ADHD can be challenging, but having other health concerns can make dealing with it more difficult. This has been the case for me over the last few years.
How exactly does ADHD impact my ability to deal with other health concerns? Hyperfocus. Hyperfocus can be a good and bad thing. In fact, it can be both things at once. For example, you may be getting that report written for your job, which is excellent, but you may be so into it that you don’t hear your phone ring and miss an important call. My ability to hyperfocus is productive most of the time, but sometimes I shift my focus to my health. At this point, things start to go downhill.
For several years, I have been dealing with various appointments and tests. Instead of waiting until the results come back, I focus on all the possibilities it could be. I don’t focus on things and think everything will kill me or the results will ruin my life. I focus on all the different things it could be, which leads me to focus on why doctors haven’t been able to diagnose me with anything officially. That line of thought makes become upset that other doctors have been dismissive of my symptoms in the past. My thoughts finally land on that they will never find anything wrong with me and that I should give up trying to talk to anyone in the medical profession.
It isn’t a fun place to be stuck in. Sometimes it leads me to believe it is all in my head, which I know isn’t true; my chronic pain and joint issues don’t lie. Getting myself unstuck can take a lot of effort. Thankfully I have three things that help me get through these times – good support from people in my life, knowing my own body, and my tenacity.
My support network isn’t huge, but I have a few close people I can talk to about all my concerns. Some people will discuss my concerns with me in-depth, which is a huge help because it lets me see things from another’s point of view, not to mention it is a relief to have someone listen.
Trusting myself is a massive part of getting through my health hyperfocus. I know my own body and can tell when something feels off. By understanding where there is an issue, I can better explain what is bothering me. It is always essential to trust how you feel.
My tenacity is what helps me not give up. It is why I can put my mind to something and, most of the time, pull it off. Giving up is not an option for me, which sometimes is a detriment, but life lessons are important. My tenacity motivates me to seek answers to receive a resolution as to what is going on with me.
Hyperfocusing on health is something that I need to manage better. I know I have made good steps in shifting my focus when negative thoughts surrounding health come to mind. Plus, I learned that it is okay to tell a doctor that I am unhappy with the outcome and I would like a second opinion. Even with the positive steps, it can still be a struggle, but I will continue to try and improve my strategy so that one day this will no longer be an issue.