New to group and ADHD

[forgetsalot]

Hello, I'm a 41 year old woman and was just diagnosed with ADHD combined type last week. I am in a state of grief and anger. I have been in and out of therapy since I was 27 and dealing with addiction issues, depression, anxiety, ptsd, ocd and now that I know I have ADHD I am totally freaked out and don't know where to start. I started Adderall and am in therapy as well as meeting with a psychiatrist so I am getting treatment. I just feel like I need like a support group or people who are going through this and get it. Anyway, if anyone is in an online support group that they like, let me know. Or if you just want to chat let me know. I am just trying to wrap my brain around this.

[HeyImNotCrazy]

Hey I'm glad you were able to get a diagnosis and are receiving help right now! I'm not in any online support groups (other than this one) at the moment but I do like to browse the Reddit communities /r/ADHD and /r/ADHDmemes, they help me feel less alone (/r/ADHD has 1.3 MILLION subs!!!).

I'm a bit younger (29) than you so we are at kind of different stages in our lives but if you ever need to vent or talk feel free to PM me. I've been diagnosed since I was 7 so I guess I have a lot of experience, you know, living with the knowledge I have this thing going on. I'll help where I can if you need it!!

[forgetsalot in reply to HeyImNotCrazy]

Thanks so much! I so appreciate it. I'm sure I would have been diagnosed at 7 but my parents were sort of out to lunch with their own mental health and addiction issues. I didn't think to go look at Reddit but yes that would be a magnificent resource! I'll totally reach out when something comes up. I am in that consume all content ADHD related at the moment so my head is spinning!

[Hidden]

Hi Forgetsalot,

One thing to note: The two most common misdiagnosis for women who have ADHD are depression and anxiety, because untreated ADHD can cause those. So have a discussion with your care provider about that and maybe do your own research by searching "mature women with ADHD," or "Adult women with ADHD" or something similar. There are actually a lot of resources out there. I guess I am presuming if you could drop 2 of your diagnosis for the 1, it may feel a little less overwhelming? Also, the organization CHADD, has a list of local support groups who meet in larger cities, so I don't know if that would be helpful, but you can find the list of groups on their website. And, depending on what your addiction issues were, they may have also been related to your ADHD. Good luck, dear, I hope you can get to a place where you see this diagnosis and the key to a way out of things you have been struggling with, instead of piling on more. I wish you the best.

[forgetsalot]

Thank you so much, RoxyJune. I can tell you get it and it feels so good knowing I am not alone! And I am hoping to drop the other diagnosis/labels. It's actually a relief because for 25 years I have been in therapy trying to cure PTSD, depression, anxiety and addiction (and have kicked them in the ass to a large extent) but now it all makes sense. I can attribute some/most of it to the ADHD. At the moment I am super frustrated and angry that I have spent so many years trying to heal and manage my issues. I'm in the "what-if" phase - what if I had been aware at a young age... but I plan on allowing myself to go through the feelings and move on. I am excited to see what is to come. I am funny, super blunt, I speak my mind, I'm excited about life, and a creative thinker and if it weren't for the ADHD I may not be known for these traits. So I will chug along (with this communities help!). Also, I found a local CHAAD group that does a weekly group. And I also found a women's group in Belgium that is international. If any women are interested, check it out: linktr.ee/ADHDWomen