Missed opportunities

[Gymini]

I'm 60 yrs young and just diagnosed w adhd , now the amount of information is overwhelming and don't know where to start,confused.

[Sparlock]

For information on some basic coping strategies, I'm a big fan of the How to ADHD YouTube channel, though a lot of their content/strategies may be a bit basic to help you at your point in life.

If you enjoy reading, I got a lot out of the book "Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with ADHD" by doctors Ed Hallowell and John Ratey. If you're looking more to educate yourself about the disorder than look for coping strategies, my therapist recommended "Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults" by Thomas E. Brown, PhD.

[Jselwocki in reply to Sparlock]

I cried like a baby (happy tears)out when I heard some of the lesser known symptoms. Made me feel like I wasn’t alone. Made me feel like I wasn’t crazy. Great advice, Sparlock

[Amazed_InAwe]

Another book by Dr Hallowell, an author of Driven to Distraction, is Delivered From Distraction. It’s years newer, and more up to date. I was diagnosed a little over 1 month ago. I’m 48 yo. And feel just as overwhelmed. I have a great therapist who I was already working with who is now guiding me through this. She’s covered by my insurance, and costs me much less than an ADHD Coach. If you can afford an ADHD Coach, or to see a therapist who specializes in / is familiar with ADHD, the guidance & support is invaluable. But reaching out is a beautiful act of caring for yourself, and brave. Go slowly & break things down into small steps - so it’s manageable. 😊

[The1Path]

It is tempting to hyper focus on ADHD & learning everything you didn’t know about it, but avoid this if possible. Try going to YouTube & watching 1-2 videos a day, for a while. I went from that to picking up books, to eventually joint ADDA for its online support groups. You need time to come to terms with our diagnosis as you’re learning more.

[Amazed_InAwe]

I know! Such a common trait of ADHD. I now have some books in my Collection. I’m happy that they are there. Now, I learn to read them at an Unnatural pace. I believe that’s part of what I have to do. Learn to manage myself in this world. But, Slowly. 😊

[happyhermit]

Hi, Gymini. I'm 53, and although I was diagnosed at age 30 it's basically just been a label for me -- I've never understood it or had any kind of treatment or support for it. Only now am I beginning to explore what it's all about, how I am really different from people without ADHD, how it affects me, and what to do about it.

There is definitely a grieving process, grieving for all those bad years. Also grieving for the "normal," functional self I've been trying so hard to become all these years, that I now realize I just need to let go of, I'll never be that person.

But now I'm starting to feel something else, which is excited about what CAN now happen in my life, what I CAN maybe accomplish, now that I know what's wrong. Now maybe I can learn to handle things differently, to actually accommodate my weaknesses, so my strengths can work for me. I've always just tried to ignore the problems and pretend everything was OK -- now I think, if I look straight at the problems, I can find ways to work around them.

As far as there being way too much to learn and you don't know where to start -- don't worry about it. We with ADHD are used to getting bored with a topic before we really get anywhere with it -- but this is one topic where that's probably not going to happen! Take your time. Learn a little bit, go do something else and give yourself a chance to absorb and process it, then learn a little bit more. It doesn't matter where you start, just start.

Peace

[Gymini in reply to happyhermit]

Thx for the support, I don't get that very often