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galfromaway
1 4,228 M Seeking Light 5
PathStep 143 Compassion hearts456 Forum posts139 Forum upvotes215 Current upvotes215 Age GroupAdult Last activeNovember, 2024 Member sinceMay 30, 2016
Bio

If you're a listener and checking me out in advance of a chat or after a chat request from, thank you for reading this. If you're taking a self-care break, or you're busy with many other members, and can't provide support, please let me know rather than simply ignoring my request. I understand how listeners have other priorities.

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I'm an early 50s mom living in Canada. Continuing to work through anxiety challenges, a new ADHD diagnosis, and continuing to find healing in our marriage.

What else to tell you...

Favourite movie: Princess Bride. Enjoy being outside, hiking when I can, camping, photography, and exploring. Trying to learn about gardening, and working to find more community connections.

Thanks. :)




Recent forum posts
Work advice needed - new job struggles
Work & Career / by galfromaway
Last post
 October 11th
...See more Hi there. I have posted this in the ADHD community too, but wanted to ask here since it's very much workplace related. I was diagnosed a year ago with combined ADHD - I'm now 53. The last year and a half has been challenging, with trying to find meds that work for me (on my 5th try now), dealing with a toxic work environment, then having my role eliminated (along with 7 others the same day) in February of this year  (and husband being laid off a week later), and now trying to adapt to a role I've only been in for four months. I'm really struggling to figure out processes and ways to keep myself organized, and am really feeling like I'm letting people down. My boss knows the ADHD thing - I mentioned the side effects from the meds. Add to that husband's aunt passing away, a good friend facing a cancer diagnosis, and there's really a lot happening. I think I'm starting to reach ADHD burnout - I'm letting tasks at work, at home and in volunteer roles slip, I'm not doing the quality work that I normally do, and my anxiety attacks are getting very serious. Everything is simply overwhelming, and I can't tell if I'm projecting onto my boss and colleagues that they're fed up with me and I'm >< this close to being fired, or what. How do you deal with overwhelm at this level? My anxiety has reached the point where I'm not sleeping well, my appetite is lacking, and my inner critic is going crazy, kicking me in the butt. How do you communicate burnout to volunteer colleagues and work colleagues in a way that it doesn't sound like I'm making excuses? And do I disclose the cause of it all? My boss knows the ADHD thing - I mentioned the side effects from the meds. I'm really struggling and don't know how to handle things right now. I am starting counseling again, but wanted to see if there is anything I should do at work to make things a bit better. Thank you
Struggling with ADHD - challenges adapting to new job, meds not helping
ADHD Support / by galfromaway
Last post
 October 27th
...See more I was diagnosed a year ago with combined ADHD - I'm now 53. The last year and a half has been challenging, with trying to find meds that work for me (on my 5th try now), dealing with a toxic work environment, then having my role eliminated (along with 7 others the same day) in February of this year  (and husband being laid off a week later), and now trying to adapt to a role I've only been in for four months. I'm really struggling to figure out processes and ways to keep myself organized, and am really feeling like I'm letting people down. My boss knows the ADHD thing - I mentioned the side effects from the meds. Add to that husband's aunt passing away, a good friend facing a cancer diagnosis, and there's really a lot happening. I think I'm starting to reach ADHD burnout - I'm letting tasks at work, at home and in volunteer roles slip, I'm not doing the quality work that I normally do, and my anxiety attacks are getting very serious. Everything is simply overwhelming, and I can't tell if I'm projecting onto my boss and colleagues that they're fed up with me and I'm >< this close to being fired, or what. How do you deal with overwhelm at this level? How do you communicate burnout to volunteer colleagues and work colleagues in a way that it doesn't sound like I'm making excuses? And do I disclose the cause of it all? My boss knows the ADHD thing - I mentioned the side effects from the meds. I'm really struggling and don't know how to handle things right now. I am starting counseling again, but wanted to see if any other adult diagnosed ADHD folks had suggestions.
My ADHD Story
ADHD Support / by galfromaway
Last post
 April 21st
...See more #ADHDstory I was diagnosed with ADHD in September 2023 at the age of 52, after a social worker asked if I might have it based on some issues husband and I were having. In looking into this, there is so much that makes sense. How often I would look back at things I did, even years ago, and kick myself for perceived mistakes I made... being scattered when it came to cleaning and tidying... the "doom piles" in various rooms... getting stuck when trying to get started on a project... how effective I am when things are in a crisis.... how socially awkward I am, and why professional networking was so uncomfortable for me... how hard it has been to maintain friendships... how forgetful I am.... it goes on and on. In the time since I started looking into this, I've gone through the grief cycle, feeling sad that this is something that's "wrong" with me (even though it's not a defect), angry that it took this long to figure it out.  Medications are proving to be a challenge. I've been on three different stimulants that didn't work (apparently they can make anxiety way worse than it is already), and am on a non-stimulant that doesn't seem to be doing a lot. My family doc has been really supportive. I've also seen an ADHD therapist, which has been helpful where understanding the condition and work-arounds and tools are concerned. I also read the ADDitude website/magazine a lot. There is still so much to figure out and learn how to work with, but I'm getting there. And husband and daughter are learning along with me. <3
Do things get worse before they get better?
ADHD Support / by galfromaway
Last post
 July 9th, 2023
...See more For those who were diagnosed with ADHD as adults: Did you find that your symptoms seemed to get worse after the initial diagnosis? I've been looking into this since March when my counsellor asked if I might be ADHD, and the more I learn, the more likely it seems. I have an appointment with my family doctor next week so I'm hoping to learn more. But over the last couple of weeks I feel like I'm hyper-aware of my symptoms, and am looking back at my life growing up and keep thinking "That explains this... and this... and that..." Thanks
I has a sad - cat passed away
General Support / by galfromaway
Last post
 June 15th, 2023
...See more This past weekend, my family and I had to euthanize our 15-year-old cat. :( He had a check-up a few days prior, but on Saturday morning, he wasn't able to walk and was in a lot of pain. Turned out he had something called a saddle thrombosis - a blood clot lodged in the "Y" where the aorta splits off to provide blood to the legs. Daughter is heartbroken, and we all are really missing him - his meows in the morning and at bedtime when he'd be looking for his wet food... him pawing at us when in the kitchen to get a few pats and some loves... his huge purrs... his happy drools... I worry a little about our dog and our 4-year-old cat, and am not sure how to support their grief. Our dog looked so confused when we buried the older cat in the yard, not sure why he wasn't responding to her sniffs. Just missing him right now and needed to chat about it a little. Thanks for listening.
Adult ADHD?
ADHD Support / by galfromaway
Last post
 May 9th, 2023
...See more Greetings. It's been a while since I visited 7Cups and this group, and wanted to come to ask a question. Are there many here who have received a diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood? I'm asking because the question of whether I may be ADHD came up recently during a counseling session, and I've been looking into it. Based on the self-questionnaire I've looked at, it's very likely. Would like to get a sense from those who are over 40 and were diagnosed - how helpful has it been knowing that you have ADHD, and what tools are working for you? Thanks :)
Anyone on a dairy-free, gluten-free diet?
Healthy Living / by galfromaway
Last post
 December 27th, 2022
...See more Good morning. I've recently been diagnosed with a chronic condition that's requiring me to go on a dairy-free and wheat/gluten-free diet (allergic reaction to both, not celiac). What are some of your go-to foods (store bought and recipes)? (If you suggest food products that you get at the grocery store, please let me know where you're located -- I'm in Canada and I can't always get the same stuff as other places) How do you handle the grieving associated with a food change like this? I'm really struggling because I really like cheese, milk in my tea, chocolate, ice cream, real sour cream (the non-dairy one I found was disgusting), stopping at a fast food restaurant for a burger, and Friday night pizzas. Thanks :)
Anxiety and dealing with clutter
Anxiety Support / by galfromaway
Last post
 May 27th, 2022
...See more This past week has been a rough one. As long as I can remember, I've been messy. I remember my dad getting angry with me and threatening to throw everything on the floor into garbage bags. I remember my rooms in university being a total disaster. And apartments when I was living alone being a mess. Even now, my office and my sewing room have messes in them. And they're not comfortable spaces. I have a pile of garden soil that's been in our yard since last spring that still needs to be put away. I don't always put the weeds into our green bin after I clean up my garden. This has been 45+ years (I'm 50) of this, and I keep struggling to get past it. Monday night my husband blew up because there were a few things that I had started working on and didn't finish. (No, I'm not in any risk of harm - he was angry and frustrated, and it was a challenging night with daughter and I. But that's another story.) It's a trend with me and I get his frustration. When it comes to messiness, there are a lot of times where I don't see it or don't pay attention to it. And I don't do it on purpose. Sometimes it's overwhelming to see the mess, and I don't know where to start so I avoid it. Sometimes I'm in the middle of something else and I say I'll do it later. Again, I don't do this on purpose. I'm not trying to take advantage of my husband and what he does in the house, and I'm not trying to pass off the tidying to the person who comes in every two weeks to help with cleaning. At this point I really have no idea where to start. :( I know it's a cycle: (from https://goloadup.com/clutter-and-anxiety/) The reasons I want to do this: * so our home feels like a home – it shows how much I do care about where we live * so our home feels welcoming * so i can get a handle on the clutter and finding homes for things * to bring a sense of calm and space to our home * to prove to myself that I really can do this. Thanks for listening... not sure if anyone else struggles with this...
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