The Absolute ADHD/ADD Thread

[Tatsumaru]

ADHD / ADD - The Absolute Thread

A large percent of people claim to be suffering from either ADHD or ADD nowadays. Some of those are just lazy guys with no game and no life, some of those are just trying to get their hands on some Rx drugs, mainly amphetamines, but some of those are also genuinely affected.

I have been living with ADHD for over 20 years. I was told by my conservative parents that I am pathologically lazy, have problems with authority and learning and am basically doing all of this just to spite them. A protest of some sort... I guess... At one point in my life I just accepted that I am a no-good lazy, unable to focus and study (basically progress in life) guy. I never thought I had a condition, I just assumed that I am of the lower quality. And yet my mind won't let me accept that I have no potential. I just feel that I can, but also that I am caged or incapacitated of sorts.

For those of you who don't have ADHD/ADD - imagine a bird with its wings tied to its body. You know you are supposed to fly and that you probably can, but it just won't happen. Your flying boils down to pathetic jumps that take all of your energy. This leads to extreme confusion and all sorts of other disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar and worse. It feels like prison. You open up a text book to study and at about the third sentence you feel as if the whole universe resists you. If you try to read the whole chapter it takes so much mental energy that you end up tired and you go to sleep barely remembering something. At the same time you know you are not stupid, because you feel and understand things your fellows don't. You probably have a well-developed intuition and weird interests.

So much confusion, so much anger, so much desperation - that's ADHD / ADD.

I have made no research on ADHD / ADD treatment as I've realized that I have it myself just recently. From what I know a lot of people are taking a lot of different drugs. Some with little to no effect, others with nasty side effects and lastly some with decent results. Stimulants and NRIs, DNRIs, SNRIs, are common as scientists believe norepinephrine has something to do with this disorder.

And while we are at norepinephrine, let me tell you something...
A year or so ago I had a bad panic attack. Really really bad. I had post-traumatic issues for 11-12 months. But that's not my point. The next few days immediately after I got out of the hospital I developed a strong anxiety disorder. Was afraid to sleep, afraid to stay alone and even afraid to take my vitamins. I was so scared for my life that I was constantly listening to my heart and I even lost some hair. But let me tell you this - these few weeks that I was overpumped with (nor)epinephrine I wanted to study like crazy. I started studying to become a doctor. I was so motivated and I was reading textbooks on biochemistry for hours and I was loving it and I was getting it fast and becoming a doctor and graduating from an Ivy-league university seemed quite possible. Never before in my life have I felt anything remotely similar to this. I was finally capable ! (Hint: maybe norepinephrine really has something to do with this)

While this feeling was really nice, my anxiety issues were so horrid that fixing them was my priority. I did fix them eventually with almost no drugs and now I am completely fear free. I only fear for the normal things I have good sleep I even do risky things every now and then. However... I am also back to my previous ADHD self and you know... Everything is as it used to be - bad.

Now I started this thread because this is a really horrific disease and there is just not enough information about this. Without ADHD/ADD we can achieve so much in our lives and yet we do not know how to fight this disorder. I want to gather all kinds of valuable information here and hopefully help some people get over their ADHD/ADD issues. Everything goes from herbal remedies, to drugs, research chemical, cognitive therapies, personal and misc experiences.

Let's figure this out guys ! I want my real life. I want to be a highly productive member of our society ! I bet you want this too.

 

P.S.
I have high hopes that chinese medicine or ayrveda might have a cure for this. Please let me know if you know some very skilled and knowledgable chinese herbalists or ayurveda healers.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Tatsumaru

[Seeker of Wisdom]

I have a mate with moderate ADHD.

 

After he developed an anxiety issue (idk if related to his ADHD or just stress), I taught him some basic meditation, and got him a copy of that Alan Wallace book I'm constantly mentioning: 'The Attention Revolution'.

 

This may have happened anyway, given time, but his anxiety issue was sorted.

 

He started off able to sit and meditate for about 5 mins. The last time he mentioned it, he said he was doing 10, and 15 on a good day. It's probably more now.

 

This means that in a few months, his concentration about doubled!

 

So, I strongly recommend shamatha, as outlined in that book. There are many different forms which suit different people best, but mindfulness of breathing will generally be the one best suited for beginners and those with ADHD.

 

It makes sense, if you consider neuroplasticity. Practice sitting still and focusing contently with a basis of relaxation, and surely you'll get better at those skills.

[Tatsumaru]

ADHD people can't just sit still. We have constantly racing thoughts and we get bored with exercise and boring activities qutie fast. Repetativeness is almost impossible. Meditation for me is a torture. Feels like the most boring thing. I can do it for hours once or twice but after day 2 or day 3 it becomes imposiible.

[Neophyte]

Yep, daily meditation is required to take advantage of the neuroplasticity of the brain. It's extremely difficult at first, but no matter how difficult it is, you must continue sitting. When I first started meditating, I would sit at different times to meditate and I felt the same way: as if I wanted to do ANYTHING other than meditate. It would take over an hour before the feeling of resistance would dissipate completely. It was brutal.

 

Over time, I also noticed that the MOST productive times to meditate are when I had the most mental resistance! Meditation practiced when there is little or no mental resistance is useless. It's like weight training: the more difficult it is, the faster the progress.

[xor]

15% of children with adhd have celiac disease

 

ADHD | No Wheat No Dairy No Problem

 

I highly recommend searching your favorite search engine with "gluten adhd" and trying the diet for atleast a month.

[abandonhope]

15% of children with adhd have celiac disease

 

ADHD | No Wheat No Dairy No Problem

 

I highly recommend searching your favorite search engine with "gluten adhd" and trying the diet for atleast a month.

I might try this. Thanks.

[Seeker of Wisdom]

I can do it for hours once or twice but after day 2 or day 3 it becomes imposiible.

Try one minute daily at first, and slowly increase. If you can do only 5 seconds, you can start with that and build.

 

Don't make it a challenge. Do what you can do easily, and find that what you can do easily slowly increases.

[Tatsumaru]

15% of children with adhd have celiac disease

 

ADHD | No Wheat No Dairy No Problem

 

I highly recommend searching your favorite search engine with "gluten adhd" and trying the diet for atleast a month.

 

The link between ADHD/ADD and autoimmune disorders is fascinating. A large percentage of ADHD/ADD sufferers have autoimmune disorders such as Celiac's disease.

I for example have Hashimoto's thyroiditis and an a year-round allergy. Low-dose naltrexone therapy has shown great promise in treating autoimmune disorders such as HT.

 

We should really focus on that link between autoimmune disorders and ADHD / ADD. I think there is a common culprit there.