ADHD

I really need som tips on how to avoid getting trapped by my own hyperfokusing.

I very often i get completely consumed by either youtube shorts or something similar and i loose complete sense of time and spends literally 5 hours on just doom scrolling and wasting time. The worst part is that I'm hyperly aware that I'm doing it the whole time and I really want to stop but I just won't shake myself off of it. I feel so bad because i should go walk the dog or go do my hobies instead. It happens the most often when I'm supposed to work from home and it makes the guilt feel even worse. If only I could do something for myself at least while not actually working. The only way I've found working so far is blocking the websites from me using blockers but I know that I'll just either circumvent them or find something else that's equally bad for me to hyperfokus on. And I do have legitimate reasons to use YouTube sometimes for work for tutorials etc so blocking it doesn't really work so well for me.

How do I get out when I find myself in that trapped state? Let me know how you are dealing with it.

I wanna add that I'm medicated with methylphenidate but it doesn't really work on getting out of the trap if I've first gotten in.

Just as the title says.

I'm very anemic, and I've been struggling to address this. In the last week, I started taking iron supplements to address my fatigue, and things feel a bit.. strange.

I'm still tired, but I sometimes feel/am acutely aware of my heart beating?

Idk. Shouldn't take only a week to see/feel results, right?

Any insight?

(No easy access a doctor / medical professional at this time: American. Thank you.)

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/23209181

Scrolling
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Sleep
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Go back to sleep because can't think of what to do
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Wake up
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Still can't think of anything to do ^(cba to wait for inspiration)
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Scrolling

This is what my weekends look like when I fail to find an event to go to in time.

The problem is that most tasks require

1. Inspiration, which it usually takes several minutes of staring into the void (fun!) and waiting for an idea to get.
2. Structure. I think this is broken in my brain because whenever I need to structure a task it's super tiring, and that's why I always revert to scrolling, which is unstructured. In scrolling the need to plan is replaced by an impulsive response to whatever happens to appear on your feed.

What does the diagram even look like for normal people? When do they get inspiration? How do they decide that now is the time to do thing no. xyz? What do I do about it hurting to structure free time activities (I've found strategies to navigate cooking etc)? Is there an alternative structureless passtime* to scrolling?

*(I'm actually able to structure when I do things with other people, but there are days when nobody's around which leaves me helpless)

I feel so isolated, so depressed and anxious whenever I think of things such as getting my GED or finally heading out to go to a dentist and get my teeth fixed. Or hanging out with my worthless, POS problematic family. I have no idea why. I know I'm not smart enough for the GED and I fear things going wrong. I just wanna get it done in just one or a few days. I just want to rest and live without a diploma since I believe I sorta have average intelligence as I was told before. I don't really have college plans cause I have no interest in anything, and I know there's some colleges out there that don't require a diploma or similar.

I just really wish I could pay someone to take it for me or do it in a way that doesn't take a long time or just bypass it. I don't even feel like living.

I was always very anxious person and this anxiety really helped me to motivate myself to do anything. I would procrastinate, wait for anxiety to kick in and panicking do the thing in 1/10 of time. However after this cbd thing the anxiety no longer kicks in lmao. It is gone for real, I can’t even evoke it if I wanted. And so my career/education took a huge hit.

At first I thought this effect was because of slight amounts of THC “making me lazy”. I imagined that I got a bit addicted to it over the year of everyday full spectrum cbd usage and I got stereotypical “bum” mentality from “weed” 😅

My next step as soon as I noticed that I no longer have drive and motivation and ambition? was to just come clean off it and I did it single day, was a bit irritable and angry for a week but generally not a big deal.

So now I am months after that and I realize that there is more to this. That this anxiety that cbd killed was actually part of my coping with adhd. I mean how else explain that months after quitting I still haven’t regained my “motivation” to finish something before deadline? The anxiety just doesn’t kick in, it is gone.

Idk honestly I must find some other way because I am almost 30 and that also is some sort of deadline hopefully the anxiety kicks at birthday.

I don’t know honestly if I should celebrate my calmness and relaxation or should I curse myself for losing the coping method. I need to find another.. somehow.

I guess I don’t miss panic attacks but it is hard to balance it all. Some anxiety is kind of a force that for me was propelling me forward. Now I just want to relax and chill all the timee. Sit there on the patio comfortably with beverage and just take the nature in. That doesn’t work good for me in the long run I feel.

IDK if this is a normal thing for people with ADHD but do you guys find it hard to watch movies? There always super slow paced and require hours worth of your attention. I can watch movies but only if I really try and that's a very draining experience. I only like watching movies if I'm really high.

It's been pretty much exactly 20 years since a psychologist first suspected I have adhd. I finally got a Ritalin. The mixture of grief and elation I'm feeling is indescribable. I was robbed of so, so much in my teens and early-mid twenties, but I can finally begin to live my life.

Story if you want it: my mum took me to a child psychologist when I was 7 to get an opinion of whether it'd be a good idea that a skip a grade. I only know this because I overheard her telling it to friends as a funny story, and going like hahaha as if MY child is disabled/r-slur (where I live, people use disabled as a derogative, both for the disabled and as a generic one. Similar to how some people say gay as an insult. So, idk an accurate translation, it's inbetween). This was when I was maybe 12? I googled (at school, didn't have my own PC) and more or less concluded I have adhd, and that it wouldn't be safe or worthwhile to bring it up with mum.

As soon as I moved out (at about 19), I went to my GP about troubles focusing that I'd had my entire life. I think that's how I put it. She referred me to a neurologist and did bloodwork, but I never went, because the GP office gave the diagnostics and referral to my mum when she went to the office (it was her doc too; I've switched since). Mum gave me shit. My health insurance ran through her because I was a full time student, so, while it wasn't legal to show her my diagnoses, she would've seen what doctors billed my appointment through her insurance.

I struggled a bunch both with physical health and depression in my early twenties. So an adhd diagnosis wasn't the first of my worried. I did go to a psychologist who did a mini adhd test and concluded I had it. I must've been like 23? So I took her diagnosis to my psychiatrist who was treating my depression. Psychiatrist basically said that that's ridiculous, because I've graduated high school and even have a bachelors in a difficult area. I went back to the psychologist to get a recommendation for a new psychiatrist. Took about 3 years to get an appointment (not really their fault; they're suuuper booked out and kept telling me to call back in two weeks, and I kept forgetting because, well, adhd. I kinda just tried again every few months when i remembered.)

New psych is great. But I couldn't immediately get meds because they're a little hard on the heart, and so is my autoimmune disease. Had to get some ultrasounds, ECG, bloodwork. Would've taken probably a week or two as doctors usually aren't as booked out here (unless they're the only non private psych who treats adult adhd) but i suck at making appointments, so that was another few months.

I finally got the ok from all of them, and I got my prescription. I cried. At first from relief and joy. And then I actually tried them. And I cried again. This could've been how I felt my entire life? So much hardship and pain that could've been avoided. So much disappointment and 'but you're so smart!'. I mightn't even be depressed if I hadn't suffered this much every single day of my entire life.

If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading all that! What's your adhd story?

I'm so frustrated with myself. No clue when was the last time I've seen this thing (wallet of crochet hooks). Yesterday I searched every project bag, every bag of my yarn stash, every drawer, nook and cranny where I might have put it absent-mindedly. I just went through them all again today. I have memories of seeing it on the breakfast table, on my desk (where the cat tried to annihilate the decorative tassle on its zipper), and in a project bag. I've moved it somewhere. I want to start a new project but need a hook of unusual size that is in the wallet. I haven't been motivated to crochet in a while, and I caught a spark over the weekend by finishing up another project. Blegh. Fuck.

Thank you for reading my rant while I wallow in self-loathing.

P.S. This thing is neon fucking pink and bigger than a paperback book. I must have a forgotten project bag smushed into a closet or left out in the camper. I thought I accounted for all my half-started projects though.

Does anybody here have a link or copy of the comic where somebody is explaining how utterly devastating It is to be interrupted in the middle of a 20-minute mental map where you're figuring out the complexities and inner workings of a system and then someone interrupts you for just a quick task. And you lose all the progress that you just spent the last 20 minutes working on because you're now distracted ? It may have been an xkcd. Honestly, I'm not certain.

Has this medication helped any of you, and if so, how long did it take for you to notice? I know it takes a week or two for the full effect, but I definitely feel something already. Haven't really had a chance to test it out yet.

Edit: I've noticed that my sentences are a lot less choppy today. Going to try writing more and see how it goes.

Over 6 weeks on Elvanse now, and it's great. It helps with one single symptom only, though: I can just get on a task and see it through, no procrastination, far less pain.

But that's all. I'm just as senile, forgetful, fuzzy; the quality of my work did not improve. I go to a place on a 1 hour trip and forget to pick up the main thing I was there for. I ask everybody what they want to eat, open my laptop to order it, and forget all about it, until the hunger kicks in and I wonder why it's so late and nobody got food.

I appear in meetings on time and well prepared now, but when I open my mouth, it's still letter salad.

Basically I'm this Joe Biden who rushes to the task like the Flash, and then goes full Biden once he gets there, just looking around disoriented.

It FEELS even worse than before, but I think that is because doing more means more error, more senile.

Still, even if it would stay like this, my life would have changed for the better.

But I wonder: This one symptom could be fixed from the short-term "high" which is certain to decrease over time, not from the intended effect on the prefrontal cortex. Just like opioid painkillers helped me with exactly this as a side effect, but only for 3 months.

So we'll see whether stims are right for me in the long run.

[Update]: Thanks everyone for answering and caring. I wasn't expecting this reaction at all.

While I got over the panick attack quickly I really appreciated all the comfort and info you provided. <3

At the end of the day I only got a slightly worse headache and rebound effect but that was to be expected. It's been barely three weeks since I've got started with medication and next Monday I have a follow-up meeting with my doctor.

I noted everything up with the rest of my experiences just in case it's useful since I think it might be working better… xD

Anyway, thank you all again. (:

[END of Update]

I'm on Elvanse (lisdexanfetamin) 30mg I just took two pills instead of one by mistake.

I'm quite sure I wasn't noticing anything with 30mg but now I fear an overdose or some shit.

Tho here if 30mg is not enough they jump you to 50mg which is not far from 60mg…

The thing is that I'm scared and don't know what I should do.

Hi everyone!

I’ve just recently started titration, I’m now on 50mg of Elvanse (Lisdexamfetamine).. curious if anyone has had the same effect as I am having now.

On the 30mg I felt like the static/shouting/noise whatever in my brain was muted but I had access to it, like it was in a cabinet in my head. I was able to focus on tasks at work and all that, although it didn’t last all day, maybe until about 2pm (taking the dose between 830 and 9).

A couple days ago I moved up to 50mg and the first day was… okay. I have definitely been able to concentrate on work. Yesterday was like I was a zombie. During the work day I got plenty done. It was like I was in a controllable hyper focus all day, but I didn’t feel like myself, and I feel like the personable side of me is not there. I’m not sure if it’s lack of emotion or what.

I had volleyball practice last night and honestly I felt like a zombie. A completely empty shell by that point, which I have had pre-medication after coming out of a particularly long hyper-focus before, but I am a bit worried about this because it was not pleasant. I’m not sure if I could face that every day.

I am due to increase to 60mg from next Wednesday and it is making me nervous. Will the impact of the medication reduce a bit over the next few days or is this what it will be like?

Out of curiosity, is anyone on a lower dose like 30 or 40mg? If you are do you do a booster in the afternoon?

Hi all,

I’ve recently completed an assessment and gotten an official diagnosis (and have even started titration in the last few days).

My assessor mentioned that an ADHD Coach would be a good option for me, to help me with structure and self-management (not sure if this is linked to his suggestion that I should also research Autism & diagnosis?). From what he was saying it sounded like this could also be covered under the RTC umbrella, but I can’t actually find anything that would back that up.

I’ve got private insurance but unfortunately ADHD and Autism are excluded (all development disorders are which is a bit daft), so I am just trying to figure out if it’s something I’d need to pay for out of pocket.

Thanks in advance for the help :)

P.S. I used ADHD-360 as my RTC provider, happy to answer any questions about the process with them if anyone is looking for some insight.

The outside observer probably thinks I am mentally ill (I evidently am). What do I do??

Edit: Post yours guys

I went to my GP and she basically said that the waiting list is too long and she can refer me to any of theese places(link below). I don't really know what to choose, if you live in the UK please help me https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/

So I finally got diagnosed with ADHD (apparently I actually bombed the MOXO if you saw my previous post). I started 10mg IR adderall on Tuesday. Firstly it has been life changing so far but if I start writing about that this will become a novel.

The main thing I'm wondering about is that I have also noticed that about 1 hour after I take a pill I get a bit of a headache and my upper back and shoulders ache. It isn't bad, it's just enough to be annoying. I've been paying special attention to make sure I'm still eating, sleeping, and drinking enough so I know the achiness isn't linked to any of that. Did anyone else get this sideeffect, does it eventually go away, and if so how long did it take for you?

But it took me seeing the box of garbage bags under the sink before I remembered I should grab a couple before returning up the stairs.

Curious to hear what others think, as this definitely aligns with my own experiences.

The original study is behind a paywall, but I'm trying to see if I can get a hold of the full text somehow. For now, here's the abstract.

Abstract

Objectives: Recent studies report a fluctuating course of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across development characterized by intermittent periods of remission and recurrence. In the Multimodal Treatment of ADHD (MTA) study, we investigated fluctuating ADHD including clinical expression over time, childhood predictors, and between- and within-person associations with factors hypothesized as relevant to remission and recurrence.

Methods: Children with DSM-5 ADHD, combined type (N = 483), participating in the MTA adult follow-up were assessed 9 times from baseline (mean age = 8.46) to 16-year follow-up (mean age = 25.12). The fluctuating subgroup (63.8% of sample) was compared to other MTA subgroups on variables of interest over time.

Results: The fluctuating subgroup experienced multiple fluctuations over 16 years (mean = 3.58, SD = 1.36) with a 6- to 7-symptom within-person difference between peaks and troughs. Remission periods typically first occurred in adolescence and were associated with higher environmental demands (both between- and within-person), particularly at younger ages. Compared to other groups, the fluctuating subgroup demonstrated moderate clinical severity. In contrast, the stable persistent group (10.8%) was specifically associated with early and lasting risk for mood disorders, substance use problems in adolescence/ young adulthood, low medication utilization, and poorer response to childhood treatment. Protective factors were detected in the recovery group (9.1%; very low parental psychopathology) and the partial remission group (15.6%; higher rates of comorbid anxiety).

Conclusions: In the absence of specific risk or protective factors, individuals with ADHD demonstrated meaningful within-individual fluctuations across development. Clinicians should communicate this expectation and monitor fluctuations to trigger as-needed return to care. During remission periods, individuals with ADHD successfully manage increased demands and responsibilities.

Hi all,

I've been on 30mg Vyvanse for approx. 3 years now. I'd say it's been a resounding improvement, though there have been some minor downsides.

Unfortunately I have some trauma in my past, and when I'm particularly in the peak of the drug it can kick in my fight or flight a bit under certain circumstances, becoming hyper vigilant and all that good stuff. It is a stimulant, it's only fair. Oddly enough though this seems to only happen after long periods of taking the drug. I've tried 20mg for a period, and it wasn't really effective, so going down a dose isn't a practical option.

I am wondering if maybe I should be taking small drug holidays when the paranoia etc starts to kick in. I feel like it steadily gets stronger the more days I take Vyvanse in a row. I've done some searching that says it shouldn't get stronger, which is why I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience, and if anything worked for you?

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24099-rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-rsd

I always had this thing where randomly certain types of criticism, even small ones or ones where in hindsight it wasn't really against me, WRECKED me. Like was all I could think about for days, where I wasn't able to sleep that night at all, just overwhelmed with negative emotions. I still remember the overwhelming feeling of sadness and frustration I got once because I got a question marked wrong in like the 4th grade because I didn't "show my work" properly even though I got the answer right.

When I was younger this was a fun combination, because I was undiagnosed ADHD sufferer school was a place I got a good amount of criticism. So yeah I got called a crybaby a good amount. Which of course... more criticism. Yay.

I grew out of the crying (as any man should, I was told), but never grew out of random insults hitting me as hard as if someone I love just died. There were hobbies/games/communities I adored that I quit suddenly because a single snide comment for some reason filled me with such negative emotions I couldn't do said thing without thinking about it all the time.

But now as I just got my ADHD diagnosis and learning that RSD is a symptom that goes along with it, it makes SO MUCH SENSE, and is now something I can work with my counselors on.

But yeah, just curious if the cry baby thing was a shared experience.

Hello, ADD-"enjoyer" here.

I think I am not alone when, typically, I am constantly overwhelmed. Too many thoughts and impulses. So I don't make a lot of decisions; I usually respond to other people's decisions or I let me guide by suggestions from the people around me.

Now I am in the situation that some things are changing at my work. I have actual influence this time, I could say "next year I want to work on X" and X might actually be my new job.

I have some ideas where to start thinking (start writing down random thoughts and see if I can make a list), but as I am always overwhelmed I am having trouble to "find the right mood". I always get distracted by other thoughts and I always end up doing things entirely unrelated (currently I am baking bread, collecting documents for my insurance, and I am almost ready to pick a new e-mail provider)

Does this feel familiar to anyone? Probably ;-)

I feel like I need the right circumstances. Should I start with some mindfulness-excercises? Walk for a bit? Find an empty room with no distractions? Find some good background music?

How do you deal with this? What works for you?

Thanks for your input :-)

The Two Articles from the Economist:

Researchers are questioning if ADHD should be seen as a disorder. The Economist, October 30, 2024. https://archive.is/a4xbu

ADHD should not be treated as a disorder. The Economist, October 30, 2024. https://archive.is/hNPIQ#selection-97...