Does anyone else feel this way-ADHD inattentive related?

[MommaOfalotta]

I'm being seen Wednesday for ADHD. I am about 99% sure I have the inattentive presentation. .. that being said I have these other symptoms and I'm not sure if they are brought about from frustration of the ADHD or something altogether different. Im also an introvert. Hoping for some advice.

I get so very overwhelmed if more than one thing requires my attention.

On bad days I feel as though everything is so chaotic. Today was a bad day. Simply folding laundry while my sweet ds was talking to me felt like pure chaos and was physically painful to my brain.

I get overwhelmed/overloaded by sounds easily.

I get irritable and impatient.

I feel panic/rushed a lot of the time.

Very unorganized which again contributes to the feeling of chaos and stress.

If I need to repeat myself or talk at all when I'm feeling this way it ca used me physocal pain.

 

Is this related to ADHD? Is it because I cannot multitask and my brain is always cluttered/rapid fire thoughts that I so easily get stressed over simple things requiring my attention? Or is it completely unrelated?

 

I am determined to get my mental health in check for my family's sake and to make homeschooling more peaceful for all. I'm tired of being the cranky, irritable, overwhelmed mom. Any advice is appreciated. Sorry for any typos.. I'm on my phone.

[zoobie]

IME, yes. Also interwoven with depression/anxiety (IME).

[Paige]

Have you always felt this way? If it is a new sensation or you feel your symptoms are significantly worse than your normal, I'd recommend blood work to rule out hormone or other medical reasons. I was feeling really ADHD a while back and it was sort of frightening. Now that I'm on thyroid medication and taking Vit D, most of it is gone.

 

I think my thyroid was messing up years ago- at least 5-10yrs, probably coinciding with the birth of my last child, but the mental symptoms were gradual and easily explained away until they got really bad. 

 

Edited August 15, 2016 by Paige

[Tiramisu]

I felt myself slipping lately and it was low B12.

 

That said...have you ever thought you could have Aspergers, which is now just in included in autism spectrum disorder. Most women aren't diagnosed until adulthood.

 

Feeling like everything is chaotic, sensory stuff, painful brain, not being able to multitask, disorganization, concerns about mental health...this just sounds like how women with Aspergers feel.

 

https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2015/09/17/watch-women-diagnosed-autism-late-tell-their-stories?utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=Watch:%20Women%20diagnosed%20with%20autism%20late%20tell%20their%20stories%20&utm_campaign=mostpopular

[SKL]

I am like this in the morning (before a full cup of coffee) and when I feel pulled in multiple directions.  If someone talks to me about work when I'm trying to get my kids ready, I will get a stiff neck and a headache.  To head those off, I might suggest the work talker hold off until later, but that is often taken as me being snippy and causes additional strife and stress.  Or I'll snap at my kids for being kids.  Either way it gets ugly.

 

I have many symptoms of ADHD - inattentive.

 

I also have many symptoms of mild ASD (female version).

 

I'm also an extreme introvert.

 

My kids are basically doomed.  :P

 

If possible, I'd suggest starting the day doing something to make you feel alive (yoga, coffee), then try to do just one thing at a time.  Try to get everyone on board with not bombarding you at the same time.  Work out a priority list the night before, when you are relaxed.  And if stuff happens that throws you off, give yourself permission to let other things slide until your brain can catch up with your body.  Consider whether giving yourself a short break mid-morning and mid-afternoon would help you stay on track.

[MistyMountain]

I am like that. I have ADHD inattentive although never formally diagnosed. I am a also a highly sensitive person, an introvert and I have sensory issues. I do not think I have aspergers and those online quizzes never say I need to be screened for it.

[MommaOfalotta]

The ADHD symptoms I'm realizing I've had my whole life. I never knew about the inattentive type and always assumed ADHD meant hyper, which I am not. But when I discovered another type I was astounded that I was reading about something that described me perfectly.

The frustration and other symptoms I've listed have gotten worse over the years but I feel it's because of the added responsibility of kids, marriage, homemaking, homeschooling, church work, etc. I do not know much about the other condition's posted and I will be looking into those. Thank you.

I've made a list of symptoms for my doctor so before we mention ADHD he can look at everything together and make a diagnosis. I hope he is experienced enough to make an accurate diagnosis or if he isnt, that he will refer me to a specialist.

My mother never had me tested for anything and never suspected which isnt saying much, odd childhood/relationship there. I was just always labeled ditzy, space cadet, airheaded . Etc.

I actually have cried a few times since discovering this type of ADHD. It feels so good to know I am not any of those names. I can hopefully quit beating myself up so much. Now I'm just hoping treatment for this will help my other symptoms as well... if they are not totally unrelated, that is.

[MommaOfalotta]

Also, I am 27 if that means anything :p

[fairfarmhand]

Are you sleeping well?

 

I have all of the above when I am overly tired.

[MommaOfalotta]

I'm actually sleeping better than I have in years. My 4yo ds has never slept through the night, but within the last month or so is only waking up 1x a night (to potty). But these symom's go back further than that I'm afraid. They arent recent.. I'm just finally at the point of acknowledging them as abnormal and wanting help.

[MommaOfalotta]

Even if it is just me, home alone, peace and quiet to work on a project I still cannot THINK. I don't have the chaos/stress but I just cannot focus. It's like my brain is always on and running at full speed. Like there is noise, even when there isnt.

[Tiramisu]

I'm now on my computer and can see your sig and how much weight you lost! Congratulations!!!! That took a lot of hard work!

 

But considering that loss, I would recommend taking a B12 supplement or a B complex. When I found out I was deficient the first time and started to supplement, the first response I had was a slowing of my thoughts and a calming of my brain. It was like the pressure pushing my thoughts into high gear completely dissipated. Now I'm ditzy myself and have some ADHD and ASD traits. I don't know if it's worse with age or if I'm just recognizing it better, because I remember some issues from my childhood and teen years. So B12 won't really "cure" me, but it makes me feel better and helps my brain function better. Maybe it makes me feel less like I have to pull into myself to escape the world.

 

 

[Janie Grace]

I am close to someone with ADHD inattentive type and what you describe is exactly how they are/feel when not on meds.

[MommaOfalotta]

Thank you for the replies.

It feels great getting confirmation that this is not a normal way to feel.

Very validating.

[freesia]

IME, yes. Also interwoven with depression/anxiety (IME).

It does sound like ADD, but if that's not what it is make sure it's not anxiety. That's what my brain is like when I'm not treating my anxiety. When first started taking something for it (L-theanine) at first I thought I was thinking too slowly and then I realized that, no, I was thinking normally for the first time in a long, long time. I also had the buzzing and lack of concentration.

[SKL]

I also have a brain that never ever stops.  I thought everyone's brain was like this, until recently, my friends told me they don't have constant talking / videos inside their heads like I do.  So yes I have to work around the chattering of at least one background voice at all times.  No wonder it's hard to add the voices of other people into the mix.  :P

[Davysmom]

That sounds a lot like ADHD-I. It used to be called ADD. Then they lumped it all into the ADHD label. My dh has this. The things you mentioned he says to me all the time.

 

Caffeine helps him a lot. He is not medicated by his choice.

 

There are other things that can cause ADHD symptoms though.

 

You might consider getting a full Neuro-psych evaluation to rule out or dx other things.

 

This was very good for my ds. We were able to get to the bottom of a lot. He is not ADHD but he presented like it.

 

One thing you mentioned was the relationship with your mom. While there are a lot of reasons for relationships not to be ideal, my dh and parents had a relationship that was odd.

 

I am 100% convinced my FIL has ASD. Of course, he wasn't tested. Several grandchildren are though. And there is also a lot of ADHD.

 

When I first met my FIL 30 years ago, I could not understand the lack of relationship with his kids. He loves them but... Then I learned other things about him as I got to know them. I used to work with ASD kids. He was so like them!

 

These may explain relationship issues with your mom.

 

The brain is a fascinating thing.

[MommaOfalotta]

Thank you for your replies. I've compiled a list (1 1/2 pages) of my symptoms/triggers and hopefully my family doctor will help me get to the bottom of this with a referral or diagnosis. I'm so relieved to know this doesn't have to be normal life for me anymore. I was against all medication originally but am desperate for something now. Hopefully once I get a diagnosis I can explore all natural alternatives.

[MommaOfalotta]

As for parent history I don't really know... I'm extremely unobservant and really can't say. It's odd. I don't recognize traits I get from them and can't really even accurately sum up their tendencies /behavior.

I don't even know how old they are! I'm 27 and just now started remembering my dad's birthday.

If someone asks what color my husbands eyes are I have to stop and think and still am unsure.

He can shave a long beard off and I don't notice.

I remember/notice things with my kids but that's about it.

Edited August 16, 2016 by Mrs. Hound

[kbutton]

I am close to someone with ADHD inattentive type and what you describe is exactly how they are/feel when not on meds.

 

This is basically what I was going to say. From the outside in, I can watch the frustration and feelings of chaos rise. It's real. When life gets busy, a person is tired, or there is just more pressure from some source, it's like watching it happen in fast forward. 

 

I think it's awesome you are going to talk to your doctor. If this doctor is not receptive, keep looking!!! 

 

If you look up executive functioning skills, those are skills that tend to not develop as easily with ADHD of either kind present--it might give you an additional way to organize your thoughts when you think about what frustrates you. Noticing things can go with executive function ability--it's true that it can be an ASD thing, but I know most people with ADHD have a different take on "noticing"--sometimes hyper-aware and sometimes not noticing, depending on the context.

 

I know a lot of people have brought up ASD. It's true that some people find out later they have ADHD and ASD, but I would also say that ADHD can be very profound all by itself. If someone with ADHD is reared by a parent who is not neurotypical (that didn't know and didn't really have any kind of insight into themselves), that puts it's own kind of spin on things if there were not other influences that helped balance out that perspective. A person doesn't really know how to gauge what's typical in a situation like that. (It sounds like you could be someone who was reared by a person who is not neurotypical.) 

[MommaOfalotta]

Just an update... Dr did diagnose ADHD also said it sounded like depression. He gave me medication to try and I go back in 6 weeks.

 

Thanks all.