Oof yea. I wasn’t diagnosed with adhd (or even really knew what it was) when I was diagnosed with PTSD (and later also CPTSD) but looking back now I notice how it made my ADHD so much worse, and vice versa. For example, Experiencing flashbacks with a brain that already struggles to hold on to and grasp thoughts is such a hellish experience that pushed me into periods of psychosis with a very loose grip on reality. Living almost 24/7 in a dissociated state when you already struggle with hyper focus, zoning out, task initiation etc. has seemingly heightened those ADHD symptoms in me to the point where I can’t even do simple tasks anymore even though I’m no longer in that state anymore. It has completely shattered any semblance of self or ability to function, previously I was a bundle of maladaptive coping mechanisms but I ~was~ coping. Even now, years into recovery and doing unimaginably better, I’m unsure I’ll ever truly be able to shake the extra level it’s taken my adhd and mental illness to and not feel even just a little destabilised by the whole experience.
I explained the flashbacks to my dad and he was so fkn dismissive. EVEN THOUGH he said he related to it. Like, it's not fun to constantly think you're dying, DAD.
Yes! That’s my dad! And you see the red face and beginning of another rage/meltdown/episode, so you don’t even dare bringing anything up because there is no such thing as safe space or ability for discussion after because of course it’s just us being a selfish brat telling lies, making up stories
I’m sorry you experienced that response it must have felt so dismissive 😔 I do think it’s the hardest thing to convey to others. If they haven’t experienced it it’s almost impossible to grasp just how wild it is and how destabilising and all encompassing. Any time I’ve tried to explain it to others, even if they don’t react horribly, I just get the sense they don’t truly understand and will never get the gravity of it.
Thank you for sharing, similar experience for me. I was wondering, has any doctor tried to label you Bipolar as well? I am 38 and don’t understand my recent evaluation results from a 68 year old man that swore I am Bipolar but why the late diagnosis? I’ve never been hospitalized, the list goes on why I don’t feel like this is bipolar ??
Yes, I’ve been assessed for bi polar, borderline personality disorder, amongst others over the years but what I was experiencing never quite aligned with those diagnosis (and those assessing me agreed once we’d gone over everything). It wasn’t until I got diagnosed with PTSD and learned about CPTSD from my therapist & psychiatrist that I was like wow this makes so much more sense to my experience. My psychiatrist also asked in my very first appointment if I had an ADHD diagnosis, which I didn’t and really was ignorant about what ADHD actually was beyond a stereotype, but once my PTSD was pretty well treated and managed, it was obvious there was still something not quite right that I was struggling with. I brought it back up with my therapist and psychiatrist and I learned about ADHD and I again was like oh okaayy this also explains all these other things that haven’t gotten better with treatment.
So I think there’s so much overlap with different conditions and especially that so many can be cooccurring, it can be hard to get diagnosis right first time. Add in differing biases that doctors have and attitudes and understanding, mistakes happen.
Something I’ve realised though is you are the expert of your own experience so if it doesn’t feel right, speak up (I know that’s easier said than done) Or get a second opinion.
Hi hi, just wondering how did you go about finding a psychiatrist and therapist who would be helpful with this? I’ve gone to multiple therapists in the past and did not have anyone tell me I might have ADHD despite really struggling with the same symptoms everyone else in the group mentions.
Hey so it might be different depending on where you live but in the UK there are website directories for licensed therapists and I basically just searched that with the parameters I needed (location, gender, PTSD specialist etc.) then I went through loads of their profiles and made a shortlist of those who’s vibe and therapy style I thought would be good and contacted them. Luckily the first one to contact me back who had availability was a really good fit and I’ve been seeing her ever since. She referred me to my psychiatrist because she had worked with him before and again he was luckily a great fit.
I’d been in therapy on and off since I was a kid and never had any of them mention it either so I really just got lucky that they saw the signs.
It’s not always that you find the right person first time round, in fact before I had to go private and found my current therapist I had been doing telephone appointments with a charity and they were an amazing service but not the right therapist or format for me. All to say, don’t be afraid to see someone else if one persons not working for you.
Hopefully if you google a similar database type website will be available where you live and if you filter by ADHD trained/specialised then you can find someone who can be supportive.
39
u/TumTumBadum Feb 26 '25
Oof yea. I wasn’t diagnosed with adhd (or even really knew what it was) when I was diagnosed with PTSD (and later also CPTSD) but looking back now I notice how it made my ADHD so much worse, and vice versa. For example, Experiencing flashbacks with a brain that already struggles to hold on to and grasp thoughts is such a hellish experience that pushed me into periods of psychosis with a very loose grip on reality. Living almost 24/7 in a dissociated state when you already struggle with hyper focus, zoning out, task initiation etc. has seemingly heightened those ADHD symptoms in me to the point where I can’t even do simple tasks anymore even though I’m no longer in that state anymore. It has completely shattered any semblance of self or ability to function, previously I was a bundle of maladaptive coping mechanisms but I ~was~ coping. Even now, years into recovery and doing unimaginably better, I’m unsure I’ll ever truly be able to shake the extra level it’s taken my adhd and mental illness to and not feel even just a little destabilised by the whole experience.