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No joke, figured out I have ADHD from Instagram reels. They just so happened to show up in my feed, I found them interesting in general but also to understand my partner better (he has ADHD). The more I watched it dawned on me, "No way! This is me!" So at 33yo I discovered via social media that I have ADHD. Honestly, such a relief looking back on things I've struggled with and now knowing why. There's such a burden lifted knowing that it's not that I'm not motivated enough or just plain not good enough, my mind just works differently.
I tried one med, it quieted my racing thoughts but after a few weeks it made my anxiety worse. So I'm not on that anymore. I'm undecided if I want to try another med again.
When it comes to work, it helps to me to start the day with a written, paper priority list. If I'm really busy, I'll block time for every project on my digital calendar. I allow myself leeway to have days where I don't list or schedule block because I go nuts with having rigid daily structure.
Task stacking also helps. Like at home, I'll get food cooking on the stove and then I'll work on washing some dishes while it's cooking. It makes the unpleasant tasks less painful and helps maintain momentum.
I'm still learning tips and tricks to help me out, but haven't explored CBT yet. But really, just knowing my diagnosis has been the most significant help so far. I don't feel the shame when I'm struggling to focus, but just gently to try redirect myself back on task (which is definitely my struggle today 😆). When I'm having an off day, I try to do the best I can and know it isn't going to be forever. It's taken a huge burden away knowing that it's not my fault, that it's not that I'm not motivated enough, and that it's okay that I struggle sometimes.
I went to get my MBA and my brain went … “Good luck reading all these case studies we don’t want to read” 🤣 I was then informed of my father’s ENTIRE side of the family having adhd, my younger siblings being diagnosed, and then Instagram posts made me think I needed to revisit the convo with my psychiatrist and ask if this was actually adhd and not anxiety and depression lol. Turns out I was right and I had been overcompensating for my adhd my whole life which made me anxious and depressed that I would never be organized or on top of it enough.
I mourned the lost time from mis diagnosis and wanted to comfort the little girl from my childhood that wanted to jump out of her skin in class but over achieved to the best of her ability.
Thankfully I got the care and medication I need it and made it through my MBA program. I’m a mother of 2 kids and the parent tasked with remembering how to run our lives - my husband has adhd too and I used to struggle with the mental load. Now I’m happy to report I rarely do things like lose my phone in the laundry basket or put my phone in the fridge 🤣.
Wishing you the best of luck 🤞🏽
This is actually a significant phenomenon. Lots of brilliant, high performing women were overlooked for diagnoses because they were rule bound so didn’t act out and showed up as excellent students. Definitely get the eval. Sometimes anxiety and depression are the RESULT of the adaptive strategies needed to try so hard to (out) perform in the face of the ADHD challenges. You’ll probably discover from the eval you’re a brilliant person with significant cognitive capabilities and have been energetically depleted from having to work so hard to manage the ADHD in your everyday life.
I always had a suspicion and tiktoks solidified that theory for me with all the experiences of women diagnosed as adults as our symptoms don’t always align to the classic adhd symptoms.
Since then I’ve spoken to my PCP and we’re trying out Wellbutrin XL.
Thanks for looking out PM1! I actually did see others have similar reactions or worse to alcohol so I was concerned. I’m not a big drinker though but I did try a pint of beer the other day with no reaction! I probably won’t be taking shoots anytime soon though 😂
Watched a YouTube video on procrastination…and then another one…and another lol. Did and online assessment which was reviewed and discussed with a psychologist and voilà! Been living undiagnosed all my life most likely so it’s nice to have an explanation for some things.
I've had the symptoms for years and years but never really knew what was going on - felt like I was a misfit or just not succeeding the way others were. Getting the diagnosis was like a huge relief
It was youtube for me. I just came across a creator who was talking about their adhd experience. It was at that time that I was urged to research about its symptoms because I experience everything the creator was talking about. I went to a doctor and there it is.
It was basically a given with my family’s track record, but I didn’t worry about it until I noticed how much my impulsivity and forgetfulness were affecting my family life.
I've struggled with ADHD since elementary school, there is no such thing as adhd in my country, so I learned about it in high school by accident, looked up all symptoms/characteristics and realized that its my case
MMPI
My sibling got diagnosed and I had a chat to them about it and found I also had symptoms haha
I consulted a specialist. I was in denial at first about the idea of having ADHD. I never really relied on the internet regarding this matter.
TikTok unofficially diagnosed me until I went to the doc to be prescribed meds for an official diagnosis.
failing the bar twice.
I had a feeling I had it because it runs in my family and I also had sooooo many symptoms of ADHD. I went to my primary care physician and basically told her my symptoms and she diagnosed me. I have been on medications ever since.
One of my kid was diagnosed and I was complaining about my forgetfulness to my therapist who encouraged me to read Driven to Distraction. Lots of high performing women who grew up before ADHD was regularly diagnosed in girls and got good grades were overlooked for support. Got a neuropsych eval and discovered many wonderful things including getting an answer (and finally therapeutic support) to make it all so much easier.
I felt like I might have it based on the symptoms I was experiencing. I talked to my doctor and based on the questions she asked and a questionnaire they gave me, they officially diagnosed me and I have been on medication and feeling better ever since.