Tag: actually adhd

alisso:

notemily:

rowanthesloth:

Adult ADHD: Grown-Up Problems – Jacquie Fuller – Medium

If you only read one article on adult ADHD, read this one. It does an excellent job of explaining how ADHD brains operate (or don’t) and the kinds of problems undiagnosed adults can run into.

I never thought I could have ADHD until my late 30s, because I thought I knew what ADHD was, and I wasn’t “like that”. It turns out I actually have most of the classic symptoms; I just didn’t know what they were, and there’s a good chance that, if you haven’t been diagnosed with ADHD, then neither do you.

This article is great, and funny. I love that it mentions Wellbutrin because stimulants for me were like a roller coaster of feeling good and then crashing hard, but when I got on Wellbutrin, it was like, clouds part, choir sings, sun beams down. It’s not perfect, it destroys my appetite and makes me slightly more likely to react to things with anger or violence (the first week I was taking it I was like I WANT TO PUNCH EVERYTHING). But it WORKS. I’m pretty much only able to work a solid 8 hour day because of this drug. Without it, I would be CONSTANTLY bored and distracted and inevitably get in trouble for doing things that are more interesting than work. (As it is I only feel that way some of the time.)

And the thing about long-term effects is SO important. My anxiety and depression are all tangled up with my ADHD. Everyone yelling at me to pay attention as a kid caused me to grow up with anxiety problems, because oh no, what important thing am I missing now? CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!

And thinking you’re a failure because you have executive functioning problems, well, that pretty logically leads to depression.

I also love this description: “We organize the way most people diet: a lifelong cycle of attempt and failure. For us, having our shit together is never a state of being, as much as an eternal state of becoming.”

I got partway through this article, to the bit about wellbutrin being the “amphetamine of antidepressants” and now I’m remembering how, every time I take psuedoephadrine based cold and flu medication, I’m super organised and focused and get things done and really, I’m yet to hear anything about adult ADHD that doesn’t make me think I should look into getting checked.

Except I don’t have the foggiest idea of where to start. (there’s a link at the end of the article, but it goes to a page not found, and when I found the actual page it was meant to link to, there were zero international listings, so…)

Ihave no idea how to get diagnosed, either, even though I’ve been certain I have ADHD too since about 2004.

hellenhighwater:

shinelikethunder:

cupofcoffin:

Hot adulting tip: make a “responsibilitysona” and roleplay them when you have chores to do

#this is Neurotypical Karen and she enjoys having good sleep hygeine & returning phone calls (via @deadpanwalking)

I find that if I’m wearing Real Adult Business Clothes my worksona can do things like call people and check my inbox, whereas pajamas hellen mostly wants to shovel hamburgers into her face and set things on fire. 

The problem I have with this is while pyjamas Ruth has to work hard to focus at all and feels bad when she doesn’t get shit done and occasionally has to take a valium, gets-shit-done Ruth is a five alarm fire of anxiety that can’t sit down.

jhscdood:

brain hole

noun. The several-hour-long state of (typically ADHD-induced) hyperfocus, in which it feels like no time is passing but suddenly it’s 10pm and you haven’t made dinner yet.

Example, “Its 7pm. We should decide what time we want to do dinner before we fall down another…. brain hole.”

Some days suck

Anxiety is super bad today, so I had to take a valium. Between the Valium and the anxiety, I can barely focus to read, which is REALLY ANNOYING because my book is really awesome right now (Trickster’s Queen- Tamora Pierce) and I have only read it once before, over ten years ago, and I don’t remember the story enough to skim it. Also don’t have focus to knit, and am chewing my nails down to the quick, so I’ve got my Tangle Jr. Hairy and I’m hoping that will be enough to stop me chewing may hands so bad.

Ugh.

theconcealedweapon:

aphobic-soundwave:

aphobic-soundwave:

“if somebody becomes panicked when you accuse them of lying theyre obviously not telling the truth” shut up ugly im a survivor who got punished for shit i never did all the time of fucking course im gonna panic when im blamed for something i didnt do

since this post is actually getting attention rn i really want to emphasize this-

many of the “tells” of lying are traits commonly found in abuse survivors and mentally ill/disabled people.

stuttering, averting eye contact, panicking, raising your volume, fidgeting, and other similar traits are actions performed commonly by these groups, especially in situations of heavy stress- such as being accused of doing something we didnt do, especially if we are afraid of being punished for doing nothing.

im honestly begging people to think critically when accusing somebody of lying for small traits like these.

And some people are expert manipulators who can easily lie with a straight face.

So assuming that body language can detect lying causes you to wrongly accuse people of lying while also not protecting yourself from being lied to.

Just stop.

This is a thing that, though I love police procedurals and mysteries, as an abuse survivor and neurodivergent person I wish this trope would fuck off and die, because whenever it surfaces, it reinforces that I am a ‘liar’ in the eyes of anyone watching. It makes me fear what would happen if I ever had to deal with the police, even though I never do anything remotely sketchy.

backuppixiedust:

sometimesyouhavetobebrave:

mememic-bry:

mememic-bry:

mememic-bry:

executive dysfunction is telling yourself for two and a half hours that you need to shower bc you smell like your workplace and you absolutely Cannot do Anything Else until you shower, doing Any Other Thing before showering is illegal!!! but you still haven’t for some reason??? you’ve just been sitting on your bed in a towel scrolling tumblr for 2+ hours thinking “I need to shower right now immediately” and growing increasingly frustrated that you are still not clean and you haven’t eaten or done your laundry either

ok actually no I’m reblogging this because a) I am clean now (and I smell amazing, thank you), and b) I had a heckin Realize and I wanted to share it with y’all in the hopes it’ll help someone else with a brain like mine.

I figured something out about myself a long time ago– it’s only just now occurred to me that I was in fact solving a problem caused by executive dysfunction, and I haven’t been implementing this solution lately because my brain went “that’s a relatively new term to me and therefore a Different problem that requires a Different solution”. thanks a lot, brain.

anyway, long long ago, before I knew these fancy schmancy Official words, the problem, as I phrased it to myself, was such: 

sometimes I get Stuck. I was doing something, or on my way to doing something, and then… I just. got stuck.

“Stuck” looks like refreshing my feed or dashboard repeatedly. or it looks like staring at a spot on the wall. or chewing my fingernails. or picking at a stubborn sticker. all the while, my brain drifts through various unrelated topics I wouldn’t be able to recall if asked. sometimes I can get Stuck for hours before realizing I am Stuck. sometimes I get so Stuck that I go to bed that way (feeling especially bad for being unproductive) and I have to just reset everything by sleeping.

one day I asked myself, “why is this happening? why am I stuck, right now, at this moment in time?” the answer, as it turns out, was pretty simple: I was trying to make a decision, and I got distracted. I haven’t moved forward because I haven’t answered that one question or made up my mind.

let me rephrase this in terms of executive dysfunction: many people have expressed that it feels like knowing you need to do a thing but not feeling “ready” to do it. many with ADHD may also be familiar with the feeling of needing things to be “just so” before you embark on a task- you need your setup to look a certain way, or you need to set a timer, or have the right music playing, etc.

when I get Stuck it’s often because I got lost somewhere in that setting-up process, and my brain took the opportunity to nyoom off into Distraction Town.

getting myself Unstuck is solved, 95% of the time, by tracing my steps back to the original decision I was trying to make- often something small and inane- and then troubleshooting from there. (out loud! verbal processing is totally punk.) 

  • “what was I trying to do?” 
  • “was I trying to decide between two things?” 
  • (the answer’s usually yes.) 
  • “what were they?” 
  • “okay, let’s decide. 
  • “okay, that’s settled. let’s move on.”
  • and then I am free as a bird to nyoom in the direction of The Thing I Wanted To Do All Along, in the amazingly disorganized, scattered, yet rapid-fire way that I do many things.

so!!! in the case of my first post, where I hadn’t showered for 2 hours? turns out I had been trying to decide what music to listen to in the shower. (another hack: my chances of getting Stuck while showering decrease by 75% if I have music playing to help me keep track of time.) I couldn’t immediately make up my mind, got lost in thought, got distracted, and drifted. once I stopped and asked- “why am I stuck?”-  then I remembered- “oh yeah! I wanted to listen to music”-  and then decided- “I want to listen to Daft Punk’s Discovery album”- I was finally heckin able to shower. and also eat, and also throw my clothes in the dryer.

and may I add I only zoned out once, during the slow part of “One More Time.” 😛

I’m not saying this is a foolproof method. sometimes I don’t have a reason for being stuck, and that’s okay! I’m also not saying this is how every adhd brain works. it’s just how my brain works, and I’m sure there’s at least a few who can relate. for those few, I hope this helps!!

a lot of people are reblogging the original post without the update and leaving frustrated comments and that makes me sad! if I can find ways to hack my brain than so can you! executive dysfunction is a real and frustrating challenge, but don’t buy the lie that there’s no way to work with it or around it!!!

!!!!

This sounds really useful and for some reason, I’m also really happy to find out that I’m not the only person who uses music to keep track of time

ruffboijuliaburnsides:

theotherguysride:

taraljc:

robowolves:

biohazerd:

My biggest pet peeve is being talked to AS SOON as i wake up.
I hate that shit.
Stop tryin to communicate with me.
Stop askin me questions.
Im tryna understand the universe all over again dont talk to me yet ur gonna confuse me and piss me off.

⚠️ MORNING PEOPLE DO NOT INTERACT! ⚠️

I tell people that I am not a morning person and what they hear is ‘I purposely chose to stay up til the wee hours and then it’s my own fault for not getting enough sleep when I am awakened at a normal time when normal people should be up, and I just need to correct this failing to live a happier life’.

What I am ACTUALLY telling them is ‘I have delayed sleep phase disorder, where in my circadian rhythm is different from theirs and my brain does not produce melatonin the way theirs does. When I am forced to get up before I have had a full 9 hours sleep–especially if I am awakened during sleep cycle–I am working at an extremely reduced ability level and will be unable to work at my peak efficiency and effectiveness until the afternoon.

‘As a result, I may rely on caffeine and other stimulants for the first 5 hours of the day, which also contributes to insomnia, and burnout in the late afternoon means I may snack on carbs for the energy boost. It is the equivalent of having permanent jet lag such as when you are 5 hours off from everyone around you.

‘It is not something that can be cured, only a condition to manage, and requires the people around me to make reasonable accommodations such as not trying to force me to interact with them and be decisional when I first wake up.

‘I also have ADHD, which means I have difficulty working when there is noise and chatter preventing me from being able to concentrate. I need calm quiet to be able to do my best work, and the only time I actually have calm quiet is when the rest of the world is asleep.

‘During the day, I artificially create this quiet during the day, using noise-cancelling headphones when I am forced to work in a noisy environment, or by working alone in a quiet space. And when you deny me that quiet, I expend a tremendous amount of energy just trying to focus. And I am much more likely to miss steps, or make errors, affecting the quality of my work as well as how long it takes me to complete.’

And what people hear is ‘I am lazy and unwilling to change,’ when in reality THEY are the ones unwilling to change because it is inconvenient, or requires them to be considerate of others.

So, yeah. I am not a morning person.

Hey op

*are you me?*

This. ThisthisthisThisTHISTHISTHIS.

all of thiiiiiis.

Hi hi it’s me that description is me. I say as I desperately try to wind down for sleep.

Can you explain why you think Jake Peralta has ADHD?

adhighdefinition:

I’m actually really glad you asked because oooh boy, let met tell you, Jake Peralta, in my humble opinion as a fellow sufferer, is currently the single most obvious but sadly non confirmed (yet… one can still hope) fictional character with (most likely) undiagnosed ADHD out there. His strengths as well as his flaws all point towards him having the disorder.

So let me start with the good things:

– He’s a quick thinker! He thinks in unconventional ways with his mind taking leaps and turns whenever it feels like it. Often allowing him to solve cases in creative ways. … It also makes for interesting conversations most of the time.

– Using his impulsivity in a good way! When he figures something out, he’s usually the first one to get up AND DO SOMETHING. 

– Excitability! Have you seen how his eyes lights up when he feels like he’s doing what he thinks is right? He becomes like a little hyperactive child again. Usually, adults with the disorder, aren’t as much outwardly hyperactive anymore as children are. Instead, this tends to turn into feelings of restlessness and gets internalized. But of course, in a show like this, it makes sense to show him like this.

– Hyperfocus! Die Hard, anyone?! That guy has had the same hyperfixation for years!!! And I bet, he frequently uses his hyperfocus capability to get things done, too. That is, if he’s interested enough, of course.

– His energetic personality! Brings some energy and passion into the work place, don’t you think? And also it’s how many adults with ADHD are perceived if they feel well-integrated and at ease with their surroundings. Always the one coming up with new ideas? That’s us!

Now onto the not so good stuff when you’re the one struggling with it:

– Again, impulsivity. Saying the first thing that comes to your mind, talking… A Lot, acting without thinking and without regard for consequences. As seen on the show, it has not always been the best “decision” for him.

– Mood swings! Unfortunately, many are not aware of this fact but in many cases, ADHD actually comes with fast and frequent mood swings. The smallest things can trigger intense emotional responses. Jake definitely has that as he tends to jump from “Life is meaningless!” to “I’m the greatest!” without a problem. Just solved a case? I’M SO HAPPY!!! Oh no, they got away with it? Why bother anymore…… Yeah, that…

– You know the episodes where he and Captain Holt are undercover as part of the Witness Protection Program and Holt points out how Jake seems depressed lately? Yeah, people with ADHD can way too easily fall into this mindset (mood swings, anyone?). With the absence of regular work to keep his fast-pacing mind occupied, it’s not a surprise that he starts feeling this way.

– Not able to handle boredom! He has always something going. Games, ideas, looking for new cases. He never slows down and seems to keep himself occupied at all times. Classic ADHD!

– The way he handles words and numbers, anyone? How he never reads books? Oh, and then his troubles with finances? His locker and desk looking… like that? Classic signs of troubles with organisation and attention to me.

– Easily discouraged! It can’t be denied that he hasn’t had an easy childhood. Together with the troubles with his father, ADHD could be a way to explain why he now is the way he is. 

– Problems with low self-esteem (*cough* and definitely Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria)! Either he feels like THE BEST COP OUT THERE or he falls into this thinking pattern where you have trouble believing that people actually care about you. Probably something he should talk about in therapy, as he puts it himself.

Together with his tendency to procrastinate when it comes to boring stuff, his inability to express and cope with his feelings sometimes, his forgetfulness and not so ideal time management (for example, being late to work all the time),  I strongly believe that Jake Peralta has ADHD and should be written and confirmed as such (hey, it’s never too late!).
An episode focusing on him suspecting he has the condition and eventually seeing a specialist? I’d cry. Honestly.

Plus:
The fact that so many real people with the disorder relate to him??? Okay, that’s not actually relevant here but definitely something the writers should take into consideration. BUT, don’t feel bad if you don’t! Not everyone’s ADHD is the same! 🙂

Psst, you won’t believe how many times I sit there thinking “that’s so me!” while watching the episodes. There’s even more “evidence” sprinkled throughout the show. All the small details not listed aboved. It’s marvelous and oh-so-relatable.

And just imagine the many excited faces watching the show when a main character on a immensely popular show like this would be confirmed as being one of them! Just thinking of the tiny, tiny, TINY possibility puts me into happy stimming mode!!! It would also help increase awareness in those who may not know anything about it and help reduce prejudices ‘cause ding dong, ADHD is not a fake disorder and adults can have it, too. Surprise!

(P.S. Please also check out this awesome post!)