My adventure with ADHD began when I met my wife Katrina, a 20 year old co-worker who was 15 years my junior. We were both big flirts and I was someone she could talk to. After a short three month dating period we moved in together and at first, it was paradise.
"The good ole days"
I was a bachelor of 4 years, a conscious choice I made after a 13 year failed marriage. I moved to different town, made a new set of friends and came and went as I pleased. A great arrangement for some but a lonely life none the less.
I missed my daughter and son terribly, who were now "bargaining chips" for my former spouse. So to keep from losing my mind, I worked as much as possible and dated occasionally. At my daughter's request, I gave up my career in Law Enforcement for a much safer job as a security officer. I missed the adrenaline rush of the street, but I liked the "easy going environment and helping people.
"The dating game"
At first I refused to date anyone I worked with, a staunch rule I lived by on the street. But as time went by I realized that the situation here was much different and the company didn't have a "no frat" policy so I relaxed my rule and got a few phone numbers.
After dating several women from work, I started dating very domineering blonde who we will call Kay. Kay seemed to need a whipping boy and she chose me to be him. For what ever reason I really liked this girl and let her get away with far too much.
One day while stationed in Katrina's section, I was openly complaining about the grief "kay" was dealing me and made the statement that all women were bad. Katrina said, "You can't say all women are bad, you haven't dated me yet."
"Child how old are you?" I asked, staring at her in disbelief.
"I'm 20 about to be 21, why? she retorted, without missing a beat.
"Well come back when you grow up!" I fired back and walked away.
I rounded the corner and ran smack into "Kay", who before I could even say hello, railed on me, unloading her daily dose of abuse and making clear what I was going to do that evening. Without a thought, I walked back around the corner and without skipping a beat asked Katrina, "What are you doin tonight?"
Her inquisitive look, exploded in a huge smile. I don't know, what'd you have in mind?"
" I want you to go out with me to help me make someone jealous."
Sunday, December 13, 2015
"Hello and Welcome to our world"
Hello and Welcome to "Caressing the Cactus"
C.T.C is a blog about an average everyday normal guy living in the house with 3 ADHD people. Katrina my wife, Daniel my 15 year old son, and Rachel, my 13 year old daughter. This blog is meant to shed light on those suffering from ADHD and those loved ones who care for them.
For those of you who may not be familiar with ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, as it is clinically termed. Attention Deficit is a mental disorder which is usually diagnosed in children during the early school years, but this not also the case.
The symptoms of this disorder are different in children than in adults. Children with ADHD often suffer from anxiety which cause them to exhibit hyper active behaviour. More commonly however, ADHD children have a difficult time paying attention in class and / or focusing on task.
The situation is much different in adults, adults with ADHD have a hard time with time management (always late) the most common symptom in adults however, is their short attention span and even shorter memories. Adults suffering from ADHD also struggle with:
There, now you have an idea of what doctors and scientist say this disorder is; but there is so much more to deal with when you are a caregiver to a ADHD person.
An adult suffering from this disorder, can often be misdiagnosed as being Bi-Polar, or manic depressive. Why? Because of their inability to retain information, as well as their terrible memory, ADHD people are prone to becoming quickly anxious. When that anxiety builds he or she starts talking louder and in more belligerent tones. If the anxiety goes unchecked Attention Deficit suffers can, and often do become violent suddenly.
Many ADHD victims have trouble keeping a job because of their inability to manage their time, along with the fact that they have trouble retaining information, and lastly their tendency to forget what they are supposed to be doing almost instantaneously.
Relationships often suffer because, Attention deficit victims are almost always tired and offer little help on the domestic scene. This is often seen as laziness by those on the outside looking in. Another nail in the relationship coffin is most women with ADHD, have little or no libedo this is often caused by the brain being overwhelmed by constant input.(imagine a computer screen with 50,000 tabs open at the same time and constantly changing from one to the other). Such extreme brain activity leaves the body drained and room for little else but sleep.
Because they have trouble keeping a firm grasp on life, people with ADHD often feel like complete and total failures. This often leads to depression, the depression is then often treated with alcohol or drugs. This can also lead to thoughts and attempts of suicide.
Be sure to join in our next blog "My story"
The symptoms of this disorder are different in children than in adults. Children with ADHD often suffer from anxiety which cause them to exhibit hyper active behaviour. More commonly however, ADHD children have a difficult time paying attention in class and / or focusing on task.
The situation is much different in adults, adults with ADHD have a hard time with time management (always late) the most common symptom in adults however, is their short attention span and even shorter memories. Adults suffering from ADHD also struggle with:
- Chemical addictions
- Extreme frustration
- impulsive behaviour
- keeping a job
- Maintaining relationships
- depression
- thoughts of suicide
- low self esteem
There, now you have an idea of what doctors and scientist say this disorder is; but there is so much more to deal with when you are a caregiver to a ADHD person.
An adult suffering from this disorder, can often be misdiagnosed as being Bi-Polar, or manic depressive. Why? Because of their inability to retain information, as well as their terrible memory, ADHD people are prone to becoming quickly anxious. When that anxiety builds he or she starts talking louder and in more belligerent tones. If the anxiety goes unchecked Attention Deficit suffers can, and often do become violent suddenly.
Many ADHD victims have trouble keeping a job because of their inability to manage their time, along with the fact that they have trouble retaining information, and lastly their tendency to forget what they are supposed to be doing almost instantaneously.
Relationships often suffer because, Attention deficit victims are almost always tired and offer little help on the domestic scene. This is often seen as laziness by those on the outside looking in. Another nail in the relationship coffin is most women with ADHD, have little or no libedo this is often caused by the brain being overwhelmed by constant input.(imagine a computer screen with 50,000 tabs open at the same time and constantly changing from one to the other). Such extreme brain activity leaves the body drained and room for little else but sleep.
Because they have trouble keeping a firm grasp on life, people with ADHD often feel like complete and total failures. This often leads to depression, the depression is then often treated with alcohol or drugs. This can also lead to thoughts and attempts of suicide.
Be sure to join in our next blog "My story"
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