Chronically Adultish

Author: dmcdowell2023

  • Learning to Keep Life Simple

    This past week has been difficult. I’ve been struggling with some new health issues — as if I didn’t already have enough going on. Whenever something new jumps into my world, I tend to get overwhelmed by everything else. It’s like the new thing takes all my attention, and everything else starts to feel like just one more problem piled on top.

    I wonder if anyone else does this. Is it an ADHD thing, or just a me thing?

    After feeling sick for days, I finally went to the ER. They ran a bunch of tests, gave me some strong medicine, and then told me my liver counts were high. I was shocked. I don’t drink, I eat carefully, I try to take care of myself — so what in the world was causing this?

    At first, it felt really discouraging. I caught myself thinking, “Oh great… here we go again… woe is me.”

    But after the initial wave of self-pity, something inside me softened. I began to sense that maybe this was God’s reminder to me — a nudge to slow down and keep my life simple.

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  • Starting Over FAA

    I decided back in March to come off SFW (sugar, flour, wheat). I am doing this for many reasons but the top two are my health (both physical and mental) and my relationship with the Lord.

    I have joined FAA (Food Addicts Anonymous) and it has been amazing. I definitely haven’t followed the program as I should but that is what this post is about. I at one time had over thirty days no SFW. That is when the lies started in my mind telling me that that what I am doing is not necessary. After listening the lies for long enough and not turning to my sponsor and my God, I relapsed.

    I am starting again. I want this badly. I want my health back. I want to grow closer to the Lord than I ever have before.

    One thing that is very hard for me is to not eat when I am bored or really when I am doing anything that is easy or allows for snacking. But, there are so many reasons to not do that. 

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  • ADHD Adventure

    Dealing with ADHD is formidable but it is also an adventurous trek that I would not be able to experience any other way. I thank God for the gift of ADHD, even on the days that it makes me appear (and feel) super flakey. 

    There are so many people in the world that think it is just a label we use to cover the fact that we are lazy. There is truly nothing more infuriating. Most people that feel this way have not taken the time to really even try to understand what it means to be an ADHDer. There is so much to it. It is such a fight and at the same time, quite delightful. 

    Some of the main symptoms that adult women with ADHD struggle with are disorganization, feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, depression, issues with money management, struggling with time management, trouble staying focused, putting off boring tasks, and forgetting where you have put things.

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  • Invisible Battles: Enduring with Chronic Illness and Neurodiversity

    Living with both neurodiversity and chronic illness can feel like fighting battles on two fronts; battles no one but you can see. In this blog post, we will explore some of the unique struggles we face—and how Scripture offers comfort, strength, and hope.

    Frequent Struggles of People who Fight Both Battles

    Executive Dysfunction & Lack of Energy Collide:

    Chronic illness causes fatigue, pain, and/or brain fog. Neurodivergence may include executive dysfunction—difficulty getting started, organizing, or following through. Together, you might want to get up and handle your responsibilities—but your body or brain (or both)  just won’t cooperate.

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  • Hard, But Worth It

    My Journey with Chronic Illness, Neurodivergence, and Relentless Grace

    I never planned for my life to look like this—navigating a body that won’t cooperate and a brain that doesn’t play by the rules. Living with both chronic illness and neurodivergence means that even the simplest tasks can feel like climbing mountains with bare feet. But this is my journey. It’s a hot mess, quite painful, and very unpredictable—and still, somehow, it’s blessed. I’m learning that the hard path can also be a wonderful road to learning exactly what God has for me. This blog is where I’ll tell the truth about that road, one adventure at a time.