this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2023
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ADHD

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Not sure if this type of post is allowed due to the legal implications, but wondering if anyone has had any experience with this or has resources to find out more. Someone mentioned on Imgur that they had success but they didn't respond with any additional info. I tried searching online but a lot of what I found is from the companies that produce it or articles that need to skirt around the subject (again probably because of the legality). I used to research stuff on Reddit but now that Reddit doesn't allow you to see NSFW stuff without logging into their app, it's impossible to see discussions on it since everything around it is marked NSFW. I'm even marking this post as NSFW in case there's similar rules here on this community.

For context, the reason I'm asking is because I take a stimulant but just had to deal with my insurance for multiple weeks to do the whole prior authorization. I've been taking it for a year, tried using other non-stimulant and generic options before that which didn't help. Then when I got it approved I had to get the prescription renewed, wait for it to ship, and then making sure I was home since you have to sign for it. If there's an option where I can legally purchase capsules to micro dose, have something that's effective for my ADHD, and not have to worry about the long term side effects of stimulant use*, I would love to consider the option.

*My resting heart rate is higher in the year since I started taking them.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I used cannabis to treat myself unbeknownst before official diagnosis. Low amounts of THC/CBD worked quite well. I used sativa's typically. I used a pill called "Go!" by 1906, I think they are in many legal markets. 2.5-5mg.

[–] CeeBee 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If your resting heart rate is higher than normal, that sounds like something you should go and talk to your doctor about.

Don't screw around with mushrooms and psychedelics, especially with ADHD. With ADHD you already have a dopamine deficit. Psychedelics induce some really radical changes in your brain chemistry.

There's a lot of promise in using mushrooms to treat all kinds of mental disorders and illnesses, but the research is still early days and not guaranteed.

Go talk to your doctor. You might just need a med switch. Not all stimulants are the same. And there's even non-stim options too like Wellbutrin.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yeah I definitely think the research is still lacking. I appreciate you taking the time to provide some feedback. I'll keep talking to my doctor but was looking into alternatives because I've tried several non simulants and simulants with little benefit other than my current one. The non stimulants seemed to not have any effect, even after trying them for about 4 months. The other stimulants still made my heart rate increase and one gave me the jitters but my current one has actually provided a lot of the benefits with the hassle to get it and the increased heart rate being the big down sides.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I combine a stimulant and a non stimulant to address all angles of the problem.

[–] Lorela 1 points 1 year ago

Question: what stimulants have you tried? Is it possible to try something at a lower dosage, or an alternative stimulant? And what non-stimulants have you tried?

I'm a late diagnosis and have been titrating vyvanse for 3 months now (started at 20mg and moved up to 50mg). I've never taken Adderall but from my understanding, as it's slow release, it should give a 'smoother' experience through the day. I ended up settling on 40mg as for me it's the right balance of benefits vs. side effects. Possibly paradoxically, it's lowered my resting heart rate - I assume this is as a result of not operating from a place of constant fear anymore.

Microdosing is something I've also had my eye on for a while, but until you can get medical grade, properly regulated tinctures, I wouldn't risk touching it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I tried microdosing mushrooms divided into gel-caps for a while & it did feel that the overall background noise I was experiencing diminished and it was easier to focus on tasks for extended periods (also overall mood improvements). Unfortunately my ability to legally acquire them dried up & I wasn't able to get a license to order spores & grow my own, so I've been without for well over a year now.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Hey thanks for the response. I'll look into more studies as I consider my options but nice to see that there may be legal ways to acquire them.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Hi! I've taken psilocybin on 5 different occasions over about 8 years. Each time was in a safe environment, with at least one sober, trusted friend. I never treated it like a party drug, I always had a goal in mind.

I found it immensely helpful in managing my depression. I try to spend some time with my own thoughts, reflecting on where I've been, and what I'd like to do a little bit differently. After the first time, I did feel a little bit better, and that feeling persisted for several months. That was enough nudge that I had the energy to get myself into the doctors, and therapy, and I've been slowly moving towards... wherever it is that I'm aiming lol.

Each time, I wait and see how long it takes for me to think about it again, and it's been 2 years now and I don't have any interest in it still. I know I have work to do. My depression is... still there, I think, but it's not as scary as it used to be.

I'm not willing to recommend psilocybin to anyone at this point, and especially not strangers on the internet. I had some incredibly supportive people help me with a difficult time. Psilocybin is like a rocket ship for your brain: When you hop in, you are going somewhere else very quickly, but you're probably not an astronaut so it's not you choosing where you end up. Not everyone has a good time.

Some people have a very bad time. My friend had a negative enough experience to never ever want to try it, or any psychedelics again.

Please make sure you fully understand the risks here. Your brain is an incredibly important part of you. Despite my positive experiences, I strongly recommend looking for safer alternatives first.


WITH REGARDS TO ADHD:

Eh. So I describe my ADHD as having 6-8 trains of thought in my head. I take my prescribed methylphenidate, and that helps me by making it easier to conduct the trains (ideally they're directed towards something I need rather than just... flying off lol).

On shrooms (and for several weeks after), it's like there's only 1 or maybe 2 trains of thought. I like to imagine that might be how neurotypical people think, less jumping around to different tracks. It's not uncomfortable, but it is much quieter? (This was before I was medicated for ADHD btw.)

I don't mind that version of me, but I did find that I didn't feel as naturally creative as usual. Less free form brainstorming. I was doing my usual activities feeling more calm, so that was nice I guess, but it's not who I'm interested in being. I like having creative fire, I just need a bit of ADHD meds to help me actually harness it.

I don't think psilocybin is a very effective tool for managing ADHD, even regular microdosing. It might be a subjective quality of life improvement, but it doesn't really help you adult better lol. It helps you be a little kinder to yourself, but it's not helping you with executive function.

If stimulants are working for you, I'd say work towards securing those over experimenting this. Work with your doctor, or someone else you trust, 'cause ADHD people having trouble with bureaucracy should be a clear friction point for anyone paying attention lol.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've taken regular doses of mushrooms and it just made me feel like I had gotten extremely drunk on alcohol. It sucked.

[–] TheBiscuitLout 1 points 1 year ago

I’ve tried to try it, but I really struggle to keep anything like that up over time. It didn’t instantly improve my memory or ability to have any kind of routine whatsoever, so I forget, along with all the other things that would supposedly help. Anecdotally, one of my friends who’s had a head full of bees for about 50 years has started using a non-psylocybin mixture of mushrooms called Seven Shrooms, and he said it’s very much called his head. Like antidepressants, he feels that the lows are gone but so are the absolute highs, which isn’t a bad thing, as they could be quite manic. It’s a fairly pricy mixture, and you need to make it into a smoothy or something. There’s also a couple of my mates who swear by the Stamets Stack (link below), which is like microdosing with added things. This one I might try - though it has a kind of “weeks on, week off” schedule that I’ll probably fuck up.

https://microdosinginstitute.com/microdosing-101/substances/lions-mane-stacking/

[–] buxtonwater 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, it didn't do shit for me.

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