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Bowl Leader
Oh I got you - this is my first day on ADHD meds. My therapist literally said “do you always talk this fast, switch subjects, and fidget so much?” I didn’t even realize I had it. I also have been on previous anti anxiety meds which did nothing - another symptom ADHD. I went to a brand new doctor after moving to a new state this week, explained my history and therapist’s recommendation, and I have a three month’s prescription supply to try, with two visits with my doctor to make sure it’s a good fit, if I need a higher dosage, etc.
Like you I have always had trouble focusing, and pretty much anything that relied on executive functioning. My mom started talking about how she thought she had ADD I think around her 50's, and all of us kids kind of laughed because she has always been quite the hypochondriac.
My laughing stopped when I was in my late 30's, and felt "some"thing was wrong and not normal in terms of my work, focus, etc. Asked my primary care doc about ADHD and he very strenuously told me it was a waste of time and money to test for it, etc. Obviously not a believer (as was the doc after him I went to), so I didn't pursue.
Fast forward 10 years and things really started going off the rails. Severe depression, lost my job, wife had an affair, I had to have surgery, etc. When I finally sought help for the crushing depression (waited way too long on that), I was also diagnosed with ADHD. BTW this is the most common way that adults find out they have it...usually alongside a diagnosis of anxiety or depression.
I went to therapy for the first time in my life, which opened up my eyes to a lot of things, including how ADHD had affected me since I was a kid. Literally like a light switch being turned on. Tried the first line treatment stuff...Adderall, and a couple of others, but honestly I did not feel that they helped, and Adderrall jacked me up so much (especially at the higher doses when the lower ones didn't seem to help) that I couldn't stand it.
Stopped therapy, stopped ADHD meds, and kind of just self-medicated from that point forward, not with drugs, but by reading and researching. Like with an addiction, you will never rid yourself of it, so you have to manage it and work around it. I do take some over the counter meds that have been shown to help with ADHD, but honestly not sure how much they really work (I chose the ones that had the most testing and best results behind them, but there are TONS out there touted to work for ADHD:
1.DHA (can be found in fish oil pills (don't use non-fish oil forms of DHA like Flaxseed bc they don't absorb nearly as wel),
2. Combo pill that has zinc and magnesium
I truly wish that first line drugs worked for me, as I have known people with adult ADHD in similar situations tell me that when they take their meds, they notice an IMMEDIATE improvement. I haven't tried all the current ADHD meds on the market, so maybe one day I will get back to that, but for now, I READ and try to be conscious of ADHD behaviors, and self-correct when possible.
Good luck!
Similar to KPMG I never noticed the lack of concentration, not being able to shut my brain off, talking fast/moving etc I went to my doctor complaining about what I thought was anxiety but since my symptoms were mostly physical (super restless, unable to concentrate or focus/get anything done) he suggested I get evaluated for both anxiety and adhd. I used Ahead (all online visits) and the medication has been life changing. No more anxiety symptoms and finally able to actually follow through on my intentions. Highly recommend talking to your doctor.
Bowl Leader
I wear just listening to the Ologies podcast about ADHD and they were saying that not only does getting macro exercise help us, micro exercise helps, too. So if you take a stress ball or something to do with your hands into your meetings, it might help you pay attention.
I'll post the episode on the main page.
Ticky tack is a perpsnal favorite of mine to fidget with for this very reason!