Adult ADHD [Advice?]

I've always had serious issues focusing on stuff I would consider boring- homework, dreary repetitive desk work, etc. Recently I found a really good solution: Earplugs.



It might seem silly, but with almost all sound blocked out, I can really focus on the task at hand. You can buy a dozen at walmart for a few bucks. They're reusable until you feel like they're too gross, and I even accidentally left them in a pants pocket one day and they got washed- good as new.

(by the way, when you insert them properly, they don't stick out like they do in the picture. My wife can't even tell I have them in unless she looks at the side of my head)

 

I didn't discover I had ADD until after college. I thought it was only those kids that rode the short bus that had it. I was pretty disruptive in grade school and got kicked out of class numerous times. Looking back, the only thing that kept from riding the short bus, was the fact I scored 99 percentile on every standardized test I ever took.

The ADD drugs are ok but eventually you get used to them and they don't work nearly as well anymore. As I have gotten older, I have learned how to deal with it. There are are still things I can't do like pay attention to an 2 hour lecture or presentation. And I still zone out during conference calls that I'm not actively participating in. I take drugs when I know I have to need to focus and get something done, but its sometimes years between doses.

 

if those ear plugs came with blinders and the ability to focus on one task at a time then they would be perfect!

 

I totally know how you feel. I'm trying very hard right now to teach myself self discipline so I don't need to resort to medication. It's tough cause I work primarily from home.

 

how did you self medicate? i am completely ADD, but i have never taken drugs for it and i have always struggled at getting **** done.

 

I tend to focus a lot better when I do things right away in the morning. You're fresh, your mind hasn't had time to really wake up and start bugging you yet.

Best time to study or get some work done.

 

Meth.

 

ADD is legit. Go talk to your doc. Tell him your experience and what you've tried re: medication, self-diagnosis, etc.

You've got to confront your hang-up about mental health issues before you're likely to get anywhere, though.

 

Theres a couple things you can do that don't involve medication. Exercise is probably the best(boost same hormones as medication), but can be hard to implement so you can get its effects at work. Changing your diet could help also, eating more protein(especially in the morning), avoiding simple carbohydrates and sugar and consuming omega 3's helps some people. Research has shown that meditation could help a lot, but I never have the patience to do it for the required amount of time to get any real benefit. I've read of people self medicating with nicotine and caffeine, but I doubt you want to go down that road.

It really depends on how bad your adhd is, if it significantly impacts your work then I would just go ahead and see a doctor about getting officially diagnosed so you can get those meds. I'd be careful about telling your doctor about your experiences with medication until you get a handle on him, you might get off on the wrong foot and he might think you're some kind of drug seeker.