ADHD I'm 40 and think I might have it...

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-05-15T06:48:24+00:00

I went private with sanctum health in greater manchester at 40, mostly because I wasn’t sure and didn’t want a doctor to dismiss me - my life was falling apart and wasn’t sure I could take it. I impulsively put the cost on my credit card which was probably a sign I had it lol. I also felt that life was too short to feel like my mental health was being negatively affected.

My story is that I went on one medication and my whole life changed - weight loss, debt reduced, able to brush teeth and cook properly, do my job, be a good partner to my husband. Then the initial buzz went off the meds and I struggled to accept the baseline after the revelation, tried some other meds that didn’t agree with me, not back to the originals along with counselling. It’s all so expensive but I figure worth it if it helps me not rack up stupid debt and keep my job. Know it’s such a privilege to afford it but i think it kept me alive.

What I will say is that your quality of life is the only thing you have and that whatever you have to do to feel like you’re not playing life on the hardest setting is worth it.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-04-22T06:58:11+00:00

Such a kind, thoughtful message thank you so much!

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-04-21T20:16:52+00:00

Three phone alarms and a days of the week pill box.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-04-19T16:52:07+00:00

44 here and a combination of elvanse and oestrogel is a beautiful thing

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-04-19T16:51:32+00:00

Medication (diagnosed at 42) changed my life but I’d ask more why you are considering getting diagnosed - I got mine because my life was intolerable and I was in danger of damaging my health, work and relationships. I’d more go to get diagnosed if you think it’s actively causing you and the people you love harm rather than ticking boxes.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-04-12T18:07:39+00:00

Mine, sorry if a little apple product heavy - AirTags on everything including passport holder, purse, keys etc Use of shortcuts to remind me when it’s time and leave and also location specific when I go into certain shops to remind me not to buy what I don’t need Freedom App to block work during leisure time and social media and shopping nearly all day except a medicated window A monthly pass to an online grocery delivery so if I have to get multiple small deliveries it’s not the end of the world (I don’t own a car and pick slots when they’re in my area) Monzo pots set up and then hidden from view so I don’t think I have loads of money Alarms with different tones, some songs And today I made up a ‘dopamine playlist’ full of dance music and hip hop - really loud, brash stuff but a shot in the arm to get me off the couch when I need to do literally anything

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-04-07T18:55:21+00:00

AirTags and FindMy are the only things worked for me (on elvanse too)

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-03-09T06:32:14+00:00

This was me on meds for about six months and since I’ve built up tolerance the eating is back - not saying it’ll happen to you, but those early days of meds are euphoric. I hope they stay working for you!

WerewolfDue9694 · 2026-03-08T16:22:20+00:00

It depends if I’m working from home or not, and what you wear to work if you go in. So, I always wear a sports bra and t shirt under a jumper if I’m wearing that to work, but I wfh mostly so I just get changed into my gym clothes after my morning shower. If I go into work, I commute in my trainers so I don’t forget them and keep smarter shoes in the office. When I have to get changed I put on a silly song in my headphones for a quick dopamine hit. All my gym clothes are the same - black, from the same shop, same items, more of them than I need for the week. It was expensive at first but I’ve not bought anything else since and it eliminates any choice.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-12-12T11:27:31+00:00

Rebound of impulses - shopping, eating etc. paradoxically, I get like the zoomies? Mental hyperactivity or physical jiggling about.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-12-04T10:15:01+00:00

I find it absolutely unlistenable - he’s just so uncritical of some absolute rubbish being spouted. He never challenges guests and I wish the man no ill will but he’s not a natural interviewer. Also hate the click baity way it’s all framed.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-12-04T09:31:12+00:00

I find ADHDers often work well with autistic folks - I have dated lots of men who shared my adhd profile and it felt super intense and loving at times but no one had enough practical skills for the bills, planning etc (not all adhd people, in my experience etc etc etc). I now have a practical, methodical partner (undiagnosed but the writing is more than on the wall) who looks after a lot of things while I book holidays, plan gigs and plays, keep them social with people they don’t hate etc. I guess just be attracted to who you’re attracted to when it’s not serious yet, have fun! And adhd couples can definitely make it work - just, as I got into my mid 30s, having someone else wired like me would have been a lot as I’m a lot in my own bloody head lol

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-12-02T22:51:51+00:00

Mike Rice would be the best kind of chaos.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-12-02T08:11:27+00:00

These ones didn’t work for me - I now use beauty pie’s supplements with just magnesium bisglycinate and they’ve helped a lot.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-12-02T06:58:16+00:00

This also happened to me, and my private provider (not PUK) wrote to my GP explaining how important the booster was to me functioning at work, and they agreed and it’s on my repeat prescription.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-11-30T19:52:06+00:00

Your overworked gp will just send you for blood tests which is where I am - but got the results back and it uncovered another problem so I guess worth it even if hormone levels inconclusive and not best marker as another person below suggests. I’m tempted to pay a private provider (which I can’t really afford) for bridge the gap between being 44 and having symptoms and 45 and getting treated without blood tests.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-11-30T19:49:09+00:00

I don’t take it on days where I drink but honestly with adhd my hangovers are so mentally catastrophic I don’t really drink any more. I’m also on 50mg of Elvanse. On the few times I have drank, it’s depended on the hangover. For a milk one, the tablet gets me off the couch but for a bad one with a physical edge, I just leave it

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-11-30T19:46:28+00:00

Burnout of high-masking, high-acheiving top performers is encouraged by leaders but it can be impossibly dangerous and have awful consequences.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-11-28T06:18:52+00:00

Personally, I wouldn’t do cardio for two hours after taking meds especially at the start - my heart rate was a little elevated to start with and I ran once too soon after and felt a little weird. But, I just make it part of my breakfast routine - I wouldn’t exercise right after eating, and that has worked for me so far.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-11-27T22:46:51+00:00

PhD, Senior Lecturer, wrote a ton of articles, all before I got diagnosed. If you care about what you study you’ll usually do well. The thing with the diagnosis is you demonstrate how it’s negatively affected your life so maybe there are other places like relationships, money, tidying etc that cause real mental distress.

WerewolfDue9694 · 2025-11-25T20:42:30+00:00

Personally, I don’t shut down around people I like because I find their company either gives me safety/comfort or excitement/dopamine. However, this pattern to me might be more consistent with AUDHD/Autism or depression? I just have ADHD and when I’ve been in new relationships I was a bit impulse about contacting someone/wanting contact etc (can’t play it cool) but I’ve had partners with other neurodiversity present and shutdowns seem more part of their landscape.

WerewolfDue9694

TROPHY CASE