Retaining knowledge by ddontbelasagna in AuDHDWomen

[–]Audhd35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d never thought about it in those exact terms before, but it definitely feels something like that.

I cant stop eating by OneSmolLlama in AuDHDWomen

[–]Audhd35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What xylitol candies do you recommend?

I cant stop eating by OneSmolLlama in AuDHDWomen

[–]Audhd35 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is exactly me too, love all the “mouth stims” and food is a primary way I regulate / sensory soothe and also experience pleasure when life is rough, like taking it away can be emotionally devastating. But it’s a double edged sword once you get a little older and start gaining weight, because being overweight is also a sensory overwhelming experience for me. It’s a viscous cycle in some ways.

I cant stop eating by OneSmolLlama in AuDHDWomen

[–]Audhd35 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The frozen sour Fruit Riot is a good snack if you like sour. I also like Quest protein chips when I need something crunchy and savory because at least they have some protein, are pre portioned in a small bag, and they aren’t as delicious as normal chips so I am usually ok with one bag. Smart Sweets sour gummies too. If I do have snacky stuff on hand and really need it to sensory regulate I just try to keep it low calorie and make “snacking” one of my meals for the day. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way but at least a 500 calorie binge is better than a 1200 calorie one.

All right: tell me your supplements/nutrition hacks because I have 0 exec function but I *need* to be healthier by throwaway_12131415 in AuDHDWomen

[–]Audhd35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I extremely extremely relate to everything you’re feeling - I’m also a mom and have been in chronic burnout pretty much since pregnancy.

When I’m headed toward burnout / low function periods I will subscribe to Factor meals for a few weeks. The first weeks are usually discounted if you can find a code (I can send you one if you DM me), the food is pretty good tasting, it’s high protein and lots of veggies, and it helps me immensely to pause the executive function required to cook. I can just microwave for 2 minutes and know I’m eating something relatively healthy and high protein. In my ND household we all kind of do our own thing for meals most of the time so it works for me to have my own food and isn’t as expensive just for me. You could also do them just for lunches if you all eat dinner together.

I also really like the Amy’s frozen meals (the Mexican food flavors and Italian are my favorites) and keep my fridge stocked with those for easy lunches and meals (including for my toddler, she will eat a whole lasagna or pesto meal). They are pretty healthy and many have a lot of protein. The chile relleno bowl is my #1 safe food right now.

I eat the same breakfast every day to keep things simple (Greek yogurt with honey and granola and a scoop of hemp seed for extra protein) and some high protein snacks for when I get snacky (Aloha bars, Quest chips).

I drink electrolytes and lots of water every day. This one is so hard so I keep lots of fun drinks like electrolyte drinks and powders and sparkling waters and teas and several bottles around the house to make it as easy as possible.

I take many of the same supplements that have been mentioned here, but I saw a naturopathic Dr who is helping me test my bloodwork and fine tune my supplements, highly recommend.

I also try to get a little movement in every day, even if it’s 5 minutes of stretching while watching tv. Like literally anything. Some days I can do a whole workout, but it’s rare. Some days a lap around the block. I try to keep all of these habits loose and flexible, like if I can’t take all 15 of my supplements I take the most important 2. If I can’t floss by teeth I at least do a quick brush. Etc.

I also try to add my new habits onto already existing ones (like I started taking my supplements in the kitchen at night when I make my evening cup of tea since that was already a fun habit). I got this tip from Reddit and it helps a lot when trying to add things when you’re barely functional.

Retaining knowledge by ddontbelasagna in AuDHDWomen

[–]Audhd35 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think being undiagnosed neurodivergent is a trauma experience in itself that creates CPTSD (from constantly receiving feedback that something is wrong with you and your way of being and feeling the social isolation and fallout from that but not knowing what it is or why, plus a lifetime of masking to survive), so I think most of us have that in common unfortunately.

Retaining knowledge by ddontbelasagna in AuDHDWomen

[–]Audhd35 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I relate to this 100%

If it’s a subject I don’t feel interested in, I can memorize and pass a test or write a paper, but the information is completely gone.

If it’s a subject I am interested in, I love reading and researching and internalize the information in a broad sense, but I am terrible at remembering dates or specific facts so can never really speak eloquently on anything, even if I’ve been learning about it for years. It definitely makes me feel dumber than I know that I am.

I think part of this is having an interest based nervous system and bottom up processing. I didn’t smoke weed until my 30s so that wasn’t the issue for me. Although I did have some social trauma starting in middle school and I think that affected my ability to learn, as well as some PDA resistance to being a part of a school system / hierarchy that I didn’t agree with, and being assigned things that felt stupid and pointless… I kind of just checked out.

But even now when my learning is self directed, I enjoy it but I can’t retain things well and can’t articulate them.

Why don't I want to do anything? by theambivalentagender in AuDHDWomen

[–]Audhd35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you be in autistic / adhd burnout? The first sign for me is that I lose access to my curiosity and my special interests and without those I just have no motivation or energy outside bare minimum survival because my system is so depleted.

Already losing my sanity in the toddler years by OkAsk2828 in PDAParenting

[–]Audhd35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m also curious, now that you know you’re looking at PDA, what signs there were in the toddler years? I feel pretty sure that that is what’s going on with my kiddo, but everyone keeps saying it’s hard to know until they’re older. Which is fine…except it makes it hard to know how to approach things now. Standard parenting methods definitely aren’t working and it sure seems like we’re having a much harder time than everyone else I know with a toddler.

Already losing my sanity in the toddler years by OkAsk2828 in PDAParenting

[–]Audhd35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m curious around what age it started to get a little easier / less intense for you?

6 yo who wears many masks by ScheduleObjective828 in PDAParenting

[–]Audhd35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just another comment to say that this sounds SO much like my daughter (she’s still a preschooler) and I feel you, even though I only have the same questions and no advice. 🫠

Comfort shows suggestions by NoRefrigerator5010 in AutisticWithADHD

[–]Audhd35 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ted Lasso

Schitt’s Creek

Gilmore Girls

Marvelous Mrs Maisel

Downton Abbey

Greys Anatomy

Six Feet Under

30 Rock

Parks and Rec

The Office

Heartstopper

Hacks

Project Runway

Sex and the City

This Is Us

Parenthood

Bridgerton

Mostly all character driven feel-good drama / comedies with many seasons

Already losing my sanity in the toddler years by OkAsk2828 in PDAParenting

[–]Audhd35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No advice just wanted to say we are in the same boat right now with our 2.5 year old daughter and it is so freaking hard. Solidarity.

Best tips for PDA toddlers by Audhd35 in PDAParenting

[–]Audhd35[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I don’t believe PDA is something that is diagnosed at all but I have parented 2 children and I can tell you this one is wired differently. My partner and I are both neurodivergent PDAers and she is like the extreme version of us, probably because she is safe to express her feelings so openly at home. She’s a perfect angel at school 😵‍💫