Remember, kids, the point of mental health treatment isn’t a uniform standard of “normal,” it is an individualized version of success often centered on harm reduction and risk mitigation.
Your symptoms don’t have to go away, the parts of your personality that you like but are part of your illness don’t have to go away. They just have to be managed so they can’t hurt you. (The parts you hate and that hurt you and you feel serve no good purpose can be worked against. Can be worked with. You get to define that version of success too.)
Learn to recognize the signs of mania and figure out how to still have fun, but set boundaries to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Keep all the bubbly energy and creativity of having an adhd brain, but learn how to manage hyperfixation and keep your distractible nature from standing between you and your passions.
I feel like a lot of people struggle with “but if I get treatment, I won’t be myself anymore!” which is an absolutely understandable fear. I’ve faced it myself. But the point of treatment is not perfection or making you a zombie or even making you normal. It’s about making things not so hard, not so scary. And if you feel like your treatment is making you not yourself, and you’re unhappy with that? Talk to your dr or therapist or psych. Redefine success.
Also remember, if you ever need support asking for help, finding doctors, making that final call when you want to make an appointment, let me know. I’ll do what I can.
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