Living with ADHD Blog

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LivingwithADHD.me (non profit!)

This blog is about how I've lived with ADHD, and how it's affected me and others around me. Millions of children/adults around the world live with ADHD, so I hope you'll follow my journey for a little more understanding from someone who's suffered from ADHD.

I've had a extremely interesting life, and I feel it's time I shared it with the world.

I thought maybe some users on MSE would be interested as ADHD may have affected them or close family/friends. Thank you.

Feel free to ask questions, or discuss any things related to ADHD. I'll post a new reply when I've written my next blog.

A little about myself: I'm Will, I'm 21, British. I have a successful job, and a lovely girlfriend.

My first blog entry posted 13th January 2012:

Living With ADHD.

ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

I’m no expert, I’m not a doctor, I’m not a professor, but yet I can still understand and connect to ADHD better than any of these people. I’ve grown up with ADHD all my life. It’s played a large part in my life, it controls my emotions, my way of thinking, my way of acting. It’s not been a easy journey, but I’m willing to tell you all about it. Over the next few weeks/months, I will be detailing my journey growing up with ADHD, how it’s affected my life, and others around me. Should I be ashamed? No.

#1 ADHD: Posted in this thread.
#2 Where Life Began: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=50248209&postcount=2
#3 Happy Two, Happy Child: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=50272881&postcount=17
# 4 The Years After: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=51112215&postcount=29

TagEHeuer

Where Life Began:

It was a mild day on July 11th 1990, the sun was shining.

I was brought in to this world at 8.30 am in St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol. Father had been waiting anxiously. Unusually I had a breech birth (Feet first) I weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces. Mum had been in Labour for only 3 hours. I was described as a peaceful baby, but I cried when I was born;



My grandmother was one of the first people to hold me;



Mum & Me:






Mum was extremely joyed to have had me (of course!), she was only in the hospital until 5 pm, and she was back home cooking the tea. Mum described me as a happy and serene baby:



My first few days alive in this big world! But things would get much darker, and much more scary in years to come.....

meritaten

lucky I bookmarked the blog before your post was deleted!

TagEHeuer

meritaten wrote: »

lucky I bookmarked the blog before your post was deleted!

Hey, thanks. Just can't mention it again as this thread will be deleted again! :mad:

x

debbie_debt

Just to share my experiences - I don't have ADHD myself, but I have a 12-year-old who was diagnosed at the age of 4. I love your use of the word 'interesting' in describing your journey, because that's exactly the way I would describe his life to date! It's been a whirlwind of a life for him, and bless him he's coming out on top as a truely adorable, well-rounded and popular young teen. There were times I'd cried myself to sleep worrying about the type of person he may become because of his diagnosis. I imagined petty crime through lack of impulse control and school expulsion due to inattention. But I am proud to say that I couldn't have wished for a more perfect son. He works hard, he lives life to the full and he has a circle of friends who support and stand by him. It hasn't been easy. Far from it. But every day I thank the Consultant who diagnosed him because that was the start of him getting his life on track.

WillEH could you PM me the link to your blog? I'm keen to hear other people's stories, especially if it has a positive outcome as so many ADHD stories portray the image of kids with ADHD being unruly, defiant and generally horrible children. I firmly believe that ADHD isn't a sentence for an awful life if the child has parents (or at least one parent) who love and support them.

dizzybee

Hi,
could you pm me your blog has i would love to follow your story my son has ADHD it wasn't easy when he was growing up,always been expelled from school,miss behaving when we were out and about etc he his know a strapping 6ft 4 21 year old with his own home and a full time job he loves,he still has good and bad days but his employers have been great,they know that if they need any advice or help they only have to ring me and i will be there for him.

TagEHeuer

Thanks for all the support

embob74

debbie_debt wrote: »

Just to share my experiences - I don't have ADHD myself, but I have a 12-year-old who was diagnosed at the age of 4. I imagined petty crime through lack of impulse control and school expulsion due to inattention. every day I thank the Consultant who diagnosed him because that was the start of him getting his life on track.

so many ADHD stories portray the image of kids with ADHD being unruly, defiant and generally horrible children. I firmly believe that ADHD isn't a sentence for an awful life if the child has parents (or at least one parent) who love and support them.

I'd love to hear more from you (as well as the OP). I have a 12 year old DD who has always been different to my other children and your quote regarding lack of impulse control and inattention was like hearing a description of DD's behaviour!
Has a diagnosis been a hindrance in any way as DD has never been diagnosed and I have never pushed for it as I feared a label, once applied, would stick and make life difficult in the future.
I had heard it is something children grow out of or they learn to control it better as they get older - is this the case? I would like to think DD will understand consequences as she gets older as that seems to be the big issue at the moment.
Looking forward to any comments you have

meritaten

the 'label' can be very effective in getting help! they dont grow out of it and/or learn to control it unless you get help for them - in which case the diagnosis is essential.
otherwise the labels they get can be very unhelpful! naughty, out of control, juvenile delinquent - all because they havent been diagnosed and helped.
not to mention that YOU are not getting the help you need! the help is out there hun - but unless you go about getting it the right way (by getting the diagnosis) you wont get any help at all. Its bluddy hard enough getting the help WITH diagnosis! without it you have no chance!

embob74

meritaten wrote: »

the 'label' can be very effective in getting help! they dont grow out of it and/or learn to control it unless you get help for them - in which case the diagnosis is essential.
otherwise the labels they get can be very unhelpful! naughty, out of control, juvenile delinquent - all because they havent been diagnosed and helped.

Thank you. Unfortunately that's EXACTLY what DD has been labelled as. She cannot seem to physically control her talking which can be excessive and therefore disrupting within a class. How would I go about getting a diagnosis? Is 12 a little too late to do anything? I would love her to get the help she needs as she struggles with school sometimes and yet I know it's not because she hasn't the capability.

TagEHeuer

embob74 wrote: »

I'd love to hear more from you (as well as the OP). I have a 12 year old DD who has always been different to my other children and your quote regarding lack of impulse control and inattention was like hearing a description of DD's behaviour!
Has a diagnosis been a hindrance in any way as DD has never been diagnosed and I have never pushed for it as I feared a label, once applied, would stick and make life difficult in the future.
I had heard it is something children grow out of or they learn to control it better as they get older - is this the case? I would like to think DD will understand consequences as she gets older as that seems to be the big issue at the moment.
Looking forward to any comments you have

When I was younger, I had extremely bad ADHD. Please don't be afraid of getting your child diagnosed, they won't be labeled. I've never disclosed my ADHD to any employer, and I'm now a senior manager in a 4* luxury hotel, at 21. If she gets diagnosed, then she will get the help/support needed. I still get my ticks, where I pace if I'm bored, or shake my leg constantly when sitting down.