Diagnosed Late With Mental Illness: adult ADD, MDD and GAD

@cloudedepiphany Howdy, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see you have posted in both the Mental Health and the Depression and Anxiety groups regarding your situation.

I would like to say that there is nothing wrong with having these issues. Many of us do. Where it becomes a problem is not learning to work with them. Working on yourself to be your best self, whatever path that is, can be hard work, but so worth it! It certainly is not unusual to have multiple diagnoses, and they seem to overlay on each other.

Do you find now as you look back in your life, that the depression, anxiety and ADHD may have been there in one form or another for a long while? I know that is what I realized, and it took me by surprise! You see, it just sort of creeps up on you and you don't even think about it. One often learns to adapt to it, and sometimes an event occurs that makes it all more pronounced. What have you thought about in the last few days, how you want to address all of this? Did your doctor offer any insight and choices for you to consider for treatment?

Here is the link to what Mayo Clinic has to say about AADD: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350878
Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Ginger

Actually yes. As I look back I can see how the things I have been diagnosed with may have been there for quite a long time. Perhaps even the ADHD. However the thought its self is overwhelming.

I begin an IOP on the 16th, and that to is overwhelming to think about. Had to file official paperwork with my employer to take the needed time away to do it. So now it is not just something I have and keep to myself as best I can, its known by people outside of my comfort zone.

The day after the ADHD diagnosis I began Adderall...on top of what I already take. My overgrown ass having to take a medication that is given to children that bounce off the walls. I dont know how I feel about it all, however after years of the emotional chaos I'm open to whatever the Dr's say at this point.

Oh, about the double post. Due to this being my 1st time here and new to how all of this works, I really didnt know where to post. I Posted it in mental health but thought it belonged in Depression & Anxiety. I tried to delete it, but I couldnt find out how. I think once its posted....its posted.

An intensive outpatient program will be interesting, don't you think? You have the opportunity to really get to the heart of the issues you see and what your doctor has seen. Just going off-the-cuff here, let me say this. Noone is telling you it will be easy. You may be tired emotionally/ mentally/physically each day. Days where you will doubt your decision to participate. That is to be expected; self-discovery can be taxing. Stick with it! Make sure you eat healthy, get outside to get exercise and fresh air. Don't forget to get good sleep.

If you haven't considered it, have you thought about journaling your experience? That is something I have done for decades. No need to go back over it unless you want to, and it gives you yet another insightful method to self-discovery. Here is a link to our journaling discussion:
– Journaling – The Write Stuff For You? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/journaling-the-write-stuff-for-you/

Looking forward to your further sharing.
Ginger

Hi Ginger

I am already signed up with Mayo so I am aware of all the positive benefits offered by Mayo. I’ve known for a long long time I was afflicted with a mental illness. There was a point in my life when only recently divorced I was trying to address the problems exhibited by our adolescent adoptive daughter and I was doing business in China that I found myself on Zoloft. I only recently found the notes of the psychiatrist who prescribed the medication. No where did he ever give me a ‘diagnosis’ so I can only conclude I didn’t reach the heights of ADHD or OCD. only very recently did my ‘internist’ somewhat amused say ‘I bet when you were young I bet you were ADHD and OCD’.

The problem I have is finding direction to a truly qualified psychiatrist living in the Seattle area. I’ve tried with no luck. My Hospital no longer has a psychiatric department except for the most extreme cases. Instead you are given a phone number to call in North Carolina where I spoke to a nice young woman just beginning her career.

July 4 I turn 77. Since retirement I’ve been working to make myself a better human being, while I’ve definitely made advances there are those days where despite sleeping well I find myself slipping into depression. This state is now affecting my marriage to the most wonderful woman, partner and friend I have ever known and will never meet again.

Hoping you might have some suggestions where I might turn.

Thank you so much

Mort

For ADHD, you may want to try the Hallowell-Todaro Center in Seattle, hallowelltodaro.com. It can take awhile to get scheduled for an evaluation, but they also have psychiatric nurses and doctors who can prescribe medications as needed. I am 73, have ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder, and have a visit scheduled with them soon.

Just read recent reviews on Hallowell-Todaro Center. From my perspective I don’t feel their approach meets my needs. Thank you though for taking the time to respond to my query.

HI @cloudedepiphany, late diagnosed ADD /ADHD here. Please be aware, it is common for us to be diagnosed with different issues before the right one is found.
Depression and generalized anxiety often simply mean that you are overwhelmed by the world around you. Which is normal if you are ADHD and not aware of your diagnosis, and have no acces to the right support, tools or meds.
You can now start to tackle that by learning about ADHD. There are many communities online that will welcome and share experiences with you. Look for 'late diagnosis adhd" on facebook or tiktok.
Many of these groups will not use the term 'mental illness' but the term 'neurodivergent'. Yes we are different. But not 'mentally ill'.

Thank you so much. “Overwhelmed by the world around us” definitely. Given that observation I have tried any number of different approaches including meditation and pranayama breathing. A yoga practitioner for over 25 years has been most helpful.

HI @kuma, I tried yoga but ended up fighting with myself trying to control my breath.. ; ) At the moment CBD oil ( very little) works best for me. But most helpfull is a balanced of routine for work and rest, and 'adventures' (outings) to keep myself stimulated.