ADHD/Neurodiversity, how do you live with it?

[Codachrome]

i'm autistic. i also probably have adhd, but i haven't been diagnosed, diagnosis is expensive, and everyone who knows me just says i have adhd anyways. school is tiring for me, and i deal with it by sleeping all day, getting absolutely nothing done. i can't even focus in school because just getting there is tiring.

however, if there's a holiday, i get the will to study, but i end up playing minecraft the whole day

[Capybara]

I was diagnosed with autism (level 2) and ADHD before I dropped out of high school. I always struggled in school and couldn't understand math even with tutoring. Teachers just wrote me off as "stupid" or "lazy" until it was too late. I denied being autistic or having a disability until my mid-20s, THEN I realized it wasn't normal to have no contacts besides family and unable to work or drive. In 2020 I started working when I found a state program that helps employ disabled adults.
I grew up surrounded by a LOT of anti-autistic rhetoric, but I consider being diagnosed at 16 a blessing. When I talk to other autistics, I'm assumed to be "neurotypical" because I analyze what I say and "read the room" before responding. I grew up watching comedy and observing other people's conversations from age 10-26, so I'm able to pick up on subtext or sarcasm (etc).

I stopped identifying with ADHD years ago because the online spaces frustrated me. Most people I've talked to say medication is the only reason they're functional, but that's not an option for me. Getting prescribed controlled substances in my state is near impossible with my income, even for a diagnosed condition. You have to get drug tested regularly to "prove" you're not abusing stimulants, I have no idea how people can just ask and get it. Bupropion was a non-stimulant I took, but it didn't help and I developed a tolerance. I used to obsess over how I'll never be normal unless I get stimulants. But reading about the history of ADHD in America blew my mind. I don't see myself as someone with an untreated disorder (ex. a diabetic without insulin) anyone, but I was pathologized for not being "useful enough" under capitalism.
I still struggle with time management, but I’ve improved by avoiding time-sink social media on days off and doing projects outside the house. I paint or watch shows during my lunch breaks at work, and found focusing easier at the library. I also focus better when I exercise more, when I was between jobs last year I would go on a 20-45 minute run and be able to code when I came home. I also use alarms, reminders, and timers on my phone to get me through the day. I have a reminders for going to bed, showering, getting dressed, and turning off my computer before work.

I don't know. I get that medication can be helpful and some people need it, but it's harmful to treat it as the only option when not everyone has it. I wish different coping skills or other ways to manage were talked about.

[fablefound]

hello! multiply-disabled web weirdo chiming in!! (fresh off forgetting this site exists, i'm commenting on everything that interests me now...)
soooooo, i have a lot wrong with me. to say the least. i'm autistic, and also live with ocd and ptsd, and recently discovered i have hypermobile spectrum disorder. only the autism is ""professionally diagnosed"" but i feel like with how my symptoms manifest... to put it bluntly, diagnosing me with my other stuff would be like diagnosing me for having a second head if i had one, it's immensely obvious and my symptoms are more or less textbook.
the most important thing, for me, has been having a support system of people who understand me and are able to accommodate when needed! also, connecting with ppl who share my disabilities in particular has been valuable because we can share tips >:}
i'm happy to elaborate on any of this, but before i go to bed here's a quick list of my big coping mechanisms for everything.

autism: this is a hard one because i see myself as autistic, not autism as some other entity/"part" of me with symptoms to treat. buuuuut, i did recently start occupational therapy for some of the stuff that makes day to day difficult (everything from cooking to emotional regulation), and otherwise, i just try to stay in touch with my body and brain so i don't burnout or meltdown.
ocd: medication and therapy--for the latter, exposure response prevention and acceptance commitment therapy make the ultimate cocktail for kicking ocd's butt
ptsd: looooots of therapy lol. not much else i can say on this one
hypermobility: this is the newest diagnosis to join the pack! and it's physical, not neurodevelopmental, but i figured i'd include it anyway (especially because ND folks are more likely to be hypermobile!). my boons have been physiotherapy (specifically dry needling) and compression gear!

[NoxidKin]

I'm luckier than some, I've been able to hold down a fairly good "normal" job for about 10 years, and I can keep my own flat and pets.

But I haven't been able to reach my potential creatively, and I'm very isolated.  I've never had much of a love-life and I feel my opportunity slipping away by the day.

Alot of my life has been just "surviving" instead of "living".

Some things that have helped me are seeking weird media (books, films, games).  Sometimes professional counselling.  Trying to work on creative skills and self improvement.

It still often feels hopeless though.  I self medicate with Cannabis which is dubious, but I also have a bit of a drinking problem right now that I need to get on top of.

It often feels like 3 steps forward, 2 steps back.  Just gotta focus on the two steps forward.

You've got to...

ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE         
ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE           
LATCH ON TO THE AFFIRMATIVE     
And don't mess with Mr. In-Between       


Not sure I agree with that last line, grey messy areas are alot of fun.  Catchy tune though!