It’s been a minute since I’ve updated. The first anxiety medicine I was prescribed was not a good fit for me. We then found another that did work and I was taking that for 6 weeks before starting anything else. I have officially been diagnosed with ADHD as well, predominantly inattentive type. More meds, who dis? lol
It’s been a whirlwind of a year, finally advocating for myself at age 40 and so much has begun to make sense. I am learning so much about myself and how the things I do, and did growing up, I did because I was struggling. They say ADHD runs in the family and I believe that. I am very much like my father, however he is part of a generation that doesn’t understand or believe there is anything wrong with them. And that’s ok for him, but I was ready to find out what I could do to function better.
I was always much younger, some would say immature, for my age. I didn’t do or like many of the same things my peers did. I was in remedial reading in 6th grade, and to this day struggle to remember/comprehend what I read so I avoid it all costs. In school, I talked ALL the time! I sat in the hall quite bit. As a teen, and an adult, I was a childcare giver. If you know kids, you know they have little to no attention span most of the time, so I never realized that I didn’t either.
It wasn’t until finding my Mr. Right that in spending more time with him and not being able to focus (my brain just wouldn’t let me) and feeling terrible, that I knew that something was definitely off. I use to self diagnose that I had both anxiety and ADHD, but never advocated for myself to find out and get help. Either because I didn’t have insurance or because I thought no it’s just something I have to deal with, BUT it’s NOT and you don’t have to either! There are so many resources now!
I have now been on the medicine for 2 weeks and I am feeling so much better! Just being able to sit and focus to share all of this with you without distractions is huge! I was told my appetite may be lower, and I may struggle to sleep. The first day I had a birthday party to attend and when I tell you they have all the snacks and I’m usually ravenous, I was not. Now, it could have been because I wanted to hog the baby, but I do believe the medicine played a part. The next day I had a bridal shower and made up for it and had 3 cupcakes LOL I did notice that day that I was able to focus on who I was speaking/listening to, rather than hearing every conversation around me. Do you ever hear everything so distinctive you don’t know what to focus on? That day the extra chatter in the room was just noise, not distinct that was pulling my ears in another direction. I have noticed my sleep/wake cycle has changed for the better too. I seem to go to bed at a decent time and am waking up less tired. I am feeling more rested and am functioning on the daily a little more each day.
I have a follow up in May. As far as appetite it does continue to be much lower. I am being careful, but also don’t mind losing some weight. I have forever been one size and I don’t like the “morbid obesity” on my chart. Did you know that sugar and other high carb foods boost dopamine levels in the brain, leading us to crave them more often when dopamine levels are low? Makes sense! *I didn’t get this awesome body by eating veggies 😉
If you need someone to talk to, please reach out! Want to stay connected to my journey? Follow me! Please share this with anyone you know who is struggling and may need the strength to advocate for themselves! It’s never too late!
Thanks for following along! Love, Angie