Newly diagnosed with ADD and SPD adult, which was a great thing at first, because it put a name to all sorts of weird stuff that's been happening in me for over 50 years
I started a blog to help with my journey, how I cope now that the initial excitement of "knowing" is over and you are all welcome to visit http://addpositively.wordpress.com I try to be real, relatively positive and helpful to those that are interested.
This journey has been largely self-accommodated using my instincts to guide me along my way and help develop some things that help me cope. Last year, I was no longer able to go to work (bummer) and have been on long-term sick leave since then. I have doctor's permission to return with a very specific list of what my employer needs to provide to accommodate me and my "quirks". My employer was notified on Oct. 11th and now I just have to wait (definitely not my strong suit!).
I'm no longer in crisis mode since I've been tucked safely away inside my home for the past year, only leaving for all the doctor's appointments that I had every 2 weeks. Now I just have to re-integrate myself back into my life, slowly and carefully. I find the ADD characteristics are in direct conflict with the SPD characteristics and I don't mind saying it's pretty annoying.
I love to read and paint, finally giving myself permission to explore my artistic side. My therapist said my self esteem was surprisingly high for someone that has spent her life hiding her true self. I told her that was only because I'd been violently told my whole childhood life that what I was feeling was "wrong, not true, exaggerated etc". And, I'm not a kid nor a teenager nor a young 20something so I've been around long enough to know myself and accept myself for how I am. Also, I am very fortunate to have a fine husband that still finds me amusing most of the time
Don't worry, I'm no annoying Pollyanna, just a regular person coping with some real debilitating issues with a great deal of tenacity! I hope to hear from other similar diagnosed adults and maybe learn some new tips on how to "deal successfully".
Thank you all.[/size]