r/ADHDers

How similar is it? Just curious I never tried cocaine nor would I ever

It makes neurotypical people underestimate our disability, think that we are just distracted and think "that is something they experience too from time to time."

When in reality it's a constant background noise in your mind, low dopamine, and dysfunction like your brain keeps repeating songs and things that people said to you over and over, and keep daydreaming and reviving scenarios. How you have to reread the sentences in a book over and over because the background noise prevents you from focusing.

I woke up basically crying out of frustration and pain today. Why? Well, because I fractured my ribs. How? Because I've been having chronic coughs. Yes, I fractured my stupid bones from COUGHING.

Where the executive dysfunction comes in here is for the fact that I still haven't gone to the doctor with this, and I know I should. Even my mom is telling me to go, but I just CAN'T. I don't know why. I'm not scared or anxious. It's like my brain is just avoiding it or not finding it important enough to do? And this has been going on for way longer than a year. I almost called my mom about it today and almost contemplated going to the ER cus it was so painful. Almost. But it feels a bit better after being awake for a few hours and after some painkillers, so I don't feel the need anymore apperantly.

But the fact that I'm coughing so much that my literal bones are breaking is starting to concern me a little now. And yet, my brain is like "nah, it'll go away by itself, trust" and usually when I have gone to the doctor for an issue, it will just resolve itself somehow or stop being as bad. So that's one reason I keep avoiding it, cus it will just go away by itself. Or worse, test results coming back normal while the issues still resides, with no further help or anything.

Another thing executive dysfunction is doing is ruin my apartment. I can't keep it neat or clean no matter how hard I try. It becomes invisible to me and I feel absolutely zero immediate need or motivation to clean up. It gives me absolutely no dopamine whatsoever keeping it clean. The only thing that will make me do it is if my landlord has to check something for whatever reason or if the mess in question is physically obstructive. Or worse, if I see bugs. Other than that? No, brain is like "idgaf, no one's gonna see it and I don't care about it either." Like are we deadass..

Unfortunately my only motivation for anything at all is instant gratification, regardless what it is. Which is honestly ruining my life. I don't know what to do or how to even tackle this. Meds don't help with this obviously. I mean sure, it might help me focus, but with executive dysfunction? No. Not even slightly. Oh and of course on top of this, I struggle with a lot of fatigue which usually makes it so I can't clean for more than idk 30 mins before having to sit/lie down because I'll almost pass out or something (also a thing I haven't gone to the doc with. Mostly cus I'm expecting a "everything looks normal" bs).

Yeah, so I'm basically just struggling to do any and all kinds of self-care and hygiene related things. Showering, brushing my teeth, eating usually, cut my hair, skin care of any kind, cleaning.. All the normal things. There's so much more honestly, but it'll take a while to list everything.

I'm just not able to start or finish anything at all. Everything is exhausting, not stimulating enough or doesn't give me instant gratification/dopamine. I'm honestly starting to feel a bit suicidal because it's like what's the point anymore. I'm just suffering regardless what I do anyway. Lowkey one of the things stopping me right now is my fear of people seeing the absolute state of my apartment.

Yeah, yeah, "go to therapy". I have, for years. It sucks and I'm not even able to open up at all. Nor have I found one that doesn't feel hostile or cold. And last time I went, they didn't even take me seriously. I was practically begging to be hospitalized because I was so suicidal at the time, and they did nothing. Had it not been for meds, then shit idk man.

Vent over. I have no one to talk to about any of this tbh.

About a year and a half ago I (16f) was diagnosed and prescribed Adderall. Up until I started taking the medication, I used to be so expressive and energetic. I used to laugh uncontrollably at just about anything, and I just felt comfortable in my own skin. Now, I've noticed that I've become socially dead and even more easily affected by my environment--I can't even stay at a party (even if it's my best friend's sweet sixteen) for more than an hour or two before I get overwhelmed by all the constant stream of discordant noise and strobe lights and beg my parents to take me home. I've become much more impatient and short tempered; recently, I fought (verbally lol) with some of my friends over innocuous topics and lost my temper that I caused a scene. I knew that what I was doing was unnecessary given the unseriousness of the situation, but I couldn't stop myself at ALL. The worst part is that when I'm not angry, I feel nothing. When someone makes a genuinely funny joke I process it and understand that I'm supposed to laugh, but I can't even force it, and the person I'm talking with looks so confused and hurt that I feel terrible. Some of my friends say that I've become a totally different person because I sound so dead inside and I lost all my personality. I'm currently seeing a therapist, but I don't know where to start with this next time I meet them. I'm sick of who I've become, but an unmedicated me wouldn't survive another day in the real world. What do I do?

I'm 70. When I was a kid, hell, even when my son was a kid, ADHD and many other neurodiverse issues weren't on anybody's radar. I always thought I was a little different from most other kids, but didn't really associate it with anything.

I've had issues as an adult, my whole life. I recently watch some YouTube videos about symptoms of ADHD, and they really hit home. I have most of them. Some of it really helped explain why I have such difficulty with certain things. Like time management. Getting my house clean, or keeing it that way. Chronic procrastination with nearly everything, even when it's something I really want to do.

I'm wondering if I should pursue getting tested and getting a diagnosis. I don't know if I would be willing to take medication, but I'm wondering if there are tecniques and tips I could learn that could help me get my shit together, basically. Start getting things done instead of hitting a mental and emotional brick wall.

What do others think? Any other oldsters out there just coming to terms with ADHD or other neurodiverse conditions?

I got an ADHD assessment through Klarity years ago (it was the most accessible route for me) and was prescribed adderall. It seemed to help a lot with procrastination, studying (I was in nursing school at the time) actually STARTING tasks instead of sitting and letting myself get overwhelmed with all of the steps, responding to emails and texts, etc. The only downside I had was that when it wore off at the end of the day, I experienced some mild dysphoria. But the pros of being on it MAJORLY outweighed the cons.

About 4 months into being on adderall I had a sicide attempt (2nd one in my life). I had a lot of personal things going on and have struggled with depression all my life. I was hospitalized for a week, then discharged with outpatient follow up. The psychiatrist I saw outpatient, at the first appointment we had started asking about my adhd, how long I’ve been on adderall. He kind of rolled his eyes when I said I had an online assessment done, and said “I’m going to discontinue the adderall. We need to treat your anxiety first. I think the adderall contributed to your s*icide attempt.” I didn’t put up a fight at all but was kind of surprised that anxiety and ADHD can’t be treated simultaneously? I mean, I feel like my ADHD causes a lot of my anxiety?

Anyways, I see a new psychiatrist now (that I’ve been seeing for over a year), and I asked her for an ADHD assessment which is in a few weeks. I just feel like I’m back to struggling with all of the things I mentioned earlier. I’m curious what her thoughts are/if she’ll even think I have ADHD? Idk what to think anymore.

I’m currently writing this on a Adderall insomnia episode (i can’t sleep) so if this isn’t coherent please bear with me.

The only good thing about these medications is the morning poos that come with them.

I upped my addy to 15mg xr and i can’t sleep like at all i take it around sunrise 7am - 8am for me. I am aware it lasts 12hrs according to my doctor.

I took vyvanse and i SWEAR you vyvanse sympathizers are some how being paid by big pharma I took it for 2 weeks and i felt like i was going to war and I was dying i was fighting demons. I woke up with a migraine every day and it lasted all day… seriously all day 10-12hrs but the caveat to that is my insomnia I couldn’t sleep at all so some days i would only get 2-3 hrs of sleep compared to adderall which is around 4ish hrs.

Every time someone would speak to me i was irritated and i literally had to fight my way through it and not lash out at people. I will say i also took vitamin c. I tried melatonin but i just can’t be bothered its just another thing i have to worry about so i took it once and it bothered me because i brushed my teeth and took that hrs later when i couldn’t fall back asleep. Vitamin c also did nothing.

Adderall I’ve taken for about the last 12yrs i think since i was in elementary around 12 lol. Again the morning poo is the best part of Adderall and for some reason I don’t think it does anything for me except curb my appetite which is amazing because i will eat 3 burgers in a day if I could.

Both of these meds does absolutely nothing for I’m a student And I procrastinate more than i do work. I am someone who does fasting too btw i take my meds before noon which is when i can finally eat

I have a driving license but I am a very anxious driver and soon I may have to drive alone (which I have never done before). Has anyone got any advice on how to stay focused? Does anyone use white noise in earbuds / speaker or even noise cancelling headphones to help be less overhwlemed when driving? I am thinking of trying white noise as usually I need background noise or music to do absolutely anything and i usually use noise cancelling headphones when I go outside, but I don't want it to have the opposite affect and cause me to zone out or be distracted. I would appreciate any tips or encouragement. Thank you.