Hi, Katie!! Thank you soo much for this video! I just got diagnosed w/ ADHD: inattentive type a couple months ago (it’s the 1st semester of my PhD) and just started taking Vyvanse for the last few weeks. My feelings about it are so similar to yours (it also just makes me feel normal and just regular, which I didn’t realize was the point LOL) and I’m so happy you are being so transparent about it! ❤
I am on duloxitene, buspirone, and mirtazepine. They’re helping me focus too. I was able to just sit down and write my resume for the first time, read job descriptions to see if the job is right for me. I’m able to listen to music and block out the words so I can actually focus. What’s really bizarre is that I can actually focus in a loud atmosphere. I tune people out. It’s like I prefer to focus in a room full of chaos so I can ignore people. If that makes sense 😂 I’m going back to school starting in January for a BS in Business Administration w/a concentration in Entrepreneurship.I really feel like I can do it. I am back to controlling my blood sugars which helps me BIG time. Hopefully the meds help you. Remember the meds are not the end all be all. Diet helps a lot too
Hey Katie! I'm happy that you feel normal! I would like to ask a question - how do you feel while teaching? I'm not diagnosed but i feel like I might have ADHD, and since I finished my phd and became an assistant professor, things got harder for me, because I never feel "prepared" to teach in class. Even though I know the subject that I'm going to teach, I always always forget what to say and during the class I always end up telling other things rather than my planned topics.. I always have to create a powerpoint because I can not remember what to say next.. It feels awful. This creates a cycle of imposter syndrome that I can not break.. the impulsiveness frightens me to my core :(
This is a great question and I’d love to answer it more in depth in a video some time, but my biggest piece of advice is to try to relax and trust yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much you already know and have retained when students ask questions and you can easily answer them. It’s also totally okay if you don’t have an answer/can’t think of it, and say as much! Students appreciate honesty. As for going off on tangents - I almost encourage it. I almost always end up doing this too, but it leads discussion in really interesting directions! Sometimes I do find myself getting flustered or my brain blanking out, but when that happens, again I go for honesty. I’ll stop in the middle of a sentence and say “you know what class, I’m feeling really flustered, let’s all take a deep breath together so I can gather my thoughts” or “hm, I just entirely forgot what I was talking about. That’s okay, let’s move on”. You don’t have to be perfect, and your students will appreciate you more for being honest! Essentially, allow yourself to have your own accommodations in the classroom!
I'm so happy you're trying medication again! I have had the heart-pounding thing, too. It happens a lot if I have coffee too close to the time my medication is kicking in. However, I realized recently that the heart-pounding went away when my dosage was increased. I would expect the opposite to happen, but it was almost as if my brain was trying to tell me it wasn't getting full coverage or something. hahaha Unsolicited advice: medication is going to dehydrate you more than you realize. Make sure you get electrolytes throughout the day, and make sure those electrolytes have sugar in them. Electrolytes work best with sugar. I usually do an electrolyte packet or half a Gatorade and follow up with a large glass of water. Orange juice or lemonade works if you don't want sports drinks. There have been studies done showing that ADHD symptoms worsen with poor hydration, even with medication, which is why people wind up on insanely high doses or think the meds don't work. Can't wait to see how this works out for you!!
Little by little, things get figured out and progress happens. =)
♥️
Hi, Katie!! Thank you soo much for this video! I just got diagnosed w/ ADHD: inattentive type a couple months ago (it’s the 1st semester of my PhD) and just started taking Vyvanse for the last few weeks. My feelings about it are so similar to yours (it also just makes me feel normal and just regular, which I didn’t realize was the point LOL) and I’m so happy you are being so transparent about it! ❤
Thank you so much for sharing! Being transparent about it is something I care deeply about and will continue to do so!
I am on duloxitene, buspirone, and mirtazepine. They’re helping me focus too. I was able to just sit down and write my resume for the first time, read job descriptions to see if the job is right for me. I’m able to listen to music and block out the words so I can actually focus. What’s really bizarre is that I can actually focus in a loud atmosphere. I tune people out. It’s like I prefer to focus in a room full of chaos so I can ignore people. If that makes sense 😂 I’m going back to school starting in January for a BS in Business Administration w/a concentration in Entrepreneurship.I really feel like I can do it. I am back to controlling my blood sugars which helps me BIG time. Hopefully the meds help you. Remember the meds are not the end all be all. Diet helps a lot too
I'm so happy you've found the right combo for you! It sounds like you're thriving!
Hey Katie! I'm happy that you feel normal! I would like to ask a question - how do you feel while teaching? I'm not diagnosed but i feel like I might have ADHD, and since I finished my phd and became an assistant professor, things got harder for me, because I never feel "prepared" to teach in class. Even though I know the subject that I'm going to teach, I always always forget what to say and during the class I always end up telling other things rather than my planned topics.. I always have to create a powerpoint because I can not remember what to say next.. It feels awful. This creates a cycle of imposter syndrome that I can not break.. the impulsiveness frightens me to my core :(
This is a great question and I’d love to answer it more in depth in a video some time, but my biggest piece of advice is to try to relax and trust yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much you already know and have retained when students ask questions and you can easily answer them. It’s also totally okay if you don’t have an answer/can’t think of it, and say as much! Students appreciate honesty. As for going off on tangents - I almost encourage it. I almost always end up doing this too, but it leads discussion in really interesting directions!
Sometimes I do find myself getting flustered or my brain blanking out, but when that happens, again I go for honesty. I’ll stop in the middle of a sentence and say “you know what class, I’m feeling really flustered, let’s all take a deep breath together so I can gather my thoughts” or “hm, I just entirely forgot what I was talking about. That’s okay, let’s move on”. You don’t have to be perfect, and your students will appreciate you more for being honest!
Essentially, allow yourself to have your own accommodations in the classroom!
I'm so happy you're trying medication again! I have had the heart-pounding thing, too. It happens a lot if I have coffee too close to the time my medication is kicking in. However, I realized recently that the heart-pounding went away when my dosage was increased. I would expect the opposite to happen, but it was almost as if my brain was trying to tell me it wasn't getting full coverage or something. hahaha
Unsolicited advice: medication is going to dehydrate you more than you realize. Make sure you get electrolytes throughout the day, and make sure those electrolytes have sugar in them. Electrolytes work best with sugar. I usually do an electrolyte packet or half a Gatorade and follow up with a large glass of water. Orange juice or lemonade works if you don't want sports drinks. There have been studies done showing that ADHD symptoms worsen with poor hydration, even with medication, which is why people wind up on insanely high doses or think the meds don't work.
Can't wait to see how this works out for you!!
Thank you for the advice!! I knew I boarded that liquid IV for a reason lol