ADHD, Alcohol and Me

I am so grateful for your post. I’m much older than you and a psych nurse like your mum. It’s only recently that I’ve been asked to include an ADHD checklist in my mental health assessments with my clients and wow. I realised I myself was scoring in the highest percentile. I’ve started looking up how female ADHD presents in adulthood and I feel like someone has handed me the guide and key to myself for the first time ever. Listening to you today I understood to the core of my being everything and I mean everything you said. Every description you gave was as though you were putting into words my exact mind. I have so much more research to do as I’m only 2 weeks into this epiphany. I better go as I have a few hours of social media, cigarette smoking and finger chewing to do before I attempt and to do the dishes .Thanks again , I’ll check in again🤘.

A very real video brother, amazing. Myself, I was diagnosed with ADHD in March this year. Interesting part regarding alcohol... I've been off it for a month now and feeling very focused as I have goals I can now work towards.

you definitly ain't alone

Hey 🙋‍♀️ Love all the honesty 👌🙇‍♀️ Very very good job for quitting smoking 🚭 👍 and woowww how fantastic as for the year of no drinking as well 😯🙇‍♀️ your so strong and keep going with beaing clean, sober and simple. 💪 🧠 Life is beautiful and just pure and incredible and I'm glad you are now seeing it so soberly and relaxed. Thank you for sharing everything 🤝 God bless you 🙌

My son was diagnosed in university, he doesn't take any meds as they affected his appetite and gave him headaches. He needs a stimulants to shut his mind down to sleep, he works remotely which isn't healthy as he is so social and needs that contact...its such a struggle...my heart breaks for you both...I so wish I could help. You are a good, smart person, keep on sharing.

Mate. I can relate to pretty much everything you said here. I was diagnosed with ADD 4 years ago, was prescribed meds and that ended up being a huge problem. (Since you know how impulsive we can be) Grounded myself somewhat, but getting on with ‘normal’ mundane life can be torturous beyond words. I totally get what you’re saying with the whole ‘I’m more than the chemicals in my brain’ thing. We keep it moving. Cheers for posting brother. Godspeed 🤜

Im 52 , been awaitimg for a diagnoses over last 6 months ,GP told me two yesr waiting list min...Been socially drinking most weekemds , holidays, vacations etc for 35 odd years...Alchchol is a vomplete nightmare for me , took me yearz to realise the connection betwen ADHD and drinking..Went to AA etc but none of that worked or connected with me ..I recently done sry january then another 10 weeks off the drink too, itz hatd socially but determined too cone back off it again and stay off it..Lucky for me uve akways worked out and kept fit in the mornings...Weight training and cardio really helps me regulate dopamine and calm me down..Well done doing year sober ! Not easy at your age..Edp socially..

I relate to that so much. For a while before I even realized I had adhd, I started researching psychology. I began to feel like everything was meaningless because everything I do and feel is just due to a chemical reaction occurring in my brain…it kind of makes things feel trivial. Now that I know I have adhd I feel relieved and less isolated, but it’s like everything that I thought was part of my personality, that made me unique, and a little strange is now just a symptom of of my ADHD.

Its amazing how similar your story is to mine, and to a lot of the other stories I've heard. Recording and sharing your story will no doubt help someone who's currently struggling with coming to terms with their own mental health and acceptance of embracing their emotions. Kudos, man. Looking forward to hearing more.

Hear you loud and clear brother. I was recently diagnosed at the age of 44 and feel like i squandered some of my best years and opportunities by being chronically stoned. Seems like you are searching for something just keep on with your mind open and the answers will come to you that's a promise. All the best

Agreed with all of this. Surprisingly even the plural-self thing: in my head I regularly say "we" and "us" instead of "I" and "me"

on the topic of “everyone seems to have adhd nowaways”, proper adhd diagnosis (not js brainrotted from tiktok but as a child) is similar to the left hand case. where the statistic of left hand people went up not because more ppl became left handed, but more ppl started being recognized as it. psychology is the newest science (<100 years old ish), the adhd metric will stabilize eventually

Thats amazing what yo say about loving yourself and feeling all the junk leaving you! 100% recommend meditation for ADHD, walking meditation is a good one.

During my life I've either been 'top dog' or 'bottom bitch' at all the things I've done. It drove my teachers, lecturers, parents, partners and employers mad. It also made me nervous and did a bit of a number of my self worth. I thought I was broken and beyond repair for years spending my life constantly apologising and covering up the results of my undiagnosed ADHD. Then during covid19 I couldnt hide it or tamp it down anymore and ended up being dragged to a psychiatrist by my wife. I got diagnosed with ADHD. I was 42 at the time. The Ritalin that was ultimately prescribed was a game changer for me but that little box of pills sat on the kitchen table for two weeks before I swallowed my pride and took my first dose. It's helped massively it gives me the energy to get started and push through. Also, it dissolves the anxiety and dread. Stimulants aren't perfect but they do help massively. If you have ADHD they do the opposite of what they do to someone without it. They calm you down and level you off. If you are struggling and think you may be have ADHD go with someone to a professional and get checked out. I sucked it up for 20 years don't be me.

ADHD and alcohol is a bad mix. I have it and I am beginning to stop drinking..

You sound alot like me in your ways and I'm female I hate adhd it's wrecked my life but nothing you can do but live with except it cause you can't change it .

14:22 I think that's what everyone's brain is like to a large extent, a lot of people just don't observe themselves enough to realize it. My guess is just ADHD makes that a bit more pronounced but idk

In natural order, after being feed up with benzos and SSRI's since 9yo I got addicted to sugar and after that alcohol and nicotine. Doctors should know that, but it seems they didn't. Today vaping cannabis keeps me off alcohol, but I can't imagine life without any dopamine-spiking substance..

Dopamine thing I'd terrible needing sweet foods some times you can't get out chair paralysed I try hard get me self up to exersize not always easy though

Did you put much weight on when your drinking was bad?