Recent forum posts (all topics)

  • Husband Has Stopped Taking Meds by: nlongenecker 3 months 6 days ago

    My husband was diagnosed about 12 yrs ago, at about 41 yrs old. Our marriage was at a total breaking point. He was actually living in our camper at a state park for several weeks and finally decided to go get help and started meds. He was on meds for about 4 yrs but even then, he was on the fast acting Ritalin and mainly took it for work, rarely when he was at home. I talked to him several times about taking it while home and how it helped our communication and relationship and he would agree but it wouldn't last. Then he stopped taking it altogether. He will tell others how much it helps him and he keeps the Rx filled...but doesn't take it. We've had several talks about it and he'll agree that it helps and that he's gonna start taking it but he doesn't. And I hear him telling people that he'll take it when he's at work or in other social situations but he doesn't need to take it at home...I feel like it's a total middle finger to me..I'm at home and trying to deal with his angry outbursts and mood swings and lack of attention to me, etc. I really don't know what to do because he's not refusing or being a jerk about it, but he's not taking it. He thinks that it only effects him and is oblivious at how it effects me. He is constantly telling people that he has such an understanding wife and that I put up with a lot. But I don't think he fully gets the impact it has on me. I'm torn because we've talked about it so much and it hasn't changed, so do I drop it and just deal? Part of me feels like the decision to take meds is the individual's decision but at the same time I've seen how it has helped him and us and I'd like to see him taking it again.

  • Something Else by: J 3 months 1 week ago

    It occurred to me, ever since I've been to this forum its primarily been women talking about their husband's with ADHD. ( it didn't just occur to me but, I'm revisiting that again ).

    When I'm taking inventory of all the common issues brought up here, the main one is about the non-ADHD spouse having to do more work with a greater load ( cognitive load ) than their ADHD counter part.

    If you apply that to what I'm about to say...you're not going to hear me. If you think I'm not taking responsibility and am not aware of my symptoms and what I've been doing...then what I about to say will get easily dismissed.

    Something else is going on here...or at least....it's being set up but not intentionally. ( and no its not rigged ! Lol )

    By all accounts,  either by me or by my SO...we are not experiencing an inequity in the work load or our household job duties. It seems fair to me, but I've asked her repeatedly it fair for her? Even the entire concept of parent child was at least in part...discussed. And I've asked on numerous occasions is there anything more I can do? And the answer is no. In fact, I have started just doing things before she asks and look for anything I can do to take the load off ger. She pretty much says she doesn't want help and I get appreciation fron her all the time for anything I do.

    Yet, she many times comes across like "I work so hard here". Even on her days off she jumps out of bed and starts working immediately and really doesn't like it when I slowly get moving on our days off. She even mentioned the other day when we actually slept in how good that felt. I told her she should do it more often and not feel like she needs to jump out of bed like a starting gun went off. I mentioned also....her son ( only child ) is now 30 so ...it been years since she's needed to get up and get him going for the day. In other words, there's no need anymore.

    It appears to me ( this just a speculation on my part ) that this something else is guilt. And there's a bit of a martyr thing going on if I'm not mistaken? The currency with her appears to be guilt not so much shame? 

    Still working on this...but that's what it feels like.

     

    J

    PS And in no way am I implying or inferring this has anything to do with anyone on this forum. I'm solely directly my comments and thoughts towards my SO. Just trying to figure out what's happening in my environment only. And again, for anyone who hasn't been following my SO and I, we both have ADHD. 

  • Non Adhd Spouse Vent by: LS89 3 months 1 week ago

    Hi all, I'm hoping that I can release some emotions on here as I'm at my last straw. I (non adhd) am a wife to an adhd spouse, and I am exhausted, I am in burnout and recently started antidepressants and counseling for myself. Something which I never wanted to do but I broke and finally admitted I needed help.

    My husband is a good guy but he has the hyper side of ADHD, and it is exhausting, I feel like I married a toddler. 

    I literally do everything, the house chores, the bills, the presents, the laundry, the food shopping, the cooking, everything! My husband keeps saying that I do too much but he doesn't help, or when he offers it's an empty gesture or (and i really appreciate how hard it is) his ADHD just wont allow him. I have tried approaching him in different ways to get him to help, explained how much the mental load it taking on me, how I need a tidy house or it really sets off my anxiety, I have suggested selected chores, timers, reminders, everything! But he either wont try them (then says I'm an arse for suggesting them coz he cant help it) or it happens for a week then that's it. He says i ask him at the wrong times, so I dont ask him on the evening now, I ask him just before tea (but then im telling him what to do) or I will ask him on a morning, but i'm being a nag. He has tried to step up and help but like I said it doesnt last.

    I may sound like a right a******e but how is this fair? 

    Is anyone else's adhd spouse quick to point the blame to anyone else? like he'll make a mistake (even small ones) and whilst I don't lose my temper or make any comments, he'll end up blaming me for it. 

    I have had countless people come up to me and say you have a patience of a saint and all he has to say about me is negative.... 

    I just cant keep going and I need to know is this normal for adhd relationships? 

  • Go big or go home by: J 3 months 1 week ago

    I'm pretty clear on the challenge I face with my SO. I'm also getting through the grieving process. All that's left is to make the decision and choose the red pill or the blue pill. Almost done with the book... which  makes me realize there's only so many things I can do alone without both of us participating.

    My biggest fear, based on my own insecure attachment is, can I do what I need to and become comfortably secure with what "I" have to deal with....that's me of course. 

    They say, in a battle against mother nature...the best you can hope for is a tie. A tie would be fine with me but also saying, this only helps me not take things personally and see exactly who I'm up against...and it isn't my SO.... it is mother nature.

    I'm thinking I'm going to go big and dig down deep, but, with some more help from a therapist.  That's my plan for now.

    Just yesterday at work, they showed me a ring that was a disaster in the making. I told them that there'd be little I could do to fix it so they'd be better off to wear  it as long as they could until the thing literally starts falling apart. At that time, it's time to buy a new one or....modify it a bit and change the whole structure.

    That's how I feel now...until the wheels start falling off....I'm going to go down that road as far as I can. And if that happens,  I do something else. I'll know that when I get there, but there's usually always an alternative. 

     

    J

  • Happy by: Swedish coast 3 months 1 week ago

    A liberating thought today. Many of my worst fears have already happened.

    The marriage has gone down an abyss of dishonesty and pain. Children are absent half the time. They might not like me with time, they will grow up with ambivalence about my love for them. I've lost most old friends, relatives. Hopes and dreams.

    Went for a Sunday walk alone. Lovely Autumn day. Many people outside with friendly faces. Everyone says hello. Little kids playing.

    Discover I'm happy to be alive, happy to be divorced. Those worst fears have all played out and I'm still happy today.

    Isn't that something. 

    I feel like it's doable to live with the coming of new challenges. All the worst things happen, but for the moment there's some rest. I feel content to just watch life happen for a while.

    Thank you everyone for your presence on the forum and for the kindness you show. 

  • ADHD spouse venting by: WildBill2500 3 months 1 week ago

    This forum seems pretty dead, but I need to vent. Yesterday, my ADHD wife, was saying how we needed groceries but she didn't want to deal with Walmart, so I suggested doing pickup instead. She handled the order and checked things off our shared electronic grocery list (Google Keep is amazing). The trouble started when she got home. She wanted help unloading and pointed out things to put away in the freezer. I handled all that and saw a couple bags of dried goods in the trunk and put that away too. After that, my wife asked if I got the eggs from the back seat, I hadn't, so I went out to the car and grabbed those. We went out last night and didn't have any other thoughts about groceries until this morning. She couldn't find cottage cheese - her instant reaction was Walmart screwed up (not at all uncommon during pickup). She then started looking around for other things asking me where they were... I said I hadn't put anything in the fridge other than the eggs. She rattles off all the things she's missing. I suggest she look in the car, because I took care of what I was asked to. She finds two cooler bags still in the car. I asked where they were, because I never saw them - they were between all the empty reusable bags in the trunk, behind the back seat. So, now, we have expensive perishable food we can't use and my frustration is extremely high, feeling I need to micromanage more- all because she can't communicate what should have made it from the car to the house, pickup on detail clues like missing items, or put things in an orderly fashion like full bags not behind and underneath empty ones. ARRRGGGGHHH!!!!! I ABSOLUTELY HATE ALL THIS! Everything says we shouldn't have a parent child relationship, but if I don't handle things myself shit goes wrong and costs us time and money! I'm seriously struggling to find an upside to our marriage. 

  • My partner's new method for dealing with my ADHD worries me. by: bluehive 3 months 1 week ago

    Some context: 

    We are hosting a housewarming party in two days, which has put both of us into overdrive with preparations. We are both doing a lot to prep, plan, and clean. He has a big meal planned, I am making dessert and did the shopping, and we are both cleaning. We worked together to complete our new deck and patio before the party; He built it, I just finished staining it. Since it is a backyard party, I also want to showcase our beautiful gardens. The problem is that I have been putting off tending to the backyard gardens, and they have gotten really overgrown and weedy. I started working on them on Sunday and found it would take much more effort than I anticipated. So, I began working on them every spare moment I could: waking up early, during lunch, after work, and staying up late. I feel overwhelmed by how much there is to do, and I've let that stress spill over, making me more prone to tears. I'm upset that rooms I previously cleaned and tidied are messy again. My partner has been very nice, comforting, and supportive. 

    Then, all of a sudden, he withdrew. We have had many discussions recently about strengthening our connection, but he barely communicated with me, saying he was burnt out. I even tried to hold his hand while we were watching TV, and he replied, "I just can't." 

    This hurt my feelings and triggered an anxious attachment response in me; I began to feel very unhappy with how he was pulling away without explaining why. This went on for two days (we struggled to find time to talk about it because we were both so busy and tired), and eventually, it boiled over. 

    I woke up on my birthday yesterday, got ready for work and waited for him to wake up for his day. I was expecting a bit of excitement, like a "Hey! Happy birthday!" followed by a big hug and kiss. 

    He got up, said hey, and nothing more. I didn't wait long to bring it up since I was on my way out the door. I looked at him expectantly, and he asked, "What?" I said, "I think you're forgetting something..." and he, somewhat put out, said, "Yeah... happy birthday?" 

    I felt so disappointed and let down. He had already been pulling away, and now, not even on my birthday, could he muster enough energy to pretend to be happy to see me.

    I told him I was upset by that reaction, and he immediately jumped into defensive mode, saying, "I planned our whole night tonight, I came up with other nice birthday plans for you, what do you want? Is nothing ever good enough?" 

    I left, got in the car and was upset, came back into the house, and expressed that it wasn’t sitting right with me, explaining why I was disappointed (through discussing our connection, we agreed to voice our feelings when we were upset rather than swallow them). All I needed was a big hug, a kiss, a smile, and a happy birthday wish. 

    He capitulated but then reiterated that he felt he had already done a lot. I left feeling dejected and cried on my way to work.

    I started receiving a lot of messages and love from friends and family, which lifted my spirits. As my mood improved, I felt like I might have been a bit of a birthday brat. He had done many nice things for my birthday, and I might have seemed unappreciative. 

    I sent a text expressing that sentiment, apologizing for making him feel unappreciated. I mentioned I was just saddened by his reaction and that we had agreed to communicate when we were upset. I said I loved and appreciated him.

    He never responded. 

    When I got home after work, we had about an hour and a half before meeting friends for dinner and a concert (which he had planned).

    He was still distant. Cordial, but distant. When I mentioned that lunch with my friend had been nice, he replied, "Oh, great." 

    In my mind, I was thinking, how can we SOLVE THIS? I CAN'T STAND being in each other's presence without really talking or being connected.

    So I asked if he wanted to talk about this morning. He said sure.

    I sought to understand, trying to use curiosity to dissuade my anger (things I'm learning in therapy). I asked what he was feeling this morning and how it felt for him, etc. We revisited much of our earlier conversation, but I mentioned how he had been withdrawn for a couple of days and that I thought it contributed to my reaction. He mentioned he had been feeling a certain way, which affected his behavior that morning. He then explained how he has been acting towards me. 

    He told me that when I procrastinate on something, then get stressed as it nears the deadline, it creates a sense of stress around me that makes him uneasy. This is because a) he might have to take on tasks I would normally handle while I deal with my stress, and b) he just gets stressed being around me. 

    Okay, fair on some points... (I haven't made him do anything extra in the recent situation involving the housewarming party and gardening issue.)

    So, if I haven't made him do anything extra, it’s just that being around me when I'm stressed is stressful for him. 

    He then mentioned that he has told me many times how uncomfortable it makes him when I leave things to the last minute. He feels that I refuse to change, that I don't listen, and clearly don't care about how it affects him; I just continue doing what I want. 

    He referenced a post he saw on Reddit where a man said his wife complained often, and he started leaving the room when she did, causing her to stop complaining. I thought... this is absurd. He’s taking relationship advice from Reddit? Did this man communicate with his wife? Did he explain why he was leaving? Or did he just train her behavior out of her, thinking that was a good tactic?

    So my partner decided to implement the same strategy. When I leave something to the last minute and become stressed dealing with it, he's going to "remove himself from the situation," meaning he won't talk to me, hug me, or hold my hand. He said, "even the reminder that you exist stresses me out." 

    I... try to respond, but I am somewhat left speechless. I ask a few more clarifying questions but struggle to provide constructive feedback. I'm basically appalled by this decision. He can see I'm grappling with how to respond, and he says, "It's not really a discussion. This is what I'm going to do. I've tried talking to you and communicating, and I’ve told you how it affects me. You don't care. You just keep doing what you want, and you clearly always will." 

    I'm still at a loss. I say okay and leave to process my thoughts. I go upstairs and begin to cry intensely. I have ADHD, a neurological disorder that makes it challenging to conceptualize and execute long-term projects, recognize how long something will take, or focus on the future while letting go of immediate problems. I feel immense shame, sadness, and desperation when I procrastinate and struggle to finish things on time. Additionally, I have taken the initiative to seek help, have been medicated, and have made significant progress. He is upset because I left the gardening to the last minute, but I also planned, shopped for, packed, and executed a five-day backcountry camping trip for us (including dehydrating our meals). I applied for a job and submitted the application three days before the deadline, finished staining the deck five days before our party, and did all the planning and shopping for our party three days in advance. This is all just in September. Yet because I procrastinated working on the garden, and, because it's important to me that our garden looks nice during our backyard party, I have spent every waking moment out there feeling overwhelmed, yet I am treated as if I have made no progress or effort to change that part of myself. Worst of all, I've allowed it to affect him simply by being stressed. 

    I can't help but feel like it's a punishment. Withholding love as a tactic to get me to change behavior he does not like. I find this extremely troubling. 

    I gather myself and leave the bathroom. He can tell I've been crying and prompts the conversation again. I tell him essentially what I just explained. That it feels like punishment for something with which I already struggle and feel such shame about—not something I "want to do" or "get to keep doing." 

    He is adamant that it doesn't matter why I do it. It affects him negatively, so he needs to withdraw. It's about protecting his sanity and peace—it's not a punishment. I can understand that; I can see his perspective. However, he continues to assert, "because you refuse to change." I tell him that if that's his core argument for this new "method," then it is unfounded. I have made significant progress, and I've worked incredibly hard to change. I have participated in therapy, received an ADHD diagnosis, and been medicated. I was content living with it when it only affected me, but I sought help because of its impact on my partner and our relationship, as well as to ensure it wasn't unfair for him to deal with these aspects of me when I had accepted them. 

    So, what I'm left thinking is: You've tried hard to change, you've made great progress, you work really hard, you do many things well. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Because if you slip up—and you will, because you're human—your partner will resent you, withdraw from you, and will not support you. In fact, he will be angry with you for doing this to yourself and him. Ultimately, the outcome of your actions affects him negatively, making it the worst thing you could do in his eyes. I don't care how many positive things there have been; if you mess up like this, you’re a bad partner who chooses not to change and simply does what she wants with no regard for his feelings. 

    I express my perspective to him (not in so many words). He remains unmoved. I ask if it's just self-preservation, can he please at least communicate what is happening when he feels the need to withdraw? Let me know, "I'm feeling overwhelmed by your stress, and until you have it under control, we should have some space between us." Without that information, I continue trying to talk to him, kiss him, or hold his hand, and I get rejected. My bids for connection are dismissed, and it’s incredibly painful. If he has made a conscious decision to distance himself, I deserve to know so I can accept it and suggest that we take some time apart and reconvene in a couple of days.

    He thinks for a long moment, sighs, and agrees. He says, "But don't make me do anything else. Don't keep piling on things for me to do." 

    I tell him all I'm asking for is basic communication. He scoffs, stating that he has tried communicating and has now resorted to this because I refuse to change. 

    This is when I tell him that his argument is invalid and provide evidence of my progress, etc. He merely responds with a nonchalant "whatever," expressing disbelief in my progress.

    It's my birthday. We go out for drinks and attend a concert. We hold hands and kiss, but I feel reluctant to be around him. I feel abandoned, unseen, and misunderstood. I fear having a child with him — how will he treat a stressed and anxious kid? How will he respond to their behavior? Will he silently withdraw and withhold love and affection? Will they grow up thinking they cannot express feelings of anxiety or stress because it means their father cannot be around them?

    This is how I feel now. I worry that next time I mess up, procrastinate, and have to rush to complete something, I should hide my feelings so I do not upset him and jeopardize his love. 

    When things are good, I feel so at home and in love with him and our life together. I love so much about him. I am genuinely happy. 

    However, I think these issues might be things I cannot ignore, and they will only worsen. He already resents me. I am struggling with his reactions to certain situations. How long will we continue in this manner, and how could I possibly bring a child into this dynamic? 

  • I Don't Know What This Is ? Impending Sense of Doom Con't by: J 3 months 1 week ago

    After everything I've learned so far including reading from the book, I've been trying to imploy aa many tools as possible when communicating with my SO. That includes, not invalidating things she says especially things she believes.  I'm going in with an open mindset even if I don't personally agree with everything she believes, and responding to her accordingly trying not to say things like "I don't believe it" or "that's not true".

    Having said that, this thing about global catastrophe, civil war in the US ( including rounding everyone up like a Russian Gulag if certain people get into power ), and geological events including Asteroids hitting earth causing the next mass extinction, and Solar Flares taking out the entire power grid on earth rendering all electical devices disabled.......is a recurring theme. To the point, she's very worried that these are upcoming events and the threat is eminent. Eminent as in coming soon. 

    To the point, she's now wanting to act on it ( as if it's  coming ) including having me do things in preparation: buying a generator,  getting emergency food rations to last many months ( not just a few weeks ) botted water etc.

    For the record, I don't believe this is true and I'm not really worried about it. But, with an open mind, I try my best to discuss the likelihood of any these events happening. Bottom line, these are all things out of my control so I don't spend time thinking about it.

    But, she says she's been worried about this for years ( a couple at least ) and talks about it all the time. Twice ...last night and just this morning, in the last 24 hours. And her confirmation for most of this comes from people who say they've had a near death experience and have information ( from another dimension ) who've come back to report on this saying ....the shift is coming and it's going to be bad before it gets good. Kinda biblical in that way.

    I personally don't give credence to people predicting the future. I don't care what they say or what otherworldly dimension they've been to, but in an effort to NOT dismiss my SO's beliefs, I present my opinions with an open mind.

    I just don't know what this is? I'm sort of clueless? And since I now have to get involved ( the preparation for disaster ) I feel I have something to say. I've already talked her down and reassured her I already own the things she wants and we can only be so prepared without going too far down that road. That's been okay with her, but I still can't relate or am sure what this is all about? 

    Is this all catastrophic thinking run amok or what?

    J

     

  • Book Confusion: Projection? by: Icandothiswithhelp 3 months 1 week ago

    I am nearly done reading the book and finding it very insightful. My wife was recently diagnosed with ADHD and started meds. As the non-ADHD spouse, I am reading the book trying to place myself in those shoes. 

    While I clearly see her symptoms (disorganized, excessive spending, distractible, etc), she is also very much the book version of the non-ADHD spouse. She nags, belittles, rages at me, pushes all real responsibilities on me then tells me I contribute little or nothing, and is constantly asking me to do more. I never ask her to do anything and go out of my way to avoid triggering her anger. 

    I am the described easy going, fun loving, spontaneous, hard working, loving parent. I can certainly get distracted or have my attention pulled in too many directions, but I believe to a reasonable degree. I have not been evaluated for ADHD, it has never been recommended (except by her) and the screening questionnaires come up negative. 

    I am the sole bread winner, cover all bills and finances, am expected to cook every meal (separate meal for her to eat on her own typically), take kids to every birthday party / practice / sporting event, all kids are in school or day care and we have a cleaner come. I don't drink, play video games, go to the gym, or go out with the guys (no time). I 'walk on eggshells' constantly. 

    From what I read in the book, it seems like she is managing me like I'm the ADHD spouse and not the other way around. Could she be projecting her symptoms and frustrations on me to deal with her ADHD? Is this a known pattern?

  • Coming Together by: J 3 months 2 weeks ago

    I'm finally starting to get it...and understanding how this attachment theory actually works. Understanding my own and how I became this way and being able to recognize others ( attachment style) and how they work together....either good or bad. Actually, there's no good or bad, just what it is. 

    The big picture, that I just now finally realized ( more fully ) and more clearly....starts with my parents of course and extends to my immediate family: my mom had an anxious  possibly  anxious-avoidant style.....and my dad was dismissive avoidant. This seems almost obvious to me now. And my sisters are both anxious-avoidant and anxious preoccupied/secure respectively.

    And I'm just a little of both ( anxious or avoidant ) depending on who I'm with. But of course. A little of my dad and a lot more of my mom....the one who I spent more time around and was definitely the primary care giver.

    And now, here I am....with another  dismissive avoidant ( oh yeah, there's been others...two more at least ) who just trigger the hell out of me left and right at times, which brings out my own insecurities. ( insecure attachments )Many of her behaviors resembling my dad's.

      After doing some of my own research....I'm looking at these attachment styles as stand alone features and not trying to include anything else into this mix. For me, it's too easy to start letting my imagination run wild so in an effort to stop that....I'm more focused on this for now.

    And the very best thing I can do for now, is focus on myself and making sure I'm as secure as I can. Being secure in myself, is probably the best thing I can do to ensure that my SO and I stand a chance together. I know I can't do this all alone, but I've still got some work to do on my end which has already shown results.

    The better I get....the better we get. That much I know for sure because I've seen the results already.

     I even figured our the attachment style of my SO's ex-husband.....the longest relationship she's had ( 15 years ). He's also a dismissive avoidant.....and their schedules and personal habits meant tons of space and time away from each other. Ironically, she felt much like I do now ( with her ) much of the time. He almost stopped having sex with her after only 4 months married, which ultimately ( at the end ) lead her to cheat which also fits the profile. I found that really interesting. More proof that two insecure attachments don't work well together,  even if they're alike and seemingly more compatible. 

    Like I said....I'm starting to get it now more than ever. Knowledge is power....and thus kind of power is a good thing.

    J

    PS I'd love to tell this to my SO some day but for now, that'll just come across as "needy". At least, that's what it feels like for her. Better to let that ride until another day or maybe not at all....the more secure I get.

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