Marcella’s Journey Continues
by Marcella Lowry
As a child, I went to a local center for the developmentally disabled. I wasn’t disabled, but I knew I was different. Doctors knew I was extremely intelligent. But they didn’t know how to diagnose me, either. In the 1960s, they thought it was a psychosis. (Years later, I obtained a copy of my history from the facility, with the word, “psychosis” included.) I attended their day school in lieu of public school for the first three years, with supportive teachers and physicians surrounding me. I had friends in school who didn’t think I was different. I didn’t know this school was any different, either. Since my family didn’t have a car, I was taken to and from school by a neighbor whose son attended this school.
When my neighbor moved away, I transferred to public school. I cried every day at school. Kids constantly made fun of my family and me. I endured years of people laughing at me. It was a shaming experience. Few understood me, let alone wanted to be my friend.
In Junior High, I discovered a talent for singing and music. Voice lessons began, establishing a sense of self-esteem. I began to receive greater acceptance attending church. Nobody thought of me as different. It was a tremendous relief.
After I moved away from home, I married and began having children. I divorced my husband when my children were small. I put my husband through RN school, and as he studied, it piqued my interest. I thought I might have a talent for nursing. I completed my LPN, obtaining my license in 1989. Mental Health held a great interest for me, but I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to get an opportunity in that field.
I was in denial about ADHD when my oldest son received his ADHD diagnosis and received medication. I had two more children after that. Not long after my youngest daughter arrived, I could tell she was different. I began to see behaviors I’d learned to recognize as ADHD. I was shocked! How could this be? I thought I had done all I could do, yet here she was with ADHD! I know, my son already had an ADHD diagnosis – but he lived with his dad!
Slowly, I put the pieces together. My children had different fathers. I came to the inevitable conclusion: I was the common denominator. I’d already learned ADHD was genetic. Finally, on my 37th birthday, my doctor diagnosed me ADD, now known in the DSM-V as ADHD, Inattentive type. My doctor prescribed medication, and the moment the medication took effect, it was as if the light came on in the room. I felt normal for the first time in my life. Tears come to my eyes even now as I remember that day. It was a powerful revelation and a major relief.
I am now 55. With my doctor, I’m adjusted my medication to fit with my lifestyle. Today, my two children have chosen not to take medication for their ADHD. They are working on strategies to cope with their ADHD symptoms. As for me, I’ve found medication is a vital piece of the puzzle, but I combine that with webinars, teleclasses and support groups to help me learn to better manage my symptoms. Today, I’m having a blast working in mental health! How awesome is that!? And yes, the journey continues.
6 Comments
Do you find that any type of meds eventually get you paranoid and anxious?
Yes. Dexamphetamine has done this to me in a few days. Need to explore options.
Hi Karen,
I was diagnosed at 50 years of age. I started out with Ritalin which was dosed several times a day. I experienced the “roller coaster” beginning when the Ritalin hit my blood stream and then the slow descent until I repeated the cycle with the next dose. I noticed that my rate of speech mirrored the ramp up/ramp down: very rapid then normal and then sloooow!
In my state a psychiatrist must prescribe ADHD meds. At one point he concocted a cocktail with Prozac, which had multiple side effects. I objected to the escalation of my anger issues. We stopped the Prozac.
Next I took Adderall and finally settled on a single 20 mg dose in the morning. I never tried a time-release Adderall because I was working in a very highly active engineering job and the Adderall created
workable compartments of all the data I needed to process, especially when supervising co-workers. I prefer Hyper-attentiveness to describe my ADHD. I am focused and my powers of concentration allow me to thoroughly diagnosis very complex engineering problems. My worst times are when I not so engaged. That’s why I engage in continuous learning opportunities to maintain my focus.
I will always be grateful for my diagnosis and the medication to socialize me in interactions with the world. I confess that I have grieved my condition, i.e. because I knew intuitively that I was very different from my peers. At nineteen I took a battery of tests administered by the Character Research Institute. I was both encouraged and depressed by the results. My measured intelligence was in the 99th percentile but I had just failed two of my college classes. Imagine that!
What I did was create a battery of coping mechanisms which allowed me to graduate from college after withdrawing years before. That effort almost cost me my marriage. If I have a regret it is that my first wife never saw me as a medicated “normal” husband and father. She died of breast cancer in 1987 two years after the birth of our third son.
I thank God that He has loved me for my entire life and affirmed me when I despaired. I am so grateful that in my second marriage my wife indirectly caused me to seek a medical solution to my behavioral issues. I came to know that a strong line of generational ADHD preceded my birth. The court of public opinion is still deliberating about my children with only one possible ADHD son who is super intelligent but experiences moments of distraction and hyper activity. Also he is an amazing athlete.
Remember that you are “invaluable” and you belong here because God doesn’t make any “junk”! God Bless you!
Hello! I just joined and I am just now finding out about all the resources! I’ve always felt alone , outcast, all my life been told I was dizzy , hyper, talks to much, and on and on! I was diagnosed at age 40 actually by a dr. I worked with! After couple years he asked me if I would take a test for him because he believed I suffered with adhd ! At first I was insulted, but I agreed and now I’m 46! However, this past Easter morning I had to unexpectedly take my 8 ye old to meet her dad so he could take her church ! I only had 30 minutes to get her ready and then leave so they would make it on time ! I rushed to the vehicle not even grabbing my purse and I didn’t change my clothes or brush my teeth or my face! After dropping my daughter off I headed back home and as I was going through a little town that was a curvy road driving about 10 miles an hr state trooper pulled me over! He said I swerved and no seatbelt and using my phone! Ok he had me sure no big deal , however, I did not have my license and I was driving my boyfriends truck and I looked ridiculous! He asked me to step out of truck and there I was doing the field sobriety test by 2 officers .. one was in training… so anyways they arrested me because I was accelerated and my eye lid twitched and I counted to fast ! I couldn’t believe it! They didn’t even give me a breathalyzer or nothing .. they said they were trained and I was showing indicators Of being high .. I took it to a jury trial and it was a joke I was humiliated and wasn’t taken serious regarding my adhd and the jury decided I was guilty DUI for being bubbly , counting to fast and eye spasm! I couldn’t believe it! If I could elaborate I would but just to much to text about how I was totally discriminated against by the judge the prosecuting attorney and the state troopers( they said I was not normal I was different to happen but when they handcuffed me I was really behaved then!!! Can anyone give me advice as what I can do regarding this issue ? Thanks everyone.. #findingmeinsidethechaos…. sincerely, Bridget
This lady is luck, I haven’t been so lucky. I’m sure I’m not the only one…
Don’t give up. Since you’re reading this, I would hope that you also take advantage of the webinars and support groups, and maybe also some podcasts about ADHD. Find a coach and/or call ADDA to get more support 🙂