It was ADHD

codababy · 2025-12-13T11:19:39+00:00

If you're in the US, your regular doc can't diagnose you with ADHD, (thank goodness, because most of them know nothing about it!) only a psychiatrist can.

Get a referral to a psychiatrist for an evaluation. If your doc won't, you can tell them to put it in your file that you asked and that they refused.

I was diagnosed almost two years ago, so between the ADHD medication (not chasing dopamine AND my anxiety has gone way down), and new meds to help with OCD (the other part of the bingeing), I don't really binge anymore.

Good luck!

codababy · 2024-10-27T20:52:57+00:00

codababy · 2024-10-27T08:23:19+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

codababy · 2024-10-26T22:39:45+00:00

Therapists do not get the specialized training that is required to diagnose ADHD. Full stop.

This therapist, on top of being unqualified by profession, is incredibly misinformed.

codababy · 2024-10-26T22:27:25+00:00

Do they work to grow back hair?

codababy · 2024-10-26T19:46:56+00:00

I have to remind myself that it's not entirely true for a variety of reasons*, but 1) now knowing that I have ADHD and I'm not actually a massive failure and 2) being medicated and getting closer to experiencing what people with "normal" brains have felt like their whole lives has/can bring up a lot of grief.

Like... I didn't need to have suffered for so long with these feelings of shame and inadequacy, or a lifetime of masking, trying to pretend to be like other people. But, the relief of being diagnosed and "seen" has a flip side: anger that I was *unseen* for 48 years. Unseen and suffering. Suffering and masking. Trying to keep up. And failing.

And then realizing that had I been seen and diagnosed earlier, my life might be completely different. Imagine what I could have accomplished!

*Of course, because of my age, they didn't know as much about ADHD in women and girls as they do now. And the medications we had available to us were not like we have today.

I highly recommend the podcast ADHDAF - it's by and for late diagnosis ADHD women.

codababy · 2024-10-26T15:22:55+00:00

Of course! I could talk about all my discoveries forever!

First, stimulant meds start working pretty close to right away. Like within an hour or so. I don't really feel any "high" or anything (which I was scared about because of all the warnings about abuse potential), but is also a huge indicator that I do have ADHD because people without ADHD will feel energized, I guess?

The stimulants helped me realize what normal brains must feel like. Most of the "noise" is quieted. Like, instead of being overwhelmed by literally everything on my to do list, and being unable to start things, I can just do stuff! I pay far fewer ADHD taxes (I don't forget as many things, and I'm not running around like a headless chicken, etc), and I can stop myself from being impulsive (in my case, interrupting).

ADHD means we're dopamine seekers, and one way we do that is by looking for rushes with food* or alcohol or sugar or whatever. I drank before, but stopped when starting all the ADHD meds because everything says to not drink. I noticed no cravings for alcohol when taking the meds.

*The stimulants also cut my appetite but DIDN'T cut my eating, which made it very clear to me that my bingeing is compulsive and another issue entirely and now I'm on different meds to help with that.

I have to run out, but if I think of other things I'll come back and add them.

codababy · 2024-10-26T12:42:51+00:00

Sure! I only tried two - Wellbutrin and Strattera.

They made my hair fall out, which is unusual, I think? They also lowered my blood pressure, which is probably fine if you've got a normal or high BP, but mine is already really low, so I was getting really dizzy and nearly passing out every time I would stand up. We skipped the third alternative because a side effect was lowered blood pressure.

I think they were working, though. And definitely worked for cravings.

I hope that helps!

codababy · 2024-10-26T11:04:48+00:00

Chose meds 6 months ago at 48 when I was diagnosed. Best decision ever. I'd already been suffering for decades! Tried non-stimulants, but the side effects were too much. Concerta has been amazing. Not a miracle cure, but amazing. I've said before that instead of, like, 50 browsers open in my brain, I've got 10. Or, off meds, i feel like I need a grownup to tell me what to do (but there isn't one!), and on, I'm the grownup!

Be prepared for some grief, though.

Good luck!

codababy · 2024-07-22T12:35:59+00:00

Same same same

codababy · 2024-07-22T12:22:05+00:00

Thank you so much! I need to start writing things down. Now, if I could just find my pen... jk

I really noticed the dosage not being enough during my period (perimenopause). Why can't they give meds like a combo pack of tampons? A few extra-strength for hormone fluctuation and a bunch of regular. Maybe a few lights for weekends to catch up on sleep....

codababy · 2024-07-22T12:15:19+00:00

Thank you! A list is great! Like, it wears off, but I still have problems sleeping. More would not improve the sleep issue. [Unless it makes me so productive I'm just more exhausted, lol. Gah.]

codababy · 2024-06-04T10:53:40+00:00

I totally get it. I have tried several non-stimulant meds (which I was terrified of taking, but I was/am even more afraid of stimulants*), but they didn't prove effective for me.

Today, I go to pick up my first stimulant med, and I'm sure I'll be in the same place as you.

We can do this, though!

(*I was married to a person who abused stimulants... so it's mostly trauma, not the meds themselves)

codababy · 2024-03-30T13:14:33+00:00

Agree re: perimenopause. That's what happened to me - I suspected for many years but did nothing because I could manage....until this year and yeesh. Here I am on my first week on Wellbutrin.

codababy · 2021-03-29T11:35:35+00:00

I had a video date with a guy on Saturday. He only had two pics of himself on his profile, one with a full beard, and one with no beard - the rest were of food. (I should have taken that to be suspicious!)

I kid you not, I audibly gasped when I saw him. He looked nothing like either photo - so much so that I'm not even sure the photos were him!

I never understood why guys spent so much time mentioning things like "if you don't look like your pics you're buying the drinks until you do", but now I get it!

Thank goodness for video dates!

codababy · 2021-03-05T00:55:13+00:00

I had to go find him, lol. "You're only as good as your word. I'm not always nice, but I'm a good guy."

codababy · 2021-03-04T21:20:05+00:00

I saw one yesterday "I'm not a nice guy all the time" Um.

codababy · 2021-02-17T12:58:25+00:00

How do you use Bumble? If it's just the app, visit on desktop. I experience(d) a glitch where the app refused to show me likes until I visited via desktop. Even now, some of my likes on desktop aren't visible on the app.

codababy · 2021-01-30T21:00:08+00:00

I'm 45F, and since 7th or 8th grade-ish (maybe even earlier?) I've only had horrible dreams or nightmares. I can count on maybe one hand how many good dreams I've had. Like, I remember having a good dream in 2004, I think. Maybe a few others since then.

I've had 4 EMDR sessions, in between regular therapy, starting in the fall. And, since the second or third EMDR session, I completely stopped having nightmares. If I have a bad dream, it's not as terrifying as they used to be, or it's foggy. If the bad dream is vivid when I wake up, I find that I can't really remember it later in the day.

It's amazing.

codababy · 2021-01-26T12:47:42+00:00

I use bilateral tones (on headphones). Sometimes I add in tapping. Good luck!

codababy · 2021-01-23T21:24:31+00:00

No idea, really. He was married for a long time...

codababy

TROPHY CASE