Post by ozadd on Jun 2, 2017 13:43:08 GMT
It's been quite a while since I was active on this forum. Nothing disastrous has happened - just got distracted . I'm trying to find out if there's such a thing as "one-to-one" help for adult adhd - from a practical perspective. I'm thinking of someone who actually spends an amount of time with you, observing and guiding. So that constructive behaviours can be introduced and practised - at the time they are most needed. Is this a stupid expectation? I'm certain there will be some people who provide this sort of assistance but my concerns are: (1) Are they appropriate for me? and (2) How costly is it?
My reasoning for this request is as follows: As an older person (late 60s), I'm sure that much of my behaviour also has a psychological aspect (i.e. not just due to the neurological state of my ADHD brain). And I believe that "learnt behaviour" across five or six decades becomes really entrenched - even harder than trying to deal with it as a much younger person, possibly.
I have access to some good counselling - but this is not the same as having someone there when the rotating blades are scattering excrement! When I'm discussing a particular problem I've had "getting something done" (not!), I'm often asked how I reacted at the time. Trying to recall that and explain how it was, a week or more later, is futile - I just can't explain it clearly. It's hard enough to explain it at the time it happens!
When this "action-constipation" occurs, I usually either feel confused or, sometimes, I just can't even be bothered to keep going with the task (this doesn't mean it doesn't upset me or that I don't care - quite the opposite). The bottom line is that, at the time, I seem to have no adequate focus and little sense of what I should be doing next. Add to that the fact that I will have 101 items that are all important at any given moment and my brain becomes a chaotic mulch.
The idea of writing notes about what happens is no good - that feels like it takes me further away from what I was trying (?) to get done. Plus, the act of concentrating on writing during a stressful situation is so challenging.
The other effect is that it never seems possible to really relax. Even when I'm "doing nothing" (e.g. TV or reading), there's always something in the back of my mind that needs attending to. It's only since my diagnosis that I realise just how much stress there's been in my life - and the reason for it.
So, to get back to my original question, does anyone know of any specialist service that offers some sort of one-to-one, face-to-face, "on-the-ground" support. I can only imagine what it might cost (and the expense might prevent me from using it) but I'm keen to know about it. If I've not explained this clearly enough I'm happy to elaborate.
My reasoning for this request is as follows: As an older person (late 60s), I'm sure that much of my behaviour also has a psychological aspect (i.e. not just due to the neurological state of my ADHD brain). And I believe that "learnt behaviour" across five or six decades becomes really entrenched - even harder than trying to deal with it as a much younger person, possibly.
I have access to some good counselling - but this is not the same as having someone there when the rotating blades are scattering excrement! When I'm discussing a particular problem I've had "getting something done" (not!), I'm often asked how I reacted at the time. Trying to recall that and explain how it was, a week or more later, is futile - I just can't explain it clearly. It's hard enough to explain it at the time it happens!
When this "action-constipation" occurs, I usually either feel confused or, sometimes, I just can't even be bothered to keep going with the task (this doesn't mean it doesn't upset me or that I don't care - quite the opposite). The bottom line is that, at the time, I seem to have no adequate focus and little sense of what I should be doing next. Add to that the fact that I will have 101 items that are all important at any given moment and my brain becomes a chaotic mulch.
The idea of writing notes about what happens is no good - that feels like it takes me further away from what I was trying (?) to get done. Plus, the act of concentrating on writing during a stressful situation is so challenging.
The other effect is that it never seems possible to really relax. Even when I'm "doing nothing" (e.g. TV or reading), there's always something in the back of my mind that needs attending to. It's only since my diagnosis that I realise just how much stress there's been in my life - and the reason for it.
So, to get back to my original question, does anyone know of any specialist service that offers some sort of one-to-one, face-to-face, "on-the-ground" support. I can only imagine what it might cost (and the expense might prevent me from using it) but I'm keen to know about it. If I've not explained this clearly enough I'm happy to elaborate.