6 ms·

full blown ADHDer here... diagnosed and on meds from 2-6th grade, and then started again in my early 40s and on them now. some comments about this article: 1

full blown ADHDer here... diagnosed and on meds from 2-6th grade, and then started again in my early 40s and on them now. some comments about this article: 1) i fsking HATE when people self-diagnose and then trumpet to the world that they're almost certain they have ADHD. if you think you've got it, go find a clinical psychologist and get tested. 2) he's done a great job of regimenting his life. this is really, really important for me to do and helps a lot (until something distracts me, like a squirrel) 3) removing distractions is SUPER important. i was a musician for large portions of my life, and i can't listen to anything when i'm working. 4) meds can help, a lot. they help me. a lot. i use them daily, but take 'breaks' when i'm sick, on vacation, etc. i'm one of the 'usual' people that doesn't have side effects and i definitely don't get a 'high' feeling. anyways, i liked the article, and he has some really great points and routines. but i still wish he'd gotten tested before posting. :)

username90 6y ago
Yeah, I regimented my life more than basically anyone. Quit all hobbies, prevented me from doing anything for days. Even with all of that I couldn't focus on doing homework, instead I just lied down in my bed and stared at the ceiling for hours on end. Or sat in a chair and stared at the wall. I knew I should do the world, and I knew that the only way to do the work was to prevent me from doing everything else in the world, yet even when the work was the only thing I could do I still often didn't do it. Nothing worked until I got medication. The funny thing is that I lived undiagnosed like that until I was 30. Imagine if ADHD was better understood when I was a kid...
vector_spaces 6y ago
I live in Northern New Mexico. There is virtually zero mental healthcare out here. As in, I've been on waiting lists for dozens and dozens of clinics/clinicians for more than a year, following up with all of them every few weeks. Money isn't even an issue here -- I'm willing to pay the $450/30 minutes out of pocket or whatever it costs to see someone. There just literally is not enough mental healthcare to go around. Virtually zero clinics are seeing new patients. I've been lucky enough to be able to get treatment from my GP (who is actually a PA) for mental health conditions I've been diagnosed with previously in other states, and prescriptions for (admittedly lower stakes) meds that have worked reliably for me in the past. But she's not able to evaluate me for ADHD -- only refer me to clinics where I've already been on the waitlist for a year. Anyway, some of us self-diagnose because it's literally the only fsking option. Not everywhere is the SF Bay Area where there are excellent free and low cost clinics on every other street corner and world class treatment options for those able to pay more.

username90 6y ago

Yeah, I regimented my life more than basically anyone. Quit all hobbies, prevented me from doing anything for days. Even with all of that I couldn't focus on doing homework, instead I just lied down in my bed and stared at the ceiling for hours on end. Or sat in a chair and stared at the wall. I knew I should do the world, and I knew that the only way to do the work was to prevent me from doing everything else in the world, yet even when the work was the only thing I could do I still often didn't do it. Nothing worked until I got medication. The funny thing is that I lived undiagnosed like that until I was 30. Imagine if ADHD was better understood when I was a kid...

vector_spaces 6y ago

I live in Northern New Mexico. There is virtually zero mental healthcare out here. As in, I've been on waiting lists for dozens and dozens of clinics/clinicians for more than a year, following up with all of them every few weeks. Money isn't even an issue here -- I'm willing to pay the $450/30 minutes out of pocket or whatever it costs to see someone. There just literally is not enough mental healthcare to go around. Virtually zero clinics are seeing new patients. I've been lucky enough to be able to get treatment from my GP (who is actually a PA) for mental health conditions I've been diagnosed with previously in other states, and prescriptions for (admittedly lower stakes) meds that have worked reliably for me in the past. But she's not able to evaluate me for ADHD -- only refer me to clinics where I've already been on the waitlist for a year. Anyway, some of us self-diagnose because it's literally the only fsking option. Not everywhere is the SF Bay Area where there are excellent free and low cost clinics on every other street corner and world class treatment options for those able to pay more.