Resistance & ADHD

[Choya526]

I was dx with ADHD in 2011, but after years of resistance to the idea, I finally understand that this is wiring. I don't want to call them symptoms... but I guess they are... things like time blindness or being messy for instance you can learn to overcome that, with some practice at tricking yourself or learning to see things differently, and meds. But it is hard wiring. The only way to live with this is to accept it as part of who you are, then you can move forward and get some relief. I can say this now, after years of trial & error & struggles. However,

One "symptom" that I have all the time is "resistance". Every thing I go to do, from showering to bedtime every day is first I have to stop- as if I were going to jump off a bridge, and think about it. Sometimes I think a long time, sometimes just a few seconds to a few minutes. Every cell in my body resists. I don't know what that is about. I'm learning how to push through this, but I wish I could just go do it. I can't, I have to stop first and if I can't push through that wall, I get stuck. Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Do you experience this?

[Gettingittogether]

Some of us get help through therapy and coaching. It usually needs to be really good therapy. And meds are still the primary first treatment. The meds work on the wiring you talk about. If we could just "push through" then ADHD wouldn't be the life wrecker and misery-maker that it is.

Just to be clear: we can't push through high blood pressure or heart disease or kidney disease right? ADHD needs the same level of focus and aggressive treatment.

[Choya526 in reply to Gettingittogether]

That's a very good point. I've had more than a few therapists and found that really good sessions are few and far between. I haven't had a therapist for a while, so I read a lot... but I'm on the lookout. It's easy to forget that this is exactly like other diseases that you have to manage, because sometimes things go smoothly and you feel very normal and stable and in control. The meds really do help to push through, but I still get stuck. I wonder if anyone has some magic mantra or how other's get themselves over that hump?

[Gettingittogether in reply to Choya526]

I mean coaching can help a lot and therapy--but has to be really good coaching and really good therapy. I have a lot of trauma and anxiety and depression in my family (biologically and culturally) in addition to ADHD. It's amazing the difference an excellent therapist can make. Also really being assertive in telling providers where and how you are struggling.

I find myself often normalizing my struggling. This past winter, I just hit a low point and it took a while for my provider to see that I needed more med help and therapy help. And I am noticing some really good improvement. The point is that I almost didn't ask for this extra help even recently--even though I know I need to be assertive. I thought I was just going through work burnout. It was much more than that.

Another weird insight: any therapy that helps me in any way turns out to help me with ADHD.

[Gettingittogether]

Oh, a therapy that is getting lots of positive attention for ADHD folks is Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It wasn't designed for ADHD, but providers and patients are reporting that it helps a lot with ADHD.

[Mamamichl]

I think it’s called ADHD paralysis. It’s definitely something many of us have. For me when I have to pause, I’m still processing. We do have slower processing speed.