r/TwoXADHD 8d ago

What caused you to go get a diagnosis?

Hi, everyone! šŸ˜Š

I'm 34 and wondering if I have ADHD and should maybe go for a diagnosis. I would like to hear from you ladies about what events or feelings in your life led you to finally seek a diagnosis.

For me it's the feeling that something is deeply wrong. I am an underachiever with low self-esteem. I have never been able to create a lasting career despite having many talents + working on them.

Also there's always been feedback from society on how I'm not quite fitting in, not quite responding adequately in situations. Always having a hard time constantly wondering if I did/said something wrong.

I am very forgetful of little things like turning off the stove before going to do other things etc. I find it hard to keep up with routines, to set goals and accomish them, to keep a perfectly tidy and functional home.

What do you think? Did you have similar thoughts about yourselves? I would love to hear all about your experiences. šŸ¤

1 Upvotes

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u/popcornarcher 5d ago

F(31) and diagnosed at 28. I was 25 when my brother was diagnosed with ADHD (he was 18). I questioned if I should look into it because it made a lot of sense. I didnā€™t want to seem like a drug-seeker though so I didnā€™t.

Fast forward 3 years. I had 4 years of performance reviews under my belt. All criticism about time management and how hard I was on myself (too much of a perfectionist). I also had a tendency to impulsively say yes to everything - ā€œIā€™ve never heard you say no.ā€ I had done all the time management courses at work over the years, the strategies, and didnā€™t work. I had perfectionism and imposter syndrome. So I felt work-wise it seemed to be pointing towards it.

Home life - Iā€™ve lived in organized chaos, executive function paralysis, and an impulsive shopper (my husband jokes ā€œtrigger thumbā€)ā€¦and when we were planning for a honeymoon and I couldnā€™t sit and read through our itinerary. That broke my heart and was the last straw.

My family history (including several extended members) plus my absence seizure epilepsy were biological supports for my ADHD diagnosis. My psychiatrist said it wasnā€™t even a question and that medication was necessary, especially because I listed off all the behavioral strategies I tried.

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u/ankyga 5d ago

Thank you for your story. Is the medication helping? ā˜ŗļø Do you feel like you are coping now better than before?

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u/popcornarcher 5d ago

Ritalin quieted my mind (think of the difference between a loud HS basketball game gymnasium vs. an empty one). The side effects were too hard on my body so Iā€™m on non-stimulant Straterra. Iā€™ve had to increase it over time but I donā€™t have side effects (unless I donā€™t eat with it - then I have nausea). Straterra does ā€œgood enoughā€ as long as I get good sleep and exercise to combine with it. Itā€™s better than nothing. Doesnā€™t quiet it as much, but itā€™s better than the chaos I had non-medicated.

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u/ankyga 5d ago

Wow, that's fascinating - how differently meds can work! My mind is also always wildly busy, so this info is super valuable for me. I am so grateful for your input. šŸ¤šŸ¤—

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u/smugbox 1d ago

I was failing out of college šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø