What can I do to help myself?

[Crchisholm]

My Neurologist seems to think ADHD is a childhood thing, but I recently found a lot of information about ADHD and now am convinced I have the condition. Everything in my past going back as early as I can remember fits everything I’m finding out about the disorder. Now I am trying to figure out what I can do to help myself. I am not eager to take another drug since I have heart issues and already take a fist full of meds. Can someone help me figure out how to help myself?

[SpaceCadetKate]

ADHD can definitely follow you into childhood! I’m not a doctor, and I am medicated (though I completely understand why you wouldn’t want to be), but what I’ve found outside of medicine that helps me is meditation, bullet journaling and developing a solid routine. Also check out howtoADHD on YouTube, she’s got a lot of tips on how to manage life with adhd as an adult.

While my medicine does help, it doesn’t completely make ADHD go away. I think it’s just about trying out different methods and techniques to help you cope. For me it’s a combination of meds, meditation, limiting social media, journaling, etc. Your way of dealing with it might look completely different from mine, and that’s okay too! Again, I suggest howtoADHD on YouTube for suggestions. I would also recommend additudemag.com.

[Sparlock]

First things first; you need a new doctor. I'm sure your neurologist is an excellent doctor, but it seems he's a bit behind the times on ADHD. Get a second opinion by someone with experience diagnosing and treating adults with ADHD who can help you with a treatment plan. There are a number of disorders that can mimic the symptoms, so getting a proper evaluation is important. (Though given, the non-medication interventions can be helpful for even neurotypical people)

I'm fairly new to this myself, and while I've found medication to be most helpful, I'd second all of SpaceCadetKate's recommendations for a variety of non-medicinal ways of coping. I've also heard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be very helpful in managing symptoms, and there are some non stimulant medications that can be helpful if you and your doctor decide to go that route.

[Shnookie in reply to Sparlock]

I have been working on cognitive therapy with my psychiatric MSW for the last year or so. It's not the silver bullet but definitely is very helpful to me. When I feel that things R getting out of control and my mind is starting to go in different directions, I think of what my MSW

has taught me and often times I can pull myself in to a certain extent. I do not know who the doctor is with that diagnosis, but ADD/ADHD can follow you from childhood into your adult life. I used to have sudden outbursts of tears at family functions. Totally humiliating an d

physically debilitating. I wish U good luck and please change therapists. I journal my thoughts almost every morning and keep spiral notebooks to help me break down what tasks, errands, self-help I need to do each day. However, the thing is please do not beat yourself up if U did not accomplish all of your goals for a day. Lately, I've been having some sinus/migraine type of headaches which R very debilitating. Other days I pace myself and if I have problems sleeping, I might get up and go to my computer to look for some jobs at

2 AM. I do have this luxury in the sense, that this is COVID and I am not working and looking for a job right now. Trying to keep a form of structure in your house is helpful

[Dodger09]

I’ll be 40 years old in a few months and was diagnosed last month. It doesn’t just am go away after childhood. I would recommend a psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD.

[happyhermit]

Yeah, you need a new doctor. I was diagnosed in 2003, at age 30, after my dad had been diagnosed - age 62 - and all of a sudden the lightbulb went on and things made sense. Your neurologist must specialize in some other neurological condition, like parkinson's or epilepsy or something ... I'm trying to be charitable, here. Like, I used to have absolutely hellatious PMS, and I went to an endocrinologist, who turned out to specialize in fertility treatments. And she was like, why are you here, why didn't you go to a psychiatrist? and I said, because hormones! isn't endocrinology the science of hormones?? Yeah, wrong neurologist. Try again. Best luck!

[Gymini]

You need to find a real doctor such as a behavior therapist that can assess your situation and provide a written questionnaire to further diagnose it.

[Quilter470]

Hi! I am 74 years old and after stumbling on an ADHD article and reading more, I saw my PCP who confirmed and diagnosed ADHD. That was only six months ago! I can see that this disorder explains so much during my lifetime and that I have experienced all those symptoms all my life. Non-stimulants didn't help at all. Just started 5mg. Ritalin and am very hopeful, if I can get past the side effects. Best wishes!