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My ADHD founder toolbox

hypatia.ca

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Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#361

Post by thefringthing »

hirvi74 wrote: post #353
ojkelly wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> comparing a drug to a wheel chair is just ridiculous. Not every disability is visible. By definition they have a significant impact on someones life, as such there isn’t use for competition. A wheelchair is a great comparison. Both enable someone to do something they previously couldn’t. Both are temporary, and stop being useful when removed. Both have a very different effect on someone who does not need them. > I…

> Do you have a deficit of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine? What evidence exists that points this is the cause of ADHD? Wouldn't a dopamine deficit be more akin to Parkinson's Disease? Also, last I remember reading, I am pretty sure we are not fully aware of why stimulants help people with ADHD. I think the leading hypothesis is that dopamine plays a role somehow, but I thought that he yet to be fully observed…

This article from about ten years ago asserts that "a highly cohesive story [was] emerging regarding the etiology and treatment of ADHD": https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894421/ and gives an overview of that etiology, which concerns norepinephrine and dopamine in the prefrontal cortex.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#363

Post by sogen »

throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #121
anshumankmr wrote: post #111

As someone who is also battling ADHD, I feel super anxious reading the comments here all talking about X and Y medicine, which I am super not wanting to do. I used to do therapy but I found my therapist was making videos on Facebook about a few things I told him (though I was never named but I felt this was a huge breach of trust). I exercise quite a bit. (lots of cardio and core exercises, I particularly enjoy barbe…

(sorry, I feel I'm taking over this post, lol, but f it) my coping strategies have been: 1) carve out some time to do distractionless work. check calendar, put up away message, close email, turn on background music (cafe jazz, Bob Ross, or intelligent d&b) w/headphones, write down a small task to complete on sticky note next to monitor, set timer (maybe multiple). 2) have a routine. weekday: work 9-5, gym, cook, misc…

Apex Twin, or any industrial or death metal recommendations on Bandcamp

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#364

Post by khios »

emptyfile wrote: post #230
mtsr wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No need to feel so bad (edited from: be so negative) about meds. They’re a crutch, sure, or maybe a wheelchair. But you wouldn’t begrudge a disabled person their wheelchair, would you? Or if you dislike thinking of it as a disability (even if there’s nothing morally wrong with being disabled): a pair of glasses. Do we really think less of people (or in this case likely ourselves) for using a wheelchair or wearing gla…

I don't care about stigma, but comparing a drug to a wheel chair is just ridiculous. I don't want to get addicted to another thing in my life, here in Europe we're quite familiar with (ab)using speed (amphetamine paste) and the idea of being on speed every single day seems pretty bad. I don't feel "more like myself" on speed and I seriously doubt most positive effect would persist after a year of using and rising tol…

I've been taking Elvanse for 6 months. If I don't make the conscious effort I will not take it... I feel like addiction is not a worry at all.

It allowed me to stop eating my feelings (which allowed me to lose 13kg and counting), made me stop drinking, I still play games but can stop whenever.

I know I will surely have to take it my whole life (days I don't, I'm a wreck) but I see it as a diabetic needing insuline.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#365

Post by khios »

annie_muss wrote: post #302
emptyfile wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't care about stigma, but comparing a drug to a wheel chair is just ridiculous. I don't want to get addicted to another thing in my life, here in Europe we're quite familiar with (ab)using speed (amphetamine paste) and the idea of being on speed every single day seems pretty bad. I don't feel "more like myself" on speed and I seriously doubt most positive effect would persist after a year of using and rising tol…

I really don't care about the drug or addiction when the alternative is not taking it and not remaining employed. For me I need medication to keep a job if I could. Have a fun and free-wheeling life without employment and without medication. I would totally do that but the reality is in this world you need a job to earn money for everyday life.

"It helps me stay in my golden cage" is what I tell my GFriend.

I don't give a shit about my job but it allowed me to buy a house, take vacations and sometimes buy an extensive toy.

I would gladly stay in my own world and daydream away, doing some woodworking and see birds in my garden but if I lose my job all that will go away.

So I take my ~3€/day pill and try to do my best. I've lost so many opportunities before getting diagnosed...

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#366

Post by khios »

ojkelly wrote: post #284
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've tried my GF's meds once to see what it was (and using medication is one of the diagnosis tools they use); I found myself focusing and intetionally task switching for about two hours (that and palpitations), but I wouldn't say they "help"ed me. If you feel like you need stimulants to perform well in a job, you need to reconsider your career choices. It shouldn't be a rat race.

> I've tried my GF's meds once to see what it was (and using medication is one of the diagnosis tools they use); Medication is a useful diagnosis tool, because the effects when it helps can be utterly profound. For me it was like I’d fully woken up for the first time in my life. My body physically calmed down, and I went from spending the majority of my idle time daydreaming to being calm and present in the world. Pl…

It allows me (us?) to make conscious change. It didn't fix everything, it allows me to see more than 1 week ahead and make conscious decision to acquire new knowledge and automatism.

I never had a racing heart taking it and it didn't elevate my tension. It allows me to take a nap when I want without those racing thoughts about "life"

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#367

Post by khios »

hirvi74 wrote: post #355
devde wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here. If anything I actually feel a bit tired when they kick in throughout the day.

Same, I feel like I could fall asleep, but I know I couldn't if I tried.

Have you tried? I can take a nap no problem on them. I would even say that they greatly help me falling asleep!

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#368

Post by khios »

jethro_tell wrote: post #282
yc-kraln wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was diagnosed when I was six, and, like you, I dropped all meds at 17. Recently (as in, this year) through a combination of therapy and introspection, I realized that while indeed I was able to have a successful life, career, relationships without the medication, and that, yes, my coping mechanisms were satisfactory, I was punching myself in the face for no reason Last month I saw a psychiatrist and got a prescript…

This is me, too. I grew up in a "Kids just don't want to learn any more, they all just take meds to fix behavior problems" household. I quit my meds when I was about 16/17 failed out of my last year of highschool, went on to become a construction foreman for huge projects managing crews of 30-40. During a layoff in 2009 because there was no construction, I installed linux on a laptop because I borked my OS and didn't…

I'm on the same path. I feel like I will ask for a IR to take around 5PM because I can't switch off after work and it's starting to affect my couple.

I can feel the medication starting to wear off around 4PM and get sucked into the time blindness and must work/play rather than spend time with my family.

Thanks for your message. Eyes opening

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#369

Post by romwell »

LoganDark wrote: post #262
romwell wrote: post #142

I've been diagnosed last year, at 34, and my life has started making so much more sense . Wish I got diagnosed earlier — getting a mathematics PhD with untreated ADHD was double plus ungood. I didn't know anything about ADHD, and was sure I don't have it because it's described as "deficit of attention" (spoiler: it's not). I realized I need to look into it after relating to one too many ADHD memes. In the aftermath,…

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this wiki!! It has so many wonderful things!

So glad it was helpful!

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#370

Post by eyelidlessness »

hirvi74 wrote: post #355
devde wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here. If anything I actually feel a bit tired when they kick in throughout the day.

Same, I feel like I could fall asleep, but I know I couldn't if I tried.

You might be surprised. My first prescribing doctor emphasized that an appropriate dosage wouldn’t disrupt sleep and might even improve ability to get to sleep. He wasn’t right about several other things, but on this he was exactly right. So much so that early on I took a morning nap about an hour after meds kicked in because I couldn’t stay awake. Now with a higher dose I don’t get so lethargic, but I certainly could sleep when the meds are effective, more than I ever could during daytime before.
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