Therapist Diagnosed at 35

[Inattentivetherapist]

Hi folx!

First, thank you all for sharing so much of yourselves in this forum. It’s been so illuminating for me to see so many from such different walks of life learn and accept this part of themselves!

My journey was a long one. More recently (last 10 years), I had been exploring sources of my chronic fatigue to no avail. For the longest time I thought it was attributed to dysthymia, something I was diagnosed with at 20, but have struggled with since I was in middle school. After trying 8+ different medications to help my fatigue, my depression was officially deemed ‘treatment resistant.’

Fast forward to me becoming a mental health therapist, and working during the pandemic. My fatigue hit a new low and I couldn’t troubleshoot it anymore. Sitting with neurodivergent clients k began picking up on the correlation between “shutting down” due to overwhelm and my internal struggle with energy. In 2022 I was tested for ADHD and turns out I have been trying to manage severe inattentive ADHD! My first week on Concerta was LIFE CHANGING.

I’m still working through my grief with a late diagnosis, but it is absolutely informing my work with my clients. (Therapists often attract clients who resonate with them, so my caseload is filled with so many bright, creative and earnest ADHD and OCD clients.) I fully anticipate a life full or learning more about how this dX affects me and my perception of my world, and I’m excited to now do that with MUCH more compassion towards myself. It was such a gift to feel a shift from believing I was a liability and burden to myself as opposed to someone managing valid issues that was deserving on care. Subsequently, I’ve been able to reduce my depression medications that I’ve been on for 10+ years due to this new understanding!

Hope you all are able to access those healing parts of yourselves during this journey, or have the support to develop them!

Your neighborhood neurodivergent therapist,

C.E.

[NYCmom2]

This is the best post, ever! Very inspiring and perfectly illustrates that the work we do for ourselves directly translates to making the world better for the people around us.

I am so grateful to the nurse practitioner/therapy professional who helped me solve the mystery two psychiatrists could not identify: ADHD not depression. My anxiety and chronic fatigue also reduced drastically once the ADHD was treated.

Wishing you all the best on this journey of maximizing your life and helping other do the same!

[Inattentivetherapist in reply to NYCmom2]

Thank you so much! Same to you, and kudos to you on not giving up the search for understanding your experience! ❤️

[STEM_Dad]

Welcome to the forum!

I also have Inattentive ADHD (which has a tagalong of anxiety, plus depression cropping up the last couple of years due to difficult life situations).

My anxiety had been so persistent, I thought that I just had a very neurotic personality. But, similarly to your experience, once my ADHD was diagnosed and treated, the anxiety level dropped.

(Note: According to the Big-5 personality test, I still lean a little towards Neuroticism, but I don't think that's the cause of my anxiety.) Untreated (and undiagnosed) ADHD made me prone to anxiety throughout my life, and unchecked anxiety made my ADHD struggles worse.

I've found that treating any anxiety or depression that I'm experiencing will reduce by ADHD symptoms from severe to moderate. And conversely, treating my ADHD will make me much less likely to experience rising levels of anxiety.

(The depression had to do with relationship issues, moving, and a long job hunt. I'm still on the meds for it, and may be for a while longer, but my life is getting more stable again little by little.)

[lemonspeaks]

Im also a therapist and was diagnosed at 37 in 2022. What a wild ride!! Welcome!

[smendrick]

I agree that this is a special post that helps all people who are struggling with neurodiversity. I was in my late 60s when I was able to label (with the help of many talented professionals and friends) my ADHD and to reflect on so many of my behaviors in my life. That labeling and reflection created ways to move forward. Coincidental with that movement was the death of my wife of 45 years.

Grieving the death of a long-term partner is also grieving the loss of identities and assumptions, gaining new understandings about ourselves, our partners, and our relationships. What a journey!

Again, thank you for your openness and articulate comments.