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Hypersensitivity In Adults With ADHD
This latest diagnosis (Adult ADHD) has taken me don a rabbit hole of research & discovery. For years I knew something wasn't as it should be. Years would go by before I would seek help & get my 1st diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. A few more years later the diagnosis was coupled with Major Depressive Disorder. Now recently, this month actually...I was diagnosed with Adult ADHD.
Prior to this diagnosis I was in the process of taking a leave from work to do the suggested IOP(Intensive Outpatient Therapy) my Dr insisted on. I resisted doing this prevously due to the need to make a living. However after the inability to complete a work shift without feeling completely overwhelmed & frazzled, I gave in. I owned the fact that I needed help.
Once diagnosed, you don't get a roadmap. Its just kinda dumped on you with a new addition to the meds that you already take(if you were already on meds). So I had to google it, read, go through the denial process then finally come to terms that this thing was indeed my reality.
It fit however not in totality. I continued to research and learn more about the different things that can come with ADHD. I stumbled on to ADHA & Hypersensitivity. After reading it, things began to make sense.
The sensitivity to light, lound sounds, crowds, touch......I had a moment of "Wow". It helped put all the pieces together....it fit. Although it doen't change the fact that you are going through what you are going through when you find the thing that makes it all make sense...it does give you a bit of hope. Hope that understanding exactly who you are and that you aren't alone, makes you exhale some.
The IOP I attend is not designed to individually address one persons issues...its more so a general group therapy set of sessions. Although I knowthat the IOP will benefit me, I also know that I may need to continue therapy one on one with someone once its done.
Someone that will be tuned into me & my needs. One day at a time though. For now the focus is getting through this IOP withought crying every session lol. Its tough.
I welcome all input on this. As I stated, its all new to me, so any & all support is welcomed and appreciated.
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"Driven to Distraction" is a book that was recommended to me for similar issues you mentioned and it was definitely eye opening. It connected the dots and made sense out of things that I never really understood or was even aware of before. It helped me and was an easy read that I ordered on Amazon.
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4 ReactionsSome of the symptoms you describe are also part of the Autism diagnosis. This runs in our family as does ADHD. You might want to read about this, too.
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1 ReactionI, too, kinda followed your path of diagnosis. GaD, Moderate Depression, recently PTSD and ADHD. I didn't know I had the latter two until I finally got help also. I am working on Mindfulness 1:1 with a counselor and my PCP is reviewing meds. It is frustrating when one trys to do what they have done all their lives: planning, organizing, carry-out daily tasks, think and speak on my feet. Today, for the first time in about a week, I tried to do some household business. Ended up taking an hour and half on the phone. After that one phone call, I just needed to go lay down I felt so overwhelmed. Crazy!! This type of lifestyle I am not used to. I, too, am researching and doing alot of reading. We must go forward to recover even if it means babysteps.
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3 Reactions@david63 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
No one said it would be easy, and it sure seems that it can be quite a feat to get through day-to-day, right? We will find that going slowly, and watching ourself, will help lead us to a better day-to-day life. Somedays are really difficult, definitely. If we look back to how we were, and where we are now, it might be hard to always see the ways we are feeling better, but indeed, they are there.
Keep plugging along, honor yourself, be gentle on yourself. When will you have the review of meds by your PCP completed? what do you think they might change?
Ginger
I, too, have been through years of what I call “psychodrama” being therapized upon. First diagnosis was anxiety, the depression. Then they added bipolar disorder which I questioned. I was on medications for 33yrs with them continuing to add more. Then I decided to get off everything with the Drs. Help against their advice of course. I was tested for ADHD. It fit. I started taking meds for adhd only! Success! I would suggest trying different meds if ne doesn’t help! After 39 yrs of misdiagnosis I am finally free! You brought up a good point with the sensitivity issues because I have them also. Ty
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1 ReactionI was diagnosed with ADHD when I took one of my sons in for testing 27 years ago. I used meds for about ten years but no longer took them after retirement. I am also sensitive to light, light touch and crowds….some of it is also due to being an introvert. I tend to hyperfocus on certain things, physical activity being one of them so it’s not always a negative. I have two sons who were diagnosed with ADHD as well. I remember telling one of them what was causing him trouble in grade school (super extrovert and very sociable sociable) would be an asset to him later in life and it has turned out to be true! He is currently a nurse in the AF with a goal to be a nurse anesthetist and has tons of friends!