Anyone use drug free ADD treatment? | ADHD Information
Well, I tried very hard to go drug free. and I was doing "pretty" well. Nothing works quite like Adderall for me, but here's what I took:*Omega 3 - 6000mg a day. (a lot) - surprisingly handled my depression which gave me more energy.
*Liquid Health brand "Energy and Stress" a liquid B-vitamin complex. I still take it and it seems to really, really help with anxiety and even hormonal fluctuations.
*5-HTP. Supposed to calm and help focus.
*Green tea - to wake me up, but not so jarring as coffee.
I tried some other things, but these were my staples but I can't really vouch for them.
It's been a while since I repeated it, so I'll do it again for the new folks.
Discipline.
ADDr's hate the word, but it's the truth. With medicine, you need twice the normal discipline to function normally. Without the medicine, you need 3 times the normal discipline. It can be done for short stretches and it is rather exhausting, but enormously beneficial nonetheless.
ADDr's need discipline, but what they don't need is to beat themselves up over not having the 2 or 3 times the discipline that others can get by with. The effort will bring benefits in proportion to the discipline acheived, even if it's not as much as we would have liked.
Pick a particular week, and say 'No' to yourself for any item of pleasure that may distract you from a certain thing you'd like to accomplish. There will always be varying degrees of success. The difference between complete success and complete failure is as follows:
Failure: You do whatever you want all week, and in the end you feel like a big loser, all the benefits of pleasuring yourself with distractions are now a distant memory and all your responsibilities are still before you. You have gained nothing.
Success: Throw yourself into the fire, take the pain. Your mind will reject this and try to escape. Throw it back into the flames! Be grateful for your suffering. Do your work. At the end of the week, you feel like a champion and all the pleasures you have denied yourself are there for the taking, without being tinged with regret. Enjoy them to the fullest while they are here, but don't fall in love with them because they will be gone soon.
Pleasure is the enemy to an ADD'r. It's benefits stop when the activity stops, therefore in order not to lose this benefit, every other pursuit in life must be abandoned, including the persuit of happiness. This makes pleasure both addictive and harmful. It's like crack cocain.
floofthegoof38524.3460069444Ok, thanks for posting that but I have a question for you. How can I put this?... Ok, I see your point when you let 'pleasurable' distractions take you away from things. But what about the times you don't even realize it's happening until you're already off track two or three times over?
My problem is that I'll start to do something and some 'very important thing (VIT)' will pop into my head and I say "I better do that right now, or I'll forget about it." So I'm off doing whatever this is, then another VIT will pop up and I'll again decide that it "Must be done RIGHT NOW". Then after 3 or 4 more of these, I stop myself realizing that this isn't what I started doing and I may not even be able to recall what was my original task. Plus I realize that NONE of these tasks are getting completed.
I've been working very hard on making myself organize and have disclipline (long before I even suspected having ADD). I have checklists for most of my life. I buy planners to keep track of things. I repeat over and over in my head what I need to remember (my family relies on me doing this) because if I don't remember something, I feel tons of quilt for missed birthday cards, appointments, etc. If I forget to write it in my planner or check my planner, it can be a disaster.
I've been learning to stop the 'pleasurable distractions' it's the ones I seem to have no control over that's my problem. They're actual tasks that I DO need to do, they just seem to fight for first priority in my mind.
I am having some success in getting tasks completed but it still happens so often that I interrupt myself or I constantly interrupt others with thoughts that I have to tell RIGHT NOW before I forget...
Sounds like you're doing fine. I think at this point you just need to give yourself some credit. I was speaking in terms of pure ideals, the reality will always be between the two extremes. For example, I could be working right now, but I'm goofing around on this message board instead. I'll be paying for that later!
Floof:
It is not often when two people agree on something as completely as I do with your post on discipline. Absolutely incredible and hopefully a wakeup call for some of the ADD'ers with the mentality that they can't do ANYTHING.
You're post put into words exactly what I've been feeling. Thank you. I'll continue to make my lists and pat myself on the back for even completing the little things week to week.
Thanks again
MM
I'm not taking any ADD meds. I'm on chemo and my shrink says they're too dangerous to take with chemo in terms of potential heart toxicitiy--particularly since I've already had a bit of heart damage from a previious round of chemo.
He said that since I'm currently on disability, I'll have less need for them in order to maintain behaviors needed for work success. I think he has a valid point.
I have begun to look for some natural remedies that may help, but haven't had time to thoroughly investigate this avenue at the moment. But even if I do, that probably wouldn't help in your case because of your problem taking any kind of med or supplement.
Coaching seems like it would probably be the biggest help to you. I have a therapist and she does some of that but I think a coach is different. I still need to check more into that.
Hi, I'm still doing alot of research on ADD. Has anyone tried drug-free ADD treatment? Does anyone have any success stories?
I'm asking for several reasons. I'm notoriously bad about not taking my meds (allergies, etc) when I'm supposed to. So I'm afraid that if I get on meds that I'll not take them correctly. Plus I also typically have meds side effects. It's hard for me to find meds that I don't get the side effects.
If anyone has any success stories with drug-free treatments, what helped you? Therapy? What kind? ADD Coaching?
Most of this is still so new to me and I'm trying to find all the options out there.
I just had a talk with a co-worker of mine who is bi-polar. It really helped me to talk to her about all this. She said that the moment I told her that I was researching ADD and that I might possibly have it, she said that she could see it in me. That her son has ADHD, so she is well in tune with the symptoms.
She gave me some great advice and some encouragement that she thinks I'm on the right track to talk to my doctor to see how to approach this diagnosis and to get help.
It really felt great to talk to someone face to face about this and get some real understanding from someone who can relate. That's what I feel also from this board. Thanks, Everyone!
To me Floofthegoof has hit the nail on the head exactly. For ADHDers Self-management is the issue. Being aware of how we" Goof Off" and Avoid being "Self- Responsible is the Major. If we compare it to an infastructure of a System of thinking Styles we are Conceptual rather than Logical. Hi! Hi!
[quote=autumnstar]My problem is that I'll start to do something and some 'very important thing (VIT)' will pop into my head and I say "I better do that right now, or I'll forget about it." So I'm off doing whatever this is, then another VIT will pop up and I'll again decide that it "Must be done RIGHT NOW". Then after 3 or 4 more of these, I stop myself realizing that this isn't what I started doing and I may not even be able to recall what was my original task. Plus I realize that NONE of these tasks are getting completed.[/quote]
Autumnstar...I believe the following it's a perfect example of what you're describing. I have days just like this myself! "I" is not me, but we've all had days like this, I'm sure. Also, I am in no way making light of 'our' dilemma...
I get up in the morning, have breakfast and then I decide to wash my car. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table.
I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full So, I put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the coke a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered. I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.
For those who didn't get through reading it, I'm sure you get the jist of it.
That's harsh Floof.I mean, it makes sense...AND...
&nbs p; &nbs p; why am I sitting here suddenly feeling sh#*)$y about myself?
Maybe because all of the tips, tricks, meds, and even new office chair I just bought have not done much to get me there.
It's like I'm sitting here in hell and on the edge of panic or a nervous breakdown for all the trouble I am currently in, and I feel like I"m just shutting down. Someone is ALWAYS mad at me. I hate it and I hate being me sometimes.
"Just doing it" feels like I'm about to go through some incredibly unpleasant emotions...anger, despair, anxiety, fatigue whatever it is that makes me seek diversions.
I keep playing the "Ok, at the count of 3" game with myself. Basically, "as soon as I take a nap, as soon as I read CNN, as soon as I go to the message boards, as soon as I watch my favorite tv show."
GAWD. There has to be an easier way. Hating life right now.
Yes, I'm going to Just Do It, but I'm really uncomfortable, tired, upset, and mad about it. I felt the same way in college. I had to work and go to school. The entire world was mad at me; bosses, teachers; fellow students if I worked on a project with them.
What good am I and where the hell is my place in this world? I want anger toward me to stop. I want to be good at something, organized, and reliable (or I just want to hide out under the covers and play with my dog).
I am drug-free as well and it is no picnic. But still, you can get through life. To follow up on what has already written above, I have had some success with delay-gratification. I stick to one task and get it finished, then reward myself with an indulgent activity. It helps keep me focused on something I'd rather not be doing, knowing there's that carrot just at the end of the string. Floof, I scanned your post quickly and was about to vent, then reread what you said carefully. I have to agree. I've found that I have to kick myself in the butt constantly. Part of my job is to research stuff, which means using the web. It's very easy to tangent into more interesting areas of research/fun (like being here) but with meds I'm 100% better at noticing what I'm doing and whats happening with time. Now there's a little voice that says 'umm, you need to stop messing around and do that other thing'.
The meds havent been a magic pill, and I am lucky enough that my insurance company has agreed to cover behavioral therapy. In a lot of cases I simply dont know how to perform certain tasks, i'm hoping that with help I'll have the tools required to get thru it. Sure I'll mess up, but its better than feeling like a turtle on a fencepost.
Floof:
Keep up the good work. Too many ADD'ers (including myself from time to time) fall into the "I can't do anything" mood when in reality it's just lack of discipline or motivation to get it done.
I have found delayed gratification works well also (and my wife appreciates it too!) . I went from daily lists to weekly lists and it has worked much better. That way I don't get all bummed out if I have a bad day and didn't check alot off the list! But I put EVERYTHING on the list even the littlest stuff. When I see a whole page checked off it ups me mood 100%. My wife was even impressed when she ran across the list and saw how much I got accomplished.
As to the point of the thread, you can do it without meds but it takes work. There are lots of us doing it. By posting hints and positive reinforcement, we'll all do better... it's like our own little coaching circle!
MM
Gypsy,
Oh, how you describe my life! The only way I can seem to get anything done is to jump in "big time" and not even "come up for air"! I guess that's what they like to call the Hyper Focus showing up.
Sometimes I'm talking with my husband and he says something like "the basement needs to be straightened up again". I look at him and tell him that if he can take the baby for 2 hours, I can get it done. Because I know that if I can get started and with no interruptions, that I can get it done. But does it happen? NO! Within 15 minutes, my husband's trying to do the bills, the phone's ringing, and the baby's wanting to be fed. So my husband's calling me upstairs to answer the phone and feed the baby. Then I need to clean the kitchen, wash the baby bottles/dishes, get everything ready for the morning, etc.
When I can't get things done, I feel just like Bluebird. I love how I realized last night that we just got home from the store and we didn't get any formula, and I wasn't sure I'd have enough to make it through till morning!
I think I want to get diagnosed because then I might be able to get my husband to listen to me as to why I need more space and structure than what he can function with. He can't understand why I have to have lists, such as household chores lists with specific things for specific days, he thinks I should just "look and see what needs to be done and then just do it." Problem is that I don't notice what he notices - yes, I can ignore the dirt on the floor, the shoes under the coffee table, the baby socks on the couch, the toys everywhere, etc. I'm thinking about the closets that I want to reorganize. Bah! 
Brain dead me is working on forcing myself to notice these things right in front of me. But I don't think I'll ever notice the dirt on the floor.
Does anyone try to do journalling? Do you find it helpful? I've tried to journal in the past and I end up skipping months between entries. Because something else always comes up that's more important.
autumn
[QUOTE=bluebird38]That's harsh Floof.
I keep playing the "Ok, at the count of 3" game with myself. Basically, "as soon as I take a nap, as soon as I read CNN, as soon as I go to the message boards, as soon as I watch my favorite tv show."
GAWD. There has to be an easier way. Hating life right now.
[/QUOTE]
Jeez, I know that game so well.
It does get a bit easier the more you do it. You harden as you do it, and you soften as you fall off the wagon.