I find when it’s hard to get something done, it’s easier to just do one minute of it, I don’t have to finish it. My brain seems to handle one minute rather than doing a whole task, which can be too overwhelming sometimes. And then later on do another minute and so forth. This way at least I get started rather than put it off or not do it at all.

-I also find if a task seems overwhelming it helps to ask what is the first micro step I can take, for example grab a pen, or get some paper. You can continue on more micro steps if you want.

-Super deep brown noise with headphones help me focus better, also 8D music, and 852 hz frequency helps quieten my mind to get things done.

-If it’s hard to start cleaning grabbing a wet wipe and wiping something random helps put me in a doing mood, or just do one dish, or fold one piece of clothes.

-Also setting a timer to ping every 10 minutes to say, ‘ok what am I doing now’ to help keep track of time. Or do 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off for getting things done.

Hope something helps someone.

I'm 25 F with inattentive type ADHD. I'm on 10mg of Methylphenidate immediate release. Its brand name is Ritalin. This is the best dosage for me because my symptoms aren't that severe.

I only use my meds during workdays when I need them. I don't want to build up a tolerance. I have natural supplements to deal with my symptoms. Supplements don't have the same effect as meds do though. I notice the stark difference between when I'm on medication and the days that I am off. It's like my brain has glasses.

My thinking is so clear. I can choose what to think about. It's not a jumbled-up mess of thoughts. I can put my ideas into words. My reading comprehension is better too. I don't have to read and re-read the same text to understand the meaning. My anxiety? Poof! Gone. Anxiety sometimes occurs together with ADHD. Methylphenidate relieves me of anxiety too. I don't have a thousand worried thoughts about how my life is going to end. Now, I realize how much of my thinking was negative before I was diagnosed.

So far, I have no severe side effects. The immediate-release medication lasts for 4-5 hours for me before I need another dose. I experience some fatigue and drowsiness when the medication wears off but it's nothing of concern. I don't have insomnia or trouble sleeping. I sleep very well.

Some women have concerns about how it's going to affect their menstrual cycle. My periods are normal. My period cycle is regular and nothing has changed about my periods. I track my periods.

I've also read some people claim that medications kill ADHD creativity. Creativity is one of our strengths as ADHDers. I haven't noticed any changes in my creative thinking. I work in Marketing. I have gained valuable clarity and a well-defined plan of action for my creative ideas. This will help me bring them to life effectively.

Hey all,

I am at the start of my medication journey, just in the first month of titration.

Two showers in the morning. I found the same issue while trying two different stimulation medication. Meflynate and Elvance.

By the afternoon I don't stink so bad.

Tried a few deodorant so far.

Anyone else have this and a strategy?

Don't know if this is the right place to ask about this, and don't think I can shorten any more than this.

A bit about myself, so you understand where I'm coming from: I'm a legal adult, and I've been going on prescribed meds for a while now, and I feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of life. My parental units, whom I will refer to as Freya and Mully (for the sake of their privacy), has been helping me quite a bit through all of this.

Don't get me wrong, I love Freya and Mully, and what they do to help me! Back when I was little, to be able to provide for the whole family, Freya would often work long hours and then not have energy to spend with the rest of us once they got home. This of course took a toll on my emotional relation to them, and my ability to express myself when I felt something was wrong or otherwise ask for help. I'd keep mostly to myself about basically everything, which I've definitely noticed now that I'm on meds. I've since been trying to be more open, telling Freya things in ways to not trigger my underlying selflessness. Now, Freya has been home due to medical leave from work, and has been noticibly more invested in helping me with my disability to plan and execute basically my entire life, which I'm quite grateful for.

Though Freya sometimes gets a little too invested in my general life. Some examples of this (that I'm sure at least one of which someone can relate to) are:

• Reminding me of the time, which does absolutely nothing but irritate me.
• Getting too up in my personal health, which I feel I don't have enough emotional connection to them for them to ask about.
• Reminding me that I need to clean/organize my room, despite me having 300 other things that are more important.

I would really like some advice here, as I'm getting rather irritated about it. How can I explain this to them, without making it sound like I'm complaining or dismissing their desire to help me?

ok this is a bit of a rant but i was diagnosed with adhd (inattentive) last year and i'm also currently completing my final year of highschool. Idk if this is just me but I've never actually really fully realised how much adhd effects my everyday life until now. I've relatively easily been able to breeze through school by procrastinating large assignments/tests for weeks until the stress of it hit all at once, and then hyperfocusing for 1-2 nights to cram all the content, and then come out the other side completely drained but somehow still getting ok results. Although this got progressively more exhausting to keep up, it worked and I thought it was completely normal...until now. It's currently nearing the end of exam season and I feel like I have just completely burnt out, worse than I ever have before. I hyperfocused way too much during the first few weeks and now my final subject exam is approaching in less than 3 days and I genuinely can't pick up a pen without having an emotional meltdown, and I feel paralysed everytime I sit at my desk. I don't understand how I can be so stressed yet also so unable to get stressed at the same time, it's like my adrenaline malfunctioned or something. I apologise for the huge rant but does anyone else also experience this? I've always felt the effects of adhd eventhough I didn't realise they were not normal my entire life, but I have never experienced it to this extent before and I genuinely can't tell if I'm just being lazy or dramatic. And if so, any advice? Thanks so much for reading this lol idk what the point of this was but I guess I'm just confused.

Hello. 22(F) international student living in Japan. I got diagnosed with ADHD and in on straterra for about a year. Straterra doesn’t work for me and yet my therapist won’t prescribe me anything new. I gave up on medications tbh and trying to find new ways to help me motivate to do my tasks and assignments. I also wanna try mindful meditation. I’m new to meditation so if anyone has any tips or suggestions please feel free to share. I’m in a really bad shape and desperately need help. Please let me know what helped you along the way….

Dear ADHD crew, I need some help to shed a bit of light on my ADHD partner behaviour.

In our relationship I feel very lonely, unheard and unseen.

Anyway, the other day I shared that my best friend’s cat is dying. I sent it as a text message and he sent me an audio recording saying “awww poor cat” and then after that proceeded sending voice messages about his work. I was caught off guard a bit cos I felt that his response wasn’t adequate to my news (he met the cat, he met my friend and his pet means the world to him so he should understand the pain behind my message. Or so I thought.)

Anyway, I decided to explain how it came across and how I felt. Here are my messages:

I am sharing something about the cat and it’s important to me, can we just focus a bit on this and not your work please? Don’t get it the wrong way, but it feels a bit insensitive when I am sharing sad news and then you switch the conversation onto something else. We can talk about your work later. But right now I just needed support cos it’s sad. Not only cos of cat dying but also how it affects my friend. And she is pregnant and it is really hard for her cos it’s her cat and I am worried about her. You also could have asked how is my friend doing, you know, to show that you care. That would have been nice and thoughtful.

To that he responded by saying “this is who i am, sorry, probably i should have asked but i didn’t and again this is how i am, how my brain works. It’s not that i don’t care, i care, i acknowledged the cat, but i can’t ask you the exact thing that you want me to ask. For me its okay not to come to me with a complaint about what I could have done better for you.

Idk, I just again felt dismissed. If I am to tell him how I can be better supported — he gets angry with me. If I don’t say anything I feel very lonely. What do I do? How do I approach this? Is this really how the ADHD brain works? If so why two of my exes who also had ADHD never acted this way?

hi! i was diagnosed with adhd (inattentive adhd specifically) around 2 months ago, but i haven’t gotten any meds or a prescription for it and i think it’s been getting worse so i was just hoping someone could give me tips.

for some background, i was also diagnosed with a panic disorder around the same time, and ive been taking meds for that for a little over a month now. what’s strange is, i think my lack of anxiety is making my adhd stronger. before i was medicated, i would usually get things done because id have fear and anxiety to motivate me. now, however, i feel like my adhd just completely took over with no anxiety to balance it out. does that make sense??

i brought this up with my psych, initially thinking this was a side effect from my meds, but she said it seemed as though my symptoms are actually caused by adhd. i do wanna take adhd meds, but 1) thatd be an extra expense, 2) apparently theres currently a shortage?? and 3) i heard that they wont help forever and it’s mostly a matter of learning how to regulate urself (idk if thats true).

so yeah, sorry for the long post but would anyone be willing to share some tips on how to be productive when simply replying to people seems so mentally and physically taxing? i thought i’d ask here because i noticed most of the advice id get from people without adhd never really work out for me (schedules, checklists, etc.)

tyia to anyone who helps out!!

Every night when my medication wears off (and I'm once again reminded by just how severe my ADHD is, lmao) I feel so "guilty" for being ADHD. I feel guilty for not being productive. I feel guilty for sitting there stunned for hours. I feel guilty for staying up too late. I feel guilty for not cleaning up. I feel guilty for overeating. I feel guilty until zi go to sleep and then remedicate the next day.

So I’ve been officially diagnosed with ADHD and on medication for just over 2 weeks now, and I finally told my parents (I don’t live with them anymore, 27F)

They didn’t really believe in mental health through my childhood, they both come from backgrounds where that sort of thing was ignored or dismissed and, whenever I brought up concerns as a child, I was treated in much the same way

Now that I’ve announced my diagnosis they want to meet up to ask questions and I’m absolutely petrified. They’ve never been the best regarding mental health discussions, how do I even explain ADHD to them???

Any help or advice really appreciated

Does anyone else feel that their maladaptive day dreaming is associated with ADHD? I’m 100% convinced mine is. It’s that constant urge I have to get up and pace around to the same few songs I usually day dream to unless I find a new one.

Sometimes it’s lowkey a good thing because the energetic rush gets me out of bed. Most of the time it’s not. I can’t focus on anything for the life of me, even eating. Mid meal I will day dream then sit back down to my meal then get up literally again. Assignment due in a few hours? I will be finishing it and pacing around to music till the last minute. Not to mention it wakes me out of my sleep sometimes which is the most irritating.

I would do it during breaks at school (I’ve left now so don’t do that anymore) and especially after doing some work or anything for a period of time, I don’t think about how I’m gonna daydream after but an anticipation builds to daydream after. I’ve left people visiting, to go in my room and do it.. yeah.. I know. It’s not AS bad anymore, I’ve gotten better at controlling it but it’s been a good 5-6 years I’ve been doing it now.

Some people say they don’t do it for months sometimes, and I’m like advice please? I want to stop but at the same time it’s my only form of escape even amidst other recreational activities.

I have a very hard time staying consistent with things. Some of the main things that I need to be more consistent on are basic hygiene (brushing teeth and showering), skin care, physical therapy exercises that have been prescribed to me by my doctor, and doing my case notes for work in a timely manner. What sort of strategies have you all found for sticking to a new habit that have been helpful to you?

For a couple of months now I’ve been struggling with falling asleep due to obsessive thoughts from I assume ADHD. I often find myself going down a rabbit hole and feeling unable to really relax from my thoughts. This has caused me to constantly stay awake for too long even when I genuinely don’t want to. It’s gotten to the point where I struggle just to close my eyes for a few seconds. If anyone has ideas or advice that’d be really appreciated. I just feel so tired and need some help

Any advice tips or things I should know before I go into/make the appointment? It says no personal information in the rules but I’m 24, have like all the signs and have just ignored it all till now, and do smoke we ed which I know can be an issue with getting prescribed. I’m honestly thinking about lying when they ask me if I do just because they were very rough with a buddy of mine when they found out. I see stories that most don’t care though so I’m not sure!

How helpful is CBT for ADHD along with taking methylphenidate, good sleep, high protein diet and excercise? How close can I go from having a disabled brain (adhd curse) to limitless? Methylphenidate and diet does help with focus, but it’s hard to get started. I just cannot have the descaling and a routine for a good life that I want. Spiral of doom/failue is what I face every week. Struggling to make positive changes in life and struggling to remove the negatives of phone addiction, social media, etc.

Have any of you tried stasis? I read on their website that “stimulants sharpen your focus but stresses out your brain?” Do you guys find this true? And if you’ve been taking stasis what does it feel like, what is the difference between stimulants?

(I need 280 characters to post this)

Hello everyone,

I found that all the issues I had with my mood and concentration was all due to having ADHD, I have never looked into it before but now I know why I can't work at a single task or being overwhelmed when I have to clean the windows and my moods swings... I am also trying to quit smoking since May 2023 with countless of attempts. I need help with Supliments, I want to quit for good this poison...

I am planning to take Huperzin A, L-theanin and Vitamin D.

I am planning to remove phone scrolling, and drink only one coffee.

What can I add to my stack and what should I remove?

I just could really use some inspiration for what to cook because we keep getting home from the grocery store with food but feels like we still have nothing to eat. Or we cant figure out how to put what we have together into a simple meal. It's extra challenging because of the struggle with planning and prep. Eating/diet is just a basic skill I can't get down.

I'm really curious what others do -- thanks in advance to anyone willing to share!

Because I have radio playing in my head 24/7. Give me 3 bars of any song I've heard, and it will repeat itself indefinitely for free. I just did a 6-day darkness retreat, and I could choose just about any song and listen to the whole thing. The darkness retreat was an amazing space for clarity, but didn't obviously get rid of the ADHD. Ok I know I'm weird and I'm rambling just to meet the character count because this is a pretty simple post idea.

My best friend and I, both with ADHD, are having a major disagreement and I am just devastated. She is my main support in life and I have been hers for years. She now has gotten angry because she says I try too hard to help her and find things she will like. I guess that has gotten annoying. I have had this pattern happen before and it always takes me by surprise. I am guessing that I hyperfocus maybe? It is almost impossible for me to stop doing this. My friends joy is my joy. I just want to be there for them.Then when people get resentful I am so hurt. It truly is just how I love someone but that is not how it is received. I am older and can look back over the years and see where this puts people off. I pick up on people's emotions very easily but this is one I miss every time. I am always blindsided when they suddenly are mean to me. I am just feeling like I will never be able to have friendships because of who I am. That is a very sad and lonely place to be. I also don't know how to proceed or if this friendship can be mended. She did something very hurtful but I do feel that I missed cues along the way that things were going wrong. Any thoughts are appreciated. I am willing to try and change but it is exhausting to not just be able to be myself without annoying people.

d

I'm freaking out right now because I lost my retainers. I'm so mad at myself because I always keep them in the case and the one day I don't put them in the case, I can't find them. I think my dog got them which upsets me even more. It's so expensive to get a new retainer and my mom is going to kill me. Who has retainers and what are your tips to keep track of them?

My boyfriend and I were cuddling in bed and he was rubbing my arm. I was having no issues until I started to fall asleep. My arm feels weird and I’m now restless. I’m tired but my arm feels almost like a weird tingly uncomfortable feeling and I hate it. I’ve experienced this before and I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s a sensory overload but it’s such an uncomfortable feeling, I feel like crying and I don’t know how to make it stop. Any advice?

i am on elvanse 30mg and recently realised (today) that i need to be taking it earlier in the day i was stupid and took it at 8pm last night usually take it at 4pm and realised this is why im having trouble sleeping. i want to start taking it earlier in the day so i don’t have trouble sleeping however im unsure if i am able to do this or not i also work late nights at a night club so im really looking for an answer here :/

I imagine that the Millitary gets a fair share of people with ADHD. Maybe adhd people do well here, or even excel, with all the structure. Just a passing thought.

I got inspired by a post I saw about adhd people who are never late.

Thanks for reading.

I hope this is descriptive enough.

I’m about to be 30 and I have trouble with every single job and I can’t hold it down. I’m going to quit it before I get fired since I know it’s coming.

Side note: I know some people say to just get fired since I can collect unemployment but it will affect my future jobs. The jobs I have previously applied asks if I’ve ever been fired Yes/No on applications and they run a background check. (I live in CA) The employers can say I was terminated or say ineligible to rehire

I want to have a career instead of bouncing off different companies and it’s exhausting. I hate that I try so fucking hard (working overtime everyday from spending more time to do things than my coworkers) just to get warnings from supervisors. It has always been like this. I try, try and no improvements. I have hard time learning things quickly when being explained no matter how I stayed focus and I make same mistakes although I went to go back review it multiple times. At this point I just think I’m stupid or something is wrong with my brain. I tried medications but it makes it worse with side effects.

In college I would study at least 10 hours a day and my GPA was just average.

I thought about switching career, but it’s so hard to find without relevant experiences and the pay drop will be too low to even sustain living as it’s all low pay entry jobs. I’m still applying for things but really no luck.

I have few months of savings so hopefully I can find next job before then but I am so defeated and exhausted. Financially and mentally struggling. I wish I was born with normal functioning brain. I feel so stupid and unworthy

This might be get deleted but I have no one to talk to about feelings and I just wanted to write out my thoughts. I’m overwhelmed because I don’t know if I would end up being homeless and this issue has been really ruining my self esteem for all my 20s

Hello, everyone. I’m an 18-year-old high school student living in Japan.

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 8, but until around 16, I didn’t have issues with studying and managed without any medication. My symptoms include having trouble staying focused, struggling with long study sessions, and often forgetting things or being late. However, these were usually seen as “just a bit clumsy,” so they didn’t cause much trouble.

Now, though, I’m preparing for university entrance exams, and my school has many students aiming for competitive universities. (In Japan, a lot of students study over 10 hours a day for these exams.) Because of this, I’m currently prescribed Vyvanse 20 mg.

I wanted to ask about some changes in my communication skills since starting the medication. I used to be very social and at the center of my class, but on the medication, I find it hard to make eye contact, and I don’t enjoy things that I used to find fun. It’s true that I’m now able to study for longer, but my ability to think creatively (like with essays or free English writing) seems to have declined, as if my creativity has dulled. I also feel a kind of heavy fatigue.

The side effects are tough, but since I need to study long hours to pass the exams, it’s hard to stop taking the medication. I’m particularly worried about my communication skills declining so much, and it feels like I’ve lost a bit of my identity and joy in daily life. There isn’t much information on this topic in Japan, so I’m reaching out here to ask.

Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms? Also, if you’ve switched medications, do you know of other options that might be a better fit for me?

Thank you so much for reading this long message!

I feel paralyzed. Everyone in my life has concluded I am lazy. I hate that word. Bc I know when I am “good again” I am the most passionate, hardworking individual. Almost feels I can do anything. But then smacked in the face with executive dysfunction once again. It’s the most lonely feeling ever and nobody understands. It feels like I’m making excuses for myself when trying to explain it, and people definitely believe that as well. It’s not that I don’t want to do these things, I genuinely can’t. I sometimes can’t get out of bed to shower. Every time it happens I lose a little more hope for myself. I feel worthless of life, I can’t even do the basic things to take care of myself. I have a lot of other mental health issues so I deal with dark thoughts and when this happens there’s only one solution that seems fit. I don’t want to live like this. I started my medication for adhd and I’m hoping this helps with the executive dysfunction aspect. It’s only 10mg so far so I haven’t really felt any affects. Do any of you really struggle with this? What do you find helps?

so like im getting an assesement done soon and bro i gave these like forms my doctor gave me to the teachers with symptoms, i have ALL of them 💔 anyways whatever so like my mom is weird like she only wants me to take like these sugar balls or like alovera oil idfk whatever like i tried ashwaganda it sucked it did NOTHING i swear but like my mom is all IM NOT EVER PUTTING U ON MEDICATION DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT bc she thinks ill get every side effect and become crazy. like sure bro ill go to therapy but like it takes so looooomg like like bruuuuu im 17 i could basically get it on my own pbviously tho i lowk want her to b on board with it like what if she finds outttttt ugh help PLEASE

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I just graduated high school and life since has been really hard. The final exams took everything out of me and I have been struggling to get out of bed and do something with myself, as I have no responsibilities. My relationship with my also ADHD boyfriend is really rocky at the moment, and the stress of everything is making it impossible for me to get better and feel like doing things aren’t impossible. I hate life at the moment. I just feel sick 24/7 and my brain is so frazzled I can’t think straight.