CARLYLE — Talking about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one thing, personally talking about your own problems with the condition is another.
Lori Wyatt has the adult version of it and she wants to tell her story.
Wyatt is 52 years old and for the past seven years has been employed by Vaderstad Industries just outside of Langbank. She is employed in the accounts receivable finance department.
Wyatt has been married to Bill since 2012 and they reside in Carlyle.
Only recently has it been determined that ADHD has an adult version, although it is a lot less researched. It is a developmental disorder that cannot appear in adulthood without first appearing in childhood. Symptoms of ADHD in adults include difficulty in dealing with stress; mood swings, irritability, having a temper; forgetfulness; frequently losing things; difficulty staying quiet; interrupting others inappropriately; restlessness; difficulty focusing; and difficulty prioritizing tasks.
Unfortunately for Wyatt, she suffers from each of these symptoms. Together with being diagnosed with dyslexia, which is a reading disorder, and a learning disability, Wyatt has lived a frustrating and difficult life.
Born and raised south of Arcola, Wyatt attended school in the town. She was considered moody, hyperactive, inattentive and even downright weird, together with all other kinds of negative adjectives. She has gone to countless doctors and specialists over the years, only to be advised to take a deep breath, relax, take a sedative, stay focused or take another pill.
Wyatt was asked to submit some recent examples of her day-to-day issues and in short order a thousand-word essay was provided by email.
Some of her thoughts included, “I don’t stop to think before I react. It’s hard when someone asks me a question and I can’t answer right away because I need time to process. Reading is very overwhelming to me, as I lose focus after the first sentence. I listen to audiobooks instead.
“Loud noises are very overwhelming for me. I avoid social situations as I am embarrassed that I may say or do something that would cause people to think that I am stupid or weird. My desk at work is always covered with papers but that is the way I function. I don’t finish one task before I move on to the next, but if I put the papers away, I will forget where I put them.
“It is hurtful when people comment on my mess, but it’s hard to explain to people why I do what I do. I have so many thoughts going on in my head at one time, so communication is very difficult for me. I am often told that I am confusing to listen to and why can’t I just stay on topic.”
The list went on and on.
Fortunately for Wyatt, she has recently made tremendous progress in addressing her problems. For many months she has been mentored by a local registered nurse, Colleen Easton, who is also a life coach and a leadership master practitioner. In December 2021, she also began visiting a psychiatrist, and has been weaned off many of her medications.
She has joined many private ADHD Facebook pages, including Adult ADHD of Canada and a group for ADHD women which provides advice, strategies and support. She is also a member of an adult dyslexia support group.
Despite her issues, Wyatt lives a normal and active life. For many years she has volunteered at Saskatchewan Roughrider home games. During the winter, she faithfully updates the SE Sask Road Conditions Facebook page. The past couple of winters, she has housesat at Kenosee Lake, reducing her daily drive to Langbank. She also enjoys snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and kayaking. Wyatt took up golfing a short time ago and together with Bill, are members at the Carlyle Golf Club.
By the way, she also did graduate from high school not failing a single year.
Wyatt agreed to write this article not for herself, but to bring the matter of ADHD out in the open. Mental illness is becoming more and more of an issue today. ADHD must be discussed openly, and the medical world is indeed making steady progress discovering more about it and providing solutions.
The interview concluded with her thoughts of visiting her psychiatrist: “I am so thankful for him believing in me. For the first time in my adult life, I felt like someone took me seriously. He didn’t tell me to suck it up, grow up, or make nasty comments like what the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy?”
And on a personal family note, she said: “You know you have found the right partner when the two of us have got through a lot of ups and downs, not knowing what exactly was going on with me. I am so thankful for my partner in crime, a.k.a. my husband Bill.”
