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Thread : Vent.  
3 Jun 2009 @ 12:39 PM
john's mom Join Date: Wed 3rd Jun 2009
Threads: 1 Posts: 0
Vent.

Let me first apologize for the venting that is about take place. This is the only place that I felt comfortable to let it out.

My son was diagnosed with ADHD in Feb. 2009. Since then we've worked hard to help him through it in addition to the medication that he is taking. It has been a rough road but he is doing very well now and will be starting kindergarten in august which will start a whole new worry cycle for me. In our efforts to navigate the ADHD road with him and for him, I've come to the realization that I may have ADD. Looking back through my school years (elementary and high school) it makes sense now. I attempted college but failed - couldn't stay focused, lack of self-esteem, lack of motivation.

Our daughter, a wonderful surprise, was born in Sept. of 08. She had a few medical issues that arose around her 1 mo. birthday. about that time we started having major issues with my son and school (pre-k). my daughter and son's issues were hitting us (my husband and i) at the same time. the stress was unbelieveable! thank God our daughter's issues were resolved and, again, around the time our son was diagnosed with ADHD. some of the stress was off but again a new stresser was beginning in the form of finding the right avenue of treatment for my son. now that he is "settled" for the moment, i'm having a very difficult time of it. i, a legal asst., have alot of trouble focusing, proof reading, staying on task, it is beginning to really effect my work product my self-esteem. my house is a disaster (outside of the fact of being a working mom). it was never a tidy household but a little better than it is now. i truly feel like i'm sinking at both work and home. there is two rooms in the house which play "catch-all". i place things there to deal with it later. later never comes. after coming home, dinner, bedtime routine, i have no energy to do anything. i make plans with friends and then when the date approaches i search for reasons to get out of date. i'm in a constant state of worry, stress, inattention. i took a walk around the neighborhood the other evening and at one point realized that in the time it took me to walk 1/2 block my thoughts had run the gammet of work to kids, to home, to vacation, etc. at home, though there are many things that need to be done, i can't get past the doing the standard cleaning - the dishes, the laundry. i barely keep up with laundry. at work, my boss, i love him to death, is the most disorganized person in the world. doesn't help me!!!!! i try hard to focus with lists (both home and work) but either lose the list or other distractions. i read on a blog of a college person that they during her early school years that she knew something was wrong but her parents didn't think anything of it. when she first entered college, she researched her symptons and realized she was add. she described a symptom as feeling as if she were in a fog. a light went off for me!!! i have always felt that i was in some sort of a fog that if i could just get through the fog or barrier that i would be fine. i have an appt tomorrow and will speak with my dr. i understand, after going through the process with my son, that i will be referred to a ph.d. for an evaluation. problem. this costs money and we are tight right now. i've been researching ways to help myself, primarily my son, without the use of meds but i keep failing us both! i tried diet - i can't control my diet, my son has very few things that he will eat. i feel i do well in limited artificial ingredients but he needs more nutrition. the level in our household is approaching max. i briefly mentioned to my hubby about my thoughts and symptoms but i don't think he understands. other than my son, he take on everything is "deal with it". he didn't come out and say that but. soon after my daughter was born and during the chaotic times with my son before adhd came into the picture i talked to my dr about baby blues. he gave samples of a med which i began to take, i didn't mention it to my hubby at first because of his "deal with it" mentality. i finally broke down (in a vunerable moment) and told him. he seemed to understand. however, one morning i was just having a difficult time getting things together and was just very frustrated, over whelmed, etc and snapped at him. he responded by saying "take your pill" and left for work. from that point i haven't said a word . i refuse and now feel alone. i'm trying hard to stay afloat here but feel like i'm sinking. i could go on forever but -yep i'm at work and need to refocus on the task at hand.

a little release is good. i don't need a response (constructive criticism is welcome) just needed to vent.

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3 Jun 2009 @ 10:35 PM Reply # 1
kait924 Join Date: Wed 3rd Jun 2009
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long response...this is cathartic for me too :)

Hi,

Sooo this is my first time ever on this forum, and I'm glad to say that your the first post I've ever read. Of course, I'm not glad to hear of your current emotional state, but I just wanted to reach out and first say that you are not alone. I know...cliche as all hell..but it is always important to hear. Secondly, I am a 21 yr. old who was diagnosed with ADD about two months ago. While I can't completely relate to your daily life trials surrounding children and marriage, I absolutely understand that this is a difficult time coming to terms with the label ADD. Some people think you are being dramatic. Some people refuse to acknowledge it or take the diagnosis and run with it, blaming everything you do on your ADD even when what you have to say is legit. There is, it seems, no getting around this, because ADD is either really misunderstood or not stigmatized.

I have started to come to terms with my diagnosis because, for the first time, my life and all its inconsistencies makes sense. I hear you when you say it is like coming out of the fog. It is the only reason why I will successfully graduate college in the next few months after always being considered gifted but always failing classes. At the same time, and while I am admittedly new to this arena as well, if you are definitely diagnosed ADD, you can't hate yourself for it and you can't let others belittle you for it. The reality is- and this might be something useful to say to your husband and other loved ones- that even while ADD is a "disorder," it is also just who you are. The negative side effects are why it is useful to be classified as a disorder- because it provides a starting place to treat them- but there is a fine line between fucked up brain chemistry and personality. You have been successful most likely just as because of your ADD (whether it be passion for your children, creativity, an able to think outside the box and explore alternatives- which ironically might be why you came to these conclusions about yourself) just as much as it affects your daily organization or mood. My college roommate- who after three years of living with me- is very familiar with my habits and seemed really intent on talking about the impact of my medication on "helping" me. This also made me just as uncomfortable- because who am I without my ADD? Not talkative? Reserved? Organized and methodical and......boring? All it took was for me to break down what I would be like if I relied soley on my pills for defining who I am and she shut up right away.

I guess the point I am making is that while you might not currently have the tangible resources to get diagnosed, you are making huge personal strides towards recovery. I'm not defining recovery either as the end of this terrible "disease" we call ADD. I think recovery means that you are willing to integrate this new knowledge of yourself into your daily activities and be responsible with it. You are also striving to love yourself not despite it but because of it- and the strength it has required you to cultivate. Because we both know that people with ADD have to work a bajillion times harder to live normally than the rest of the world. You can't expect other people to get that, but you also should let them know that there is a huge difference between an explanation and an excuse. I hope things start looking up!

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3 Jun 2009 @ 10:38 PM Reply # 2
ADD RN Join Date: Wed 21st Nov 2007
Threads: 11 Posts: 358
Okay take a deep Breath

You seem to be very overwhelmed and won't talk to her husband about it. WHY??? if he not supportive you have other issues to think about . Take a deep breath and make a appointment for yourself and get on your ADHD meds and make your husband help you with the children. If he won't ask a friend or your fmily to watch them and get yourself some breathing time. . I know you feel over whelmed but my advice would be getting out of thre house for a walk just for a1/2 hour , go out with your friend before they stop inviting you. Exercise just a 1/2 hour it will help relieve the stress and get you better sleep. . Not so tidy yeah understood . You should see my room that all I will say. I know how it is I am married I am ADHD work and leave the house 7a get home 6 PM go to school , wrirte pappers and I just orgnize myself as day by day Friday after work I plan to clean this room. YOU Must not try to do it all your self. You need help and someone should give it to you

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