The Patty project

It’s been just over a week since I was diagnosed with ADHD by a Psychiatrist, prescribed and started meds and the gradual changes have been interesting. (Was also diagnosed 4 months prior by a Psychologist who completed various assessments).

I’m practising a lot of self-care by resting and removing myself from just about everything that isn’t within my four walls and work so that I can properly process this journey.

I’ve lived 46 years with this very active brain of mine and whilst I’ve tried to do my best and have achieved a lot it has been exhausting. My son’s were diagnosed in early childhood and my daughter recently went through the assessment process and was also diagnosed with ADHD at 26 years old. Reflecting on my offspring and their diagnosis is what prompted me to move forward with my own diagnosis.

Hearing what people have to say about ADHD has been interesting; the comments made eyeopening!

Some of the minor differences I’ve noticed during this short amount of time have been interesting; in particular the feeling that I’m having inside my head/mind. I feel as though there’s a lot of movement happening but I’m also feeling like I can (finally) focus well; the only way I can describe it is that my thought process feels like a tunnel and all around that tunnel are zig zag lines going in every direction and crossing over each other. (that makes sense to me).

I’ve met so many people with an ADHD diagnosis throughout my life who have chosen to not stay on meds because of the initial feelings – they didn’t like how they felt so they didn’t get to the first three months to assess if there were any noticeable and/or beneficial differences. (what a shame).

I’ve got two adult children who have ADHD who have been on meds for a very long time (on and off) and I’ve observed the differences both good and bad. We’ve had many conversations about certain meds and how the doses affect them and what they believe has been the best fit and/or right choice for them.

I’m going to give these meds a good go before I decide what my end game may look like. I’m hoping and looking forward to some calm and stillness; two things that are often too far out of reach to practice.

I’m curious, I’m hopeful and I’m trusting this process.