I Have Adult Adhd
Hi, I've been reading through a lot of the posts on here, its a great relief to find a group of people who have shared the same bewilderment and difficulty I have. I'm 32 now, and have had constant problems with anxiety, panic and serious depression since leaving schooI. I've always had the sense that there's some underlying problem (ie. other than psychological issues).. mainly a constant sense of mental confusion and agitation that never really seems to go away. I've learnt to live with it, but I often feel its not under my control, it's 'just there'. I've tried to explain this to GPs but I always feel like I'm being humoured, and ended up being referred for more talking therapies. I've been on anti depressants for years. So I've never quite convinced myself, and always end up back to presuming that the feeling must come from some psychological trauma/my upbringing/ being bullied/etc. The talking therapy does seem to help, but only in untangling all the issues I've developed through feeling this way for 17 years.
I've always found it impossible to live my life with the same ease that everyone else seems to- always been socially awkward (painfully so when I was younger, less so now), which has put a strain on friendships. It can mean I'm not the easiest of company and a few friends have lost patience with my 'issues', meaning I've ended up quite isolated recently. I've never (even now) felt 'like a grown up'- I recently trained as an art and design tutor, which is the first 'real job' I've ever had. I've always been terrified of responsibility, not through laziness/lack of ambition, but just because I feel completely incapable. I just dont seem to be capable of absorbing and comprehending 'serious' information- I somehow worked at an insurance company for 3 years, but never really understood how the policies worked :D I managed to do my role by remembering all the key bits of information (I was in the call centre), but if anyone asked me a sideways question I was screwed. After that I started another similar job but had to leave because I just couldn't cope.
Theres still a little doubting voice saying that it's not ADHD, its just me being mental. I'm going to see another GP though and find out for sure. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
C (London)
I've always found it impossible to live my life with the same ease that everyone else seems to- always been socially awkward (painfully so when I was younger, less so now), which has put a strain on friendships. It can mean I'm not the easiest of company and a few friends have lost patience with my 'issues', meaning I've ended up quite isolated recently. I've never (even now) felt 'like a grown up'- I recently trained as an art and design tutor, which is the first 'real job' I've ever had. I've always been terrified of responsibility, not through laziness/lack of ambition, but just because I feel completely incapable. I just dont seem to be capable of absorbing and comprehending 'serious' information- I somehow worked at an insurance company for 3 years, but never really understood how the policies worked :D I managed to do my role by remembering all the key bits of information (I was in the call centre), but if anyone asked me a sideways question I was screwed. After that I started another similar job but had to leave because I just couldn't cope.
Theres still a little doubting voice saying that it's not ADHD, its just me being mental. I'm going to see another GP though and find out for sure. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
C (London)
Age:
31-35
