ADHD: How do you handle it?

rtl32

rtl32

Member
So I have some serious ADHD going on, to the extent of massive amounts of energy and drive to move to absurd difficulty with homework and time management, and even frequent RLS and everything in between. I have been able to channel some of the energy and intensity into my passions and sports and learning new things on my own, but with everything else it pretty much runs rampant through my life. Schoolwork, even though I score really well on standardized tests (/claim don't hate) and all that, has been dropping a lot. Not because I don't get it or can't understand it, but because I can't pay attention and can't concentrate on getting even a simple worksheet done, or reading a chapter in a book (cannot even pay attention if I play the audiobook and follow the words at the same time...). I have been on Strattera for longer than I can remember, so I can't really say how it affects me or how well it controls the Adhd, but apparently it used to work really well (not anymore lol). It is a less frequent prescription because it's a non-stimulant that you take everyday instead of just when you need it, and from what I remember it was really rough getting onto it and having my body adjust to make the effects consistent. Even now, if I miss a day it fucks everything up and takes a few more to get back to normal. I have been thinking about talking to my doctor now and saying hey look, this isn't working anymore, something needs to change. I feel like if I could just channel the attention, energy, effort etc. into a one thing at a time it would help me out sooo much. Like get me into that zone, that flowy feeling where you're just concentrated on one thing only, like what it feels like to be skiing when you're really stoked and everything is right. Obviously I can't expect to be able to turn a switch in my mind and be able to do that, but anything is better than what I am dealing with right now, its getting worse and worse to deal with, especially with school and other activities ramping up seriousness and responsibility due to age. My question to you all, is how do you handle it? Judging from the "Skiing on Ritalin" thread, I assume a lot of you guys have the same problem and probably more experience than I do.

What medications do you guys take and how do they affect you? The good and the bad effectsHave any of you switched from a non-stimulant to a stimulant?

How hard is it to get onto and used to a stimulant?

What are my other options other than stimulant-non stimulants?

Any experiences with Strattera in particular? - and could it be affecting my skiing?

Any other actions I can take to try to control it? Outside of the medicine, what have you guys found to help?

Any experiences or advice would be warmly appreciated.

I know you guys aren't doctors or anything (I won't sue you if something gets fucked up and you happened to mention it to lol), but I just wanna see some other experiences and have an idea of what is "working" and what "isn't working" to other people, meaning I want to know what point of improvement I can kind of expect to reach over time with this, not that I will be stuck with this forever..

Thanks guys, and you can probably tell already from my writing that I have it pretty badly, its all over the place!
 
I find that my mind is constantly thinking of two things at once. The way I got to focusing when it came to studying and that sort of thing was music. Music was in the background and notes/study material in the front. That way I had control over the two things I was thinking of.

Just find out how your brain works and try to control it. That's my best advice.
 
Also, if you can handle it, dont take meds. I have found that when you are not on meds you can understand whats going on better. Nothing is interfering with the way your brain works and you are able to realize what is going on. At least that was for me. When I was on Ritalin I felt like a zombie, no energy, just kinda mulling around. Got off it and was off the walls for a bit, but eventually you're able to control it.
 
I have ADHD, not a chance I'll ever take drugs for it. I don't want to have to be dependent on anything to be "normal"

if you can find rat root or calamus root and grind it up and make a tea with it, it's a pretty good mild natural stimulant to boost focusing, that's what I've always used.

Also, if you find book learning isn't your style, consider trades and hand on learning, it definitely suits my learning style a lot better.
 
well personally it has been a struggle for me, but what really helped was HOLY SHIT LOOK AT THAT RED BALL!
 
just smoke meth all day everyday and drink ayahuasca tea twice a week to have meetings with alien space jesus about channeling your focus.
 
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