I was recently diagnosed as an adult and started medication and have been taking it for a month. I hadn’t noticed any dramatic shift besides my anxiety going away completely - something I was nervous medication would make worse. I honestly started doubting that I have ADHD at all.

However, I recently went with my family to a very loud and busy setting that would usually give me a headache and make me irritable. But what I noticed was so shocking I couldn’t believe it. I could hear my family talking loudly and clearly and the sound around me was muted!!! I could still hear it of course but it was super quiet and I could hear my family perfectly. Normally I would have had to put in effort to be able to hear and I thought I might have hearing loss or challenges with auditory recognition at one point.

I did everything not to cry, as I just assumed this was something everyone experienced. I genuinely did not think it was an ADHD symptom. I guess the point of this post is just to ask whether anyone else has experienced this or has researched ADHD symptoms and can shed light on it.

And if there are any other symptoms you noticed that went away with medication that you found interesting I would love to hear about it.

TLDR; You might not have hearing problems it might just be ADHD

What is the worst ADHD symptom(s) for you? For me, it's probably the anxiety and depression that comes with it, and the intense emotions. I also struggle a lot with controlling my emotions, and i get mentally exhausted so easily. Hygiene and keeping it clean around me is a big struggle too, but i'm getting better at it.

at my appointment, with out skipping a beat, i replied that they look the similar.

i could immediately see my testers face and it looked like she just saw a train wreck. i don’t think she was supposed to but she said that “no, they’re both numbers. but i suppose the do look a bit alike.”

i added that i argue five would also fit in with them.

i would later fail to give her the answer she wanted for what deny and accept had in common. apparently.

had other tests but we shall see how this goes.

I'm at a loss for words at this point. I've been trying to focus on finishing this task for the last 3 weeks and I can't just get it done. It's due tomorrow and my boss will be back from his vacation asking where it is, and I'm just absolutely fucked. I've done everything I'm "supposed to do" such as meditate, take meds, work out, try the pomodoro technique, install web blockers, change my environment, go for a walk, break down the task to easy checklist items, and I just can't start on this daunting awful task.

I honestly don't think I've done five minutes of work in the last month.

I'm starting to think I just am an awful employee, and I'm almost 40 years old.

Anyone else?

well, no friends is probably an overstatement, since I do have a few people I'd call close friends, but they all have Other friends too, and if I wasn't their friend I don't think they'd mind at all.

it's a really weird feeling. I'd be in class, minding my own business, and I'd look up and see all my classmates talking to their friends, playing games together, having fun and all that, and I'd just be like "oh." it's like there's Their world, over there, and then there's Mine.

also, it's really hard for me to keep a conversation going if I'm not interested in the topic, which is probably why people don't reach out and talk to me first lol which is hard since a lot of what my classmates want to do is gossip, and because I don't talk to anyone, I don't know anything that goes on

in primary school, I used to think people just had their 2 best friends and weren't close with anyone else. but now I'm in secondary school and realise everyone is connected with everyone? and I'm just... Not?

even in the discord server i used to be in, I get along well with people, but people don't reach out to me, and when I stopped talking in there no one noticed

I don't know what I'm rambling about gang I'm sorry 😭😭😭

For me it would be a romantic life. I’m 25 years old and was finally diagnosed last year. I never dated while growing up as I always felt like I was never enough, (internalised ableism). Now that I have a diagnosis and finally understand myself, I now get why I always felt that way. Nonetheless, I feel like I’ve lost the window of time for formative romantic experiences that people are supposed to have while they’re young. What is something your undiagnosed ADHD cost you?

Like, I wanna do stuff, I just can't, it's not easy trying to make a plan and follow it without my brain skipping everything.

I hate that I need to "convince" people that I'm capable of something, immediately gets my drive back to zero and I lose all momentum.

I'm sad. I'm tired, my sleep schedule is a mess, I am losing weight and I don't know why, and I'm oversleeping a ton.

So the thing is: I wanna wake up at 5am, enjoy the morning from 5-6 (have breakfast, get dressed, play a little) and at 6 head to the gym. The reason is because I work from 8-6pm and if I don't workout in the morning before work I just KNOW I won't have the energy to go after work.

I've tried a couple of times waking up at 5 but I just couldn't bring myself to get up. Some of the reasons (or self-sabotaging idk) being:

1) heart pounding when I wake up, so I associate it to not having slept enough (idk if that is indeed the case) 2) rain (I don't have a car and the gym is like 7min by foot, so it just doesn't make sense to me going by Uber or something) 3) just couldn't grasp any reasons as to why I should get off of my warm bed, so I just hit the snooze button until time for work

Can someone please help? 🥺🥺

I know ADHD individuals have a higher risk of developing addictive behaviours to increase dopamine levels. This cycle of dopamine seeking behaviour is really hard to break.

I’m curious to know what sorts of addictions you’ve developed over the years, and how you managed to overcome them to have a more healthy and balanced lifestyle.

This is unbelievable. I met my new psychiatrist, and she put me on ADHD meds. I purposely found someone who specializes in ADHD, hoping I would get somewhere. And I did. We formed a new prescription plan for anxiety and depression as well. She said the ADHD meds should relieve the symptoms I'm having and help me function better, and that that will also help with anxiety and depression. I nearly cried when she said that, but I managed to hold it in.

Instead of sticking to strict schedules, try setting simple rules based on conditions or triggers in your daily life. These small habits can help you build consistency without feeling overwhelmed.

Here are some that have helped me through my ADHD:

-If I sit down to watch TV, I drink a glass of water first.

-Every time I pick up a snack, I also grab a piece of fruit.

-If I go to the toilet after dinner, I brush my teeth immediately after.

-Every time the kettle is turned on, I clean one thing in the sink or kitchen.

-Every time I turn on or shut down my computer, I take three deep breaths.

These condition-based habits are simple and effective for me because they’re tied to things I’m already doing, making them easier to stick to over time.

Do you have any similar rules or strategies to build better habits?

does anyone else just always feel tired no matter how much sleep they get? I’ve tried every amount of sleep, five hours seven hours nine hours 12 hours shit even 14 hours and no matter what, I’m still always tired! and caffeine only works if I take it literally once a week. If I take more than that, it just makes me MORE tired. I’m about 97% sure I have ADHD, but in the process of being diagnosed, but when I take addie, I actually feel awake. does anyone else have the same problem?

edit: i always sleep through the night too, it’s not like i’m waking up or anything.

Every time I try to open up about how much ADHD is ruining my life, people either act like I'm being dramatic or insist it must be something else. Why is it so hard to believe that the reason I’m depressed is because I literally can’t function?

I can’t follow through on my passions no matter how badly I want to. Studying makes my brain feel like it’s going to explode. I can’t hold down a job because every single one feels like torture. I can't make new friends because I’m terrible at keeping up with the little things that make relationships work. I spend hours mindlessly scrolling my phone, feeling like crap the whole time, but I can’t stop. I can’t regulate my emotions. When I get hyper, I feel like a total weirdo no one wants around. My life is a constant mess because I can’t organize anything.

People around me act like it's just being forgetful or distracted sometimes. It’s a full-blown war in my head every single day, and I’m so tired of feeling like I have to justify how much it’s destroying me.

I recently decided to try switching from Adderall to a non-stimulant medication, so I messaged my doctor about it. By now there have been multiple messages where I thought I made it clear that I would like a non-stimulant prescription sent to a particular pharmacy so I can try it out. Twice the doctor responded with "what do you want me to do?" so I thought I somehow was unclear each time I made the request and made a point of stating I wanted to try a non-stimulant medication (my words. I did not name a specific medication) and the address of the pharmacy to send it.

Then he warned me that Strattera is expensive (at my last appointment we specifically had a conversation about Strattera being discontinued in 2023) and to check if my insurance covers it/has extra steps I need to take in order to get it. I checked and told him they still offer the generic, gave its name, and that my insurance only restricted quantities. I even told him how much they would allow to be dispensed at each dose. But today he messaged me with: "write me exactly what you want me to order with name, dose, quantity, and where you want me to send it." And I replied yet again that I want atomoxetine, the generic name for Strattera, sent to that specific pharmacy, and then added that I thought the doctor was supposed to decide the dosage and quantity.

So here's where I want a reality check. Am I wrong to think that this is a little weird coming from a doctor? Like, patients aren't supposed to be telling the doctor the medication and dosage for the doctor to prescribe them. That seems dangerous to me.

Up until now the doctor has been friendly and fairly cooperative. I would request medication refills and they were sent on to the pharmacy without any of this back and forth and "what do you want me to do" nonsense.

tl;dr: doctor giving me a hard time getting a non-stimulant medication and wants me to dictate the dosage and quantity for him to prescribe

doctor gave me lexapro for my anxiety and depression though i told him i think i have adhd (fit lots of the symptoms, problem with motivation, addiction, saying the wrong thing, lack of self care, going all in either 0% or 100%, incredible annoyance and despair over small things, intense RSD, masking)

been taking it for nearly 2 weeks now and i've got some SERIOUS side effects (though they've gone down a little compared to the start)

heart palpitations/panic attacks and anxiety going through the roof, almost daily suicidal ideation, that last for hours.

lexapro sub says its not uncommon and that it gets worse before it gets better but i've also found posts where people say ssris dont help and actually make adhd worse.

idk if my reaction is because i have adhd or not. just trying to find shared experiences

So im trying to build in better management techniques so I start the day right. The problem is it tends to fall apart in the morning- I never know what to do in that first hour I wake up when my brain is more all over the place. I can't exercise because I feel ill/lose concentration (can exercise well later in the day). I don't want to start work as I end up just not being able to focus and going down Internet Rabbit holes. Any tips?

I'm diagnosed with ADHD but can't take meds for health reasons. I want to pursue an engineering degree but as soon as I see a math textbook or coding problem I get disinterested. The bare and rote textbooks and the dead and dim coding interfaces bore me to death and I'd much rather doomscroll. I'm not too bad at math but I'm great at English, reading and trivia. How do I do tasks that aren't immediately interesting?

(Not really seeking empathy but just a sigh).

I sometimes love looking at two squirrels playing around on the tree, my neighbor's cats that just wander around like another cozy day, those flying birds that seek the next station for their food.

I thought ADHD med would help me but really wasn't good as I thought, the feeling of depression and emptiness still attacks me everyday.

I think being born as a human is probably a curse, this shitty society is making me feel worthless. There's sometimes a sudden striking thought that tells me all these pressures are nothing, just be yourself and enjoy your life, then everything goes back to the same the next morning, feeling like another day to waste my life.

I just want to be an animal, can be a dog, bird, or even a hamster, then we don't have to worry about socializing, expectations, depression, loss of hope. We either eat or we either die, with zero thought bothering me. There's nothing to be proud of being a high-intelligent creature, I'd rather be a brainless goldfish.

I've always been under the impression that I would need to be officially diagnosed with ADHD to be prescribed medication. Yesterday I went to the doctors office for the first time in probably 7 years, and this was my first time seeing this doctor. I told them I wanted an eval or to be seen by someone for a diagnosis and after a few questions, he just prescribed me Straterra. Is this normal? I just feel like more should've been looked into other than the 5 questions he asked me. I'm grateful it was that simple compared to some of the other stories I've read. Just looking for someone who might have had a similar experience, like where does it go from here. Thank you for your time.

I'm sure there are a lot worse, but I end up taking like 15~20+ minute showers sometimes because I don't want to leave and go do something I have to do but really don't want to do. It's a bit like I'm using it as a safe place from having to do that one thing, whatever it might be that day, and just put it off a bit longer. Urgh, so much time wasted some days.

Everytime I experience a rejection from a person I've invested some thoughts or was emotionally attached at least a bit, I feel that the pain of rejection is more intense compared to what other humans experience in same scenarios and i feel emotionally hungover for few days. To describe this pain, I'd say my mind rotates same scenarios over and over again, I can't concentrate on many things and keep coming back to it, my sleep gets disrubted and I feel extremely down. I've read somewhere that it's part of ADHD, do you also have these experiences? How you deal with it, have you learnt any coping strategies?

basically what the title says. I never feel like eating anything, even to the point my stomach is hurting so bad from the hunger. usually I have a packet of milo (the only food I can stand? or willingly eat?) then carry on until I get hungry again.

I used to eat fried rice from the school canteen everyday but since starting secondary school the queues are so long I don't even bother waiting so I just drink milo.

also, when I actually do eat something, after about 5 bites the hunger fades away and I immediately don't feel like eating anymore. plus I literally won't eat unless I have to, like dinner when my grandma cooks, which is currently the only meal I've consistently eaten the past 4 years.

also, I'm gonna sound like a brat when I say this, but even during dinner, if no one actually serves me the side dish (veggies, meat, wtv), unless I really like it (chicken wings for eg) I won't serve myself. Like, I know I should take it, but unless my parents order me to or something, my arm just ain't moving 😭😭😭

also, I get "sick" of certain foods if I eat them too much? I used to adore ice cream but now the thought of it wants to make me throw up. same thing with peanut butter and butter and some other stuff.

I haven't been diagnosed (tho I strongly suspect) but I didn't know where else to ask about this.

For context I take Methylphenidate and ever since I started on them I'm experiencing an attraction to the same sex. I find it rather bizarre because prior to this I was only ever attracted to the opposite sex and now this attraction is completely replaced. Could it be possible that the medication just boosted my low drive and it just so happens I was always attracted to men? Is this normal on Methylphenidate?

It's like im watching other mes talking about my experiences. Im 2 minutes in to a jaiden animation video where she finds out she has ADHD and so far ive related so much. I don't feel like there's anything wrong with me I just ended up here on a wild goose chase, I started on the anxiety subreddit because I have a ongoing fear of public speaking (that randomly manifested when I was 14) and to figure out if I really did have a panic attack 3 years ago, my public speaking fear isn't really a big issue although I was just bored looking at subreddits but I remember a couple of friends at uni said I might have ADHD because I kept on interrupting them and now im looking at all these posts relating to them so much.

I was seeing a new psychiatrist today and I finally got diagnosed. I tried for years even to the extent of spending thousands on testing only for my new doctor to hand me a sheetnof paper and told me to fill it out and be honest. When she finally read over the questionnaire and look at my test answers and results she was mad.

She explained to me that it was probably due to that particular psychiatrist not wanting to prescribe the medications required. She explained that some doctors see patients that are adamant about a diagnosis as trying to use it to drug seek. She put me on Adderall.

I cried when I finally got my diagnosis.

What was it like for some of you who got diagnosed as an adult?