ADHD, alone, and scared
Shattered, scattered and scared …that’s how I felt when I was first diagnosed. With no local support groups around, and my one ADHD friend at large, I also felt alone.
Support groups for ADHD – doomed to fail?
But let’s face it: support groups for ADHDers wouldn’t work. Think about it – most of us would forget the meeting date. Many of us would get lost on the way to the meeting, and the rest of us would be late! If we managed to get there, we’d be so distracted we wouldn’t be able to focus on what’s going on, or we’d be so impulsive, we’d just keep interrupting each other.
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Cheryl
11:02 am on
May 12th, 2010I’ll join you for the fantasy multi-modal treatment – If you think you cand get funding for research, met me be your 1st volunteer subject.
Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed. (Adult Education)
11:15 am on
May 12th, 2010Hey, I’m receiving the treatment, not giving it! (But you’re welcome to join in – that’s what a support group is about, right?) lol Thanks for reading my post, btw! And for your comment! Take care, Z.
Kenneth
3:00 pm on
May 12th, 2010Support groups can be a touchy issue with me. I can handle a support group but only if they are willing to be brutally honest and willing to confront thinking errors. I have tried these happy feel good groups and all they do is make me angry because nobody ever deals with anything. Instead, they walk around filling each other with unrealistic flattery and fluff talk, so it’s no wonder they descend into depression when they find out that the real world won’t do that for them. It also explains how people can become addicted to such feel good groups, using it like a drug to escape the hard truths of their life and lifestyle.
Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed. (Adult Education)
5:09 pm on
May 12th, 2010Hey, Kenneth. I’ve been to several support groups, and I do recognize your comments as reflected in one of them. The rest, I’m happy to say, were not afraid to get at the issues at a deeper level. “Flattery” and “fluff talk” comprised no part of the sessions whatsoever. I, too, would not have been satisfied with such a group as I look to a support group for concrete help and not to pass time or to have my ego stroked. I think there are as many different kinds of support groups as people in them, and I believe there’s a good fit out there for everyone, if you’re willing to take the time to find the group that fits. (Or start one of your own; and I am, of course, talking about support groups with a focus other than ADHD; as I keep saying, those groups are few and far between). Thanks, as always, for your input.
Pannie
5:04 pm on
May 15th, 2010Ditto. My mis-diagnosis cost me way too many years of incredible frustration, wrong meds, and a lost career. Unfortunately, Ireland just isn’t the place to seek adult ADHD help, although I did get a diagnosis here, and I’m on meds now. (U.S. doctors didn’t catch it either).
Just 10 minutes ago, I stumbled on another Psych Central article with a link to http://www.sandymaynard.com who has some potentially great FREE stuff on adult ADHD…workbooks, articles, etc. Looks like really good stuff. (But I’m trying to manage my time online tonight…already getting behind! I’ll study Sandy’s site more tomorrow.) Maybe it will be helpful to others who see this post?
Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed. (Adult Education)
6:30 pm on
May 15th, 2010Pannie, thanks again so much for sharing. Your input is much appreciated. I’ll check out the link you cite, thanks for that too. All the best! Zoë
Thank you for your posts Zoe.
My son is an ADHDer, diagnosed as a child. I get a lot of insight into how his almost 20 year old brain works when I read posts written by adult ADHDers.
Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
3:30 pm on
February 3rd, 2011Angel, I’m so glad you find value in what we’re writing. I wish my own mom (and I) had known about ADHD way back when…your son is SO lucky to have a mom who is aware, engaged, and keeping herself informed. Such support!
Take care,
Z.
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