I can't tell you how many times I've actually created a blog, began the blog with this hopeful "new beginnings" or "new adventure" post, and then posted on it for a week and forgot about it. Maybe this is part of my ADHD brain being the type that starts projects and never finishes them to completion, but maybe it's also that I just didn't have the best reason or intention to start a blog in the first place. Anyway, I am here now, and that's the important thing.
To begin, I just want to give you a little background about why I am here. I know that blogs aren't the most used types of social media on the internet anymore, but I've found a sense, or a yearning, to go back to previous decades on the internet, where the complications of modern social media weren't among us; where we could just write a simple blog post, and we had AIM to chat with our friends if we didn't have their phone numbers. A bit nostalgic to think about, but also interesting.
I recently decided to take the plunge and delete all of my social media pages, except for Twitter. I have a Twitter account for my HubPages work, because I am also a freelance writer on that platform. So, the Twitter is only there to help promote some of my more professional work and writing on the internet. Other than that, I have cut out all other social media. I decided, for the purposes of where I want to go in my life, and my own sanity, that I'd like to have a blog and a YouTube channel, and that would be where I could post updates about my life, videos, or other content that I want to share. I have grown so tired of modern social media.
Especially for someone like me with adult ADHD, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram can be places where I can get completely lost. Scrolling and scrolling nonsense and useless information until the day is over. I actually had a big problem with that not too long ago and had to delete social media accounts to stop myself from the addictive patterns of create, watch, comment, create, watch, comment. Social media is a breeding ground for everyone to let out their inner narcissist; where we crave attention, approval, and admiration from others, and I guess what I'm saying is that it just doesn't seem healthy or worth it to me anymore.
There are countless other reasons I have decided to leave social media, especially Facebook, but I'll probably get into those details in another post. If you are here and reading this, I thank you for willing to stay connected with me in a time when social media cleanse is essentially "suicide" to people, and personal blogs and YouTube channels often seem like time capsules to decades past. I like this though. I like being able to say what's on my mind freely, not worried about who sees it, who comments, or anything else. I'm not worried about how I am presenting myself to you, but rather, I am using this moment for some much-needed therapy writing to get things off my chest.
In a post-pandemic world, social media has become too toxic for me to handle. Ads, videos, too many things that take my attention away from the most important things in my life: my fiancé, my dog, my family, and my close friends. In this new journey in my life, where I am beginning a career switch into the mental health field (I'm currently in school for psychology), I think it's more important than ever that I take this time to discover myself, get to know me, and stop comparing myself to others. I don't want to be like anybody else; I just want to be me. That's something I've finally come to terms with, and it honestly feels really good to say that. I have a goal, a plan, and a great plan for the life ahead of me, and I can't wait for the future. I hope you will join me and stay in touch during this exciting time in my life, and I hope only the best things for you and your journey ahead.
Until next time,
Anne Marie Carr
how did you go about getting diagnosed?
ReplyDeleteGreat question! I was already being treated by a psychiatrist for anxiety and bipolar disorder. When I explained to her the new symptoms I was experiencing, she had me fill out a diagnostic questionnaire about ADHD. A lot of adults who get diagnosed might have had ADHD growing up but were more "functional" at that time. I know for me personally; it didn't start impacting the large areas of my life like my career and finances until later in life. I had always had certain struggles but had learned to kind of "blend in" and be functional despite these problems. Then, when I had a very large amount of anxiety and stress after COVID, it exacerbated my problems to the point that I could not just "function" like before and required more help. Talking with a professional and doing the questionnaire would be the first steps if you are looking for help! Thanks for reading and I hope you get any help you need! :-)
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