ADHD Awakening

[Sawdust23]

just waking up to the notion that I need to actively treat my ADHD. Awareness is great but it’s time to get serious about learning how to cope with life under this umbrella. ADHD impacts so many areas of my life, it’s amazing how difficult the easiest tasks can be. I do feel some comfort knowing that I’m not defective but that I have a treatable illness. That brings me hope that things will get better. Currently I’m struggling more and more at work and my relationships at home are challenging to say the least. Interested in hearing how others started their recovery paths in dealing with this challenging illness

[GatsbyCat]

Hello, Sawdust23~

Thanks for the question.

As you've already figured out, ADHD is treatable, but requires a lot more work than taking a pill. When I was diagnosed by the psychiatrist I was refered to, she told me "Pills are not a magic bean, you have to put in the work." I was pissed off by her remark. But looking back, she probably did me a favor, by making me aware that it takes effort in lots of areas.

So, what I set out to do (along with taking the magic beans), was to try and educate myself about what ADHD is, how it is inside our brains (what areas of the brain it affects), study different ways of dealing with this and what would work for me. I didn't believe at first that I had it!! Ha, ha, I was just fine. Yeah, right. After going through all of the grief stages, denial, anger, fear and finally..........acceptance...ugh.. but acceptance nonetheless.

Coping with ADHD hasn't been easy. Some just trial and error. Reading a few books, listening to meditation, talking and listening to my ADHD relatives has really been helping. The first thing I did was talk with my partner about it, what can be done to make it better for us. I'm going to be seeing a new therapist, last one did not really "gel" with me, which is okay, but I hold out hope.

A few books I recommend:

for relationships.. How ADHD affects marriages by Melissa Orlov

for yourself- and others- Taking Charge of Adult ADHD by Russell Barkley and Christina Benton 2nd edition

ADHD 2,0 Hallowell and Ratey

ADHD can take over your life, sabotage yourself, relationships, etc if you don't deal with it. As a person, I'm now trying to own it, see the humor in some situations. Learn from meditations to be calm and not freak myself out over every mistake. (Even "neurotypicals make mistakes). I've tried to be "perfect", which never works for anyone.

I'm very fortunate in that I have a loving and supportive partner. Not everyone does, and that makes this journey a lot harder.

Finding a combination of things that help me has been tough. This is what works for me best now:

Workouts- daily, Meditation- daily and sometimes more than once Journaling- daily Whiteboard where there is a calendar, and area for notes. I also have a regular bedtime and wake time. It might sound monotonous, but it works for me. Schedules are helpful in general for ADHD'er folks. What works for me may not work for others

Lastly, I have a spot by the front door, where everything I need for the day is organized so that I don't forget stuff. If it's not there, I just don't see it and forget.

One other area that I still struggle with is communication and especially with my partner. I tend to build walls around myself, when I am afraid or embaressed about stuff. So, over time I have been working on talking openly about feelings. I've gotten better, but have more to improve.

Good luck to you!

Best regards~

GatsbyTheCat🐈