Functioning with ADHD

@creative_writer it's a long journey hey!! Especially with how mental health and neurodivergence tend to intersect, hey. That 'low energy/agitation' combo is so gnarly, I know for me it is like I am UBER restless but nothing feels like it will satisfy. Movement can help, if I can find the motivation.

Hope your evening is unfolding gently 💜

@Jynx

Low energy agitation is awful, I’m dealing with it now. That’s why my pdoc gave me a new PRN, only problem is it makes me feel flat, foggy, super low and even more unmotivated, I also had moments of spaceyness. I either chose between agitated and low energy or just super low energy depression (the one that wipes you out). Neither great, but the later is safer (because I am less likely to do risky things even if urges are still present). I’ll see how things go over the weekend with the new meds, I know I can always reach out for an appointment. I’m hoping it settles soon and I don’t need more than a few PRNs, the side effects are awful. It’s worse than my old PRN. I just happen to develop a tolerance to the old PRN so it is pretty much useless. I’ll take the new PRN with my regular meds before bed, I know I have to.

I might be able to reduce agitation with PRN in short term. I know I need to work on improving overall mental wellbeing in the long term. Meds can help a bit, but don’t feel adequate. Therapy has been great, but it would be helpful if I was able to do more. Being physically sick makes it hard to do things. I am getting support for my physical health soon. I can also barely concentrate, I’ve increased my saffron intake to approx therapeutic dose, don’t know if I should just buy the tablets at this point. I’ll wait and see what the effects are. I am experiencing executive functioning breakdown, too much pressure on my brain from multiple angles, too much anxiety, emotional desregulation, chronic pain and burn out

@creative_writer aye totally, I sometimes think of it like.... meds are there to get us stable enough to function, so that we have the brain space to work on the mental stuff. They cannot 'fix' us - first of all cos we're not broken, but yeah they can keep us steady while we work through stuff. So sounds like you're still finding your balance hey.

My psych spoke a bit about ADHD burn out - said it was different to regular burn out. Might be something you're dealing with? Wonder if there's a ted talk on it somewhere 😅

Hope they cart you off to sleep swiftly and soundly @creative_writer!

I wonder if that's something to talk about in therapy - how to prioritise your energy/which strategies are most important to focus on - reduce the amount of overwhelm by reducing the info you're having to process and choices you have to make. I think one thing about ADHD burn out is that it's not just about being overwhelmed, it's overwhelmed by having to make decisions, prioritise stuff, and other stuff that needs those executives to be more functional. If I find any further info I'll share!

@creative_writer hey hun, sounds like a rough time, especially that feeling of losing yourself 🥺

I think the 'grew up too quick/old soul' vibe is pretty common for childhood trauma survivors, hey. For me, one of the best 'antidotes' to this feeling has been to embrace my inner child and... well, often it involves being very silly 😋