Overwhelmed, Overcome...and Over It!!

Hey Michele,

I just stumbled upon your post as I was preparing to get off the forum. It's such a great reply. And at the same time, it's unfortunate that it's buried as a reply to another older sharepost.

You have such a gift for describing your experiences. I hope you'll consider posting a Sharepost. I've never had a panic attack, thankfully, but I could relate to and have personally experienced everything else that you described.

I'm in my mid-40's now. You're thinking is similar to a learning process I've been going through for a number of years now. By that, I mean because of the ADD I too have to learn the same lessons over and over again, particularly as it relates to relationships. I cannot tell you how many times I have come to a huge realization, only to find that I had come to the same realization five years earlier and I even wrote about it!

Talk about frustration!

I look forward to reading more from you Michele.

Grandma Lise

Hi Grandma Lise,

Thankyou for that. I'm also mid-40's. 45 to be exact. I actually find many of the symptoms of ADHD is worse since my late 30's than I can ever recall it being. I realise that mid-life issues are in full bloom as well, so can't fully blame the disorder for being SO forgetful and easily distracted. I have to admit it does worry me what I'll be like when I'm older and whether I'll remember anything by then....lol... Have you also noticed a huge change in the symptoms since you became older?

Funny you should mention about coming to a "huge realisation" on more than one occasion about the very same thing. It only happened to me recently and for the life of me, can't fathom how I could've possibly forgotten the major shock I received the first time I discovered what had happened and yes..... I'd also written extensively on it to another person. 

Unfortunately, it didn't take me years to forget but it was only a matter of 5 months prior and the only reason I now know that I wrote to this other person, is because when I was searching the other day for relevant documents to copy and send with my letter, I discovered I'd already done it all and - extensively!

What I find very confusing about this, is it wasn't as though it was something that I had very little interest in or I'd not been paying attention to at the time and yet I still managed to forget all about it.

The only sense I can make of it is that the shock of discovery must have been so overwhelming for me to deal with at the time when other issues were creating great stress, that my mind decided to repress the memory. It's bewildering and a bit of a worry.

I love reading about the problems that other people have that mirror my own. (Not that I'm glad these people have these problems). It's just nice to realise that I'm only one out of many who try and deal with such confusing ways about ourselves. It is such a complex disorder and it frustrates me to no end when a lot of sites have 'experts' who classify it simply as a 'behavioural' problem and speak only of children when discussing it.

I think I shall have to finish up now as I can't seem to get my thoughts in order today. The majority of the time I have way too many things to say and lose my "Stop" button but today it's a bit of a struggle to put the words in order. I've been a bit on the sluggish side all day for some reason.

It would be nice to talk again. I'm not familiar with this site but shall look into what it's all about and your suggestion. Thanks again.

Cheers, Michele

Hey Michele,

Delighted to hear from you. Here's my immediate response - (I have an early Board meetng this morning so I've got to keep this brief, which is rare for me!) - I've learned over the years that there are many things that affect my ability to think and function:

Medication - the right stimulant medication is helpful, though I must say I stopped taking stimulant and other medications almost ten years ago. But, I wouldn't hesitate to use them again, if say, for example, I was back in school studying again.

Nutritional Supplements - The only way I know to separate out symptoms due to vitamin deficiencies from ADD is to take supplements as I have been doing for close to 15 years. I take a basic, inexpensive regimin of a quality brand - (I take 'em, but don't sell 'em) - B-complex, fish oil, and calcium (with D, K, and magnesium). C and E also play a role in brain health. And since vitamins are synergistic, I also take a multi vitamin. I'm a strong advocate of ADD adults taking nutritional supplements with their medication because it helped me so much 15 years ago and continues to help me today. More recently I've added selenium.

PTSD - Having grown up with ADD and learning differences, untreated, I have mild symptoms of PTSD. As a result I have ceated a lifestyle for myself in which I am very careful of who I allow in my inner circle of friends, and I also am very particular about where I work.

Stress - Over the years, probably because I ran an adult ADD support group for eight years, I have developed extensive self-care systems to keep me afloat when work demands increase. Participating on this forum is one of my self-care routines. Posting here stimulates and centers me.

Wish I could say my life is perfect. It's not! But paying attention to things like self-care routines has greatly enhanced my ability to function on a day to day basis.

It sounds like you've been going through some stressful events over the last year. Sorry to hear that. We always get through these things, but it sure can take its toll on us.

Okay, I wrote that straight through with no editing. Let me know if I didn't explain well enough my thoughts on any of these points. I guess my main point is that we are more than our ADD.

Hormones also have a huge impact on brain function, during the menstral cycle when we're pre-menepausal and as we approach menepause as we get older. Will try to write about this more later.

Grandma Lise