Shell, Spokane,WA

[Silverunicorn]

Hi, I'm Shell. I'm a 40 year old mother of two. I retired from the military last year and am in school for Biology (botany). My 13 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD comb. when he was 6 and put on meds, I never did much research on his condition. I had suspected that I have ADHD for a few years, but never did anything about it, I knew it ran in my mother's family and that my son had it. I started doing some research lately and went to see a Psychiatrist and was diagnosed with ADHD comb. My son (13) and I are both on Meds, He is on Concerta and I am on Vyvanse.

As a youngster I made it thru school by having enough intelligence to cover my lack of attention and daydreaming and was always the odd one out. At 19 I joined the Air force, made it thru due to the rigid structure (never excelled like I could have), it caused a phobia of being late, I always ran late and freak out about it. Then last year I retired and lost all structure, sat at home and did nothing for 6 months, couldn't even think of looking for a job. Was on unemployment and never did what I was supposed to (meant to, lucky I didn't get caught). A friend pushed me to look into school (GI bill payed more than unemployment and i accomplish something). I had an associates degree from the Air Force, that took 19 years.

My daughter is a running start student (attends collage classes instead of her high school at EWU so I looked into going there and was accepted, going with her keep me going. I have been getting good grades (not good enough for me (3.5 gpa) and having severe issues with doing homework and studying so finally got off my tail and saw a doc.

Lots of issues to deal with, hubby suspects he may be ADHD (signs since young age) but doesn't want to be medicated, (he copes ok) and we suspect my daughter (18 in a month) may as well but she doesn't believe adhd is valid, thinks it's an excuse. She is very intelligent (3.98 gpa) and hyper-focuses on writing but terrible organization and homework skills. (there is lots more that makes me suspect)

Some of the issues I am trying to work on

-Hyper focus on crafts (don't even realize world around me)
-Many household projects either started or planned (downstairs shower has been torn apart for over a year)
-I'm the mechanically inclined one so get all the household projects and have to work on the cars, but unless it "has to be done" it may not happen.
-4 ADHD living in one house = big mess unless someone is coming to visit then power clean (hide everything in bedroom or closets)
-disorganized in all aspects (occasionally organize some stuff but never stays)
-feel I've never really "been there" for my kids (lots of issues there)
-chronic forgetfulness (getting a little better thanks to my phone)
-chronic procrastination then possible hyper focus just before a deadline, no deadline set by outside source it probably won't happen.

Sorry I rambled so much, I did this in word and cut it down quite a bit!

I have been on here for over a month and have learned a LOT!

[peripatetic]

welcome to the forums

[SquarePeg]

Hi, I can relate to a lot of what you are saying about yourself. I initially joined because of my son but the more I read the more I realise I may have ADHD. I dismissed it at first because a lot of the symptoms have only become apparent during the last few years. Before that I was used to a very structured day with a tight timetable, work, kids activities and I do better on that.

I haven´t been there for my kids because I seem to have a sieve for a brain, it´s like a great big black hole.

THe more free time I have the less I am able to get done, in fact I have done nothing productive for months (it´s school holidays and I had so much I wanted to get done).

anyway seeing that there are a lot of family members in your household with adhd what about working together on getting household stuff done, all tidy up together, or have study periods together. YOu may end up all motivating each other (it sounds good in my head anyway).

Have a big chart on the wall with appointments and stuff you need to get done.

[ginniebean]

welcome to the forums