ADHD / ADD Support Group
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) are more common than you might think. It is a syndrome that exhibits symptoms such as hyperactivity, forgetfulness, mood shifts, poor impulse control, and distractibility. Join others who suffer from these conditions and share your experiences.
Hello all, new to this group.
I got diagnosed with ADHD late last year. It has definitely been eye opening. It explains a lot of my struggle when I was a teenager or why I had to drop out of school.
I have always had an inner battle with myself and after the diagnosis the pieces to the puzzle finally came together.
I know that going my entire life with untreated ADHD has been detrimental to me and my personal relationships and I am desperately trying to rid myself of bad habits and behaviors that I have developed throughout the years.
My partner just got diagnosed with autism and that has been a struggle for her, understandably so.
Unfortunately, the struggles I have with ADHD clash with her autism. She needs steady, consistent routine. Organized home. Everything in its place always.
And I'm sure as you all know, that is not something that comes easy to us.
I have been on 20mg XR adderall and it has been a godsend. It gives me the clarity and motivation that I have been lacking due to my low dopamine. But there are still days that I struggle a lot with keeping up. Like I am hamster on a wheel, with no direction.
It puts a strain on the relationship with my partner and would like some advice on how to keep up with the day to day.
1. recognize organization is important and hard. I'm proud that after hard word, my organizational abilities this week were average, and average is very, very good for me.
2. work on listening, and understanding things from another person's perspective. Don't hijack conversations, if your friend is talking about his bad day of work, sympathize, ask him to explain, don't try to shift things to yourself.
3. develop procedures. I lose things, so my wife knows when I got off a plane or leave a hotel, I will checked everything, and leave last, and that's helped a lot.
4. if she likes routine, work to try that, I think routine is a GOOD IDEA for ADHD
people.
5. Try not to get down on yourself and appreciate things you have done.
As with your relationship, I have learned to ask for help. My partner is not autistic but he is extremely organized, loves cleanliness and prefers routines and planning. I ask for help with the tasks that are a struggle for me and in return, I have more to give to the relationship and be a better and supportive partner. So his support feeds my ability to support him. It took time to get to this point, but now I’m open about my energy levels, what tasks I can accomplish that day and what I don’t think I’ll be able to. He also helps me be realistic with my commitments and time management. I misjudge how long tasks take like a champion and he’s really been helping me with this so I don’t overcommit and exhaust myself.
I’m not sure if that’s helpful at all but communication from me and understanding from him has been so beneficial.