executivedysfunction

I've written before about how I was misdiagnosed as bipolar for a few decades, and the therapies and various prescription medicines never helped me. In fact, they nearly killed me.

In my last year on the meds, I got lithium toxicity, and was rushed to a trauma center a hundred miles from home, and spent a week in ICU. That was the autumn of 2021, and I am still recovering now in February 2023.

Yesterday I saw my third psychiatrist in a row who told me I had never been bipoloar, but I am Autistic. This time he put it all on paper, and entered it into my medical records. I guess that means it's official. Or maybe 'I' am official? Nah. I'm still just me.

I never had an inkling that I might be Autistic before sometime last summer, when I read a story in The Mighty by someone who found out accidentally that she was Autistic while she was having one of her children tested and assessed. When she described her life and her challenges, she sounded to me like she was describing my own life.

From that point onward, I started reading everything that I could get my hands on about the Autism Spectrum.

Then there were the internet tests, the books with tests, and finally talking to doctors and to Autistics.

Eventually, I was convinced beyond any reason of a doubt that I myself was, and am Autistic. Thereafter, I brought it up with my psychiatrist, and it took off from there.

That brings me back to yesterday, and the third psychiatrist to agree, and who added it into my medical record.

Now if I can get my General Practitioner to remove the bipolar label from my record there, I will feel like I can finally relax a little.

I don't have a problem with bipolar in itself. I just have a major problem with being misdiagnosed for decades and spending the bulk of my money on therapy and prescriptions that kept me physically exhausted and in a heavy mental fog for decades, and didn't help me in any way. I feel like the majority of my life was wasted.

So to have the label removed from my records is removing a constant painful reminder of all the life that I missed in my youth and middle age.

I am going to spend the rest of my years as a happy, grateful Autistic old dude. Peace be with you all.
♾️♾️♾️
🖖

#Autistic #actuallyautistic #audhd #ADHD #Autism #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #AutismAcceptance #Stimming #Dysgraphia #dyscalcula #pathologicaldemandavoidance #PDA #AutisticInertia #AutisticBurnout
#EFD #ExecutiveFunctionDisorder #executivedysfunction #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #RSD
#ReactiveAttachmentDisorder #rad #MajorDepressiveDisorder #MDD #Dysthymia #Specialinterest
#Hyperfocus #hypervigilant #SensoryOverstimulation #SensoryIssues #SensoryPain

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Hi guys, Im new here. I thought I would make my first post today as I'm actively going through it. thats me in that pic, a recent pic where i felt pretty :) I feel like this is the final stretch in a fight I wasn't even aware I was in. I've looked for professional support but ig the NHS is a bit overwhelmed right now bc I'm being tugged around. the people involved in my care have just left me to it, despite the fact that im in crisis. i have no support, no resources, no tools, they havent even given me a number to call. my therapist ignored my messages when i told her i was and have been suicidal and self harming again. then it seems that she reported me as a missing person without ever trying to contact me back. its strange. i feel like i have no one in my corner. in my personal life, i have no close friends, no partner, im estranged from my family. i feel isolated and not even like a human being. everybody expects me to just find some way to just get on with it but i literally can't do this by myself anymore. i find it so hard to take care of my physical needs: eating, sleeping, showering, drinking fluids. ive lost so much weight (weight i cant really afford to lose) and i feel so sick and tired all the time now. i was crying for about 2-3 hours at 3am this morning just thinking about how i have to keep eating and drinking even though i have no desire to. im not enjoying food like i used to and that saddens me so much. im just eating because i have to. sleeping because i have to. drinking water bc i have to. occasionally dragging myself to the shower bc i have to. i live alone. i dont have anyone to talk to, not even someone to make me a cup of tea. i have to sit there by myself for hours before i can finally find the energy to maybe boil the kettle. then i'll sit down for ages and find the energy to pour out the water into a cup. then i sip the tea eventually and its good... then its not. just like eating. i take one bite and i finally feel like i can crush the whole plate... then its gone. i feel so angry all the time bc i just need someone to see that i need physical support. i need actual support and help, not just a listening ear. i can talk and talk and talk but im running on empty and if things continue like this, im actually going to die. i dont think i want to die. but i just cant live like this, im not actually living, im just keeping myself alive and there is no joy or comfort in that at all. it just hurts. my heart feels heavy and every beat feels so laboured. i cant do everything alone, nobody can. but i need hugs. i need affection. i need company. i need someone to help me tidy my environment, even if they were just sitting there. i need help with food and cooking. i need someone to remind me to drink water before i become really dehydrated. i need help with clean clothes. i need such basic basic help but no one will give it to me. i can't figure out why and it makes me wonder if im a burden or if im expecting too much of othe

Doom boxes. They're great for when you need to corral all the random things that don't have a home but you really want to keep them. However, if you're like me, you probably look at your doom boxes with overwhelm because they just don't get sorted ever again.

My question is this: How do you tackle the dreaded doom boxes (or in my case, an entire doom room) in addition to the other types of clutter that may lurk in the rooms in your home? One thing I'll be trying is body doubling, which – if you don't know – is working on a frustrating task alongside someone else.

Share something that typically works for you in the comments below. You never know, your tips and tricks may be super helpful to a fellow Mighty!

#ADHD #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #DistractMe #52SmallThings #OCD #Autism #executivedysfunction #AutisticAdults #Parenting

With every path in life, there's a little bit of messiness. We hope for a simple route but the result typically ends up a little bit bumpier or windy than we may have preferred.

As I've navigated my own experience with neurodivergence, I see just how many curves and bumps I hit (and let's be real, continue to hit) along the way.

↩️ Curve to the left: When I'm called 'lazy' and have to break through the guilt.

🛑 Stop: When I need to set boundaries with people in my life.

⤵️ Getting lost: When I struggle to express my emotions or difficulties.

What curves has your path taken as you navigate neurodivergence?

#Neurodiversity #ADHD #Autism #SensoryProcessingDisorder #executivedysfunction #CheckInWithMe

I was wondering, how many of you struggle to keep your spaces clean? I know I do. I currently have a number of boxes and piles of laundry strewn around my room. Executive dysfunction is a pain.

I was wondering if you had any tips or tricks that help you break through the cloud of executive dysfunction and get moving on tidying up your space. Here are some things that have worked for me in the past:

🧹 - Rewarding myself after accomplishing my tasks

🧹 - Using a timer and only setting it for 20 to 30 minutes at a time

🧹 - Listening to upbeat music (lo-fi beats are NOT meant to help me clean in this case)

🧹 - Enlisting the "help" of a friend via Facetime or Discord video for accountability purposes if they can't be there IRL

🧹 - Setting realistic goals, which is to say I know I can't clean my whole house in a day (or even my whole room) but I can clean one section thoroughly

What are some of your tips and tricks? Let me know in the comments below!! And if you're currently struggling with executive dysfunction like I am right now, I am sending so much strength and solidarity to you. 💪

#Autism #AutisticAdults #ADHD #actuallyautistic #neurodivergent #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #SensoryProcessingDisorder #executivedysfunction #CheckInWithMe #selfcare #52SmallThings