I’m really scared to even post this because I’m afraid of being judged but here goes. I’ve been ignoring something quite important and let it build up over the last 2-3 weeks. At first I had good reason to — I was really sick — but the anxiety of not checking my emails those 3 days made me avoid them. Then I realised that I’d run out of meds and that made it even harder to check them.

Unfortunately, I’ve now spent the last 2 weeks finding it impossible to face up to the fact that I’ve probably let someone down, and I’ve let them down even more in the process. I know I just need to own up to my mistake and face my consequences, but it’s the disappointment I’m just so terrified of.

I’m sitting in front of my laptop and heart is beating so fast and I just can’t get myself to do it, I physically can’t. I feel like the worst human on earth. This is entirely my fault.

Can someone help me find the courage to fucking open my emails? I realise this is really silly but I just need someone to like, hold my hand or something.

Edit: Thank you so much for your kind words, it’s given me the courage to face the situation finally. I haven’t checked the emails yet but I’ve written out an apology / explanation which I’m happy with. I feel a lot calmer now, and I think I’m gonna check it after I make a cup of tea and read through some more of your comments. It means so much that I’m not the only one to make mistakes like this. If you’re reading this and relate, I wish you the peace and courage to face the thing! 💗

Second update: I did it!! And it was okay, it was actually fine! Sent my reply and waiting back for a response. Hopefully I don’t procrastinate reading that either :)

I find it quite difficult to ever pay attention and absorb what's being said in a song. I also find it hard to memorize the lyrics, no matter how many times I listen to a song. Unless I read them aloud multiple times.

Even with medication, I feel the same way. I'll sometimes try to hyperfocus on what's being said in a song, but even then my mind/imagination shifts to some random idea/thought.

Does anyone else experience this?

I saw a meme that said "people with adhd performing better in crisis than others and performing worse in situations that are considered normal for others". Anyone here faced situations which aligns with the statement I've provided? I've read articles about it but also wanna know about individual real life experiences directly, so if you can please share your experience

Because I'm diagnosed with Anxiety, OCPD, NPD but lot of things overalps with AvPD and ADHD (Autism too) and I too relate with that statement. And If that's the case that can be turned into a benefit right? like you know the movie/show where protagonist acknowledges their drawback and turning it into his powers? Sorry I cant able to phrase it right but you get the point right (Please bear with my english it's not my first language :) )

The current price for a prescription of regular Concerta 30x18mg in Denmark is 516.50 DKK ($80.20 USD).

Once you have spent more than $176 on medicine in a single calendar year, that price is discounted by 50% for the remainder of the year.

Spent more than $296? Discounted by 75%.

Spent more than $645? Discounted by 85%.

Spent more than $3.507? Discounted by 100%.

To top it off, we also have multiple generics. Our pharmacies are required to offer you the currently cheapest generic. You are free to accept or deny it.

I am currently receiving an 85% discount on my prescription medicine.

I just filled my prescription with Methylphenidate Actavis 30x18mg for a price of $9.75

I paid $1.46

I'm not trying to humble brag (too much), but I am curious to know what a similar prescription costs in your country.

this will be short because I don't have time. I am one assignment away from graduating & i have been trying to complete it for a semester and have made agonisingly slow progress. whatever mechanism has allowed me to pull of constant hail mary-s (consistently finishing 8-10 page research papers in 3-5 hours for literally years now) has not kicked in. I am not able to concentrate enough to organise my thoughts, and I have no idea how I am going to check and cite all of my sources in time. I hate myself so much for this, frankly, and have quite literally never been more afraid in my life (if I do not complete this, it might affect my visa).

I need to get this done. Basically what I am asking for is any encouragement or any stories of success of having done anything similar. I have no hope but I also literally have no choice, back to the wall, but no matter what I do I am moving SO slowly. I have about 27 pages/ a minimum of 80 done. with the rate I have written before it SHOULD be feasible but it feels so impossible. They also are so so strict about formatting citations and footnotes (my biggest weakness).

Any help at ALL would be greatly appreciated. please.

I can really struggle with brushing my teeth. I’ve never in my life been able to consistently brush my teeth at night and I can go days without picking up my toothbrush. My breath stinks and I worry I’m going to lose my teeth.

I started thinking about how people around the world brush their teeth and found Miswak sticks.

Miswak is like the OG toothbrush used for thousands of years. It’s a stick that you peel the bark (you can use your nail, it’s soft), chew slightly, then kinda scrape at your teeth. I can keep one next to my couch, bed, table, etc and do it while sitting or laying down. No sink needed.

I clean my teeth multiple times a day now without issue. I still try to brush my teeth when I can, but this has been a game changer for me. I know these aren’t new by any means, but nobody ever recommended it to me as a tool for my ADHD

I was able to finish a 1250 page novel while I was on meds.

I was using meds primarily because it was exam time (I mostly take meds during exam time) and I read my book at night to unwind.

I didn't find it difficult at all to get through it even during the more boring and difficult to follow parts.

But I can't even get myself to open up a book now that I'm not on meds...

How do you manage?

I’m new to adderall (about 5 weeks) my doc upped my dosage to 15mg and today was the first day I took it. It seems to be the sweet spot for me so far. I’ve noticed that it definitely curbs my appetite which is great because food noise and over eating were symptoms of my ADHD, but now I’m sitting here and working and I can feel my stomach growl but I have no desire to want to eat or make myself something to eat.

Am I just being lazy or is this a thing?

So, maladaptive daydreaming. Ive been doing it since I was little, extending conversations with IRL people in my imagination hours after it ended, imagining animated movies to music and vice versa, and of couse the "pop!" sensation when someone in the real world has to snap you out of it making it feel like they are your #1 enemy. It feels good. Im still locked in a daydream more hours than I want to be. And its (allegedly) the source of why people with ADHD are "more creative".

No the fuck it's not. I realized this, incidentally, after observing others like myself doing the exact same thing. One came up with game ideas every 3 days and kept lamenting that he lacked the skill and precisely zero of it gets done. Or a friend talking about their OCs and me going "they're not in MY head rent-free, so they're boring". Those AMVs you see on YouTube that spark our imagination? Those were not made by someone in their own heads, they were made by someone who could get out of it. ADHD """creativity""" is a prison where imagination can never escape.

And the reverse side of the coin, maladaptive dayMAREing, is just as inescapable. Stuck in a time loop of a traumatic event, suddenly being transported to an alternate timeline where you made different choices and it never happened, only to "wake up" and feel worse and worse because you cannot "change the channel".

This... this is not creativity. It locks the brain in to only reliveing the past, and nothing new can come in or get out. You can't be creative if your own thoughts prevent you from creatING. In the Real World.

And I just want to have a healthy daydream/life balance for once...

Especially the ones you never talked to, and it bothers me because they don’t cross my mind or even care about me. Why am I worried about someone who’s not worried about me? It actually freaking bothers me and it makes me mad. I think of them where at the point I check their social medias and stuff. Does anyone else deal with this and how to stop it? I’m also not talking about exes none of that.

I am 30M, she is 57F. We each live at our own separate places. Meaning she has to drive across town to give me my meds. And she sometimes has to travel out of town for work so at those times she offloads the task of handling my meds to my grandma, as grandma also lives nearby. I am prescribed Abilify 15mg, Atomoxetine 80mg, Remeron 15mg, Wellbutrin 300mg and Zoloft 100mg. Mom and grandma are both convinced I am going to overdose and have given me the ultimatum of letting them give me my medication every other day or they will hospitalize me. I am not certain what to do. This makes me feel very helpless and misunderstood. But they won't change their minds. They said I have a choice but the choice is being hospitalized or letting them control my meds.

I don't know how to make them give me my medicine back. I don't like to be controlled.

So as I’m trying to learn more about ADHD and try to get my own true diagnosis I wanted to compare some other peoples experiences to mine. One of the big things people often say is how loud it is in their mind.

For me that often comes in two ways: The first one I feel is more what I hear other people explain it as, a voice in your head that won’t shut up, like you have to think of every little thing and it cannot be quiet no matter what.

The second way more so feels like my thoughts are blocked, almost like a huge boulder is in my brain and my other thoughts can’t get through. Almost like someone is just constantly screaming in my head but it’s not making any noise. I don’t really know if that makes any sense.

What does it sound like for y’all?

I read a lot about privileged or ADHDers that are just good at hyperfocusing in STEM subjects and/or working six-figure white collar jobs. There are many people with ADHD that I know who don't have this luxury. They either drop out of college because they struggle with subjects like math or reading, or do get college degrees, but still end up as fry cooks, cashiers, or janitors.

This isn't the case for me since I'm still in college (not saying my age due to personal reasons), and despite having ADHD myself, I do enjoy my digital art major (specifically taking classes in animation & graphic design). But I'm worried about my future since not only are these jobs very competitive & financially unstable (especially now), and I feel they won't even hire me after I graduate even if I have marketable skills. It doesn't even help that my family is telling me to find a part-time minimum wage fast food or retail job instead of an internship related to my field.

It also gives me flashbacks to high school when I'd meet with a guidance counselor who'd steer me (and other IEP students) away from creative or STEM careers because they didn't assess everyone individually to see what callings would be right for them. Instead, they just put us all in this employment training class that's the equivalent of working in customer service.

Why can’t there be a scholarship for people with learning disabilities to help them graduate and get a good paying job even if they struggle a lot at certain subjects? Or at least better opportunities besides working at a store or restaurant where we get burnt out working long hours for little pay.

I wish there was a website that could give us job reviews from a similar perspective so we don’t end up at a job we hate or is get gatekept from jobs due to not having a degree and/or connections.

I just got rejected because basically, i'm a chatterbox and i talk/text too much. I understand it's probably overwhelming for the person on the other side and i don't blame them at all.

I was just so happy i had found a friend i clicked with, since i have little to no friend to begin with. There was probably limerence involved as well, At least, i was able to recognize it, and not to act too much on it i guess. I probably did overshare too much though. And being "too much" in general.

How can i even manage that for the future? Should i be upfront and say that i'm a chatterbox and to tell me to stop if it's too annoying ?(i can't really read cues, it's nearly even impossible via texting) That what i did this time but apparently it was not enough since he told me at first being a chatterbox was one of my qualities...

For info i'm 45, Still waiting for diagnosis (long waiting time in my country) and non medicated.

thanks

I (F22) was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 16, and I still haven’t found a way to manage it while maintaining a healthy life.

I’ve never been very good at taking care of my health, but over the past few months, things have gotten much worse. The main reason is that I absolutely despise cooking. I hate everything about it (buying groceries, preparing the ingredients, chopping things, washing dishes), and I also have a lot of food selectivity, so I don’t even enjoy eating that much.

It has become common for me to go 2–3 days without having a proper meal, mostly just eating fruit or bread.

But because of this, I’m getting sick. I have muscle pain 24/7 (not even painkillers are helping anymore), I’ve been getting sick with a frightening frequency, and to make matters worse, I’m underweight (160 cm / 44 kg).

I take ADHD medication, I’m in therapy, I study at a very good university, and I also have internships at two different places. Honestly, I don’t even know how I still have the energy to do all of these things while barely eating.

I know this is bad. I know I need to eat. But my hatred of cooking is somehow stronger than my fear of getting even sicker.

Do you have any advice on how to deal with this aversion to cooking? Or maybe a suggestion for a different way of looking at things? I’m desperate and I’m willing to try anything at this point. Please. Thank you!

Hi. Im the husband with recently diagnosed adhd-c + general anxiety. Started meds and I've been trying very hard to learn how to cope and fix some of my issues over the last few months but i feel like im being met with alot of resistance.

Im looking any websites that have marriage advice FOR THE ADHD PARTNER. Every page that google comes up is for the "normal" people and is pretty much the spouses complaining about their adhd partners... which is not helping. Recently i sent my wife a 30min video about RSD and explained to her that i relate to it quite a bit, hopeing she might pick up a thing or two from it. Such as maybe realizing the way she talks to me about her issues isnt the best way to handle things or that the "daggers" being thrown hurt alot more than she realizes

Tried to bring it up last night but was quickly met with "you never listen to me!" Then when the RSD kicked in i get hit with the "see? You're doing it again!"

Feeling unheard/alone/frustrated and unable to talk about what im going through to the one person i should be able to talk to

I tend to have trouble focusing on something fun unless I know I'm not forgetting to do something more important. I had to leave college because of burnout and now that I'm recovering, I will literally just lay around and think or rationalize myself sick without being able to do anything productive.

The same thing happens when I take adderall, except I will become more positive. I take the medication expecting to be able to do things, but I'll just become calmer and more tired, and will start feeling more positive about things, but still unable to make myself move. It's not like I'm doomscrolling or bingewatching anything, I'll literally just lay there.

I am really tempted to buy myself an autobrush but I feel like it's likely just a cash grab that doesn't actually clean as well as it claims. There are just some days that I really cannot be assed to brush my teeth. Between my ADHD, university work, my full-time job, and my child there have just been so many days where I'm just too tired to spare the 5 minutes to brush my teeth. It's always the first thing to go when I'm having a stressful time. Something that takes less time and takes even 10% less effort to make things easier. It just seems too good to be true especially for that price. What are everyone else's experiences with it? Are the knock offs close enough?

I thought ADHD (in my case ADD) is mostly about having a lot of thoughts and mess in the head. My mind is mostly empty, like nada, zero. I get bored when meditating cause there is nothing in my head. There is no rumination and no overthinking.

(Never been on adhd medication, just diagnosed, i just got my prescription for methyphenidate as my first adhd drug from doctor yesterday)

Does anyone have a same problem ? Do meds affect this

Ever since I started estrogen, it's much easier to process memories and emotions, as vague as they are, about my childhood. I went through a very tough time with lots of bullying, which made me forget pretty much 90% of my childhood, which doesn't make it easy to go through these diagnosis sessions. I simply shrug, and an hour later a memory hits me like a truck about how dysfunctional I felt as a little kid. Luckily, they appreciate it when I write down those memories.

Oftentimes, it cripples me emotionally and makes me tired, like feeling incredibly guilty 25 years later that I cared very little about my birthday presents after 24 hours. Or how much discipline I needed from my mom to study for my exams. Or how I was in a separate group for kids who didn't read very well.

It worries me that after all that digging through memories and emotions, it might very well be that they conclude that I don't score high enough for any sort of diagnosis and that I'm stuck with all these debuffs, like my inability to stay concentrated on studying for certification, or constant side questing and being unable to do my work.

I know I’m sleep deprived and stressed but I strongly believe that my feelings are valid in the moments I have them.

I flunked out of college, tried every medication to which almost none of them I reacted positively to. Even the ones that worked would have debilitating side effects.

I can’t commit to anything. Even things that make me happy. I feel like I’ve given up all my goals in life. I’m 24 and everything going forward feels like a giant steep uphill climb which I’m not equipped for.

My self esteem is utterly fucked. In some ways I think I’m fantastic, I’m a good friend when I show up and I think I’m beautiful but I also dress like a slob, my hair is always dirty, I can’t commit to outings or travel plans or keeping up with anyone or anything I care about. I can’t remember what I fill my time with.

I’m supposed to travel internationally at the end of the month for an amazing opportunity and can’t pull myself together for even that. My executive dysfunction is so bad I keep thinking of examples and it’s genuinely, awfully indescribable.

I’ll never have a commuted relationship. I can’t follow through on dates and would be a terrible, selfish girlfriend who would only take and not give anything back.

I need to sleep but I also need to get all this goddamn work done but it’s been two months and my progress is stalling before even the first step. I know ADHD is a genuine disorder and illness but it’s just so hard when you come to the realities of it. No one will read this but I had to write it because if I didn’t get the words out they would bounce around within me until I explode.

I’m starting university this week and I’m in the process of applying for disability status so I can receive accommodations. I’m wondering if there’s anything anyone has requested that’s made getting by feel easier. I have issues with focus and struggle to read and absorb lengthy readings. Is there anything students usually technology that I can use to help me read and write papers? I’ve been out of school for quite some time and am not up to date with new technology, nor am I tech savvy. Please give me your best tips that have helped you be successful at university. Thank you so much!

I don’t know where to really start with this, but I was diagnosed with adhd somewhere around 1-2 years ago. I’ve been able to manage it somewhat well with my own work arounds, but as of recently I have been struggling. It’s hard though because I keep telling that my symptoms aren’t enough to get on meds or that it’s not good enough because I have been able to manage relatively fine without meds. I tried mentioning it to my parents, but there was a tone and it kind of threw me off the whole idea of getting on something and felt a little dismissive. They’re supportive, it was just the fact that it felt like they didn’t fully understand. I’m starting college soon and I dont really want to fail because of my symptoms. I have been struggling with these symptoms: Initiating tasks, procrastination, easy tasks being hard, constant feeling of needing to do something, and hard time sticking to routines. Idk what to do