As well as having OCD, I have ADHD and I am recovering addict. Ever one to indulge in gallows humour, I have called my triple diagnosis The Holy Trinity, which made my psychiatrist laugh. I am really good at some things, and not so good at others. Isn’t everyone? The ADHD side of me finds it toe curling to follow instructions, but I am a great lateral thinker, which I will come to shortly.
As well as my OCD meds which have worked wonders, I have been on meds for ADHD for a couple of months. It has been a real adjustment, and I have been disappointed that the Ritalin derivative didn’t turn me into a bestselling author overnight. However, I have a brilliant psychiatrist who I have total faith in, and I am sure that together, we will get there. I have found that with mental health, there is no way I can do this on my own, and things take time – and tweaking. I was listening to Alistair Campbell being interviewed on Kirsty Young’s brilliant new podcast Young Again talking candidly and movingly about his mental health. He suggested finding one person, one therapist, or psychiatrist who you trust, and sticking with them. There are so many opinions, and it can end up becoming very stressful listening to them all. Everyone you meet becomes slightly like the all knowing pub bore.
Back to the lateral thinking, and an old fashioned bed. The crib in general belonged to my grandfather – to say they don’t make them like that anymore would be entirely true, and with that, I mean the right sized bedding, too. It is between a single and a double, I think it is called a Knight, one down from a Queen, you see. It is up against a wall and impossible to make up, causing a great sweat, and a bit of an ADHD meltdown. So fed up was I at trying to do a hospital corner up against a wall, that I got a normal sized sheet and cut it half way down the bottom. It fits like a dream, so I will now have to ask for help, as sewing is not my strong point. When I told a friend about my manoeuvre, she was amazed, said she would ‘never think of that,’ but then, I don’t think of other things.
Perhaps with ADHD and making up beds, we need to embrace thinking outside the box, and asking for help – and embracing our fantastic talents which if channelled correctly, this ‘disorder’ lends itself to in spades.
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Jessica Drake - OCD / Anxiety Psychotherapist 