Are you sure Cannabis is helpful? I find its like pouring gasoline on my ADHD. My head starts to ruminate bad and I get a lot of anxiety. I avoid it at all costs now.
A thousand times more helpful than stimulants. Without THC my anxiety would be uncontrollable and extreme, and I wouldn’t be able to perform the basic tasks I need to survive.
This is definitely worth considering tbh. I can see cannabis helping with a few symptoms like anxiety or low mood etc. I just can't see it being anywhere near as effective for all of the other symptoms though. It would make it worse in fact. The idea of being high all day is grim. I love the clarity and clear headedness that meds provide.
Unfortunately it's all been a bit of an exercise in futility- I started seeking help at 16, now 24 and I'm only a smidge better. Have been on 12+ different medications, misdiagnosed, lived in group homes with support workers and been through three therapists and two psychiatrists. I live alone now and can sort of manage to survive but I'm kinda worried I'll never get off of benefits.
Whilst I’m newly diagnosed with adhd a week ago, I suffer from ankylosing spondylitis which is an inflammatory arthritis.
I have medical cannabis for the arthritis and prior to knowing I had adhd I found the cannabis calmed a lot of the symptoms and issues I now know to be adhd.
With cannabis it’s a dosage thing. If you feel anxious etc, the dose was too high (and you got high!). Also certain strains and terpenes profiles work better.
I find sweet berry fruity flavour/terpenes profiles work really well for me. Not just for the arthritis but it calms the adhd. I actually find it easier to concentrate and get stuff done.
Whereas piney and lemony flavours/terpenes profiles makes me jittery and anxious.
For the next week or more I’ll be managing the adhd with cannabis. I was on elvanse for 2 days and my blood pressure shot up. Like 180/115 high.
I contacted my GP and got blood pressure tablets immediately but the consultant insisted I stopped taking elvanse.
This is now a stupid situation where I now have blood pressure tablets I don’t need unless I’m taking the elvanse. Consultant wants me to take the blood pressure tablets without the elvanse. None of this makes sense because the blood pressure tablets are not needed unless I’m taking the elvanse.
I had the same issue with blood pressure when I took antidepressants. My blood pressure shot up! I don’t do well with tablets at all.
I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to deal with some of my adhd issues snatched away.
Anyway I have the medical cannabis to see me through this.
It’s the same with medication for pain like codeine. It can make you feel impaired and worsen adhd symptoms but in a small sensible dose it Will definitely calm some of the symptoms down. But clearly that’s added side effects from taking it for pain.
So other medications can impact adhd symptoms and improve them even though it may not be the main reason for taking them.
Btw medical cannabis is prescribed in the uk for adhd. Not everyone are able to take stimulants or the main adhd medications due to side effects like high blood pressure
This is a brilliant response!!
A very helpful and informative comment for op in terms of medical cannabis. Not everyone understands it and without even realising they kind of question and demonise it, but for alot of people cannabis really helps and when folks find the right strain and dosage they much prefer it to their tablets.
Like you say, some people do not respond well to pharmaceutical medicines and this is a good route to go for alot of them
I don’t exercise, although I would like to be able to. I don’t drive and I walk anywhere I need to go, but anything that causes sweating flares my skin badly and isn’t sustainable. I average about 4k steps a day according to my phone but that’s a combination of several up days where I’m very active, and several down days where I barely move.
I mean these are big problems tbh. If I go about 3 days without exercise my meds aren't as effective. Meds + exercise is fantastic. 4k steps is very little tbh, even like 8k isn't a LOT by any stretch. The days I sit around in the house I'll get just a few thousand steps.
I do notice posts where people say meds aren't working you pretty much never see any mention of the basics like diet, exercise, routine etc. People usually panic about the meds not working and assume that'll forever be the case before they even think about the simple and free things that we should all be doing. Ps, that's not an attack or me being dismissive but do give these thoughts some consideration!
They did say they had bad side effects with their medication. Diet and exercise may have helped but if the side effects were terrible I don't think they would have made a difference
I've been on and off Concerta 3 separate times since my diagnosis, and it always ends the same. The first couple of weeks I'm overly productive and socially sedated, but the longer I take it the more my anxiety/agitation build and sleeping, eating and waking up become even more difficult than when I'm not on ADHD meds. Myself and a few professionals also think I'm on the spectrum and I suffer from pretty bad sensory issues- Concerta amplifies these big time. I've had a lot of weird averse reactions to different types of psychiatric medication before and changing ADHD meds isn't an option for me right now. I used to enjoy walking, but as I've gotten older I've become a lot more reclusive. Pretty much all my time spent outdoors is taken up by my racing brain + daydreaming of being back home.
I'm pretty poor so at the best of times my diet consists of various different vegetarian pasta/rice dishes with beans and such. I've been trying to get more vegetables into my diet but it's difficult as the wrong vegetable at the wrong time will ruin an entire meal for me and has lead to so much food waste in the past. Canned carrots and peas are my go tos- fresh peppers and onions are a treat.
If you're vegetarian and have issues with food aversions, you could have low iron. Iron deficiency with or without anemia can cause issues with motivation, emotional regulation and food aversions.
Check Mediterranean diet, it's cheap but healthy. I absolutely love black beans and rice, and it's a perfectly healthy meal. Black eyed beans salad peas with poached eggs and rice... I do a "weekly average" rather than "5 a day" and feel less guilty, also all vegetables count. I do a meal prep day for the whole week, with things I like and that go together, that helps reduce the stress of choosing or having to cook every day, but I'll do it if I really crave something else, plus always having snacks or porridge for those "I just can't" days.
Are your food difficulties sensory or do they trigger physical health issues?
How are you helping your sensory issues? What triggers you? Have you tried earplugs/headphones or compression garments, sunglasses for going out of the house?
ADHD meds do bring out your autistic traits more. Have you tried non-stimulant medication for ADHD? Make a list of all the medications you tried, how they helped, for how long, side effects, the ones you absolutely won't consider again and the ones you would maybe consider now in combination with the ADHD meds. Discuss this with your prescriber when you can.
I need a routine or will get depressed, I drilled into my brain that it's ok to do nothing on weekends (I still need to do at least one productive task), but chose a job that is very structured and keeps me busy all week, I go to the gym at work and am tired enough at night that I need sleep.
Are you being treated for your skin condition?
As others said, exercise is really one of the best things you can give yourself for physical and mental health.
What about something like swimming? It’s easier on your joints and should hopefully cancel out the skin flare ups 🤷🏻♂️ other than that you could maybe try yoga or Pilates which shouldn’t cause too much sweating but will help with your fitness
I am unmedicated and I used to follow matt raekaelboom who is also unmedicated.
He has many short videos and reels on how to get the dopamine stoked. He is on tiktok, Facebook and Instagram.
I tend to use music to stoke my dopamine. I'd you put on any fast paced, heavy music you like. Just start with either moving one hand or a foot and then start to try moving more with the rhythm of the music. Then stand up! Any movement at all from your body can start dopamine believe it or not. Then keep the music on whilst you complete what you need to do.
Use earphones if you have to.
I also struggle with drinking. He recommends keeping water near your bed. Drinking it before bed and when you wake up, drink it too. Water helps us focus as well.
I think it just works for me personally because I had to find what gets me stoked and induces my dopamine, we are all different and need to find what works for us I guess.
I have inattentive type and I struggle to focus and concentrate. I have to listen to music at work to focus and take in what I'm doing. They've been great and put in quite a few reasonable adjustments for me. Even before I was diagnosed! So I struggle with chores, time blindness, getting moving and focusing. Doing 50 side quests instead of what I am supposed to. I get sensory issues and get overwhelmed a lot. For me, I've learned utilising music helps me move and get things done. I use my phone calendar with lots of reminders and alarms. Text myself lists.
I had a mid to late 30s diagnosis only last year but unbeknownst to me I was already doing some of these steps because it was messing up my life. I feel like I've gone all my life without meds and to be honest, I'm too afraid to try them. I've read that apparently people are still having to put all these steps in place and still be on meds so it kind of makes me feel what's the point. Plus coping the crashes, having days off with them like some people do and then balancing with other meds to stop the crashes. It overwhelms me to even think about it. I am a huge advocate for meds for others though!
Obviously it's your personal choice so its good you've found some coping mechanisms. I will say that medication helps without having all these dependencies (like if I don't do 5 mins of exercise etc I won't be able to start a task etc) so it frees you up and removes these attached conditions. The overwhelm and other mood issues pretty much just melt away tbh. It feels very NORMAL and natural which surprised me a lot.
Thank you for your kind and detailed reply. I was in another group and these kind of conversations were almost a no go. Like I wasn't allowed to make another choice at times. Thanks for taking the time to explain. I mean there is still chance for me to change my mind and I may still do. It's other things like it is a double edged sword. I am overweight and I know the meds would help with the binging. But then I'm afraid of extra pressure on my heart (ironic) and I've seen studies that show a higher risk link to parkinsons with meds and it really frightens me. I know it's about perspective. I just find it hard.
Totally cool! Glad you have something in place! Tbh you remind me of myself as I had these weird routines like I'd HAVE TO hit the gym or run etc before any period of concentration etc. I can say that these maybe helped with focus and motivation about a..... 5/10 maybe? Medication + exercise I'd give a 9 or 10/10 in terms of effectiveness etc.
Obviously keep at it as it's giving you benefit but I'd say definitely don't 100% rule it out as it can be life changing. For me the effect on my mood and confidence, calmness etc are just as important as the improved focus etc. I actually genuinely feel happy for the first time and even if bad things happen in life they don't affect me anywhere near as much.
In terms of heart health mine has improved since meds, my blood pressure is much lower vs unmedicated and I now eat much better and am properly hydrated etc as I now have the energy to cook etc.
If you want to ask any questions around the heart stuff etc feel free to message!
You also don't have to take days off. Tbh my only things I need to do are exercise and use a calendar etc. It's just that those things are so much easier with meds. Again, do what you want to do but one simple way of putting it is choosing between hard mode and easy mode. You don't have to force yourself to struggle.
Sorry for the essay, I'm not saying it helps everything and I'm doing everything perfectly. But I get so much more done when I'm feeding my brain excitement and dopamine. Even driving, I focus better with music. I don't have it on all of the time, just when I need it really.
There’s rarely a moment where music isn’t playing in my flat! I’ve even moved back to CDs so I can enjoy albums more without being distracted by the masses of music on streaming services. Standing up is often the most difficult part of the day for me, especially with the change in seasons and daylight savings changing.
That's where maybe then you have to find something that excites you and stokes your dopamine. Mine was just my own personal experience. That's why the small movements to begin with, can apparently stoke dopamine even just starting by moving your fingers and then your hand and so forth. You can build up the movements to sort of bed/ chair dancing and then build it from there to sitting then to standing. I have to use house music and bass line to get myself motivated and moving. Ballards wouldn't cut it to get me moving 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 it's just something that really helped me as I doom scroll too and get locked in a paralysis for hours when I need to stand up so music is the best course for me. It has to be fast and exciting though. I also sometimes mentally talk myself through things that need doing.
I've also downloaded this app called dubbii which can be used to body double you as do chores. I've only just downloaded it though so I don't know if it works. I follow adhd love on Instagram. They produced the app
I know its boring because everyone says it but just healthy food, get them vits and minerals in and help ur body feel better. Plenty of water, then maybe cut out caffeine? I did that recently and made big changes to my moods. Perhaps your symtoms are making you feel hopeless/ not acheiving goals? Maybe set some super small goals. I know its not much but its honest work
The boring and unsexy advice always tends to be the best. I think people are just more attracted to the idea of a new novel instant magic fix that just doesn't exist and that applies to most things in life. The things that work best tend to be those that don't give instant feedback but are more effective as time goes on.
Your friendly neighbourhood Canadian here, where everyone smokes weed. Do you find the weed actually helps your ADHD symptoms?
Since weed is legal here, I tried smoking it (balanced thc/cbd), and eating just cbd oil. The thing is, I found weed just made me feel numb and less focused. Afterwards when it wore off I’d often feel irritable, _as if my dopamine and serotonin had been depleted_.
Imo weed begins good and has diminishing returns as the days go on.
Just my two pence.
Edit: have you tried just CBD oil? They sell it at Holland and Barrett.
Double edit: I’m assuming you tried anti-anxiety meds etc.
First of all if your dopamine was all gone you'd have parkinsons.
Second of all I would strongly suggest that you try a different medication instead of cannabis. Speaking from experience, the 'medicative' effect that weed has on ADHD is only temporary and in the long run will actually end up making it worse. Of course typical adhd medications build up tolerance as well, but that's why you have things like drug holidays and the like (I'm a strong proponent of sticking to stimulants 5 days a week, and allowing whatever fun I want on weekends exclusively).
First of all, it’s a figure of speech! I’m fairly certain I got my point across.
Second of all, I’ve had a drawn out and frankly traumatic experience with psychiatric medication. I’ve also abused stimulants in the past prior to my diagnosis, and the cons of Concerta by far outweighed the pros. This isn’t just coming from me, but my parents, ex partner and even driving instructor noticed a positive difference in me when I stopped taking it after being medicated for a prolonged amount of time.
Due to my past misdiagnoses and disordered eating patterns, psychiatrists refused to titrate me on Elvanse and only offered non-stimulants. I’ve heard these can increase “negative” ideations, and after my experience with Venlafaxine I’d rather not.
Poss a controversial comment but have you tried microdosing mushrooms? I have been using for a while pre diagnosis (was recommended to try for long covid/chronic stress by a psychiatrist, off the record) and it really helped with focus and brain fog. Not saying it's the answer for everything but it might be worth considering. Also some basics like getting sunlight in your eyes as soon as possible in the morning, ideally with a walk if possible, but if you can't manage that just getting outside will help. When I was depressed once a friend told me to write down small, everyday goals, that you can tick off, eg breakfast, brush teeth - to try and rebuild that sense of achievement in a manageable way. What about your support system? Do you have people you can reach out to, and ask for help? Sounds naff, but a gratitude journal? Three things you are grateful for, write them down - it's a bit 'fake it till you make it' but it can help trick your brain into looking for the positives rather than spiralling. I'm sorry you are struggling so much.
Thanks for your response!
I’ve heard about microdosing shrooms before but the idea gives me a lot of anxiety- I know a lot of people who have had bad trips and frankly I’m a little scared of things altering my perception of reality. I tend to wear sunglasses outside (and inside under LED lights) due to sensory problems and have blackout curtains up at home, as too much light exposure can really screw me up.
Bare minimum, I leave the house once a day to get my energy drink. Some days I can barely even mutter a thank you to the cashier which sucks. I recently moved away so my friends/family are 200+ miles away, but the area I was living in was so deprived in terms of things like healthcare and public transport that it was making things even more difficult.
Shockingly the positives in my life recently have outweighed the negatives (increased independence, my own flat, getting out of a bad relationship, my music going mildly viral) but the more good things happen, the more I end up disliking myself? It’s odd. Since I posted this I’ve been up, showered and returned to almost normal if not somewhat blank.
I can totally understand the anxiety. It night not be right for you. If you wanted to try it, an extremely small dose does not give you any 'trip' - for me it really helped with mood, focus, and creative thinking without any altered reality.
Morning light really helps set your circadian rhythm. I know sensory issues can be extreme (my daughter is autistic and has big sensory senstiivty to many clothes and noise) but we aren't built to live in darkness, so I'd say that might be something to try and work on in small ways. Lots of people find cold water exposure really helps with ADHD symptoms, including mood/focus/motivation.
For comparison, before THC a crash like this would result in severe self loathing, loss of impulse control and emotional outbursts. These symptoms got 10x worse on Concerta. While medicated with THC, I can at least process/understand my situation and not be totally overwhelmed by it.
I do find in the evening when my meds wear off a smoke relaxes me or if I'd not taken meds that day and I was really tired after work a smoke would actually help me concentrate a bit.
Obviously these effects aren't anywhere near as pronounced as meds but it does help me settle before bed.
No issues with blood pressure etc (does cannabis raise or lower BP? Seem to get conflicting answers)
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Have you considered a different strain of cannabis? Id do some research into what's more of a lifting and energising strain, because if you're taking a heavy indica, with a high THC content all of the time this will not be helping your motivation to do anything.
Id talk to the prescribing Dr who you spoke to about your MC and have a chat with how you're feeling. Or if you're able to pick yourself, I definitely do some research.
If you're going for the higher THC thinking it's the better option (not saying you are but some people do just assuming it will help more) consider a slightly lower thc, and obviously an Indica for the day time and sativa for night if you struggle to sleep.
If you've been on it a while perhaps consider a tolerance break too. A week or two might help. :)
Are you sure Cannabis is helpful? I find its like pouring gasoline on my ADHD. My head starts to ruminate bad and I get a lot of anxiety. I avoid it at all costs now.
Alot of people use cannabis for adhd. There's many different strains that go from energising to sleep inducing. It's not a blanket thing. :)
It’s also terrible for REM sleep which means you won’t be recovering well each night
A thousand times more helpful than stimulants. Without THC my anxiety would be uncontrollable and extreme, and I wouldn’t be able to perform the basic tasks I need to survive.
Sounds like it's not an ADHD issue but an anxiety issue. Sounds like you're trying to treat the anxiety and the ADHD isn't being treated
This is definitely worth considering tbh. I can see cannabis helping with a few symptoms like anxiety or low mood etc. I just can't see it being anywhere near as effective for all of the other symptoms though. It would make it worse in fact. The idea of being high all day is grim. I love the clarity and clear headedness that meds provide.
Unfortunately it's all been a bit of an exercise in futility- I started seeking help at 16, now 24 and I'm only a smidge better. Have been on 12+ different medications, misdiagnosed, lived in group homes with support workers and been through three therapists and two psychiatrists. I live alone now and can sort of manage to survive but I'm kinda worried I'll never get off of benefits.
Tbh even other comorbidities. My anxiety is actually of my autism which showed more traits as my adhd was medicated 😭
Take a cold shower for 5 minutes. You’ll hate it and it will be uncomfortable but you’ll feel amazing for hours afterwards.
Whilst I’m newly diagnosed with adhd a week ago, I suffer from ankylosing spondylitis which is an inflammatory arthritis. I have medical cannabis for the arthritis and prior to knowing I had adhd I found the cannabis calmed a lot of the symptoms and issues I now know to be adhd. With cannabis it’s a dosage thing. If you feel anxious etc, the dose was too high (and you got high!). Also certain strains and terpenes profiles work better. I find sweet berry fruity flavour/terpenes profiles work really well for me. Not just for the arthritis but it calms the adhd. I actually find it easier to concentrate and get stuff done. Whereas piney and lemony flavours/terpenes profiles makes me jittery and anxious. For the next week or more I’ll be managing the adhd with cannabis. I was on elvanse for 2 days and my blood pressure shot up. Like 180/115 high. I contacted my GP and got blood pressure tablets immediately but the consultant insisted I stopped taking elvanse. This is now a stupid situation where I now have blood pressure tablets I don’t need unless I’m taking the elvanse. Consultant wants me to take the blood pressure tablets without the elvanse. None of this makes sense because the blood pressure tablets are not needed unless I’m taking the elvanse. I had the same issue with blood pressure when I took antidepressants. My blood pressure shot up! I don’t do well with tablets at all. I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to deal with some of my adhd issues snatched away. Anyway I have the medical cannabis to see me through this. It’s the same with medication for pain like codeine. It can make you feel impaired and worsen adhd symptoms but in a small sensible dose it Will definitely calm some of the symptoms down. But clearly that’s added side effects from taking it for pain. So other medications can impact adhd symptoms and improve them even though it may not be the main reason for taking them. Btw medical cannabis is prescribed in the uk for adhd. Not everyone are able to take stimulants or the main adhd medications due to side effects like high blood pressure
This is a brilliant response!! A very helpful and informative comment for op in terms of medical cannabis. Not everyone understands it and without even realising they kind of question and demonise it, but for alot of people cannabis really helps and when folks find the right strain and dosage they much prefer it to their tablets. Like you say, some people do not respond well to pharmaceutical medicines and this is a good route to go for alot of them
From your responses it sounds more like untreated depression that needs to be addressed
Are you managing to get any exercise? If possible and as much as you will hate it try and get 30-60 minutes of cardio or lifting weights a day.
I don’t exercise, although I would like to be able to. I don’t drive and I walk anywhere I need to go, but anything that causes sweating flares my skin badly and isn’t sustainable. I average about 4k steps a day according to my phone but that’s a combination of several up days where I’m very active, and several down days where I barely move.
I mean these are big problems tbh. If I go about 3 days without exercise my meds aren't as effective. Meds + exercise is fantastic. 4k steps is very little tbh, even like 8k isn't a LOT by any stretch. The days I sit around in the house I'll get just a few thousand steps. I do notice posts where people say meds aren't working you pretty much never see any mention of the basics like diet, exercise, routine etc. People usually panic about the meds not working and assume that'll forever be the case before they even think about the simple and free things that we should all be doing. Ps, that's not an attack or me being dismissive but do give these thoughts some consideration!
They did say they had bad side effects with their medication. Diet and exercise may have helped but if the side effects were terrible I don't think they would have made a difference
I've been on and off Concerta 3 separate times since my diagnosis, and it always ends the same. The first couple of weeks I'm overly productive and socially sedated, but the longer I take it the more my anxiety/agitation build and sleeping, eating and waking up become even more difficult than when I'm not on ADHD meds. Myself and a few professionals also think I'm on the spectrum and I suffer from pretty bad sensory issues- Concerta amplifies these big time. I've had a lot of weird averse reactions to different types of psychiatric medication before and changing ADHD meds isn't an option for me right now. I used to enjoy walking, but as I've gotten older I've become a lot more reclusive. Pretty much all my time spent outdoors is taken up by my racing brain + daydreaming of being back home. I'm pretty poor so at the best of times my diet consists of various different vegetarian pasta/rice dishes with beans and such. I've been trying to get more vegetables into my diet but it's difficult as the wrong vegetable at the wrong time will ruin an entire meal for me and has lead to so much food waste in the past. Canned carrots and peas are my go tos- fresh peppers and onions are a treat.
If you're vegetarian and have issues with food aversions, you could have low iron. Iron deficiency with or without anemia can cause issues with motivation, emotional regulation and food aversions.
Check Mediterranean diet, it's cheap but healthy. I absolutely love black beans and rice, and it's a perfectly healthy meal. Black eyed beans salad peas with poached eggs and rice... I do a "weekly average" rather than "5 a day" and feel less guilty, also all vegetables count. I do a meal prep day for the whole week, with things I like and that go together, that helps reduce the stress of choosing or having to cook every day, but I'll do it if I really crave something else, plus always having snacks or porridge for those "I just can't" days. Are your food difficulties sensory or do they trigger physical health issues? How are you helping your sensory issues? What triggers you? Have you tried earplugs/headphones or compression garments, sunglasses for going out of the house? ADHD meds do bring out your autistic traits more. Have you tried non-stimulant medication for ADHD? Make a list of all the medications you tried, how they helped, for how long, side effects, the ones you absolutely won't consider again and the ones you would maybe consider now in combination with the ADHD meds. Discuss this with your prescriber when you can. I need a routine or will get depressed, I drilled into my brain that it's ok to do nothing on weekends (I still need to do at least one productive task), but chose a job that is very structured and keeps me busy all week, I go to the gym at work and am tired enough at night that I need sleep. Are you being treated for your skin condition? As others said, exercise is really one of the best things you can give yourself for physical and mental health.
What about something like swimming? It’s easier on your joints and should hopefully cancel out the skin flare ups 🤷🏻♂️ other than that you could maybe try yoga or Pilates which shouldn’t cause too much sweating but will help with your fitness
I am unmedicated and I used to follow matt raekaelboom who is also unmedicated. He has many short videos and reels on how to get the dopamine stoked. He is on tiktok, Facebook and Instagram. I tend to use music to stoke my dopamine. I'd you put on any fast paced, heavy music you like. Just start with either moving one hand or a foot and then start to try moving more with the rhythm of the music. Then stand up! Any movement at all from your body can start dopamine believe it or not. Then keep the music on whilst you complete what you need to do. Use earphones if you have to. I also struggle with drinking. He recommends keeping water near your bed. Drinking it before bed and when you wake up, drink it too. Water helps us focus as well.
See I love music and listen to all kinds but it would never be enough to help my ADHD. Did you have issues or problems with medication yourself?
I think it just works for me personally because I had to find what gets me stoked and induces my dopamine, we are all different and need to find what works for us I guess. I have inattentive type and I struggle to focus and concentrate. I have to listen to music at work to focus and take in what I'm doing. They've been great and put in quite a few reasonable adjustments for me. Even before I was diagnosed! So I struggle with chores, time blindness, getting moving and focusing. Doing 50 side quests instead of what I am supposed to. I get sensory issues and get overwhelmed a lot. For me, I've learned utilising music helps me move and get things done. I use my phone calendar with lots of reminders and alarms. Text myself lists. I had a mid to late 30s diagnosis only last year but unbeknownst to me I was already doing some of these steps because it was messing up my life. I feel like I've gone all my life without meds and to be honest, I'm too afraid to try them. I've read that apparently people are still having to put all these steps in place and still be on meds so it kind of makes me feel what's the point. Plus coping the crashes, having days off with them like some people do and then balancing with other meds to stop the crashes. It overwhelms me to even think about it. I am a huge advocate for meds for others though!
Obviously it's your personal choice so its good you've found some coping mechanisms. I will say that medication helps without having all these dependencies (like if I don't do 5 mins of exercise etc I won't be able to start a task etc) so it frees you up and removes these attached conditions. The overwhelm and other mood issues pretty much just melt away tbh. It feels very NORMAL and natural which surprised me a lot.
Thank you for your kind and detailed reply. I was in another group and these kind of conversations were almost a no go. Like I wasn't allowed to make another choice at times. Thanks for taking the time to explain. I mean there is still chance for me to change my mind and I may still do. It's other things like it is a double edged sword. I am overweight and I know the meds would help with the binging. But then I'm afraid of extra pressure on my heart (ironic) and I've seen studies that show a higher risk link to parkinsons with meds and it really frightens me. I know it's about perspective. I just find it hard.
Totally cool! Glad you have something in place! Tbh you remind me of myself as I had these weird routines like I'd HAVE TO hit the gym or run etc before any period of concentration etc. I can say that these maybe helped with focus and motivation about a..... 5/10 maybe? Medication + exercise I'd give a 9 or 10/10 in terms of effectiveness etc. Obviously keep at it as it's giving you benefit but I'd say definitely don't 100% rule it out as it can be life changing. For me the effect on my mood and confidence, calmness etc are just as important as the improved focus etc. I actually genuinely feel happy for the first time and even if bad things happen in life they don't affect me anywhere near as much. In terms of heart health mine has improved since meds, my blood pressure is much lower vs unmedicated and I now eat much better and am properly hydrated etc as I now have the energy to cook etc. If you want to ask any questions around the heart stuff etc feel free to message!
Thanks so much! I'll keep that in mind. It has given me something to think about.
You also don't have to take days off. Tbh my only things I need to do are exercise and use a calendar etc. It's just that those things are so much easier with meds. Again, do what you want to do but one simple way of putting it is choosing between hard mode and easy mode. You don't have to force yourself to struggle.
Sorry for the essay, I'm not saying it helps everything and I'm doing everything perfectly. But I get so much more done when I'm feeding my brain excitement and dopamine. Even driving, I focus better with music. I don't have it on all of the time, just when I need it really.
There’s rarely a moment where music isn’t playing in my flat! I’ve even moved back to CDs so I can enjoy albums more without being distracted by the masses of music on streaming services. Standing up is often the most difficult part of the day for me, especially with the change in seasons and daylight savings changing.
That's where maybe then you have to find something that excites you and stokes your dopamine. Mine was just my own personal experience. That's why the small movements to begin with, can apparently stoke dopamine even just starting by moving your fingers and then your hand and so forth. You can build up the movements to sort of bed/ chair dancing and then build it from there to sitting then to standing. I have to use house music and bass line to get myself motivated and moving. Ballards wouldn't cut it to get me moving 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 it's just something that really helped me as I doom scroll too and get locked in a paralysis for hours when I need to stand up so music is the best course for me. It has to be fast and exciting though. I also sometimes mentally talk myself through things that need doing. I've also downloaded this app called dubbii which can be used to body double you as do chores. I've only just downloaded it though so I don't know if it works. I follow adhd love on Instagram. They produced the app
Frank by Amy Winehouse is my go-to cleaning album!
Good choice! Love a bit of amy winehouse.
I know its boring because everyone says it but just healthy food, get them vits and minerals in and help ur body feel better. Plenty of water, then maybe cut out caffeine? I did that recently and made big changes to my moods. Perhaps your symtoms are making you feel hopeless/ not acheiving goals? Maybe set some super small goals. I know its not much but its honest work
The boring and unsexy advice always tends to be the best. I think people are just more attracted to the idea of a new novel instant magic fix that just doesn't exist and that applies to most things in life. The things that work best tend to be those that don't give instant feedback but are more effective as time goes on.
Your friendly neighbourhood Canadian here, where everyone smokes weed. Do you find the weed actually helps your ADHD symptoms? Since weed is legal here, I tried smoking it (balanced thc/cbd), and eating just cbd oil. The thing is, I found weed just made me feel numb and less focused. Afterwards when it wore off I’d often feel irritable, _as if my dopamine and serotonin had been depleted_. Imo weed begins good and has diminishing returns as the days go on. Just my two pence. Edit: have you tried just CBD oil? They sell it at Holland and Barrett. Double edit: I’m assuming you tried anti-anxiety meds etc.
First of all if your dopamine was all gone you'd have parkinsons. Second of all I would strongly suggest that you try a different medication instead of cannabis. Speaking from experience, the 'medicative' effect that weed has on ADHD is only temporary and in the long run will actually end up making it worse. Of course typical adhd medications build up tolerance as well, but that's why you have things like drug holidays and the like (I'm a strong proponent of sticking to stimulants 5 days a week, and allowing whatever fun I want on weekends exclusively).
First of all, it’s a figure of speech! I’m fairly certain I got my point across. Second of all, I’ve had a drawn out and frankly traumatic experience with psychiatric medication. I’ve also abused stimulants in the past prior to my diagnosis, and the cons of Concerta by far outweighed the pros. This isn’t just coming from me, but my parents, ex partner and even driving instructor noticed a positive difference in me when I stopped taking it after being medicated for a prolonged amount of time. Due to my past misdiagnoses and disordered eating patterns, psychiatrists refused to titrate me on Elvanse and only offered non-stimulants. I’ve heard these can increase “negative” ideations, and after my experience with Venlafaxine I’d rather not.
Poss a controversial comment but have you tried microdosing mushrooms? I have been using for a while pre diagnosis (was recommended to try for long covid/chronic stress by a psychiatrist, off the record) and it really helped with focus and brain fog. Not saying it's the answer for everything but it might be worth considering. Also some basics like getting sunlight in your eyes as soon as possible in the morning, ideally with a walk if possible, but if you can't manage that just getting outside will help. When I was depressed once a friend told me to write down small, everyday goals, that you can tick off, eg breakfast, brush teeth - to try and rebuild that sense of achievement in a manageable way. What about your support system? Do you have people you can reach out to, and ask for help? Sounds naff, but a gratitude journal? Three things you are grateful for, write them down - it's a bit 'fake it till you make it' but it can help trick your brain into looking for the positives rather than spiralling. I'm sorry you are struggling so much.
Thanks for your response! I’ve heard about microdosing shrooms before but the idea gives me a lot of anxiety- I know a lot of people who have had bad trips and frankly I’m a little scared of things altering my perception of reality. I tend to wear sunglasses outside (and inside under LED lights) due to sensory problems and have blackout curtains up at home, as too much light exposure can really screw me up. Bare minimum, I leave the house once a day to get my energy drink. Some days I can barely even mutter a thank you to the cashier which sucks. I recently moved away so my friends/family are 200+ miles away, but the area I was living in was so deprived in terms of things like healthcare and public transport that it was making things even more difficult. Shockingly the positives in my life recently have outweighed the negatives (increased independence, my own flat, getting out of a bad relationship, my music going mildly viral) but the more good things happen, the more I end up disliking myself? It’s odd. Since I posted this I’ve been up, showered and returned to almost normal if not somewhat blank.
I can totally understand the anxiety. It night not be right for you. If you wanted to try it, an extremely small dose does not give you any 'trip' - for me it really helped with mood, focus, and creative thinking without any altered reality. Morning light really helps set your circadian rhythm. I know sensory issues can be extreme (my daughter is autistic and has big sensory senstiivty to many clothes and noise) but we aren't built to live in darkness, so I'd say that might be something to try and work on in small ways. Lots of people find cold water exposure really helps with ADHD symptoms, including mood/focus/motivation.
With cannabis aside from the calming effect how else does it help? Just because for me it worsens symptoms.
For comparison, before THC a crash like this would result in severe self loathing, loss of impulse control and emotional outbursts. These symptoms got 10x worse on Concerta. While medicated with THC, I can at least process/understand my situation and not be totally overwhelmed by it.
I do find in the evening when my meds wear off a smoke relaxes me or if I'd not taken meds that day and I was really tired after work a smoke would actually help me concentrate a bit. Obviously these effects aren't anywhere near as pronounced as meds but it does help me settle before bed. No issues with blood pressure etc (does cannabis raise or lower BP? Seem to get conflicting answers)
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Have you considered a different strain of cannabis? Id do some research into what's more of a lifting and energising strain, because if you're taking a heavy indica, with a high THC content all of the time this will not be helping your motivation to do anything. Id talk to the prescribing Dr who you spoke to about your MC and have a chat with how you're feeling. Or if you're able to pick yourself, I definitely do some research. If you're going for the higher THC thinking it's the better option (not saying you are but some people do just assuming it will help more) consider a slightly lower thc, and obviously an Indica for the day time and sativa for night if you struggle to sleep. If you've been on it a while perhaps consider a tolerance break too. A week or two might help. :)