u/Horror-Plant-3596

Has anyone here realized their “lack of discipline” was actually untreated ADHD?

I’m a woman in my 30s and I’ve been on 15mg of Lexapro for anxiety/depression for years, but lately I’m starting to wonder if there’s something deeper going on,
possibly inattentive ADHD.

I constantly feel like my brain is chasing dopamine and stimulation. I rely way too much on things like doom scrolling, TV, food, and sometimes alcohol just to feel mentally “good” or calm. It’s like my brain is always ON and always searching for the next thing. Even when I want to relax, I can’t fully relax.

I also struggle a lot with:
- focus and task initiation
- consistency with routines
- emotional eating
- motivation/mental energy
- feeling emotionally flat or stuck
- executive dysfunction
- starting healthy habits and then immediately falling off

One of the hardest parts is weight. I’ve carried around the same extra 20–30 pounds for years despite trying SO hard to lose it. I feel like my brain works against me constantly when it comes to food, impulses, consistency, and needing dopamine/reward. Yet, I still get 10k steps every day, Pilates 4-5x a week, and eat healthy, but not in a deficit that is consistent enough because of my lack of discipline and dopamine seeking.

I beat myself up a lot because from the outside it probably just looks like laziness or lack of discipline, but internally it feels exhausting trying to constantly manage my own brain.

For those who got diagnosed later in life:

Did medication help quiet your brain or reduce dopamine-seeking behaviors?

Did it help with emotional eating or weight loss?

Has anyone switched from Lexapro or added something like Wellbutrin/Concerta/Vyvanse and seen a big difference?

I’d really appreciate hearing honest experiences because I’m finally reaching a point where I want to feel mentally calm, in control, and healthy instead of constantly fighting myself.

PS: I have an ADHD evaluation scheduled with a Psychiatrist soon!