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Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

I am 58 as of last month. I grew up in a time where unless you had Schizophrenzia, which a relative had, you didn't get any help.

I had a career that took me a long time to work for, and was traumatised by other family members who were also undiagnosed for mental health - my Father, my Mother, my Sisters.

I advocated for everyone to get help with their mental health. No one listened.

Fast forward 20 years later, and it turns out that our whole family affected in some way by mental health - mostly complex mental health, which is so damn bloody unfair.

I got diagnosed with CPTSD, when I was 45. I suffered a breakdown of sorts, but it was also physical. I couldnt eat much without throwing up. Turned out that I had sulphite allergies 220 -228. Immunologist that ran Allergy Medical worked it out at Newfarm, when they were there. Slowely I got my psyical health back in that sense. But at the same time I had two children when on my own (story goes with that) who had Adhd. They then suffered anxiety, and depression, just as I had.

To cut a long story short, I got diagnosed after a very lucky break with Doctors that were treating our famly who had come from the UK together, and were specialists, and working in my area, that I got diagnosed with Adhd as well.

So that is Clinical depression, Anxiety, Complex Ptsd and Adhd. Not fair.

6 replies

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In response to: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Hi 👋🏼 @BarbC welcome to the forum.

I’m 61 was diagnosed with ADHD 22 years ago.

Three generations of my family have ADHD + anxiety; ADHD + anxiety + dyslexia; ADHD anxiety depression and dyslexia.

Is your family musical or creative?

In response to: Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Yes, my Father had an incredible voice, but never worked professionally. Both of my children have really good voices, and my son all raps and plays drums. My daughter writes songs. I was a professional dancer for years, sang, and write.

In response to: Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

It certainly runs in families. And both my children also suffer Major Clinical Depression, and Anxiety. My son as dylexia, and my daughter has dsycalclia.

In response to: Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

@BarbC it’s not all doom and gloom.

There are some symptoms of ADHD that can be an advantage.

Hyperfocus for example can be a useful tool.

To combat depression, I need good quality 8-9 hours sleep.

Since I hit menopause an no longer on HRT, my medication is only half as effective.

So I’m struggling with symptoms that I haven’t had for over 20 years. By 2pm my day is over.

In response to: Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Hello @BarbC nice to meet you! I'm another late-diagnosed (though not as late as you!! 27 for me) ADHDer who has had to take a couple years to fully adjust to what basically amounts to a shift in my entire concept of self.

Sounds like you've got a sleuth of diagnoses. Definitely not fair. I have definitely had to work on not letting the 'alphabet soup' of diagnoses become the things I use to define myself.

Oh those extra lil learning challenges can be gnarly - I recently discovered I have dysgraphia, which is like dyslexia for writing. So like my reading and comprehension is fine, but when I write, it's all over the shop. Constant spelling errors (not cos I don't know how to spell the words but because my hand writes the letters in the wrong order, or makes b's into p's and q's into g's) and I can never seem to stay between the lines... The frustration is real!

@Glisten is right though, there are things about me that are rooted in my ADHD that I wouldn't give up for the world. My abstract sense of humour and the creativity that comes from having a more lateral-thinking brain are a couple!!

How has the adjustment period been for you? If there's anything that's been rattling around in your noggin that you'd like to unpack or get off your chest, I'm always happy to listen. You can also come join us over on the ADHD thread! Wait what did I come into this thread for again? Oh yeah ADHD!

In response to: Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

Re: Was a high functioning person with Adhd that was undiagnosed

hello @BarbC , @Glisten , @Jynx

My husband has been diagnosed with lots of different things throughout his life , now to add ADHD and now ASD to the list

my 4 stepchildren have ADHD and now I can see they have ASD

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