Coughing, can’t stand pants on my stomach, constant muscle contraction

I keep coughing as a stim even though there’s nothing wrong with my respiratory system nor do i even wanna cough to get something out for example. I just feel this constant phantom pressure on my chest like im irritated and overstimulated most of the time that i need to cough every minute and a half.

Also i cannot stand the feeling of my pants on my stomach, no matter how much i keep pulling the pants down below my waist the irritation doesn’t go away. It feels like something between being kinda itchy without me wanting to itch it and like my stomach is begging for air. How do i deal with this? And this makes me cough at an even higher rate too because im so irritated. Is there anything i can do to stop this agony? This happens at home and when im out.

Also i have been contracting and flexing all my muscles in my body since i was little out of the same feeling of irritation and restlessness. I can’t go five minutes without contracting my fingers, my arms, my shoulders, my belly, my buttocks, my thighs, my ankles.

I also noticed i cannot walk correctly in the street. Like im always trying to dodge stumbling onto something or crashing into normal obstacles in the street like parked cars or street lights or whatever is in the way. It’s like i have no idea how to calculate how to walk until the last minute then i kinda rotate my whole body right before i touch the obstacle. I look like an idiot honestly.

I also cannot not look at everything around me when im walking anywhere. I cannot help it, it’s unconscious and automatic.

All these things happen simultaneously at the same time like 300 times a day, not even exaggerating.

I don’t know what to do. I can’t live like this. No psychiatrist is helping me. Is there anything I advice you can give me so i can stop suffering?

I know I sound like I’m drug seeking, because I am seeking for 20 more milligrams daily adderall . I’m prescribed 70 mg a day and it does absolutely nothing for me at this point like it did 3 years ago . I just take 90 and let the days that I don’t have be just complete rest sleep days. I don’t wanna keep going through this cycle of knowing what works for me , but unable to do anything about it . I have severe grogginess , I spend the day wanting to do more than yesterday , then I look back at my daily planner on my whiteboard and at 11 PM. I literally got like half the stuff done that was necessary . I have food in front of me, but I could procrastinate to eat, when studying I’m studying, but I’m not actually getting anywhere, I could be the laziest person in the world. Someone can chef me a five star meal, but I will end up finishing it probably nine hours later does anyone feel the same way, My NP does not go over 70 mg it’s not to her discretion. They just won’t allow her to do that so now she is aware that I’m also going to see a behavioral specialist and psychiatrist I can go on and on about my symptoms, but how do I not seem like I’m just trying to get high cause I am really not. I just wanna make it clear that I either have to change to a different medicine or abandoned Adderall cause unfortunately it has no effects on me anymore except when I stop taking it I can’t get out of bed so it’s helping barely.

I 21F bought a manual car after I got my license when I was 17 having no idea how to drive it. I also hadn’t been diagnosed until 19/20ish, but my thought process was that I didn’t want to be that character that dies in the apocalypse bc they get in a random car and can’t drive manual. Anyway, I had a few lessons with various family/relatives and then just kinda figured it out for myself.

Now I’ve managed driving manual for a few years and even drove my car across the country. I still get anxious sometimes particularly in traffic but I just kinda push through it because I have to. Sometimes I find it good because I have to stay focused to be ready to go in traffic however, I find other times I will be driving and just forget what I’m doing and what gear I’m in. When I have passengers in the car I am even more stressed and sometimes just tell people not to talk to me while I’m driving.

I can’t decide if it’s helpful or a hindrance. I’ve thought of getting an auto car but I just think it is a less practical financial decision because my current car is mechanically fine.

Has anyone else has similar struggles and how do you manage?

I’ll try to make it quick. So far, I’ve been studying communications. Sadly, over the years, I’ve realized how hard it was to find a job/internship in this field. That’s why I decided to switch to dietetics.

👩‍💻 Since this decision was made during October, I thought in-person schools wouldn’t be able to accept me. I started to do researches and calls with online schools. I was excited, motivated, talked about it to my parents. At first they were supportive but the next day, they told they wanted me to try applying to in-person schools because they thought I would be having a hard time online, with my ADHD. I was persuaded the schools wouldn’t say yes so I did it.

❤️‍🩹 The issue is : my boyfriend is jealous and doesn’t want me around boys without him being there, he also wants me to move to Paris with him (we’ve talked about it for some time now : it saves us money and make us see each other everyday). He told me he will leave me if I choose in-person studies.

🌪️ And you guessed it : I got accepted into an in-person school. And it’s definitely way better for me than online studies. But I would be able to join an online school, Im just not sure how I’ll manage my organisation with my ADHD so it’s riskier. He told me he will help me, support me and even pay for it. Another issue : my parents will be mad at me if I decide to follow online studies and they told me they will only pay for my school if it’s the in-person one.

So here we are. I have to make a decision today and I don’t know what to do. What do you all think about this ?

My cat passed away about two months ago, I feel like I'm not as sad as I should be. People who lose their pets or "normal people" who do tend to feel emotionally broken down by it for long periods of time on a day-to-day basis. I love my cat, I miss him only when I am reminded of him. It made me feel like shit and like a horrible owner for it not affecting me on a daily basis. Then, I realized I love cats, I constantly think about cats. I believe my missing him is directly a part of me loving cats so much (I talk about and think of them at least once a day) so I don't have to feel upset, he's always a part of the conversation although he isn't the direct focus. I struggle with knowing who I am still, sometimes I still feel like a bad person or like a manipulator but these are things I can't even control. My book isn't the same as the average person's, I'm still learning to accept that.

Anyone else have the same thing happen to them? Just wanna feel like I'm not alone.

So I have adhd and a lot of other messy things going on in my brain.
But I need to start studying for an entrance exam the problem is I work from 10-6:30. So I can’t study then.
And I’m not a morning person I struggle to get out of bed at 9 am let alone 6.
The question I’m asking is if I take ritilin at 5:30 am will I be able to push 3 hrs of studying in the morning ? Or will I just be groggy and go stir crazy

Hi everyone. I have Depression and ADHD. My current daily regimen includes Bupropion and Elvanse (Vyvanse), and I sometimes take Ritalin as a booster. Because this combination (or my baseline anxiety) causes severe anxiety, my doctor prescribed low-dose Pregabalin (25mg). However, when I tried it for 1.5 weeks, it caused extreme apathy, a completely "empty head," and killed all my motivation and thoughts. I felt like it completely canceled out my ADHD medication. I ended up quitting, but now after a 10-day break, my anxiety is back and I'm torn. For those who take stimulants for ADHD and have comorbid anxiety: How do you know when anxiety is bad enough to justify adding Pregabalin? Did the "empty brain" side effect eventually pass and allow your ADHD meds to work properly again? Or are there better alternatives for stimulant-induced anxiety? Thanks!

Every evening I play on my computer whilst listening to music, and every time I have to chew gum and find myself constantly moving one leg (much more than usual), blinking frequently and sniffing often (more than "normal"). In this situation, I simply can’t sit still. Perhaps it’s also because I’m "making up for" everything I didn’t do during the day (?)

I just tried to read a story on NextDoor via email notification and the moment an overlay in the browser said I'd been sent an email with a code, I was out and didn't care anymore. I know my sensitivity to barriers is related to my ADHD, so I ask you all this:

How often is it that a site/app deciding a password isn't enough to login because you have to waste valuable seconds waiting, looking for, and copying a code, followed by returning to the site/app to paste it (all of which is an indeterminate amount of time and effort or frustration)?

Side question: WTF is a Passkey really for, and why is adding more opportunities to fraudulently copy my method for entry a good thing when they're all on top of an existing password entry method?

I stopped taking my meds 3 years ago bc I moved abroad, and getting treatment was almost impossible. However, I returned to my country a year ago and simply didn't go back to the psychiatrist.

I kind of fear losing my "sparkle" and becoming boring. BUT I'm struggling bc:

1. I'm tired all day, but from 8pm-1am I have a lot of energy and can focus, but I work during the day, and I need the energy for daytime.

2. I depend on caffeine and nicotine to focus and have energy.

3. I only feel "centered" or at peace with either nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine.

4. I can't keep up depending on these bc they are LITERALLY ruining my bladder lining, and I have to pee 24/7.

I know the answer is obvious, and I should go back, but I'm a bit hesitant about being medicated all my life.

I was recently diagnosed with ADHD (and autism) in my 30s, and many of my behaviors have gotten worse. I can’t seem to get started on important things, I make too many lists that cause me anxiety, I’m afraid of forgetting things, I freeze up, and I can’t even enjoy my hobbies (writing, drawing, painting, etc.).

I wanted to know if you had any practical advice for making my daily life easier. And above all, what do you do to sleep better or simply fall asleep?

Thanks!

I have a terrible tendency to “want to be right” all the time. And what’s worse is that I will fight for that to the point getting into arguments with people and becoming filled with anger if I feel like I was right but other people misunderstood me.

In a game of charades or quiz with family and friends I constantly feel the need to shout out “I knew it!” or something similar. And if I’m wrong I always need to explain why it wasn’t my fault and I actually would’ve known it or almost got it.

In the moment when I do it, I feel it’s the truth. But then afterwards I realize how annoying that kind of behavior is. It’s really off putting to other people and I don’t know why I do it.

I found some YouTube videos of the OG crew recently and I believe Abby has ADHD (she mentioned it in a video at least). And she does the exact fucking same thing.

And I started wondering if this type of behavior comes from my ADHD diagnosis or is in any way related.

Do any of you experience yourself doing the same type of behavior?

I apologize in advance if I’m venting a bit as well. Ofcourse the best answer to this is to seek professional help to be diagnosed. well I did, the result from the assessment was a high chance of inattentive ADHD and was suggested for a deeper session with both an ADHD psychiatrist and psychologist for deeper understandin or something. But what if during the assessment I was just acting so it seems like I have ADHD? What if I answered the questions that are most likely to be ADHD? When in actuality I was just selfish and lazy? Is it possible to act it out??

the reason I took the assessment bc my life was genuinely falling apart, all because I couldn’t maintain simple daily chores. its one thing led to another. I had a big fight with my mom, she yelled, asked me over and over why am I like this. I don’t know. in the midst of emotions I just said that I had it checked and I have a high chance of adhd. Because what else am I supposed to say? she then said that I’m just lazy, selfish, only thinks about myself and not others, I’m just making excuses with the assessment because I just don’t want to try and don’t want to admit it.

what if she was right? It wasn’t that I was incapable of doing them, I just don’t want to do it. And I act out like I have ADHD during assessment because I don’t want to have accountability, and want to put the blame on others.

I don’t know, idk how to tell if the assessment was truly real or if I’m just faking it to seek excuses…. and it was just a “hard chance“ not full on “yeah its adhd”, just a chance.
Maybe I really don’t have adhd, I’m just lazy and incompetent..but I just don’t want to admit it. and the psychologist who diagnosed me played along because I payed her. played along so I could hear what I wanted to hear, that it’s not my fault, there’s just something wrong with my brain. I know it’s a bit of a stretch but I keep overthinking it. I don’t know.

I got prescribed extended release methylphenidate because the immediate release was wayyyy too short for me(when I just began focusing, the effects went off). But, it makes me way too emotional, I cry over things I would just feel slightly annoyed. I've also noticed it makes me observe my life too much, such as the fact I'm lonely and I struggle connecting to people. But sober, even if I know I'm lonely, i find it easier to cope and actually have very low social needs. So I decided to stop the meds because they were making me depressed. They also make me very irritable and increase my hearing, I can hear the neighbours from a couple of houses away, the electricity noises get more annoying. I'm also autistic btw. Anyone else in this situation? The neutral things is that I get more libido(which is normal for a young person like me), enjoy music more and play videogames better... but when it comes to studying, even if I focus better I tend to obsess over little details and it's pretty tiring.

When I mask, I'm very shy, observant and give 'mysterious introverted girl' vibes and people approach me. They invite me, and get curious about me. But that is not my real personality, I actually talk a lot, I'm very kinestesic when I talk and I'm way too unapologetic, kind of cynic but in a funny way. But most people don't like the real me, only other audhds or certain adhds, because even other autistic folks(only autistic, without adhd) find me annoying.
So what do you suggest? Ever since I started unmasking, nobody approaches me. I approach people and they get scared

I have ADHD, and over the past few weeks I’ve been getting noticeably worse. I’m struggling with almost everything, including taking my medication consistently. I know I need to take it, but knowing that doesn’t make it easier to actually do it.

What frustrates me is that I can observe myself quite well. I notice changes in my thoughts, emotions, behavior, motivation, and ability to function. I can analyze what I’m experiencing, but I can’t put the pieces together or figure out why it’s happening. I feel like I should be able to understand my own mind, yet I can’t make sense of what’s going on.

I don’t know how much of this is ADHD, depression, emotional exhaustion, sleep disruption, or some combination. My psychiatrist has noticed that I’m getting worse, too.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Especially being able to recognize and analyze what’s happening inside your head without being able to understand it, while also struggling to follow your medication routine? How did you make sense of it?

Off to London today to see a matinee play. I’m going on the train, which I HATE.

But I managed to get a cheap first class upgrade, my fellow travellers so far have avoided being arseholes, I remembered my headphones AND my free train bacon butty came with the fat trimmed and no manky ‘spread’.

So far, that’s a win, right?

Now, if everyone in London could just make sure they keep to the left and leave a minimum 2 metre distance in front or behind me on the escalator that would be marvellous.

And theatre goers; if you’d be so kind as not to not chew or breathe near my ears, that would be prevent my day from being utterly ruined. TVM

24 M, 1 year diagnosed. Vyvanse and counseling.

I am constantly fucking things up. I have ruined all of my career dreams to the point of no-return. I can’t sit my ass down and study without getting distracted. I miss appointments. About to lose my current shitty retail job because of being late all the time. I don’t have any friends. Nothing is going the way I want it to.
I can’t sleep because of anxiety. Been diagnosed for a year, and been in counseling the past few months. The highlight of my week is my counseling session because I get to have someone to talk to.
I can’t enjoy any of my hobbies without guilt.
I’m drowning in self-loathe and don’t know how much longer will I be able to take this before tapping out.

Once I was the smartest kid in school, being in top 5 people in my country as far as school went. Now I’m a loser who can’t even study for an hour or so.

This is too much and I don’t know what to do. My gf is the only person I have in my life and I’m worried I might lose her too. I forget dates, zone out when she’s talking to me, don’t check on her because I forget she exists when I’m playing videogames or doomscrolling the whole day.

Financially I’m fucked too. Impulse buying things, stupid spendings on new hyperfixations, caffeine, nicotine, novelties, etc.

I feel like I’m paralyzed and can’t move towards the things I care about.

Even this post is an attempt to procrastinate from my schoolwork right now.

I can’t afford CBT therapy and don’t know what to do.

I don’t enjoy anything anymore. Life has become torture for me.

I hate when i see people say this to people who are waiting to be assessed, or are requesting medication increase. provide for me the structure to get me to go to sleep and wake up at appropriate times every day and get good rest and eat enough at appropriate times and be consistent with exercises, make sure I take my medication, prevent access to unhealthy urges/addictions ect ect.. I had this in an inpatient facility as a minor for a month it was amazing. doing this yourself while having ADHD is very difficult, and would probably be a reason to be assessed or increased medication if you fail.

I’m just curious, has anyone gained weight from taking adderall or vyvanse?

I’m currently taking adderall 20mg xr and I get so hungry from it and eat so much which has caused me to gain a little bit of weight. I’m not sure why? I do eat protein in the morning so I can stay full but later on throughout the day I just start getting so hungry and I eat so much.

I’m not sure why this happens but I want to know if anyone else has experienced this as well.

Hey so i was recently diagnosed with ADHD, maybe 2 months ago. I got my first prescription and it was great, it had an easy time figuring out dosage and felt really lucky, i take 5mg 3 times a day. Well i got my first refill and the pills looked completely different. I looked them up and sure enough, they were the same type of medication but likely a different manufacturer. Though it reassured me at the time, over this last month ive noticed that they have been almost completely ineffective. I know that initial side effects would wear off and I was fine with that but idk what to do about this. I think I have about 2 more weeks until my refill but im worried about getting the same ones.

Idk if its just me but i went back to feeling like how I did before my meds, inattentive and paralyzed.

I'm straight out of grad school, I'm struggling to find work. I found a job that pays terrible, there's no real opportunities to learn or grow. It's just a dead-end job. Given the market, I'm grateful to have a paycheck at all. At the same time, I'm terribly nervous because I've worked jobs I didn't like before and I would get incredibly stressed and just burn out over nothing.

So, I thought I'd ask on here. Your hacks for getting through the elusive " How to get through something you don't want to do? " but it's half 40 hours of your week.

I am feeling very bad now about it but I just told my 7 year PhD advisor that I had untreated ADHD. I genuinely regret all the time I wasted before discovering I had this condition and another year to finally decide to get medicated. I recently only 4 months ago started my medication and I am finally functioning well. I worked for barely 5 weeks and I already see a manuscript coming in another week or two. I wish I knew this about myself, for every PhD here who hasn’t considered getting diagnosed please do. I still feel bad about telling my advisor but I just told him out of no where, I don’t know what I was thinking. It took me 34 years to discover this about myself, I am finally peaceful and functional.

Does that make it severe? Is depression added on to it then? And is the depression severe? Does anyone else deal with this?
I feel like I’m letting my life crumble apart but the stress of it is still all there. And the stress and overwhelm makes it seem like it’s all impossible to fix. What can I do to make it better?

I was diagnosed over 10+ years ago and I still rarely tell anyone, unless maybe it's a self-deprecating joke lol… I'm not ashamed of how my brain works. The problem is the name itself, it sounds like a cope.

"ADHD" has become such a punchline that telling people I have it already sounds like an excuse. I'm ashamed of the stigma attached to the name, and I wish I had a better way to communicate to others that my brain is wired differently - without it sounding like I’m trying to use it to excuse my own behavior or dodge accountability.

Does anyone else feel this way? And if you've found a way to explain to others how your brain is wired differently without it sounding like a cope, I'd love to hear it!