Is there any way to manage symptoms without medication? Both of my brothers have ADHD and my therapist suspects that I do, too. However, I have a history of abusing adderall and being addicted to it. I don’t want to ever take a prescription stimulant again and no doctor would prescribe me one anyway because of my history.
Meditation can be basically training your mind to focus on a single thing. Focus on the breath. When you realize you’re thinking about dinner, congratulate yourself for catching your mind wandering, and go back to focusing on the breath. It’s helped me a bit at times. I saw a Sci-Am article that said 12 min every day seemed to be the sweet spot. Still working on consistency myself…
It’s a super basic thing that hopefully most people already know about, but “box breathing” really helps me when I need to relax. For people who aren’t aware:
Four second long inhale, then hold for four seconds. Four second exhale, then hold for four seconds. Repeat.
After a bit I realize that I’m not counting anymore and it doesn’t feel like holding my breath because now I’m just breathing slow on my own.
Cannabis helps me. But I guess that’s a form of “medication” (though not with the same mechanisms of addiction as amphetamines, I don’t think).
Well, I guess that depends on how you define “help.” It usually doesn’t do anything for my poor executive functioning, but it does help with the anxiety that usually comes with it.
I am unmedicated with ADHD. Specifically for symptoms my go-to is lions mane mushroom supplements (I use “RealMushrooms”, note that quality actually matters, and these have been consistent in my experience) and ginkgo biloba. Usually 500mg lions mane, 120mg ginkgo per dose. Lions mane sometimes a second dose later in the day, but it can be a little overstimulating. Ginkgo is recommended up to 3x a day.
It’s been my go-to pairing for years, and it makes a noticeable difference, especially if I take a break from it.
Medication is just one facet of the treatment/management strategy. That said, there are some other medications that wouldn’t be as easy to abuse, but only you know your body.
Is there any way to manage symptoms without medication? Both of my brothers have ADHD and my therapist suspects that I do, too. However, I have a history of abusing adderall and being addicted to it. I don’t want to ever take a prescription stimulant again and no doctor would prescribe me one anyway because of my history.
Meditation can be basically training your mind to focus on a single thing. Focus on the breath. When you realize you’re thinking about dinner, congratulate yourself for catching your mind wandering, and go back to focusing on the breath. It’s helped me a bit at times. I saw a Sci-Am article that said 12 min every day seemed to be the sweet spot. Still working on consistency myself…
It’s a super basic thing that hopefully most people already know about, but “box breathing” really helps me when I need to relax. For people who aren’t aware:
Four second long inhale, then hold for four seconds. Four second exhale, then hold for four seconds. Repeat.
After a bit I realize that I’m not counting anymore and it doesn’t feel like holding my breath because now I’m just breathing slow on my own.
Cannabis helps me. But I guess that’s a form of “medication” (though not with the same mechanisms of addiction as amphetamines, I don’t think).
Well, I guess that depends on how you define “help.” It usually doesn’t do anything for my poor executive functioning, but it does help with the anxiety that usually comes with it.
I am unmedicated with ADHD. Specifically for symptoms my go-to is lions mane mushroom supplements (I use “RealMushrooms”, note that quality actually matters, and these have been consistent in my experience) and ginkgo biloba. Usually 500mg lions mane, 120mg ginkgo per dose. Lions mane sometimes a second dose later in the day, but it can be a little overstimulating. Ginkgo is recommended up to 3x a day.
It’s been my go-to pairing for years, and it makes a noticeable difference, especially if I take a break from it.
Medication is just one facet of the treatment/management strategy. That said, there are some other medications that wouldn’t be as easy to abuse, but only you know your body.
There are non stimulants like straterra (atomoxetine) which is an SNRI (same family as anti depressants)
Personally I find it extremely effective and much more stable in terms of daily functioning.