#Afab adhd

[theworthynerodivergent]

Can't sleep so I've decided I’m going to list what I've watched/ listened to an still watch/listen to to learn about adhd.

How to adhd YouTube

Adhd is the new black YouTube

Aha! Adhd podcast

The adhd adults podcast

Adhd af podcast

Sincerely Kai YouTube

Healthy gamer gg youtube

Sistas with adhd instagram/podcast

Black neurodiversity instagram/podcast

Divided attention podcast /instagram (sadly they don’t seem to be active anymore but they podcast episodes are great)

The_mini_adhd_coach instagram

Also some of these talk about more than just adhd

Mainly

sincerely Kai is about her just figuring herself out,

healthy gammer talks about anything mental health related

And black neurodiversity they (Ben-Oni) talk about anything under the neurodiverse umbrella.

There are a lot more I checked out but these are the ones that kept my interest and/or I feel I learned a lot from.

Got some good ones I haven’t mentioned feel free to add. Also feel free to check these out if ya interested.

[clearingmyheadspace]

365 Days

Photo by Alexas Fotos on Pexels.com It’s been almost 365 days since I last spoke to my older sister, and about 4 months longer since I last spoke to my younger sister. I am sure that they’ve viewed this no-contact period as a “tantrum” or similar “immature” behavior because I didn’t like what they said to me or about me. At least that’s what I believe based on my past experiences with them.

[chocolate-mintdromeda]

Concept for AFAB

ADHD meds tailored to our hormones (b/c where you are in your menstrual cycle can affect the effectiveness of your meds!) and in a blister pack (or an eco friendly alternative) so you can pop out the right dose for the day!

From a mom who fluctuates between effective and barely effective doses.

[jasmineindoors]

yeah I did come back on this app cuz Twitter is stupid now…

this app gives me so much trauma guys I still feel embarrassed 😳 to be a tumblr girlie

[edgy-senju]

Being an autistic/ADHD adult is sooo fun cause if you ask to have some of your needs met and you're not diagnosed, then you're clearly just being selfish and childish™

But if you're diagnosed then you're going to be treated like a little kid with no bodily and mental autonomy, so of course you can't have your needs met anyway

[robuttsinyourthighs]

I'm still trying to get officially diagnosed, but my GP and I are fairly certain I have it. I wish I'd known that it presents differently in AFAB people than AMAB people. My younger brother had severe symptoms and my older brother had severe but non-standard symptoms.

Mine were all the markers of an AFAB ADHD person.

throwing yourself into a project but only after waiting until the DAY BEFORE it was due to start (executive dysfunction)

excelling in retaining information in structured learning environment in class but struggling to do homework unless someone is keeping you in task (easily distracted and lack of routine)

difficulty focusing on tests and reading under pressure (tone restraints causing issues with focus, re-reading the same paragraph because your eyes go over the words but nothing sticks)

extremely active imagination/mind (brain making 1000 new ideas for projects and activities but no drive to move forward with them).

Your brain makes all sorts of crazy connections that others might not. Non-linear thinking can be GREAT as a young kid in school, but it makes connecting with peers awkward because you say something bizarre while trying to relate to a conversation because you've found something you think is related to the subject, but no one else has any clue why you would think that way or blurt something "random" out.

While AMAB people usually have very intense signs of having lack of impulse control or being short-tempered and easily frustrated with not being able to do things as quick as their brains want them to, AFAB people seem to become those "old souls in a young body" types or "high achievers so young" and then they plateau in or after high school because their structure is gone.

I really wish I would have known about these signs in middle and high school so I could have worked on building routines to set me up for success.

Now I'll be lucky if I'm brave enough to tell a friend I need a body double to sit with me so I can clean my room.

Why We Need More ADHD Awareness

The Mini ADHD Coach

[lemon-tea-leaves]

If you're gonna go around talking about how invalid self-diagnosis is and how you should ALWAYS just go to a doctor because they're the experts, consider doing the following instead:

Reminding yourself that no doctor is infallible, and unfortunately there are shitty and VERY misinformed doctors out there

Advocate for the spreading of accurate information about the neurodivergence or illness or disorder or etc.

In that same vein, dispel myths and misconceptions about said Brain And Body Things™

Advocate for easier access to evaluation and diagnosis

Support people who have been medically gaslit in the past and just want to know what's going on with themselves

Support people who have had their life affected by their symptoms (despite not knowing what was causing them) and just want to know what's going on with themselves

Support people who just Feel something Wrong and just want to know what's going on with themselves

Just fucking support people and stop tearing others down because you're white knighting

There are people intentionally making a mockery of things like DID or being autistic, among other things. And there are people who mis-self-diagnose (usually due to research that isn't deep enough) and are fed misinformation which leads to them misrepresenting the disorder.

But there are also people who have the symptoms, looked into the symptoms, found something that matched the symptoms, and maybe FINALLY felt they had an answer when they couldn't find one because they didn't have the means or whatever the reason.

And you're telling them that they're making a mockery of a disorder because they wanted to find a reason. And it's because you associate them with the people on TikTok that you roll your eyes at. And it's fucking annoying.

TL;DR:

Maybe instead of being a dick about self-diagnosis, you could help set a path towards making it so people don't have to in the fucking first place.

(Also, as for my opinion on self-dx, self-dx with a good amount of research from verified accurate sources = A-OK. I'm saying this as a professionally diagnosed person who has had to self-dx in the past. I've been wrong about some things and right about others, and professionals have been right about some and wrong about others. But it helped to set me down the right path. I wouldn't be where I am if I hadn't.)

[def-not-kaz-brekker]

I’m just curious to see how many of y’all are diagnosed and undiagnosed between amab and afab neurotypicals scroll past thx y’all

[fuzzyspiderpawz]

Fnaf made me realize my gender identity

I just realized that fnaf indirectly helped me realize that I’m nonbinary back in 2020

I started listening to NateWantsToBattle because of FNAF (and Monster Prom but mostly FNAF cause I was into FNAF first) and while watching his music video for Phantom I realized that I’m nonbinary cause the power of men wearing makeup transformed me into something stronger

[themanirealityshifter]

once again, not shifting related, but see, i have a lot of things that come along with autism and ADHD, and the like, but i’m still prettyyy damn sure i don’t have em, but also maaaybe, buuut alsooo i don’t knoooow. i have hyperfixations, special interests, the verbal shutdowns, shutdowns in general, meltdowns, also executive dysfunction, neurodivergent stimming (plus some that can pass as neurotypical stimming), and lots more that i can’t remember at the moment, cuz i haven’t eaten enough, OH YEAH AND SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER, annnd auditory processing disorder, also internalized echolalia and just echolalia, possibly alexithymia, and have trouble with social cues and eye contact. plus food allergies which is also common/comorbid with autism. plus also i was what ya call the gifted kid and now i’m burnt out and even though my grades are always good when i actually hand something in, i constantly procrastinate and have basically given up on school altogether, cuz there’s no possible way for my mental health to be okay, for me to have relationships, for me to do things i like, and do well and be consistent in school all at the same time.

soooo, what am i? i relate to autistics and ADHDers A TON. buuuut i don’t think i am one of y’all. buuut what else can i possibly be? i have no idea. i am a mystery and i pretty sure i always will be.

[theworthynerodivergent]

More on being nonbinary

I have joined some communities since coming to this conclusion and they have made me feel more confident in my thoughts and feelings.

After doing some research I can say that I believe that I am a nonbinary trans masc. I know this can be defined differently from person to person so for me I’d say I feel like I can go between feeling masculine and feminine but I feel that I lean more toward masculine majority of the time. Sometimes I feel like I do feel like neither and I’m just here existing.

For me, I’ve noticed discovering this has been more emotional for me than coming to the conclusion I have adhd. I think it’s because this has the potential to drastically change my life. If it does I’m pretty sure it will be for the better but still change is scary.

While discovering adhd is more of an ah I understand and I can work to work with this being nonbinary is more like time to begin the journey of acceptance, learning, and unlearning and I think it’s forcing me out of my comfort zone of putting myself last to appease others.

With this, I no longer wish to put myself last. I want to feel comfortable in my skin and be proud of who I am. This is going to be a long journey but it’s one I want to take being scared and all.

I told my boyfriend of… wow 8 years yesterday and while he’s not entirely surprised he said that he needs time to process. It was hard for me to do it so it was nice to hear that he accepts me for who I am and loves me no matter what. Tho this still may change things in our relationship and I’ve decided I’ll be ok with whatever happens.

As far as pronouns idk yet I say for now I’m ok with any and all this may change later.

As far as my appearance I already dress sort of masculine but I want to fully commit now and I was thinking of also getting a binder but I have a big chest (44 F) so idk what would be a good one for me. If anyone has any suggestions I am open to hearing them.

This self-discovery journey of mine has been very eye-opening, emotional, draining, overwhelming, stressful, and reassuring. I’m learning so much about myself and realizing I’m not lazy, crazy, or dumb and there is a reason for my experiences and they are valid just like my feelings.

From learning about adhd, the trauma that I’ve been in denial about (more on that later), and identifying as nonbinary this has been a wild transformative few months. I am very curious to find out more about myself.

[hole34]

i think the worst part about being an afab person with adhd is that i never remember if i have a tampon in or not

and you can imagine how award it is to check

i'm afraid of getting tss so ewhenever i have cramps my first thought is Oh shit i never took my tampon out hdhsgrgd 😭

[transenbyconfessions]

I know that it’s silly, but I’m really scared of what t is going to do to my emotions. Like, being very sensitive and emotional is a very big part of me. I don’t think anything would change too much, especially as I have adhd and emotional dysregulation would be there no matter what hormones are in my body, but still, it makes me nervous

Submitted June 1, 2023

[kinodraws]

i wish there was like SOME kind of solution for how much i absolutely loathe putting laundry away in any kind of organized fashion. ive tried chest of drawers & folding. ive tried ikea closet cubbies & folding. ive tried hanging shoe racks & folding. ive tried clothes hangers! ive tried more tactile-friendly clothes hangers! ive tried just shoving it all into a pile in a corner of my room (makes me depressed) and nothing makes this task less of a sensory/executive dysfunction nightmare for me.

not to randomly dump on a bunch of people who only follow me for my tattoos/art but my GOD i hate this task to the point where id rather have my teeth extracted by mule kick than try to fucking put laundry away

it is just such a sisyphean task and it makes me feel hopeless & like i wanna cry.

[insignasus]

I'll probably delete this later, just wanted to get my thoughts out of my head. I got diagnosed with ADHD last winter as an adult, and as many others when they try to get diagnosed I got the comment "I hope you're not gonna use it as an excuse and say "Oh I haven't done X cause I have ADHD"". Which is very hurtful to get especially when it's from people close to you. It can be so difficult, and if you're unlucky super expensive, to get assessed at all. However I realized yesterday that actually, I am in fact often repeating to myself "I have ADHD", just not as an excuse to get a free pass for not doing something.

Despite growing up with brothers that are neurodivergent and got diagnosed as children, I was repeatedly dismissed whenever I reached out to health services. The first time I got dismissed was as a kid and they said I was just a little sensitive, some girls around my age are. They also blamed it on other stuff that was pure bs.

The second time was in my early 20s. I made it 1 year living entirely on my own while studying at Uni before I went on a year long sick leave due to depression and anxiety. I tried again to get an assessment, but was turned away this time too and was told I only had depression. I can't be neurodivergen because I had been successful in school and had a job since I was old enough to get one. The third time I was finally listened to and by then I had already figured out on my own that I have ADHD (inattentive). Getting an official diagnosis was important cause I've needed help my whole life and I won't get it without one.

It's now around 7-8 months since. Health services are slow so I'm just now starting to get access to help and tools like meds and coaching. And after all of these years trying to live as if I was neurotypical, with the added bonus of depression and anxiety as a comorbidity due to not receiving help when I was younger, I have so many pieces I need to pick up and put back together again. I struggle with a lot. Every. Single. Day. So I try to remind myself that it's okay; I have ADHD. I need to unlearn being mean to myself when I'm struggling with stuff. Because it's so easy to start thinking I'm lazy, stupid, incompetent, whatever else self-deprecating thing I can think of. And I've believed it for so long too.

I have ADHD. It's not an excuse, it's a validation that I'm not bad because I struggle. I struggle cause my brain works a certain way. By reminding myself of that I'm also reminded to be kind to myself and approach life in a way that's better suited for me.

[thebean-17]

To anyone who is AFAB, if you experience periods that cause:

Depression and hopelessness

Severe mood swings

Intense anxiety

Decrease interest in relationships and activities

Difficulty concentrating

Fatigue or low energy

Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or sleeping too much)

Irritability or anger (even rage)

Changes in appetite (eating too much or too little)

Suicidal thoughts and or urges

Paranoia

Feeling out of control (almost as if you're going crazy or you're in a state of frenzy)

I suggest getting evaluated or learning more about PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). In simple terms, PMDD is a more severe form of PMS and isn't often discussed, and more often than not, it is misunderstood. It affects about 5-8% of menstruating individuals. It's not just "bad PMS" – it can significantly impact your daily life.

Studies also indicate that people with ADHD or autism have a higher risk of experiencing PMDD. Specifically, 92% of AFAB individuals with autism exhibited PMDD symptoms, and 46% of individuals with ADHD also exhibited symptoms, compared to just 11% of neurotypical individuals. It can be a lonely experience for those suffering through PMDD, not only that, it is isolating.

An individual going through PMDD symptoms might feel like it is the end of the world. They might end up feeling worthless and shut out from everything around them, as if a thick fog shrouded everything from view. It's like the calm before the storm. It's like going from feeling completely fine to suddenly becoming a terrifying character, almost as if you don't recognize yourself. Of course, when time passes, those problems feel like they happened long ago and essentially become insignificant, almost as if they never happened.

The main reason I'm mentioning this is that I know some people who experience it personally. There are ways to get help, such as using birth control or taking antidepressants, but it's best to talk to a professional to determine what is right for you. Using a tracker app, getting support, educating yourself on the subject can be all great ways to help with it or to figure out better alternatives.

You can even take a look at IAPMD (International Association for Premenstrual Disorders) for resources and support as well.