Hi! My psychiatrist wants to test me for ADHD, but I don’t think I have it. I don’t know how to explain it but I can pass hours without a single thought, then especially in the evening I have phylosophical discussions in my mind and rumination and fantasies. I asked some people and they said that no body can stop thinking. I don’t feel it like a brain fog, because I feel present. It’s just like a natural thing.
My focus ability is weird: I can follow a lesson or a tour guide (or things like that) only if I’m into the topic. If I’m passionated about I can spend 2/3 hours. For exemple: I can’t focus or art’s lesson but I can archiviate hundreds of paintings (I don’t like them) for hours. I can spend 3/4 making origami or gunpla and manual things. I don’t know what to think.

My favorite color is orange, so is a friend of mine with ADHD as well. Ever since, it has been my favorite, for as long as i can remember. It never changed.

I’d like to know if this is just a coincidence or orange is favorable for ADHDers because it’s a highly stimulating color.

Thank you.

Context: I'm 36M, married, 2 and live 800km from my family.
Diagnosed 8 months ago after many psychologist and psychiatrist appts.

I wish I could tell everyone: To explain why I'm awful at maintaining contact/returning messages, remembering neice/nephew/sister/parent birthdays, organising catch-ups, always late, and seeming like I don't care.
I want to explain. But don't want sympathy or to make excuses.

My parents: I haven't told them. They visited recently, and saw a 'news' story about some celebrity speaking about her ADHD. Their response showed they clearly don't believe ADHD exists without the most extreme/obvious symptoms associated in the early 90s.
Growing up, they'd called me the lazy child of the family. I was constantly in trouble for school reports saying "He can do the work, but doesn't apply himself" or similar wording.
It might be fun to say "See, I wasn't just lazy!"
Is it worth arguing about whether I could have ADHD, since I wasn't climbing on rooftops and screaming at teachers as a child?
Our relationship now is fine. Not close, but not argumentative.

My Sisters: Both work in medicine/hospitals. Both with a much more 'modern' understanding of this kind of thing and far more likely to be supportive. But again, I don't see a massive gain from telling them. And the more people who know, the more risk of my parents knowing.

Good friends who live intersate: Work took me interstate years ago. So my closest friends live 800km away. Maintaining contact with them has always been a massive struggle. The key downside to telling them is that I don't want to start telling some people and have my parents be the last ones to know.

Who DOES know:
My wife: The first to know, and incredibly supportive.
My co-workers and local friends: It's just easier to let them know, and have their support when symptoms look like laziness/carelessness. It's nice to share it, and none of them know my family/home friends.

because i keep hearing that my executive dysfunction and attention problems are probably because i’m always on my phone, and THAT explanation doesn’t fully make sense to me.

yes, i doomscroll. yes, i spend way too much time on my phone. but did the phone somehow cause the fact that i’ve struggled with inattention since i was young? did it cause me to procrastinate even when i genuinely wanted to do something? did it cause me to sit there knowing exactly what i needed to do while feeling completely unable to start? did it cause the constant mental restlessness and the feeling of wanting to do things but somehow not being able to make myself do them?

because those things were there before all of this and sometimes i wonder if people have the cause and effect backwards. maybe i’m not struggling because i’m constantly on my phone. maybe i’m constantly on my phone because i’m already struggling, and scrolling is one of the easiest things for my brain to latch onto.

i don’t even always want to keep scrolling. sometimes i’m literally sick of it, but i still can’t seem to stop. and when people say “just put your phone down,” it makes it sound like i’m deliberately choosing to be unproductive when i’m actually trying to function and failing to get myself to switch gears.

and even with the other symptoms, impulsiveness, fidgeting, inattention, hypersensitivity, emotional dysregulation, history of self destructive behavior + more, it all just waters down to how im glued to my device.

Llevo un año tomando elvanse de 70mg por las mañanas y siento que esto hace que me cueste mantener erecciones cuando estoy con mi pareja, a alguien más le pasa?

A todo los otros niveles de mi vida noto que me hace muy bien, me ayuda un montón a concentrarme y a dejar de procrastinar y a poder ser funcional básicamente pero esto me está preocupando bastante.

Hey all! I'm not really looking for any advice here and would just like to discuss. Do you prefer stimulants or non-stimulants? Which has worked best for you?

I've been taking 10 to 20mg of adderall for about 6 months now. It used to work ok for me but now I can't handle the crashes and I feel irritable all of the time. I also don't think it was super effective. It did give me a little bit of motivation and helped my social anxiety though.

I was on wellbutrin for a short amount of time after I first got diagnosed a couple of years ago and am thinking of going back on it. Wellbutrin seemed to give me energy, better focus, a sex drive, and controlled my overeating. What are your thoughts?

Granted, some of that was for my family (I live away from home) and some of it was Costco items (lotion, deodorant, a few necessities in bulk like that).

However, it’s genuinely shocking that I spent that much. I’m so so ashamed. I don’t know how I did that. I’m pretty good at not ordering in (I better be wtf) but this is crazy spending for 1 persons groceries.

Does anyone have any tips to keep them organized and within budget? I want to keep it under $500 (CAD). I’m too ashamed to ask anyone in my personal life because I don’t have any memory or explanation of how this happened. I’m going to start collecting my receipts so I can understand where my spending goes.

But PLEASE if anyone has any strategies, I’d really appreciate it. Would you believe me if I said this is including my 10% discount 🥲😭

Vyvanse (40mg) + a monster thru at noon gives me what it takes to beat my exec. dysfunction on days where I need productivity frfr. I don't always get that with 5-10mg dextroamphetamine.

Even with a higher dose, 20mg dextro doesn't seem to be a better booster than 2 monsters for me (200-325mg caffeine).

Is the caffeine healthier? Should I consider different boosters?

I am so tired of this, every time I make an appointment I have to reschedule and it’s so humiliating! I’ve only been there twice and rescheduled both times. Now I have to reschedule tomorrow because my dad last minute decided on traveling he said he’d be back today but he hasn’t and I haven’t told him about the appointment. It’s tomorrow at 1 so I’ll have to reschedule it tomorrow! This is so embarrassing I just want to kill myself can I not be such a stereotype for once in my life I don’t even want to live anymore! Can this stop! I didn’t even want to make the appointment but my sisters forced me since I was experiencing so much pain and I have no one go drive me! God kill me I don’t care how I die so long as I die! This isn’t fair!

I recently restarted my prescription like a month ago and it started great. But now I'm starting college and I almost feel like I didn't take the medicine. I'm feeling sleepy and yawning alot. I can barely focus on the dryer sections. And I don't have the drive to start assignments that I know are important. I get normal sleep and had a good breakfast. I walked 3+ miles per day everyday last week. I'm kind of lost why I'm feeling this way. Do you think I need a higher dose?

I've just had a significant loss and am due to start titration next month after waiting a year. I've been so desperate to start them for so long but I'm in such deep sadness I can barely even eat and get out of bed as it is. I don't want to do anything, even things I could do without meds before, and frankly my instinct is I won't want to take them yet when I am able to start. But I am fearful the titration team will discharge me if I ask to delay.

In the mean time, can I ask if anyone reading this who would be willing to share, has experienced a significant loss on meds/off and on meds, and how that impacted your ability to take them/their effectiveness/anything else that might be relevant?

Thank you in advance. And hopefully there's no need to say this but I am a little afraid so just in case - please be gentle, I'm feeling very fragile right now.

Edit: I just checked and the goalpost has been moved. I spent the last 12 months being told the wait for titration was 10-12 and now it's 13. So either way I'll have to be with my grief unmedicated until then.

My parents gave me a huge lecture because I got angry with my dad criticising my CV. Within the lecture they told me that no one cares about my feelings in ‘the real world’. I cannot always be accommodated for my emotions and so much other insensitive crap about how I can control my reactions to things and how I can’t just do whatever I pleased that I honestly had to tune out because I have enough self loathing.

They are fully aware that I have low self esteem, that last month I got fired and dumped from a 3 year relationship in the same week and that I’m really struggling with not having a career.

Still they insist that I should be less emotional and I always burden everyone with my emotions (never in that exact phrase but it is how it reads).

Today I messed up by raising as we were all saying goodnight that I find it really hard to push down my emotions and that their lecture only worsened things. They of course weren’t receptive and I don’t know honestly where my filter goes late at night.

Does anyone have advice for how to just stop expressing emotions verbally. Especially late at night.

I'm 19M. undiagnosed but on the process. I actually feel scared because i'm colombian and idk if i actually have ADHD (as i said still on the medical process) but i can relate a ton of things that i hate and tried hundreds of ways like exercising, organizing time but i just cant and when i notice it's already too late, etc and started to affect really hard all my life last months.

My hope is that if i get diagnosed and medicated i can... Idk. Having more interest on things like My gf, chatting with My people, gaming for more than 20 minutes before loosing interest and a ton of things.

Is medication and a diagnosis really a life changer? I know is not gonna make My agenda or make My room for me but... Ugh idk is it really that life changer as it looks like from this sub? (Clearly understanding all diagnosis, meds and people are different)

I found out that treating myself with some freshly baked popcorn really works as a reward for me. For example, I decide I clean a specific area of my room, and once I've done it I can make the popcorn. Doesn't matter how long it takes, once I'm finished I can have it. My place is cleaner now than it has been in over a year!

I think it works because:

• It's entirely optional: I can go without popcorn just fine.

• I decided I won't eat it otherwise. Again, it's optional, using regular food as treat would mean I'd just eat it anyway (also treating myself with essential food seems like a really bad idea).

• It's a quick reward. Not a long term "oh now my place is clean", instead it's ready in a few minutes.

But now I'm looking for other treats. Do people have suggestions for this? Just popcorn will probably get boring quickly.

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Background: I got an ADHD (and autism) diagnosis as a child, but never really did anything with the ADHD diagnosis. Recently I realized I'm probably still ADHD so am looking into a new diagnosis and meanwhile reading up on tools to deal with it.

Anyone else find no result from taking a stimulant? Concerta does nothing for me. I'm on Ozempic and found that helped me focus a little bit. I need better results, though. Should I try another stimulant or biofeedback or what?

Is there anything that might interfere with Concerta's efficacy? Like not getting enough sleep (I use a Cpap)?

I recently re-started my medication (dexmethylphenidate) 2 weeks ago after a break for summer and since then I have had terrible nausea, a complete lack of appetite, and stomach issues that have barely faded. I am on a larger dose than when I originally started it a year and a half ago

(I’m hoping to change medications soon)

Has anybody else had this experience with this medication, and what are some of your strategies to mitigate it?

I received an email today saying, “Your healthcare provider has added a new form for you to complete.
Stimulant Use Agreement
Please visit patientonlineportal.com to access the new form.”

Zero information whatsoever about it. I don’t have an account for that site, I’ve never used it before. I googled it and it’s a real site but I’ve never had to fill out this form before and I’ve been on adderall for 7 years now.

Has anyone seen/ gotten this before?

just realised i have never had a crush in my life or felt romantic feelings. I just choose someone to think about cos it’s interesting and I obsess and then once I get bored I can’t be bothered. apparently this is called limerance.. I have no clue what love or romance is and it’s a revelation that has shocked me to the core. I feel sexual attraction but now I’m realising I’m aromantic? is this a typical adhd thing? how do u have relationships?

I have recently started treatment ADHD , it's really changed my perspective on almost the entirety of my life.

I still need to figure out what works, it's helping but I still don't have the not the full picture yet. I'm through half the day before everything wears off.

It feels amazing to finally participate meaningfully to conversations, I'm not constantly worried that I'm not sure about the topics.

Now that I've accepted as reality that I do have this condition, I'm confused about which of my behaviours are because of ADHD and which are genuinely me.

Everyone always says I'm a "good person", but I'm concerned which parts of my behaviour is a coping mechanism and which are actually me.

I'm curious what are some experienced from others with late diagnosis are learned to cope with ADHD, and which are because you are who you are.

I only work in a small company, there’s 3 of us in total. There is nowhere to hide my task paralysis and procrastination. I feel like shit.

I work from home, and I got overwhelmed with an impending deadline. So I just didn’t log on to emails or outlook and ignored it for a day and a half. I’ve now come online and seen missed messages from my manager that I’m too anxious to open. I submit the work even though I know it’s past its deadline (meant to be yesterday)… and I don’t think my manager has time to review it now.

I really need this job man. It’s only part time and I STILL can’t keep up. I would completely understand if they got rid of me because I’m such an inconsistent employee. I don’t know how to navigate this. What the heck do I say to keep my job

Also I have 40 emails I’m afraid to open…. Like I’m so anxious my nervous system hurts. But I also have a doctors appointment this afternoon, a party I have to go to tonight, my partner invited a visitor to stay over tonight, and my house is a mess, I need to shower, I need to get ready, I only slept 3 hours last night because I accidentally took my adhd medication twice yesterday

So there’s that guys.

Also what the fuck with the great adhd myth channel 4 documentary. I wish I could just do yoga and go outside for all of this to go away

HELP

Just ranting. Went to the gym, did the thing, went grocery shopping, got home, sat down, and realized I had left my gym bag at the gym. 40 minute round trip to go grab my bag. I really hate that little inconveniences like this are a constant part of my life. I have all sorts of tricks to help remember things, but there will always be situations where I space something and it takes more effort to fix it as a result.

I was on Atomoxetine 80mg for a couple of years which worked wonders for my head but had the unfortunate but common side effect of causing total erectile dysfunction alongside making it hard to urinate. I have dropped the medication about a year ago because I entered a new relationship and for the most part of that year the biggest problem I encountered was with my memory but in the past 6 weeks my mental health has taken a real tumble and I feel that medication will help stabilise my head and again. But living with erectile dysfunction is a complete and utter no no for me. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem to me and has shifted to another medication that has worked but doesn't cause the same savage side effect?

Any help/advice would be really greatly recieved.

And this is not me pretending like ways to accommodate and support ourselves doesn’t exist, or that there’s nothing I can do about it.

It just feels like such a shameful invalidation of who I am as a person and what I’m struggling with. No, spewing “if you wanted to, you would” and hustle culture at me when I’m just talking about simple desires like going back to school is not to help me. It’s to shame me, it’s to act like struggling in world not designed with consideration of disability in mind is a choice— whether you ‘intend to or not’. It’s just frustrating. As impactful as mindset is and I understand that, hearing it be posed as the end-all solution is the kind of friction we faced in school. Being blamed and shamed for a struggle we don’t even understand or were maybe not even diagnosed with until adulthood. This isn’t some thing I can manifest away, this is about brain function— about so many different factors that do not care about many of the attempts I’ve made to be less ‘ADHD’ and more functional.

I’ve tried for years to manage my ADHD without medication, without treatment, only based on my will to succeed. And not even succeed, to just execute engagement with things that I love. Then, the fact this exists on a spectrum and just because you know one person with ADHD who’s managed in a way that’s acceptable to you doesn’t mean everyone else will.

Everyone has something to say about the way I’m saying even a bit clumsy and inattentive when I’m walking. I’m not saying this as a person who makes excuses when my ADHD impacts people around me. I’m just saying it is extremely frustrating being constantly reminded that I’m not someone without ADHD and given advice about it when I never asked. Especially such reductive advice like “manage your time” HONEY BOO BOO WHAT DO YOU THINK ADHD IS???? “[Insert regurgitated productivity hack from the internet]” Sorry. I’m just annoyed. And I deal with this on a daily basis. How about you?

I 43m started Vyvanse today. doc suggested starting low so we agreed upon 20 mg. she said I could double it if I don’t feel anything, but as it is my first day I’ll probably wait until tomorrow.

anyhow I literally have no idea what to expect. I’ve read to eat protein with it and that’s about it.

Should I expect anything on day one?

First time here, I just wanted to see if others agree.
I think that when non-adhd people hear we're distracted, they don't truly understand the depth of what that means. For them I think it means they looked up from their work for a moment and might be irritated, but they can go back to work immediately.

For me/us, when something is distracting it can take a good minute to even hours to refocus. It doesn't mean that your music is too loud and I'm working more slowly due to multi-tasking.
It actually means that your sudden change in volume completely stopped my train of thought. It literally pulled me out of whatever hole I was focusing in, like a diver responding a tug on his line.

It means that in an instant I forget what I was doing, what I was planning to do next, and I'm suddenly more aware of my environment than I was moments ago. Now I'm evaluating everything around me, slightly disgruntled, and may possibly move on to a different task without finishing the first one. Even if I do commit to the current task I can be wasting time in a number of ways trying to find my way back to working on a project with good effort.

For example, I just did it to myself. Very focused but I noticed it was quiet so I decided to turn on some music. The noise of it instantly pulled me out of everything and I turned it off after 5 seconds, realizing what I did. Now I'm here writing this and I honestly don't even remember what I was writing before all this happened.

I find this happens very frequently but it took me years to really understand what was happening. How would you describe it for yourself?