ADHD in an over 50 year old

[IvorTE]

I am a 57 year old male and have just been diagnosed with ADHD. So I have lived like this my entire life.

My psychologist is suggesting I explore medication and he assured me that 100s of his patients saw a noticeable improvement with drug treatments… but my question, as someone who has lived their entire life as an ADHD person, so knows no difference is what does he mean by ‘improvement’? What is improved? How does this improvement maninfest itself? How does this improvement feel? I still want to be my quirky odd self (as do my family)

I would love to hear people’s stories and experiences before and after medication

[Presbyyoga]

I am a 63 yo woman who echoes this gentleman's request. I was just diagnosed this week.

[BLC89]

Hello IvorTE & Presbyyoga,I am a coach, I have not taken ADHD meds, this is what I hear from clients.

I'm sure others will chime in with personal experiences.

The stimulants quiet the mind - I know not what you would expect - and allow you to better focus on what you want when you want.

Many with ADHD self medicate with caffeine not realizing that's what they are doing.

It's a meme/trope that ADHDers can take a nap right after their triple latte😀

Caffeine impacts ADHDers much differently.

There are many different medications to choose from and they work for 85% - 90% of ADHDers.

There are stimulant and non-stimulant medications.

Stimulants are fast acting and you can generally tell within a day or two if they are working &/or you like what they do. It doesn't take a month+ like it does with antidepressants and other meds.

Stimulants are out of your system really quickly - like within 24 hours - so you can try one and if it doesn't work you can try another in short order. And yes different stimulants effect you differently even though they are all stimulants, even name brand & generics can feel different.

It is a different experience as a mature adult so be sure your prescriber knows what else you are taking and understands ADHD and the meds pretty well.

Advocate for yourself with the dr. Don't let them tell you what you are feeling or should be feeling. You know you best.

You may find you like the meds and take them regularly or you may decide to take them for particular situations or projects.

You have figured out ways to deal with your ADHD and the meds should be a support for challenge areas.

Changes I've seen are: better working memory allowing for following complex conversations or stories, better time awareness resulting in being on time more often, more motivation to get things done, less procrastination and better emotional regulation.

Learn all you can about ADHD it will really shed light on why you have done and do certain things in certain ways.

Dr Hallowell's and Ratey's book "ADHD 2.0" is a great book. Written by fellow ADHDers it is designed so you can jump around, it gets into the latest brain science and has a section on the differences of ADHD in females vs males.

Welcome to the club, you are in great company! This site, in particular, has super supportive folks and tons of info.

ADDitudemag.com and ADD.org are also great resources.

ADD.org (ADDA) also has virtual support groups that are fantastic.

BLC89

[IvorTE in reply to BLC89]

Thanks for the advice, I am starting to understand why I drink so much tea! I don’t tolerant coffee well, I can have one or two a day but then end up with the shakes and unable to focus on anything, tea however…gallons and gallons.

I will check out the resources.

[Rivers66]

Hi, I’m a partner of someone recently diagnosed.

Quick answer. Improvement as I both understand and experience it, is a calming of some things, and a sharpening or focus around others. I too was concerned at my partner’s change in personality, losing the quirks, but this has not been the case. We’re both similar age to you.

[LucyGS]

What my improvement is after being diagnosed at 70 is the anxiety that has been plaguing me almost all my life is gone. My head feels quiet. I realize I wasn’t less than others, just different. I wonder what I could have accomplished if I had been diagnosed when I was younger.