Anyone tried exercising? | ADHD Information

Do you think that mild to strenuous exercising each day can dampen the negative effects of ADHD?

Do you think that ADDers just need to exercise?

After all, ADDers always say active on the run jobs are the best (I could ump from a helicopter or be a hunter)

Any points of view on this?

Exercise almost definately helps (with anything actually). Exercise helps release neurotransmitters, the imbalance of which is believe to be a probable cause of ADD.

I can speak for myself as to three things that have an impact on reducing the severity of my symptoms:

#1 - Adequate Sleep. When I get sleep deprived, my ADD gets worse.

#2 - Regular Exercise. Periods when I exercise REGULARLY my ADD is much better. When I am a couch potato, it gets worse.

#3 - Good Diet. Processed ,sugar, high carbohydrates, or just plain overeating all make my ADD symptoms much worse. A healthy diet with lots of water makes reduces the severity of my ADD symptoms.

I have had periods when I have done all three of these together. I still had the symptoms of ADD, but they were not as severe. These three things won't make ADD go away, but they certainly help reduce the the symptoms. Even if you take medication, diet, rest, and exercise can only help.

Like I was saying to OpenYourEyes post, I find that cardiovascular exercise five days a week or more helps reduce my hyperactivity. Dr. Amen talks about this in his book, "Healing ADD."

Cheekydeeky

I've been jogging for 10 years 3miles a day 5 days a week. Yes, this high intensity workout does help quite a bit, mostly with depression and self-acceptance. I've been depressed most of my life because I didn't fit into society. The running was definitely part of my coping mechanism. But, who's going to really go out and do a high intensity workout 5 times a week?

I think ADD is intimately connected with the emotions, explaining why increasing serotonin works in some with ADD. Zoloft improved my focus for studying for test tremendously.

I've actually gotten more relief from my spirituality, which helps with accepting myself as I am. But, who really has time to be a guru all the time? Most people are not even open minded to this kind of lifestyle.

You can live a relatively happy and uneventful life, hiding your ADD and using coping skills. However, it is very unlikely that you will ever live up to anything close to your intellectual potential without medication. You will likely find yourself at the bottom of your class as far as rate of learning. I seem to learn just above the slowest people in class, and takes me about 5 times as much energy. BTW, I learn much fast when I am alone with absolutely nothing to distract me. The mere presence of another person is so distracting I can barely focus to learn anything at all.

I recently took a job for the summer doing customer service. Most of the people in my training group were people who worked at taco bell, and other uneducated service jobs. Out of 40 people, i was the slowest person. This was just a little more thanj frustrating and embarrassing. Here I am a college graduate in science with 200 hours of chemisry, zoology and higher mathematics unable to keep up with a group of uneducated people. It's pretty rough.

In high level academic or job training, I think medication is therapy of choice.

OpenYourEyes38200.5878472222

I am reading this with interest, as I would say I do the 5x per week, if you include a walk into town or to and from the station (20 minutes each way), cycle rides etc. Doing small amounts each day is fairly easy to fit into a routine, especially if you aren't totally auto-dependent (I share a car with my brother, so I don't rely on it always being there).

My symptoms have got much worse this year, even though I am probably exercising more than ever. I guess that without exercise, I would be very over-weight, and hence more prone to feeling depressed, and getting nothing done. I would put the change down to events which have happened this year (not necessarily bad ones), but do wonder if I would sleep easier and be more alert if I really pushed myself for an hour each day (more training at the gym, less casual cycling).

With regards to "finding the time", I guess this comes down to daily routine. How much time do you watch tv, etc? I work long hours (I think I have to because certain things take much longer - my quarterly VAT (tax) returns should take a few hours, but they stretch to 2-3 days as I try and fit together all the different receipts, invoices and statements). I am at least self employed, so I can take advantage of off peak sports club membership - I can enter any time up until 4pm, so that's when I usually go for my swim / gym session

Have you gained weight with Zoloft?

Any anti-depressant that makes me fat is counter-productive!

Ughh!~

Why can't i do this on my own????

[QUOTE=OpenYourEyes]

I think ADD is intimately connected with the emotions, explaining why increasing serotonin works in some with ADD. Zoloft improved my focus for studying for test tremendously.

In high level academic or job training, I think medication is therapy of choice.

[/QUOTE]

I gained weight with Zyprexa - from 85 to 92kgs in 3 months. The psychiatrist initially said there were no side effects, but the gp admitted this was one of its problems when I explained it to him this morning.

I agree, weight gain & relentless appetite = harder to exercise = more likely to feel down = more harm than good