For Women with ADHD ADD Who Want to Connect
PMS and ADHD
I've had ADHD since I was a kid. When I was 17, I realized I also had PMS. Over the years, PMS has wrecked havoc on me in every way. I always suspected that I had not "outgrown" the ADHD but I was either in denial, couldn't get anyone (literally anyone) to believe that I was not clinically depressed or manic or OCD or paranoid or any other psycho-illness. After 6th grade, I was not taking ADHD medication anymore and my family just kind of ignored it. During my early adult years, I tried the B-complex stuff to help with the PMS but it did little. I always called PMS my Problem Magnifying Specs. I think with the undiagnosed ADHD and the unrecognition (is that a word?) by professionals of the severe PMS and ADHD, no wonder my life has been such a disaster. Since my diagnosis last august, and lots of research, I have learned that ADHD can manifest itself in PMS or aggravate it. I don't think I'll ever be completely free of either but having the diagnosis of ADHD and now treating it more aggressively than just awareness and behavior modification, I'm gaining better control of both conditions. Clearly I could add so much more about the details but if you have ADHD and PMS, you don't need me to regurgitate that, right? I'm just wondering if there's anyone out there who has a similar experience and how you've coped. Thanks.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Theannalicious on -
I have the worst PMS of anyone I've ever met. Each month, I start the process of destroying my life. a week later and I'm in total embarrassment and regret.
The things that work for me are:
-Wellbutrin, Buspar combo (works wonders)
-Yoga, combined with running almost every day of the week. I try to take two days off of running.
-Stress-B formula capsules every morning.
-two tablespoons of liquid calcium and magnesium supplement each day: morning and night. (be careful if you are anemic, you need to take an iron supplement too: I like the Floravital liquid iron but if you take this DONT take the stress B)
-NO JUNK FOOD when I'm about to start PMS.
-Mantra: This is only temporary, I am not my mind, I am my soul...etc.
-Keep my nasty two cents to myself.
-Practice patience...even with my dear significant other.
-DON'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONAL.
Now if I could just REMEMBER all this in the heat of the ax swing....lol
it gets easier just like a habit.
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Permalink Reply by Karen L on -
Thanks for your input.
I do exercise three days a week but some weeks it's harder than others (when I have a bad PMS backache or stressed muscle or something)
I take enough pills and wellbutrin didn't do squat for me a few years ago when I tried it for depression. My doctor tried Yasmin for about a year and it didn't really do that much either.
Junk food? How DO you manage the cravings? I just cave in. I can eat a whole bag of chips and a whole carton of ice cream if I allowed it. And McDonalds? Some weeks that's all I want to eat. And if I try to eat healthy stuff, I'm just not satisfied. And I can't control the impulse to eat the junk food.
It is a salvation to know that this is only temporary. but the roller coaster, yo-yo ride is so exhausting and I'm so sick of it.And I know it's going to return later. Ten years ago, my desire was to get a total hysterectomy which never happened. I believed and still do, that if I didn't have those parts to create this monster, then the monster would be gone or at least in remission. But these days, doctors don't do hysterectomies for those reasons. I also believe that because I've moved 2200 miles from my previous home and I'm now getting better health care, my mood/attitude/life has improved dramatically. This has also made a huge difference in my PMS symptoms. Location, location, location. :)
Have a great day!
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