Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Abianne Bane — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:25:00 GMT

1. Understand Strenght and weakness

2. maximize medication

3. Achieve balance and plan long term goals

4. Use a planner to navigate towards your goals

5. Organize things effectively

6. Nurture relationships.

This are the six major areas of focus in treatment of the ADHD in adult!

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Sal the 1st — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:51:57 GMT

CJ - thank you for a very positive post

'disability' is only a burden if it is seen as such (and that goes for any 'disability')

and something else to ponder - people with 'disabilities' develop different abilities that get them through life, and although these abilities might be a bit different to the run of the mill stuff they are still very valuable and original. Its easy to get on a downer when something isnt working the way it should, and it becomes even easier to then to pick up on all the other stuff that isnt going for you (plom syndrome - I have already mentioned this recently). Start looking at some of the good stuff you can do and you will be surprised what a difference it can make

The biggest differences come from within and that starts with you.

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:23:07 GMT

[quote user="StephB"]

Thanks guys I just feel like a bit of an emotional wreck at the moment. Just found out I have polycystic ovaries as well, which may be what has spawned a lot of my medical problems over the last three years. It's an answer but I just feel like a mess. with my mental disability and now with health issues as well. I just feel like i'm not only being bombarded myself but also bothering my co-workers and management with my issues and becoming more trouble than I'm worth. at the end of the day i'm just a student and i've only been here 4 months but my health seems to have just flashed before my eyes! I was fine 4 years ago! I hate being a woman with hormones. :(

[/quote]

Hey Steph

My psychiatrist told me that women with polycystic ovaries often have mental health problems because their ovaries are releasing too many hormones and this creates a chemical imbalance in the body. Apparently it is fairly straight forward to treat...

Please, please, please don't be embarressed about your condition. It's not your fault! I know it's easier said than done, but we're all different and it seems to me that everyone has issues, quirks and "odd" things about them.

Good luck with your appointment - just think of it as a big step on your road to recovery.

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Carly Woodward — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:43:31 GMT

Hey there, I can totally emphathise with what you are going through, I have Tourette Syndrome (diagnosed and have medication for) with ADHD tendancies, so completely understand how you feel different from your workmates. It can be a rough ride feeling different than everyone else at work, but please try and remember why you do the job, is it for the love of the animals and desire to help i sure bet with most of us it is.

I am doing my Nurse training at the moment and I have been at my practice for 2 years, I am lucky they are all great and so accepting. I do struggle at times with my training and have to do things such as mock exams in a seperate room at college etc cos of my ticcing and inability to sit still for lengths of time, but I can honestly say it hardly affects my job at all - I tic and thats it, I can still be a good nurse(hopefully qualified one day!) and even do reception without problem. Stuff like revising can be a challange but I find active revision good and will make up songs and remember things to a beat and all sorts of silly things that really work for me!!

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately depending on how you look at it, my 'disability' if you can call it that is, certainly at times, very visible. Therefore I HAVE to be upfront and open with my colleagues, college, and, at times, clients. It is hard, but it is also a great feeling being open and honest with people, and you find that with a bit of education most people are understanding and supportive.

So much of it is your attitutude towards yourself, and it sounds to me you maybe a bit depressed with the whole situation and feelings of frustration, which is understandable. I am newish here although I did go on the old board so not sure if can private message or not?! But if you can feel free to chat any time cos I really do understand what you are going through and would be great to help if I could at all :).

CJ x

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Katy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:41:25 GMT

Oh hun, sorry you are having such a crap time. Hugs from me Again!

At least you have a nice supportive partner to help you through it.

Hopefully your appointment will help you out and you can get some answers and start to feel better.

You've been so supportive to me before, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed for you xxx

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:27:21 GMT

Joanna is pretty close but she never has time to come down this way. I've invited her before. I have a day off tomorrow. it's meant to tip it down with rain! I'm going to try to get some paper work done and then go to the butchers in town and get some nice steaks for dinner for Martin. He's been really awesome, so supportive considering our private life is non exsistant with everything that's been going on with the PCOS and my hormones and now the anxiety/depression and nervousness with the ADHD. I just feel like a mess and I really enjoy my work. it's like a get away for me where I can go and learn and love what I do. I just feel really strange at work like i'm messing up here or there and pissing someone off cause i'm not doing it the way they want or fast enough. my assessor just zooms through things and doesn't really show me anything. I don't think she even likes me. Sometimes she's nice but others she's really moody or snaps at my questions as if I was an idiot or don't bother me!! or get out the way i will do it... :( I just want to be able to do my job well. It's not that I can't do it. I will do anything anyone asks me to do and give 110% but it's hard when you don't know what you're doing and you get barked at or ignored when you ask. Then again when it's not done... or not done right.

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Vicky RVN — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:16:58 GMT

Sorry i'm not close. Maybe there are some people on here who are close to you though Steph?

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:13:53 GMT

Thanks Heather me too! I wish y'all were closer to somerset. I could really use a girls night out with some supportive friends that weren't from work :(

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Mac Feather — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:08:34 GMT

Hope your appointment is useful steph

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:53:10 GMT

[quote user="Vicky C"]

Not everyone can be expected to learn things at the same rate, we are all different and your colleagues should realise this. Don't give up, stick to it and have confidence in yourself! I hope it works out for you.

[/quote]

Thanks for your support Vicky. I'm just waiting for my mental health appointment next week. I'm nervous and worried they won't be able to help me or their just gonna stick me on a bunch of drugs and see what works... I feel like a freaking lab rat. (nothing against them of course love the way they squeak!) :)

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Vicky RVN — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:49:38 GMT

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:28:01 GMT

[quote user="Vicky C"]

[quote user="StephB"]becoming more trouble than I'm worth[/quote]

This is not true, please don't feel like that!

[/quote]

Tell that to my co-workers. Excuse the wording but I honestly feel like a retard sometimes. I mean when I was a kid I was actually in special classes so I could pass my courses like all the 'normal' kids. I feel slow and I feel like I'm letting my co-workers down. But i just don't want to give up because i want this so bad!!!!

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Vicky RVN — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:59:11 GMT

[quote user="StephB"]becoming more trouble than I'm worth[/quote]

This is not true, please don't feel like that!

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Mac Feather — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:41:53 GMT

I can empathise with the hormone issue!

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:09:51 GMT

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Mac Feather — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:05:16 GMT

Well my opinion the more people are educated and enlightened on subjects, the better. Communication on both sides is important.

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Fiona Leathers — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:37:37 GMT

[quote user="StephB"]

saying things that sound strange at strange times and impulsive with their words and actions.

[/quote]

Not meaning to be flip - but that sounds like most of my clients!!! Hope your doctor is helpful & I would agree, talk to someone at work so they know what you're going through, the saying definitely goes here "A problem shared is a problem halved!"

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Sal the 1st — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:00:23 GMT

have you tried

adders.org

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:43:21 GMT

Most people don't even know they have it and are just labeled as weird or rude people. know it alls or overlly active and hyper. saying things that sound strange at strange times and impulsive with their words and actions.

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Vicky RVN — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:25:06 GMT

I'm the same as Katy, i don't have any experience of the condition. Hope things improve for you soon x

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Katy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:22:40 GMT

Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time at the moment. Hugs from me

Unfortunately I don't know any adults that suffer from ADHD. I hope that your Dr can help you out xxx

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:57:32 GMT

[quote user="mrs mac"]

Is there a practice manager or partner that you can talk to then they can explain your situation to your colleagues. That way you dont need to worry about forcing literature on them or getting emotional.

[/quote]

I've spoken to my manager and assessor and it's not been suggested to do so, but I haven't asked either. I just feel like i'm a problem or that i'm annoying them with it all. I feel like an emotional wreck waiting for my doctors appointment next week. I'm just worried about what others think of me and if i've said or done something stupid and i don't know i've done it and they are just not telling me to be nice or can't be bothered. I just always have this horrible feeling like i'm more trouble than I'm worth. but i don't know if I really am or if it's all in my head. :( is there no one else that suffers from ADD/ADHD? :( I feel so alone.

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Mac Feather — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:53:46 GMT

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:55:34 GMT

I was last on Ritalin when I was in highschool, 16yrs old (i'm 30 now). Some of my co-workers are aware I have a disability and mental health issue. but I have not gone into great detail of what it is. I'm not sure if I would be imposing on them forcing literature on them. Sometimes I feel like i'm a soppy mess talking about it with them and that it might be just a little too personal for them to hear. I just feel like i'm too emotional all the time.

My therapist is a body focused therapist Sal and we do some things similar to NLP and some other things that are also similar to EMDR.

I'm aware there are alternatives to Ritalin. But I do wonder if that's what my body is used to and may be what's best. I don't know. I do however know I don't want to go down the SSRI or MAOIs. I did very well on stimulants when I was a child but I'm not sure if they are going to be for me still. We shall see.

Re: Living and coping with ADHD(ADD)

Sal the 1st — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:47 GMT

how long is it since you last took treatment for ADHD? - the reason I ask is that treatment has changed somewhat in the last 2 - 3 years even - Ritalin isnt the only treatment out there, just the most commonly prescribed. I have worked with adults and minors with this presentation. Your therapists advice is good - re assesment may help pinpoint specific stressors and ways of dealing with them. Does your therapist use NLP at all - I have found this to be useful. Have read reports that EMDR can also be very useful, but have never used it myself in this situation so couldnt comment on its efficacy from personal experience maybe your therapist can give you advice on this.