How to be able to feel the same way I do on medication without taking medication, is it even possible?
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Posted Nov 27, 2017, 12:13 AM UTC
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Exercise helps- for me especially HARD exercise- not like running on a treadmill like zombies are going to eat me if i go under 5mph, but like, weight lifting.
Diet changes for me were a joke. I also have sensory issues, and Basically everything that was "right" for me to eat, made me full of rage and like a red headed hulk. It had like, the opposite effect and i keep getting told "well you DID it wrong". right, you mean since i couldn't afford all organic,the conventional broccoli was just as bad for me as a bag of oreos. Uh huh.
However nothing substitutes for my actual meds.
I do have a question for you? I know its hard to come to terms with needing the stuff, but...
Do you have contact lenses? Or glasses? If you don't, would you advise a friend to stop wearing theirs because it stops them from being the same person? You are the same person, you're just able to function better.
I've been where you are. It led to some really crappy life situations - almost flunking out of school, alienating myself from all my friends because of my impulsivity and poor time management.
As far as the health issues potentially cropping up- if you're worried about stimulants contributing to hypertension, there are adhd meds that are non stimulants and one of them is an off label blood pressure medication. (I know this because that's the one my MW wanted me on when pregnant when i begged for a low dose of my meds back because I was completely non functional)
Here's the thing of it though, no you can't control it, but when you are medicated, you can set up "life hacks" or routines that are bullet proof that IF you don't have access to your meds, say theres a shortage of adderall- youd' be able to function. I had a situation like this last week, i forgot to get my RX filled, I managed. Not at my best, but starbucks got a lot of my money, the kids got to their appointments/therapy/violin lessons, everyone survived, and we just did take out one or two nights more than we had planned. Now, i can't do that for long, its like juggling chainsaws on a unicycle but for a week or two, I can manage.
As far as tolerance, every summer, when I'm not in class, I'll take a 2-3 week meds break when I've got virtually nothing planned. The house usually goes straight to hell in a handbasket but good heavens do i get some good reading in and binge TV watching of programs I've meant to catch up on for months but never had the time. Ha.
I'm super pro- meds though- after years, decades even of being anti-meds- i finally found the right dosage and the right strength of the right meds and oh my god, i feel human. Also a thing to remember, is a lot of unmedicated people self medicate with incredible amounts of caffeine. (My da is one of these. He drinks like 2 pots of coffee a day) so really, being pharmaceutically medicated is simply a different method of functioning.
Good luck- again, I've been where you are and its not easy but you got this.
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Oh ! Also forgot - My oldest child also has severe ADHD and is medicated. He's still the same kid, oh my gosh you couldn't turn this kid into a zombie if you tried, but on meds he's able to sit through play rehearsal, not miss his cues, and follow the directors instructions. Without? He can't. He just cant'. Its been a game changer for us too, he used to be so bad off, he literally could not have enough focus to do ONE math problem at a time, now, he still balks at a whole page full, but if i break it up to 5-6 at a time, he's a much happier kiddo.
Take heart too- most (if not all) people with adhd are extremely intelligent. So this just means you're scattered but super brainy. You're a mad scientist :)
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Take heart too- most (if not all) people with adhd are extremely intelligent.
Any study about this that I'm aware of is pretty clear about how the ADHD population in general has a normal range of intelligence. (No word on specific subtypes that I can remember off the top of my head, though.)
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(FYI, i'm not trying to argue with you) I'm wondering-what kind of intelligence are they testing for? Are they testing for all of them? or just logic/academic. Because as we all know, intelligence takes many forms. I've known people who were C-- students, but they could take apart an engine and rebuild it like it was nothing.
Simply put, I'm curious about this, because i've always been told the opposite. I'm wondering now if it was a ploy by my counselors/therapists/teachers etc- because adhd often does come with low self esteem- like, if you tell someone "You're smart, you can do this" as a mode of encouragement sort of scenario. EG: confidence can help boost competence because if you give up before you even start you're not going to be competent. ( hope that makes sense. I'm sometimes not great at being able to "gel" my thoughts into coherent paragraphs)
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thx for your responses. not often i want to openly weep when someone says things that resonate so well with my thoughts.
im 44 and been called the mad scientist my whole life and i just giggle, but this year i am mad and want help. i might can get help? my world can be better? i just want to scream!
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Meditation is really the second best option next to medication. Don't forget that exercise and eating right also play a huge role. I'll post a quote down below from this website. I'll also post a bunch of interesting links that talk a little bit more about this.
Mindfulness meditation, or being “present and aware” is one type of meditation that has shown great promise in the treatment of ADD/ADHD. Although mindfulness meditation is part of many religious traditions, it it not necessarily religious in nature. It is a practice of being aware and it is a mental exercise for training the mind. Mindfulness meditation is useful as treatment for ADD because meditation is extremely effective at teaching self-control, including the ability to hold attention. A person can be internally-aware (or self-aware) and be mindful or pay attention to the thoughts, emotions and physical sensations; this helps a person be less impulsive. It also results in better decision-making that is based on rational thought rather than heightened emotions. A person can also be externally-aware and be mindful or pay attention to the environment and what is going on at the moment.
The self is an illusion - This is a state that can achieved and seen for yourself after getting to a certain point in your mindfulness meditation. (Don't expect this for at least a few years unless you dedicate tons of time to meditation.)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Mindfulness Practice in Children and Adolescents
Wherever You Go There You Are - An audibook to help get you into Mindfulness meditation. It's free if you do the Audible free trial. I've listened to it about 4 times already and it is the single best tool to get anyone into doing Mindfulness meditation.
10% Happier - Guided meditations with some of the best meditations teachers - This is a great website as it has an Android and Iphone app, you can also do it through your browser. The first 7 days are free but I myself have an account that I'm more than happy to share if you just PM me.
Waking up with Sam Harris - This is the live presentation version of his book with the same name. If you want to get a grasp for what Mindfulness meditation really does then I'd give this a watch. The first 9 minutes or so are about religion so just ignore most of that unless it is interesting to you.
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Daily moderate exercise has been shown to have 1/2 the efficacy as meds for managing stimulation. The endorphins are also great for stress management and mood regulation.