My wife and I are moving to New Zealand for a year… any tips for adjusting to changes and regulating emotions?
Hello! I (26M) was diagnosed with ADHD officially three months ago, in addition to being prescribed Guanfacine (1 mg). For about nine months I was on Pristiq for severe depression and have only been off it for about a month, after a very long period of numbness. The zaps were fun. I also suspect a large serving of Autism in my cranium, but the tests are too expensive to be worth taking at this time, so for now I’m only self diagnosed.
With this new non stimulant and therapy I have noticed a calming of my anxiety, or rather a steering wheel has miraculously appeared and instead of watching from the passenger side as my emotions take over, I have some say in how I react. That being said, I still struggle A LOT with shutting down, especially with new situations and my journey into unmasking. It has been a life long struggle living with two conflicting drivers, where one part of me thrives on adventure, discovery, and chaos, while another part of me watches on in horror wishing to be at home in my favorite seat.
I have been exploring some solutions to appease all parts of me, but have come up short with ideas for recognizing when I’m at my emotional boiling points. As well as ways to ease into unfamiliar environments without taking 4+ months, coupled with emotional deregulation. I really want this trip to be a fantastic experience for my wife and I and after a rather stressful period of life last year where I struggled with changes. I want to avoid things turning to the worse. Any suggestions are appreciated and thank you for your time!
Also, to note, my wife (28F) is ADHD as well and although we mesh well we are often on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of energy. We both work very hard to accommodate one another, but I often fall short on bandwidth/energy. So any tips for recovery would also be great!