Anyone else feel like their ADHD was always there but got progressively worse as an adult?

xkforce@lemmy.world to ADHD@lemmy.world – 194 points –

I just wonder if it actually did get worse or it just seems like that because as an adult you have a lot more on your plate than you did when you were a kid/teen

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I'm 50 and I have my ADHD assessment in a month. I'm in software too similar to OP. for me the impulsiveness has gotten worse where i react with deregulated emotional outbursts that are affecting me and my family. I've got a bunch of processes to handle a lot of the symptoms but impulsiveness was never something I noticed I had until recently. I've always known i don't have much of a filter, blurting out whatever is forefront in my head. I've asked a number of my medicated friends and I'm told the medication does help with the emotional impulsiveness, providing the time to filter. but it does feel weird doing this at 50 🤯

It depends. When I first started taking the Straterra generic there were a few days that I had a much shorter fuse than normal but that went away. Mostly I noticed that it was much easier to focus and prioritize.

Never too late to improve - you've still got lots of time to enjoy the benefits!

Have you considered therapy as well? I don't come down hard one way or another on therapy vs medication, but imo talking to a therapist about these sorts of things can be very helpful - especially when dealing with the more "emotional" side of things. Even just knowing how to identify certain emotional patterns or feelings can make a world of difference.

(Obviously you don't have to answer that - feel free to consider my question rhetorical!)

yeah I'm also starting counselling really just to talk around the issues and to get a sense of understanding of them. i concur, meds are one part of the solution. self awareness through study and conversation are another significant part. however I'm stuck on how to interrupt impulsiveness when it's the impulsiveness that comes before the interrupt, if you get what I'm saying.. so i think i need to slow the machine down, give it time to interrupt myself 🤪

Absolutely -- It sounds like you've got this handled - I'm rooting for you!!

Don’t judge the first week of medication much. It is kinda up and down imo. Usually a nice settling point in week two. My outbursts were getting really bad. And they are now almost completely under control. Alcohol triggers it. Not in a rage fashion just brings back the blurts and unawareness and general lack of masking. Good luck!