The lighter side of ADHD
My fiancé has combined type nominally, but other than racing thoughts and some stimming, he's definitely the quiet type. I would say that's probably the case for many (most even?) AuDHD people, as autism doesn't usually go hand in hand with the endless social battery that the ADHD stereotype portrays.
Sounds like me too, and I also am AuDHD.
Is it weird that I kinda have both?
I got diagnosed with ADHD at 25 , and I’ve been like 90% quiet most of my adult life. However I recall every now and then when a memory hits, I used to be suuuper energetic, talkative and all over the place overall as a kid.
Since my family thought that getting me mental help = being put into an asylum for life, I never got assessed and was instead chastised/shamed into not talking (and in parallel the regular kids would mock and tease in the school system) so I’ve sorta just got quiet which just got me more inwardly chaotic
They changed the definition from types to presentations recently, because no person with ADHD is exclusively one or the other. Our presentations depend on the day and circumstances.
That’s good to hear, it definitely feels like my presentation does differ exactly like that- depends on the mood/day/circumstance.
Frick. I should really get a proper diagnosis. Anyone here found out they had ADHD well into adulthood? What changed?
Just got diagnosed last week, and I am well into adulthood.
It's a bit early yet. I am on starter meds and have a follow up appointment in a few weeks. Already though I have noticed impulse control is much better. It's like I have a time machine that's given me a few extra moments to respond to stimuli. Anxiety levels are also way down, and I don't feel the frazzled need to jump to the next thing, trying to get a dopamine fix.
Trying now to pursue a 3 prong style of treatment: medication, forming new habits, and mindfulness/observation. I am doing mood journaling to try to capture my experience.
Sounds like I should really look into it. Thanks and good luck!
Got diagnosed near the end of last year, well into adulthood. I have inattentive type (what was once called ADD). I'm on non-stimulany meds for it, which helps. But the thing about ADHD is that it's mainly genetic and has to do with the structure of your brain. Its a holdover from when we were living on plains and spent most of our days eating berries and avoiding predators. There's no real symptom relief, only management.
That said, the tools you learn for management while in therapy for it are amazing. And once you understand how your brain works, you gain a deeper and better understanding of how and why you do things. I know that seems like a "duh", but in practice its a lot more profound and empowering than you think its going to be.
But ADHD has a lot of overlap with other things, so don't be too sure until you see a professional. I wasn't looking for an ADHD diagnosis when I got one - I thought I had depression. And I was miserable. Like, considering some unthinkable stuff. My diagnosis and treatment basically 180'd me completely. Find a good doctor, then listen to them
Oh I don't think I have it. Maybe. But I've related to so much on this community that I think I should be sure. Thank you for your testimonial! And what sort of doctor does that diagnosis? Neurologist?
Reading self-diagnosis checklists and articles (for entertainment purposes only, don't self-diagnose, etc), I see an enormous overlap between ADHD symptoms and autism.
What would make the distinction?
It’s very challenging. It mostly comes down to which symptoms in the constellation are having the largest negative impact to the life of the person, as well as how they respond to different treatments. You really need the help of a doctor to navigate the whole situation.
I was sort of like this, but further inquiry into my parents and friends and classmates it was more:
"Why are you so quiet?"
"Why won't you shut up?"
For number 1: lol follow a train of thought?
For number2: Train has left the station at full speed near instant acceleration
The way my therapist explained it to me, is some have the "Outwardly Hyperactive" symptoms, and others like myself have "Inwardly Hyperactive" symptoms which is like you show here.
I guess I’m bipolar ADHD. In my small group I’m off the wall, random, crude, funny, no filter. In a larger group of people I don’t know my friends wonder if I’m sick. I guess this is what you get when you cross introvert with ADHD.
I've only ever seen 1 person with something like the "energetic" ADHD...
I thought that’s what ADD was comopared to ADHD.
For whatever reason, they combined both into ADHD and ADD is no longer a diagnosis.
This is me! I have this.
hmm.
oh no the final straw has broken or however that saying goes
Me.
I’ll swing from one to the other usually.