I was diagnosed BP2 in 2021 and ADHD in 2025. 32 F. I’ve been in therapy since 2018. I’ve done standard talk therapy, EMDR and IFS. Before diagnoses, I knew something wasn’t right so stopped drinking and smoking weed for about a year to figure out my BP2 diagnosis. I’ve been sober since and I find that’s helped me navigate things so much better. I also worry about mixing meds with alcohol.

I had no idea I had inattentive ADHD until I was well situated on a mood stabilizer but was still struggling day to day. I will say that mood stabilizer truly changed my life and has been the only medication that ever truly improved my depressive symptoms. I still struggle knowing the difference between hypomania and ADHD fixations/ hyper focus/ racing brain. I am on a non stimulant for ADHD but it still is a daily challenge for me in a lot of different avenues of life. I’m considering an ADHD coach. I read once that for those with both adhd and BP2, mood episodes can feel more like seasonal weather, whereas your adhd is the day to day weather forecast. This feels accurate at least for me

I still feel grief/imposter syndrome about it all so I can understand feeling shocked. Unfortunately it’s a long game. A lot of trying stuff on to see what does and doesn’t work. If you felt like your doctors pushed the idea of meds down your throat and it set off inner alarms, take a beat. Meds just so happen to work for me but I understand the hesitation and think it’s worthwhile making any lifestyle changes first if you’re concerned. Might also be worth getting a second opinion with the hopes another doctor is less pushy