I can honestly say that I don’t know whether I feel sad today because of ADHD overwhelm, depression, burnout or more likely a combination of the them all.
I’m taking time to myself to get to grips with what I want out of life after my diagnosis of ADHD last week and as I’m minded to do I’ve been searching for anything and everything to do with ADHD.
There is a lot of positivity claiming that ADHD is awesome, a superpower, a competitive advantage etc but also stories of how people are confused particularly when sat on a waiting list for assessment. I googled ‘ADHD phone wallpapers’ and a mix of positive messages and lovely picture came up. Not many saying ‘ADHD sucks’. But how does it feel for people overwhelmed by it, wondering why they haven’t accessed superpower mode?
Which came first, the ADHD or the depression? So many people with ADHD have other co-morbidities so perhaps it’s no surprise but it feels somewhat chicken and egg although if ADHD really is around brain structure from birth and about neurotransmitters then it feels very much there for life whereas depression can be transitional.
I don’t want to dwell on yeh negatives (makes me sad) but the relief of getting reasons for some of my less helpful processes has now turned into overwhelm and sadness.
It’s a bit Catch22, as I write about my story I feel useful and it’s cathartic, there is more I want to do with it but it also means it’s you living in a sea of ADHD which can be pretty scary without armbands.
So when people with ADHD or traits associated see the positives about how it’s such an advantage please don’t be discouraged. It’s also bloody hard at times and lonely which makes me want to keep shouting about it!
Take care if you’re feeling sad or overwhelmed, better days will come.
I feel at my most useful when helping others so I’m always happy for people to comment or message me to talk about life and ADHD. With estimates that in the UK 3-5% of adults are likely to have this (I suspect it’s higher) there are a lot of us around.
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