SquarePeg Books

About 11 years ago, I tried to go off my meds–the Ritalin and the anti-depressants. I did it for health reasons (serotonin syndrome is a thing. I guess I should explain that in another post), and monetary ones. A nickel saved is a nickel earned.

I made it two years before I had to go back on the meds. I just…I wasn’t going to make it. Too much baggage; something had to give or I would destroy the whole family (not intentionally, mind you, but…meds. Sometimes you have to).

I did not go back on the Ritalin. I’d been diagnosed with ADHD back in 2002-ish., but insurance was not thrilled about the idea of paying for the meds because I’m “high functioning adult.” I can spend $50 a month on meds, or I can be really bizarre and use that $50 for the household.

Ritalin makes things a lot easier, but $50 is $50.

Now, I’m in peri-menopause. Now, I’m flaming out all over the place. Now, my brain feels like a sailor with a three day pass working on hour 12 of a bar crawl.

Now I learn the perimenopause tends to WORSEN the symptoms of ADHD. Now, I’m thinking adulting needs more chemical help.

Now, the medical establishment says “yeah, so, even though you were diagnosed, because you’ve managed to survive 11 years without that meds, we’re going to give you this packet about mindfulness meditation, diet and exercise, and call your issues a nutritional deficiency unless you  get tested again by one of these specialists over here.

Listen here, sugarsticks. When I take any medication that is supposed to get normal people wired up for 8-12 hours, I get quiet, calm, focused, and after an hour or two, a nap sounds really good. I was already diagnosed ADHD. Why do I have to prove it all over again?

At least I got the names of some testing facilities, because the kids have been talking about getting tested themselves. Now I just have to wait for the peculiarly American joy known as Health Insurance.