I have heard adhd called a superpower, but I just don’t see it. How can having my whole life turned upside down equal having a superpower? Imagine those who are children who can’t function. But people still want to call it a superpower. Maybe that is after they have learned how to deal with it.
I have an 11-year-old who has had adhd since he was little and has to have medication to function. I just started going through peri menopause, and also just got an adhd diagnosis. So I have been misdiagnosed this whole time. I am 47!
Why do some people call it a superpower?
According to Google AI, this is why… a way to reframe the unique cognitive strengths that come with a neurodivergent brain. So I guess this is just how we explain it, but it comes with real daily challenges and struggles.
Some of my own symptoms were:
Constantly forgetting stuff
Unable to get the house and normal chores done.
Hyperfocusing on the wrong things
I was so overwhelmed all the time.
I was constantly needing to fidget or move.
From my son:
He was constantly jumping around.
He could not calm down.
His tummy could not poop
And he is also autistic, so eating is a joke sometimes.
Late Diagnosis
For me, it was a late diagnosis, but for my son it was immediate. The funny thing is, I was tested for adhd on a machine without talking to anyone when I was 21. I would self-medicate with stimulants. They couldn’t catch it then. They gave me the wrong diagnosis for 25 years: bipolar, and we couldn’t find the right meds. Now we know why.
Medications for adhd
Now there are lots of meds for adhd unforyunatly most are stimulants. So because of my prior history with stimulants, I was sure that I would not be able to get the meds I needed. But thankfully, there are a couple of non-stimulant meds, and we are trying them.
Here is a short list of some of the meds available for adhd:
Stimulants
Adderal
Methylphinadate
Then there are short-acting and long-acting, patches, liquids, and chewables
Amphetamine Based
Ritalin
Dexadrine
Vyvance
Non Stimulants
Atamoxitine
Viloaxine
Guanfacine
Clonidine
Onyda xr
Conclusion
Choosing the right med might take a while.
There are lots of good things too, but most of them happen after medication. At least for me, it’s been a real eye opener. For me, the miracle is just beginning. Life after medication is starting to look up. I don’t spend quite so much time lost now. And I have only just begun a non-stimulant med, and for me it’s working.
If you also need medication, I wish you well in finding the right one. And if you choose to do it unmedicated, more power to you. Next, I think I’ll look up all the non-medicated ways some people deal with their adhd.
