in my everyday life because right now, I'm finding it hard to "come out" ad an adult with ADHD. Glad to see I'm not the only one!

[Freerideidaho]

Ditto.