For Women with ADHD ADD Who Want to Connect
Hi! I am so happy to have found this site. I always skip around when I'm reading blog stuff... hmm, I wonder why... but I've read through so many inspiring posts and I feel like if all of you had enough concentration to write those amazing things, I can pull it together to introduce myself. :)
I'm 24 and I was formally diagnosed with ADHD when I as 19, even though I've been aware of my attention difficulties for a lot longer. My dad has Tourettes Syndrome and ADHD, and so does my sister, so I've been around it all my life. I was always pretty successful in school, but it's only thanks to a photographic memory, not good study skills. I saw my older sister and dad struggling more that me and I always thought that since I was getting As and Bs in school that everything was fine. Once I got into college though, things became more difficult. I felt disorganized and out of control all the time and I couldn't keep track of my keys (literally, even if they were sitting right in front of me, I couldn't find them). So, I finally saw a doctor who put me on Ritalin. In the beginning, I was so happy that I could finally enjoy doing those little everyday tasks that make everything seem more manageable, but then it would come to the end of the day and the end of the dose and everything would fall apart. As the medication wore off, I consistently experienced the most awful 30 minute come down where I felt like the world was ending and any wrong word would make me irate. I must admit that I can be moody sometimes, but I'm not an angry person and to see myself snap at people who love and support me, but not being able to stop myself, was really difficult. Has anyone ever experienced this? I stopped taking it after about 6 months because my blood pressure was getting high and I was feeling too anxious all the time.
Over the last couple of years, I have been dealing pretty well with my ADHD without medication, but recently, after finishing grad school, and going through a huge life transition of not being in school, etc., I've realized how much of a toll "dealing" with my ADHD has taken. There are so many things I simply can't get it together to do even though I know I need to and in most cases WANT to do them. It's hard because I'm a really stubborn person and my default thought is - there's something that I am doing wrong... Then I just feel stuck between all these things that I can't concentrate on, and feeling bad about not doing enough, then I don't end up doing anything at all... I know I can't put the blame on myself, and that it's not my fault, but it's literally taken me a year to figure out (or admit to myself, told you I was stubborn) that the reason I feel depressed and like every little thing is a struggle is not because I'm unhappy, it's because I'm unable to concentrate on the happy things and the small things...
So, I've finally stopped procrastinating and I made an appt with my doctor to talk about meds. Has anyone with a tendency towards higher blood pressure/anxiety ever taken Vyvanse? My blood pressure is ok now, I just don't want it to become an issue and I don't want to get too hyped up. Ive heard that Vyvanse is the best out there now, though. Any suggestions you all have would be really helpful!
One great thing that has come out of my years of being unmedicated is that I've taken up yoga and meditation. It is very difficult at times, but when I get down to business and do it, it is so rewarding. This summer I went to yoga teacher's training and I'm really interested in developing a practice especially for people with ADHD. If anyone has any experience with this or would like to brainstorm, give me a holler!
Anyway, I hope this makes sense to all of you and I commend you for reading all the way to the end because I know it's not easy! heh.
I already feel better having written this, so thank you. Knowing that is will be read by compassionate, understanding women is an added bonus. I can't wait to explore this site more and see what it has to offer, and I'm going to put it in my bookmark bar so I don't forget or lose track!
~sophie~
Permalink Reply by Red Fox on Hehe, Hi Sophie! I'm 25 and have just gone through the massive life transition off finishing 'school' but I moved into being a mum! Certainly highlights a lot of stuff, and I'm only just getting the hang of things now and my son is 18months now haha. I think yoga specially for ADHD people is such an awesome idea! Meds are different for different people. I tried Rubifen (ritalin) last year, and found that I was never eating (rather than eating when I eventually remembered to). The slow release was better (less dramatic comedown too!) but not right for me. I've been on Strattera since the start of the year which is perfect for me, though I read one persons post on here for whom it was awful. As I said, different people have different results.
Good luck with your doctor! :D
Permalink Reply by Shane on Hi Sophie! *hugz* I know how hard it is to sit down and do one certain task. :D I happy that I am able to read your story. By the way, Im a mother of a 16 year old ADHD girl she was diagnosed when she was 14. Each and everyone has a unique approach in the treatment, well.. My daughter is in an adhd counseling therapy . Before she ADD or ADHD diagnosis, I was frustrated and her teachers believe that she was simply naughty or disobedient. The disciplinary actions that me and her teachers use to train children to be compliant and well behaved are pointless. Not only did she not understand that her behavior is troublesome, we also don't realize they were doing it. In addition, we don't know how to prevent the behavior because something inside of their body is telling them that they just need to move.
They said that without counseling, these children sometimes grow immune to discipline and begin to develop an overall hatred of authority. Imagine, being reprimanded at every turn. Being viewed as a troublemaker, or being told that you're disrespectful or naughty every single day can really affect a child negatively. If an ADD child is developing problems with authority, lashing out at you or her teachers, consider placing her in the care of an experienced ADD/ADHD counselor. Sometimes, just hearing that everyone doesn't hate her or think she's a bad girl can make a big difference. An ADD child with a healthy self image can benefit from counseling to learn how to recognize their own inner cues and learn how and when to suppress energy, and tips and tricks for focusing on their studies. Regularly discussing their progress and being recognized and acknowledged for small successes can be a great incentive for kids to always do their best.
Permalink Reply by Susan Abrams on Permalink Reply by akhileshneo on For people with ADHD, the best way is making yoga as a daily habit is that it does not interfere with any prescriptions, meaning it may be used as a complementary therapy with excellent results. Completing a yoga session gives those a sense of accomplishment and purpose, which will then carry over into other aspects of their lives. Table pose, balancing pose and corpse pose are the three great yoga poses that can be used in the treatment of ADHD.
Permalink Reply by adelahighdefinition on
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