Super exhausted now. Some of the failed (red) tasks were crucial and are really going to bite me in the arse, and I didn't even get half a day for a relaxing walk or something. 0 income generated, 0 rest, just catching up at least 80 % on general life stuff. Had to skip all work-out, too (usually 3x per week).

So here is my "routine":

• snooze the alarm and can't get out of bed for 25 minutes
• protein shake, Lisdexamfetamine immediately
• usually guarana / black tea right after
• sit down and wait for the kick - but that takes an awfully long time!
  • managed to avoid dopaminergic things like doomscrolling while waiting
  • often watch a show as a compromise, though
  • manage todos, like even starting the list for the day helps a lot when the kick comes
  • start drinking a lot (no caffeine) within ~10 minutes, fast fill-up 1l, then slow down

A faster way is to take the meds immediately with water only, or even in bed, but it doesn't last as long as with the protein shake. Maybe a mix of both would work, like meds on empty stomach, but then protein shake and food 10 minutes later?

Showering works great for some reason, but I lately prefer an occasional bath at night. Is it the "thinking time" with no screens and the simple routine?

I just need to vent a bit...

I've been on meds for ~ 1 year with mixed results. I've been trying to implement new habits and tools that help me cope with ADHD. There's been some improvement not as much as I'd hoped.

My relationship has taken severe damage from me having ADHD and the conflicts this has caused in my marriage. My partner would so much want (and need) a partner who is reliable and dependable and can take care of stuff on their own, and actually takes care of stuff. Meaning: When I say I'm gonna do something I'm gonna do it and do it right. And I'm gonna know what and when something needs to be done without my partner having to tell me first.

I feel like I'm trying to swim with a weight tied to my feet and it's so hard to stay afloat. Every day feels like a struggle where I'm paddling paddling paddling and once I stop I start forgetting stuff again and things get bad.

I also know that my partner would have wanted to have kids and for a while I was open to the idea but now, after realizing I have ADHD and how much of a struggle it is I feel like life is already hard, why would I add another factor to my life that makes everything even harder?

And then I often feel myself falling into a downward spiral. My partner should be with someone else... someone who is a "real adult", someone they can rely on, someone who gives them a feeling of security... Not someone where it feels like (their actual words) being with a teenager or having a child instead of a partner.

I'm in psychotherapy to help me get rid of this negativity but it's still so long till my next session and I just needed to vent a bit. For a while I thought I was making good progress but now I feel like nothing much has changed, not really.

I've been on slow-release methylphenidate for a while but I feel conflicted about whether or not it's right for me.

I was prescribed 1x10mg for a week and then my dose was increased to 1x20mg. After I noticed that I experience quite a drop in the afternoon, I was prescribed 2x20mg.

On the plus side:

• It's so much easier to get started with things and keep going
• Responsibilities feel less scary and doing chores or errands becomes almost an activity I enjoy

But then, there are also things that feel good but also weird me out a bit:

• In some aspects, I feel almost like a different person. For example, when I'm off my meds I don't really want to have children. I feel no desire to have any and because life already feels like a constant struggle with ADHD I feel that overall I'd rather not have kids. But when I'm on my meds, I suddenly feel like this super chill, "proper adult" who takes care of shit and almost craves responsibility and starts seeing the beautiful side of having kids.
• I feel "emotionally fearless", in that I find it a lot easier to face emotionally difficult things or conversations.

I kinda feel like the meds turn me into a better version of myself and it's kinda scary, because (a) I notice that I want to feel like this ALL THE TIME and start craving my meds beyond my daily dose. And (b) it makes me wonder who I really am? Am I really the person that I am on my meds but due to my ADHD brain I can't be that person without my meds? Or are the meds pushing me up on some artificial higher level that feels nice but isn't "real"?

And then, there are some negative effects:

• Sometimes, when I want to do or focus on a specific task and can't due it because something else came up, I become irritated because I WANT TO DO THAT TASK NOW.
• On some days the meds don't seem to work at all which causes me to feel irritated as well, because I WANT TO FEEL GOOD and why aren't they working.

I've tried talking to my doc about this but he barely has any time, appointments are usually 10 mins and that's it. He's covered by insurance and so has a ton of patients. I've now scheduled an appointment with a private doctor. Much more expensive but I feel like I need someone who takes their time and really listens to what I'm experiencing.

And I just wanted to vent a bit about feeling confused. If anyone has any helpful input, I'd appreciate hearing it <3

Trying to put down in words what it feels like taking Vyvanse for the first time as an adult diagnosed after 30.

After years of trying other treatments, therapy, non-stimulant medications, I’ve got my first prescription for a stimulant and today is my first time taking it. I was always wondering what would it feel like so I think I’d try to describe it:

After the initial physical sensation subsided (stiff feeling in the neck, jaw, a feeling like tension on the skin of the back of the head) and I’ve started my work day I’ve realized that I’m pretty much feeling calm. Like there was a race in the back of my head where each task was fighting for a priority and I was trying to accommodate the first one that came to mind, but now while the race is still there I can just methodically pick one out and focus on it for a bit, or switch to another while still remembering the first one. It feels almost mechanical in how calm the process is (maybe a bit too mechanical actually), and I feel less governed by emotion.

I’m still getting distracted, but it seems like distractions last much less and I don’t feel panic and urgency after returning to the task at hand.

Now I wonder what it feels like once the effect is over, and if I will be able to sleep tonight normally.

One other effect is that there is almost no hunger, so I had to remind myself to eat something. In that regard it feels similar to hyperfocus when I’m absorbed in a task and forget to eat anything. I don’t know if it’s actually bad since I do have enough weight that needs losing, but I also don’t want an eating disorder. Feels like I need to start planning my meals.

In order to deal with executive dysfunction, what works sometimes is to just do a little. E. g. instead of a full workout, I say: I can't do a full workout, but I CAN do 1 pushup, or 1 set.

Sometimes, I can do more with 0 mental effort, only the first one is hard.

At other times, I still don't feel like it. And here is the trap: I could force it like "come on, now you started, you finish!"

But the problem with that is that next time, the "just start" method does not work. The devil on my shoulder would say: "You know it's never just one pushup, more will be forced and squeezed out of you!" And he would be right.

Better to deal with nearly 0 progress occasionally than to lose the method! Be honest to yourself. If you said just 1 pushup, just do the one. More only when it's 100 % motivation-driven.

You not only miss your stop, but the whole way, your paranoid that you will. You will get distracted and then suddenly fear washes over you, only to realize your still 30 min away. Or maybe, on bad day, you need up on the other side of town.

Maybe you tried to gauge if you miss your stop but most of the roads looks that same and you have to ask the person next to you if you missed your spot.

Right now, i mostly solved this issue by turning on Google maps and following the bus route. Still have to remember to check the map every now and then.

Honestly, any traveling where your responsible for getting where you are suppose to is stressful. Going to the supermarket or any near by places is fine by me. Frequently i miss place like the pharmacy and head straight for the supermarket because i am operating on autopilot but that's not too bad. Going to a place i don't frequently make trips to, and to add to that, frequent turns with no obvious landmarks(like a mosque, Tower, Tree etc... cuz shop names don't do shit) and suddenly i am lost and have to turn on Google maps, just to reorient myself and ask 5 different people for directions.

Back in school, i would be setting in the front seat of the school bus(those were very small mini-vans) and when ever we changed buses or just drivers, i would be expect to guide the driver to the kids house, even though i am checked out the minute the bus leaves the front of the school. In comes the shame of 7 year olds giving the driver directions when i cant even do that for my own house until we are 5 min away.

Also, while i do plan on learning to drive(regardless of if i get a license), i don't think i will actually drive a car, specifically because i don't feel safe with my Adhd(plus the direction disability).

And i haven't even gotten to the problem of actually seating in the bus. Its very crammed and there's no leg room and when i tell my mom that, she just chalks it up to me being fat, even thought its a bone structure issue(i.e height) and not fat.

After years of wondering, going back and forth, and putting it off, I've finally got an appointment set up to get evaluated. I set the appointment about two weeks ago and it's tomorrow, I even did all the paperwork already! Is there anything I should know, or consider going in?

Update: Well I got a diagnosis. I have ADHD, and he's sending his recommendation med to my PCP. It's weird that it has to go through them, right? I figured a therapist could prescribe meds. Also he added that I have "highly impulsive" ADHD. Is it normal to add the qualifier? I mean, he's not wrong, but are there categories?

Hello everyone,

I'll keep my questions brief. I'm in my mid-40s. I was diagnosed with ADHD in April 2025. I take Elvanse 30mg. I'm also now taking Ramipril 2.5mg and Bisoprolol 1.25mg once a day each, because my blood pressure isn't great anymore.

During the week at work, I can stay awake. But in the evenings, I'm absolutely exhausted and incredibly tired. I'm constantly worn out and have a huge need for rest and sleep.

I work too much overtime and keep getting in trouble for it, and now I'm facing disciplinary action because excessive overtime is considered a violation of the company agreement. I've had equal status with severely disabled people since 2025. My employer is aware of this.

Do you also experience this constant fatigue/exhaustion despite medication? Like, could you sleep anytime, anywhere?

Do you also experience this constant fatigue/exhaustion despite medication?

What are your experiences with conflicts at work? Has anyone had personal experience with disciplinary action? In my case, it's in the public sector. Perhaps excessive overtime has also been an issue, as people try to compensate for extra time with overtime.

Hi Lemmy,

As the title suggested, I was kinda given soft yes and everything that my contract would get extended in the last moment I was welcomed to the news of two weeks notice. Reasoning being "unable to meet stakeholder expectations" (I pushed back few requests from a very pushy stakeholder). As an expat(international student), who just made it, I lost it all. In a moment

Here I am! I am glad I was diagnosed as an adult, but I really wish I was diagnosed as a kid (who had multiple visits to the principals office) may be I would have learnt being diplomatic more gracefully. I am just so done with my condition playing around with my life.

Parallely all my friends are empathising with me but few are insistant that I continue as an expat for more money.

I really want some wisdom from people who "know me" and understand me

Thanks!

Context: I am from India, currently working in Australia.

cross-posted from: https://piefed.blahaj.zone/c/mentalhealth/p/728220/how-often-do-you-get-like-this

I got my meds today, concerta 36 mg today and i feel like i am sitting for an exam. Mild trembles, hyper-aware and inability to sit still. Like a weaker version of caffeine for me.

From what i have seen online, caffeine, for alot of adhd ppl, works similarly to adhd meds, helping them focus. For me, it worsens my adhd, making me hyperactivity, hyper-aware and very trembles. I sort of addicted to it for 2 months or so. Drinking 4 to 5 cups a day.

Thinking about it now, this could be caffeine withdrawal rather than the meds. Either way, has anyone had similar experience?

Article without paywall: https://archive.ph/1r4ME

Original research: Mapping ADHD Heterogeneity and Biotypes by Topological Deviations in Morphometric Similarity Networks

I definitely fall into the new subtype though the emotional dysregulation also crosses over with autism.

Id like to ask opinions on what I should be asking and or telling my provider at my upcoming appt.

For context, I paid out of pocket for a psychologist evaluation as I failed to get the appropriate appointment within my insurance-it was too difficult to understand maybe.

I have informed my insurance covered providers of the diagnosis and now have an appointment in...June....to discuss ADHD and possibly be prescribed medication.

Since I have some time before the appointment Id like tonfigure out what are the prime areas of questioning and concerns relating to medication. And what if any research I should do into the medication options.

Possible red flags I may encounter? Such as prescribing too high a dose?

(I am male about 140-150lbs (63.5 to 113.4 kg) at 69 inches or 175 CM depending monthly on diet and exercise and water intake)

If anyone has experience or can help me to have a successful appointment it would be appreciated.

Is it normal to wait a month for this sort of thing for you personally in the system you are in? What system /nation is that?

Should I take the first dose on a weekend to avoid possible bad side effects preventing work? Or just right away?

Should I choose it.

I had 1 prescription, Sertraline that I ceased taking in under 72 hours due to very bad side effects of shakiness, tiredness and then inability to sleep at night time.

We have all seen those memes about how seeing people Info-dump is the hottest thing ever, but even in normal conversations listening to people talk is chore in of itself. I get bored quickly and look somewhere else or interrupt them with my own thoughts or try to predict what they are going to say.

It feels like i am more interest in myself and what i care about than what the other person has to say,who they are or what they care about.

And yes, i am aware how beyond self-centered that is and i do wish to work on that but i am also wondering if others have similar experience.

One of the big reasons I haven't gotten diagnosed for ADHD yet is that I assume they'll prescribe meds and that will create a concept called "meds" that others can bully me with. No one can tell you to take your meds if you don't have any lol.

The other reasons are that it's taken me decades to actually like myself and the thought of meds changing who I am is really scary. Then there's the scary things that come with diagnoses. What if I get misdiagnosed? What if getting diagnosed leads to rights being removed? I have a friend who was diagnosed as bipolar and they immediately removed her driving licence. What if I go to a private clinic instead and they just feed me a bunch of lies so they can charge huge fees for consults and meds? It's a minefield and I'm happy with the way I function and also, I'm generally a happy person living an nice life so why upset the apple cart?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hi all I need a sanity check.

Diagnosed ADD as a kid, struggled to pay attention and care in school, was on concerta for a decade. Parents would up my dose if my grades went down and expected me to grow out of ADD once I turned 18.

That didn't happen and my life fell apart and I vowed to never take medication again because I saw it as a conspiracy to sell pills and get people messed up in the head.

After 15 years of emotional dysregulation and crippling anxiety I spoke to a dr and tried an extended release amphetamine yesterday.

My whole world changed. No emotional noise, no background feeling of "I'm a bad person and I don't know why", social anxiety is gone (was able to respond to all my messages and even make a phone call AND talk to a cashier!!!). Was able to do tasks I left behind because the anxiety to start was too bad.

I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to now. My self confidence is up. I don't dread things. I woke up calm. My mind used to be a firehose of thoughts and emotions all at max level. Now it's calm and orderly and logical.

This seems too good to be true. I didn't even know existence could be like this. Is this normal? Is it the honeymoon phase? Is it just because I'm taking an amphetamine? I'm beside myself and life feels like I've got all the cheat codes now. It seems too good to be true.

One thing about tasks and the probability that I'll take them on is the ratio:

reward* : required energy**

But faced with a task, I might remember situations where I did a thing that didn't take long but had great results, and I felt so good after doing it. That is normal, but it can also be a trap. Example:

It's late, but I do have time for a little think such as taking the garbage out or cleaning the sink. But then I think: Yes, the effort is not that great, I could do it, but what difference does it make? Might as well take on all the remaining chores tomorrow. And I don't find a task with a good reward/energy ratio, so I do nothing.

It's always a fallacy.

What works?

1. Simulate tasks in my head and see if one of them appeals; not picking any is fine as long as I simulate them, as it works often enough.
2. Just fuck it, fight back. Screw you, brain, and your dopamine hunt, I'll just do a little thing with almost no gain. Making my bed 3 hours before sleep. Getting an only 70 % full garbage back out. Clean the dust on top of the shelf that nobody sees. Take that!

*(measured in dopamine, visible results, satisfaction, ...)

**(motivation, effort, discipline, time)

I'm trying to retake the medication that I took back in high school (Concerta) so I can study for and eventually take the Comptia A+ exam. The idea being that I've a decently-paying remote job that will benefit both my wife and I. My wife, however, refuses to let me get my meds. This isn't the first we've had this conversion and every time she says the same thing: "You just need to focus naturally", "It's all in your head", "Doctors are only in it for themselves" and so on. There's no getting through to her and I'm tired of trying to get to reason with me. I think I'm going to get my meds in secret and hide them. I know that this is a bad idea but she leaves me no choice. Any advice?

I've been on slow-release methylphenidate for a while but am starting to question whether it's right for me.

The positive effects became apparent very quickly: It helps me getting started with things and finishing them, as well as being more aware of what needs to be done (i.e. taking out the trash). Instead of making me wanting to put chores and errands off it makes me almost eager for tasks and responsibilities, I suddenly want to get things done and be more reliable than I usually am.

So far so good. But I have also noticed that it sort of "untangles" my emotions in general. It makes me feel more "emotionally confident" as in: Instead of ignoring things that I need to work on regarding my mental or emotional state I'm able to perceive / feel more clearly how I feel and it also makes me less reluctant to tackle more difficult emotional matters.

Sometimes it feels like a light is being switched on inside of me and I feel like I can suddenly be or become more easily the best possible version of myself.

Which sounds great but I've also noticed that it makes me want to take my meds more often than I should. I'm on 2x20mg atm but I've noticed that I'm starting to develop a craving for my meds because of the good feeling they give me.

This makes me worry if these meds are really a good idea for me or if I should switch to something else. Has anyone else had similar experiences?

So, this is a fairly lengthy discussion.

I am active duty, for context. Generally, ADHD is at enlistment is a disqualifier, to my knowledge. I Wonder now, of my medical providers in the service saw.my symptoms and decided not to probe it or inform in an attempt to keep my record 'clean'. I did not have any inclination at enlistment to my having ADHD.

So, I suppose I am for one, complaining, and for 2 making the statement that for service members with ADHD, spec. undiagnosed, we are are far behind in identification, treatment, and care compared to private enterprise and that it is shameful and I will now make an effort to educate my peers and ensure they consider the possibility of ADHD as likely-if they have it- they are [blissfully] unaware and the system is not helping.

I've not read the whole thing- to be honest. Its just so ironic that despite the zeitgeist of highlighting the importance of mental health in the military, social media prevalence of spreading awareness amd acceptance of all kinds of disorders amd lifestyles, here we are, here I am in exactly the situation people have been warning us (the general population and the military) since COVID and maybe before.

I must also say that I am grateful in a sense. Had I not been able to enlist I do not think I would be in the socioeconomic status I am now. It is like a trade- sacrificing medical care and work accommodations for money- and sacrificing my semse of morals as well---I am not a fan of being a part of this machine amd what it does. But now I have agreed to be complicit for a while longer until retirement.

For ADHDers who were diagnosed earlier, I would be lying if I did not say I was jealous. But I am also sympathetic to you if your symptoms (or just in general) led you to dowm a rougher path without the assurance of job which undoubtedly jas built in safety-nets. I know comparrisons is not always healthy.Life is one big gamble innit?

Let's make the most of it.

I do think the military has some unique effects on ADHD, especially life aboard a boat.

• "Their findings revealed an estimated ADHD prevalence ranging between 7.6% and 9.0%, depending on the diagnostic method. Intriguingly, the highest prevalence was found not in the youngest age group (18-19 years), but rather among those aged 25-29."

• "The findings indicate a higher ADHD prevalence in military personnel than in the general population, with adult ADHD primarily manifesting as impaired executive functioning and more inattentive symptoms"

I'm in US. Every year it gets harder and harder to get my meds. Since my doc is in another state, I have to drive 80 miles to get ADHD, anxiety, and sleep meds. However, I can just get my other meds near my current house.

Also, instead of have refills on my sleep meds, they have to be prescribed by the month. It's really annoying because I drive to get them and pharmacy doesn't have them due to a mistake while interfacing with my doc. It's happened a few times now. All the docs here are insurance billing farms so I never switched any doctors when I moved.

ADHD and all comorbidities seem to create a need for meds that are harder and harder to get. Drug tests, drug shortages, sleepless nights... At this point I want to sue the DEA. (Drug enforcement agency - Sorry for American defaultism) Anyone else have these issues?

Hey everybody! I wanted to follow-up on my original post from a month ago.

A few comments suggested taking Magnesium supplements. I did more research and found other examples where magnesium appeared to help with ADHD related insomnia. Specifically Magnesium Threonate. I've been taking it for just over a month and have definitely noticed improvement.

I actually feel tired when it's getting close to bed time. I typically fall asleep within 30 minutes of laying down and sleep through the night with minimal interruptions. It's hard to quantify but if I had to guess, my sleep habits have improved by 85 - 90%.

I also feel like my emotional state is more "stable" throughout the day. Not sure if this is an effect of the Magnesium, getting adequate rest, or maybe a combination of both.

I stopped taking melatonin supplements because I think they were making me feel groggy the next day. I also stopped wearing blue light glasses since they don't seem to be necessary.

At any rate, I'm liking the results so far.

Ritalin/Concerta have served me well as an aid for ADHD for several years.

I've currently been given 3 bottles of Concerta 36mg, but it turns out that they are a bit too strong for me as the come-downs have gotten quite brutal. (Idk why my tolerance fluctuates like this, 36mg fit me well in the past). What I really need is an 18mg Concerta or a 5mg Ritalin. The problem is that my psych has shut down meaning that I'm stuck with these pills or nothing for several months.

Does anyone know if it's possible to somehow extract the MPH from the pills and consume it instant release the way you would with Ritalin?

I tried grinding down+drinking half of the inside of a Concerta pill (≈18mg), but that made me vomit as one of the compounds that usually stays inside the pill evidently irritated my GI tract. I also tried leaving a pill in tepid water for 24h in the hope it would leach the MPH the way it does in your gut (I'd then drink the appripriate portion of that), but the pill released some sort of goo which I couodn't bring myself to consume.