Podcast Summary
Personal Experiences and Community Q&A: The hosts discuss their personal challenges and answer community questions, highlighting the importance of self-reflection and community support in managing adult ADHD.
The hosts of the ADHD Adults Podcast, James and Alex, share their personal experiences and discuss various topics related to adult ADHD. In this episode, they reflect on their past week and answer questions from the community. Alex shares his experience of texting inappropriate jokes during a hospital visit, while Sam discusses her struggles with grief and feeling entitled to express her emotions. They also mention their growing community on Discord and the importance of personal reflections in their podcast. Despite the challenging weeks they've had, they remain committed to providing educational content and creating a supportive space for those in the adult ADHD community.
Navigating grief with ADHD: Grieving with ADHD can be complex and challenging, but keeping promises and allowing oneself to feel emotions can help in the healing process.
Dealing with grief and loss, especially during unexpected and tragic events, can be incredibly challenging and complex, even for those without ADHD. The speaker in this conversation expressed feelings of anxiety and uncertainty about social expectations during a funeral, which was compounded by the sudden and unexpected death of a friend. The stress and emotional toll of writing a eulogy and keeping promises made to the deceased added to the speaker's emotional burden. While it's important to acknowledge the unique challenges that come with having ADHD, it's also crucial to remember that everyone experiences grief differently, and it's essential to be patient and compassionate with oneself during these difficult times. The speaker's experience highlights the importance of keeping promises, even if they are challenging to keep, and the emotional impact of breaking a promise, especially to someone who is no longer with us. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the importance of allowing oneself to grieve and acknowledging the complexity of emotions that come with loss.
Exploring short-term strategies for making progress and alleviating guilt: Recognize distractions, understand the impact of ADHD and other conditions, and focus on achievable steps to make progress towards goals.
Focusing on long-term reasons for not keeping a promise or achieving a goal may not be effective, especially for those dealing with conditions like ADHD and mood disorders. Instead, it's essential to explore short-term strategies to make progress and alleviate feelings of guilt and negativity. The speaker shared a personal experience of not being able to join her family for a meal due to her emotional response to being there without her partner. She also discussed her father's potential ADHD diagnosis and how his traits were similar to hers. The speaker acknowledged the importance of recognizing and understanding these traits and how they might impact one's life. Additionally, the speaker shared her own distractions, such as getting fixated on putting a caricature in a frame and scrolling through a photo-selling website instead of recording a podcast episode. These distractions often stemmed from a desire for perfection or the pursuit of external validation. Overall, the discussion emphasized the importance of self-awareness, understanding the impact of ADHD and other conditions, and focusing on achievable steps to make progress towards goals.
Selling personal images can lead to unexpected emotions and financial consequences: Selling sensitive images can result in feelings of anger and disbelief, while handling funeral arrangements during a pandemic can bring unexpected costs and emotional stress.
Selling personal images, like those with health conditions or other sensitive topics, can lead to unexpected emotions and financial consequences. The speaker shared an experience of selling images of his Bell's Palsy condition on a stock image website, leading to feelings of anger and disbelief when he saw the low prices and the realization that someone had paid for an image of his condition. The conversation then shifted to discussing the challenges and emotional toll of handling funeral arrangements, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when GPs were less likely to sign death certificates and funeral costs were unexpectedly high. The speaker also mentioned using drugs as a coping mechanism and the unexpected loss of blood, adding to the unexpected challenges in their life. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of emotional preparation and support during difficult times and the potential financial and emotional consequences of selling personal images.
Discussing Loss of Interest in TV with Concerta Medication: The Discord community for adults with ADHD provides a supportive space for open discussions and connection, addressing various aspects of ADHD including potential medication side effects or interactions.
The Discord community for adults with ADHD is an incredibly supportive and accepting space where people can find their people and discuss various aspects of ADHD. James and Sam shared their gratitude for the love and support they've received on the platform. During this episode, they addressed a question from a community member named Tim B, who mentioned experiencing a loss of interest in watching TV since starting Concerta medication. While James personally doesn't relate to this issue, he suggested that it might be worth exploring potential side effects or interactions between the medication and individual preferences. Overall, the community continues to grow and thrive, offering a space for open discussions and connection.
ADHD Meds Don't Necessarily Boost Interest in Hobbies: ADHD medications help focus, not boost interest in hobbies; they allow individuals to fully engage in chosen activities, even if not personally preferred.
ADHD medications can help individuals focus on tasks, but they don't necessarily make people more interested in specific hobbies or activities. Some people have reported struggling to engage with their favorite activities while on medication, leading to a misunderstanding of how these medications work. Instead, these medications allow individuals to focus on whatever they choose, and for some, watching films or listening to music can provide a form of escapism and reward, even if it's a bad film or mediocre music. It's important to remember that everyone's experience with ADHD medications is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another.
Struggling with focus and repetitive behaviors in individuals with ADHD: People with ADHD may find it hard to focus and resist repetitive behaviors, leading to challenges in various areas of life. Flexible thinking can be both a benefit and a challenge. Strategies to manage these difficulties can help improve overall quality of life.
Individuals with ADHD often struggle with focus and cognitive inhibition, leading them to engage in repetitive behaviors or jump from one thing to another. This can be a challenge in various aspects of life, including school, work, and entertainment. For some, like Tim, this can manifest as a compulsion to bite nails or chew fingers, a habit that can be difficult to break despite medication or other interventions. The thrill and excitement of these repetitive actions can be hard to resist, even when the individual recognizes the negative consequences. Flexible associative thinking, which involves making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, can be a potential benefit for those with ADHD, but it can also contribute to the difficulty in focusing on one task for an extended period. Understanding the underlying causes and finding strategies to manage these challenges can help individuals with ADHD live more fulfilling and productive lives.
Exploring alternative methods for managing ADHD symptoms: Individuals with ADHD can try painting nails with unappetizing substances, wearing false nails, or using fidget rings as alternatives to cope with hyperactivity and focus issues. Gradually tapering off and then back on medication can help minimize side effects.
For individuals with ADHD, finding alternative ways to manage hyperactivity and focus can be essential. This can include trying various methods like painting nails with unappetizing substances, wearing false nails, or using fidget rings. The goal is not to eliminate ADHD symptoms entirely but to find healthier alternatives to cope with them. Medication, when used, should be approached with care, and any breaks from it might cause side effects or withdrawal symptoms. Gradually tapering off and then back on the medication could help minimize these issues. Remember, everyone's experience with ADHD is unique, and what works for one person might not work for another. Always consult with healthcare professionals for personalized advice.
Behavior changes from ADHD medication may persist: People may stop taking ADHD medication for various reasons, but the behavior changes might last. Consult a doctor before making any decisions to stop taking meds.
While ADHD medications have no cumulative chemical effect and can be stopped for personal reasons, the behavior changes may persist. It's essential to discuss any decisions to stop taking medication with a doctor. Many people stop taking their meds after a few years due to various reasons, including side effects and forgetfulness. This phenomenon is not well understood, and it's possible that engineered breaks might be a future solution to retain the medication's effectiveness. Some people report that the side effects return when restarting medication, but this isn't scientifically proven. It's important to remember that everyone's experience with ADHD medication is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Therefore, open communication with healthcare professionals is crucial.
Finding meaning in adversity: Even in painful experiences, there's an opportunity to find meaning and make a positive impact.
Even in the face of pain and grief, finding a way to turn negative experiences into something positive can be a powerful source of resilience. During episode 67 of the ADHD adults podcast, James shared his motivation for choosing the theme of grief and loss, despite his own personal pain and loss of his father. He wanted to use his experiences to help others who might be going through similar emotions, and saw the potential for turning pain into something positive. This theme of finding meaning in adversity is a powerful reminder that even in difficult times, there is always the opportunity to make a positive impact on ourselves and others. Additionally, the use of humor and dark humor as a coping mechanism was also highlighted as an important tool for dealing with pain and difficult emotions.
Remembering and honoring loved ones: Documenting memories, validating emotions, and taking care of oneself are crucial during the grieving process.
Grief can be overwhelming and forgetting important memories is a common struggle, especially for those with ADHD. Sam and Alex discussed the importance of documenting and remembering loved ones through various methods, such as writing down stories and creating reminders. They also acknowledged the difficulty of accessing talking therapy through the NHS during times of grief. James shared his personal experience of the rollercoaster of emotions that come with grief and how it can lead to intense feelings of despair. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging and validating these emotions, even if they are cliches, and taking care of oneself during the grieving process. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of remembering and honoring loved ones, and the challenges that come with processing and coping with grief.
Understanding the grieving process through personal experiences: Grieving is a unique process for everyone, lean on support systems, and find ways to cope during painful reminders of loss.
Grieving is a process that everyone goes through in their own way, and it's important to lean on the support of friends and loved ones during this time. The speaker shared their personal experience of losing loved ones before they were born and how they didn't fully understand the grieving process until they witnessed friends going through it. They emphasized that there will be reminders of loss throughout life, such as birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries, which can be painful but also an opportunity to remember and honor the memory of the lost loved one. The speaker also shared a humorous story about a failed attempt to paint their grandparents' fence as a way to cope with their father's dying process. Overall, the discussion highlighted the importance of leaning on support systems and finding ways to cope during the grieving process.
Sharing experiences and talking about challenges with others: Discussing ADHD experiences with others brings connection and understanding, despite potential self-indulgence.
Learning from this episode of the ADHD Adults podcast is the importance of sharing experiences and talking about challenges with others. The speaker shared a humorous story about her father covered in fence paint, which brought laughter and connection. While the conversation between the speakers was at times self-indulgent, they emphasized the value of discussing ADHD experiences with each other and others. A listener's email also highlighted the benefits of solo podcasting, but the speakers found value in their shared experiences and connection. Overall, the episode underscored the importance of communication and connection in managing and understanding ADHD.
