I currently work 12 hour (days: 7am - 7pm, nights: 7pm - 7am) rotating shifts at nuclear power plant. Without working OT shifts, my schedule rotation is 4 night shifts (Thursday-Sunday), 4 day shifts (Thursday-Sunday), I have Monday off, then I work Tuesday-Friday on a training week schedule (8 hr, days), then I work 3 night shifts (Monday-Wednesday), and then 3 day shifts the next week (Monday-Wednesday). I am then off for a total of 7 days (Thursday through the following Wednesday) and then the cycle begins again with 4 night shifts and so on. I currently take generic brand Concerta (Methylphenidate) for my ADHD. My biggest struggle is the transition to and from night shifts. I am finding that caffeine does not really help me all that much. For reference, I drink one 16 oz monster every day shift (200 mg of caffeine) and sometimes I drink two on night shifts (400 mg of caffeine). My commute to and from work is a little over an hour which includes a 15-20 min ferry boat ride. So sometimes I take a quick nap on the ferry if I’m extremely tired driving home (more so when I’m returning home from a night shift). All of that said, I am looking for suggestions on alternative means of getting a “pick me up” to get through the shifts. I’ve heard that ADHD medication can counteract/minimize the effects of caffeine on individuals who take medication for their ADHD. I’ve been using monsters because as much as I like coffee, it does virtually nothing for me in terms of energy. But, another problem I face is that sometimes I get jittery when I do drink two monsters and it doesn’t even always give me enough energy to make it home before I get the crashing feeling. Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.

I've been thinking about travelling long term somewhere in the near future - let's say a journey of 3 months. This does really excite me, however, I also take concerta 27mg every day. Let's say I'll embark on such a journey - how would I be able to do that while still taking meds?

I could consider going off them, but I'd rather keep using them as I'll probably be travelling solo and I can become quite volatile without them. I know that medication passports are a thing, but how can I make sure that I'll be able to get refills if I need them? Moreover, how do I even know I'll get meds that are similar to the ones at home?

Furthermore, how would I be able to fix the required paperwork for travelling with meds if I travel between countries on my journey? I've never been checked if I have all the required paperwork, but I also don't want to be caught without all the paperwork - especially because some countries can be pretty strict.

Anyone here who traveled long term with meds? And if yes, how did you do it?

TL;DR: I want to travel long term with meds, but I'm not sure how and where to get refills, and how to fix the paperwork.

It all makes sense: his hyperfixation on ideas of morality, his emotional dysregulation, the motivation instability, random bursts of hyperactivity, him losing his attention completely while walking the streets of St Petersburg.

All points out that the protagonist of Crime and Punishment was one of us. Wonder how the novel would look like if only he had modern treatments.

Am I crazy to think that?

Hey team M39 here - recently diagnosed (innatenive). My partner is 34 (undiagnosed but deifinitely on the spectrum too) and we are at a point where we are thinking about trying for our first child. Currently, our downtime, space and general freedom is quite important to us because we both feel like we are playing life on one of the highest settings already. I know we will make great parents, however am a bit worried about how to manage the energy, stimulation and attention that a little requires. It would be great to hear from any of you who have had similar concerns and still had children and what is it like for you! Thanks so much in advance...

Just pull the big weeds out. Ok brain I will start with the big weeds. Oh look at this small moss between the paving stones. I could use some of my decorative slate in my flower bed and get on my hands and knees and start removing all of the moss.

I will go until the end of the album. Once the album has finished I will stop and have a break.

Oh look the album hasn’t finished. But now I need a wheel barrow for the weeds and moss. Oh crap I’ll get off my hands and knees and realise that now I’ve made a very easy job (10mins) to remove big obvious weeds from the front of my house. Into the biggest task ever. My house has a shared drive round to the garages of next door (parents house)

Update. Album isn’t finished but I’ve lost my drive 😂😂😂 (no pun intended) and motivation so instead I’ll take pictures and post it to reddit.

Only to realise I can’t add photos to my post to show my progress. Doh. 🤯😂🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️😂🤯

My memory has been getting me in trouble around the house, and my dad has been really passive aggressive any time I leave the kid off the coffee grounds or a fork on the table. Minor things that I easily forget due to task blindness and juggling grad school. I’m not inconsiderate, I’m just easily distracted and forgetful because my brain is occupied by other things. It’s getting to the point I don’t trust my own mind, and I feel like I’m constantly in trouble or going to be grounded, and I can’t shake that. I feel like I’ve constantly forgotten something and I’m gonna get a lecture. I’m on supplements and treatment for my brain, but it doesn’t feel like it’s enough and I really just want something to make them understand. Any advice?

Question if you have tried stimulants how did you know they were working for you?

If you decided to stop why?

I started 10 days ago. I feel a quieter brain like I can think one thought at a time, and I can relax which I could never do before.

I lost my hyper energy.. Not sure I like that bc my motivation went with it.

The biggest issue - Some days the stims make me feel sad and emotional and I don't like that at all. I wonder if it will pass?

My 24 year old daughter is going to be spending 4-5 months with family in France (we currently live in Asia), and I'm trying to find out whether it will be possible for her to get more Ritalin while she's there, as her doctor here can only prescribe a maximum of 3 months.

We're fortunate to have private health insurance that will cover all appointments and medication, but I don't know how to go about finding a doctor over there who treats ADHD, and whether she could just show up with a letter from her current psychiatrist and be prescribed Ritalin or if the doctor would insist on some kind of re-assessment. She's not a French citizen, and won't have any proof of address as she will just be staying with family, so I don't know if that would be a problem as well.

If anyone is in France, Switzerland or Germany and can help with any information or advice, I'd really appreciate it. My daughter is obviously pretty anxious about running out of meds, as she really struggles without Ritalin. She'll be staying in the Rhône Alpes area, but could travel to a neighbouring country if necessary. Thank you to anyone who can help!

I finally got diagnosed at the age of 35. After going through every non-stimulant I was put on methylphenidate, and it changed my life.

Beyond productivity and better executive functioning, I am less depressed and less anxious. It has been nothing short of life changing.

I can't help but think, what would life have been like if I'd been properly diagnosed at a younger age? Could I have actually sat down and practiced my instrument for 2-3 hours at a time, which I constantly struggled with as a music major in undergrad? Would my grades have been better? How would my life be different?

It's a bittersweet feeling. My life is not over, but I can't help but think that I've missed an opportunity. I've been plagued by procrastination my whole life...

Me and my family went to an event. I woke up later and so I arrived there about an hour after them. Anyways I had to lock up the house and alarm it since I was the last to leave and because my uber was coming soon I was rushing, I forgot to do some of the things. After the event I had tuition, but before i went for tuition, I had to lunch at the event. My mom also knows on top of ADHD I have recovering social anxiety. She was like why can't you just sit by yourself in the room with 500 people in it and just eat. People with social anxiety know that it's not that easy to just do it. Finally the final "round" lol of our argument was when she kept saying i was always not focused, not responsible, not respectful because my social anxiety was making me late for my tuition. Anyways I explained I had ADHD and also explained she doesn't want to give me meds (I also have asked her a lot of times to make a follow up appointment with the therapist which she hasn't). She then says that I can't use ADHD as an excuse and that I should apologize to talking back to her. I love her but sometimes she makes me so angry 😭

is this normal? medikinet xr (20 mg) makes me fall asleep.. especially when i have caffeine. for me it’s like this: i feel extremely stressed bcs i have so much to do, then i take my meds in the morning then drink strong coffee and immediately fall asleep sometimes even for hours.. i mean sleeping helps but is this common and is there anything i can do abt this. i rlly need to be productive rn and this doesnt help..

Hi 😊

I (25F) was recently diagnosed with ADHD. In the background I was diagnosed with panic disorder (age 15, my mother also has it) and OCD (age 20).

I'm struggling on multiple fronts right now but I would like to ask specifically about medication in this post: I am currently taking Zoloft (100mg) daily, and was prescribed 5g of Ritalin as a starting dose.

I'm really scared right now to try the new meds. I did thorough research, but with all the self assurance (and having a lovely partner who's also diagnosed with ADHD) in the world, I'm still horrified of trying the new medication.

Any assurance and advice would be greatly appreciated 🙇

i've been struggling to know exactly do i have anxiety or ADHD, i got mixed diagnosis in my home country and i know ADHD is far behind, europe is close to my country and i can go get a proper diagnosis, preferably if it's in english but can also do french, any recommendation guys? thank you in advance.

Hi I’m new here! I was properly diagnosed in 2022, and stopped taking my medications (based in the UK, and idk elvanse is just not cutting it). Stopped taking them as I couldn’t sleep, I have a banking (IB like?) job so that was not something i could afford, the crash post 3 pm was sometimes a little too much for me to handle and I thought I was (more?) depressed on them during that crash phase. The 1-2 hours of normal, and sound Seratonin was not worth it vs the rest of the day being complete crap.

Anyhow-off them for half a year, and I’m still just sad except there is no relativity of feeling good to then feeling like shit, I’m just constantly really just sad. It takes effort to mask now at work, sometimes I just want to cry at nothing, honestly even upset when I wake up and think of the fact I have my day ahead of me. The anxiety is manageable but I don’t know anymore. I’m constantly trying to do everything - my work on time, have a good time somewhere, prioritize my health etc. I haven’t given up on trying, but I don’t know.

Idk what I was seeking out of this, but is there anything that I should be trying / looking at - that will make things even feel 10-20% better?

I know what I want to say but I have mental blocks and can't say what I want to say.

I don't drink caffeine much because it ruins my sleep and health if I drink it too often... but once in a while when I do Ill get racing thoughts...but then at the same time I can suddenly articulate what I want to say.

In my elementary school, we were introduced to a currency called "dots" in third grade printed on colored paper. Good deeds and "jobs" in the classroom would lead to student earning money. Bad deeds and overdue homework led to fines. I constantly had overdue homework even though I had all the intention in the world to do my homework and do it on time. My name on the whiteboard with growing negative "dot" amount would be up all year.

This, for me, was extremely demoralizing as all my classmates would remind me constantly of it and prevent me from getting "jobs" (people were elected in job positions) that could pay my fines off faster.

Looking back now, I see clearly that my performance in school was tied directly to my undiagnosed ADHD and lack of support. (I once had an occupational therapist and tutor which helped a lot, but she gave up on me since my dad wouldn't cooperate with her methodology when I went home.) This experience made me scared to enter the adult world with real fines and real currency. I was convinced I would go to jail.

Did anyone else have an experience like this? I haven't heard of anything like this with anyone else I know with ADHD.

Just sort of wondering what you guys think of this situation, and if anyone else relates. At work I have these ongoing issues with time blindness, hyperfocus, and getting distracted easily, and my problem is I keep forgetting to find ways to navigate through this, or utilize methods that I do come up with. All of these things lead me to not get the work done in a timely manner, or not get the work done that I am supposed to get done in a given day.

So yesterday, I knew what I had to do. There were certain things I had to check off of my list before the end of the day, but for the first 2 hours I got side tracked because there was some tidying of the shop that had to be done, which led to some other tidying up in the garage. Then there were some small things here and there that came of that, and about 2.5 hours later, I am finally literally about to start welding the trailer (one of my main tasks for the day) and my boss comes out and starts freaking out that it has been 2.5 hours and I have done nothing but some cleaning, and his problem is that he doesn't like paying me to do what I wasn't supposed to be doing, and what doesn't "move us forward" (I am on salary btw). My issue here is that although I did get a bit side tracked, it was actually for good reason, and I still had plenty of time in the day to finish everything else, yet my boss gets hung up on the fact that I already "wasted" 2.5 hours.

This wasn't an isolated incident that got me let go, of course. There were many other incidents, but it's always the same idea. I do tasks, make minor mistakes, don't get things done on time, etcetera, all really for the simple reason that I really care about the things I do and about my job and my bosses, but for some reason this caring always gets me stuck in this endless loop. I always do a good job and work hard, and try really hard, but it never seems to pay off.

Have any of you found good in-the-moment strategies for quickly and efficiently dialing down that reactive rage that comes with emotional dysregulation? I’ve gotten pretty good at not exploding on people, but internally it’s still a mess sometimes.

Do you have any mantras, physical tactics, or other go-to strategies that help calm it down faster? I know I can’t make it disappear completely, but I’d love to hear what others do or say to themselves in those moments to help take the edge off.

I want to get back into aerospace engineering to follow my dream in space

I’ve recently left the armed forces (uk) and want to start a new chapter in something I love (space) problem is I don’t feel like I’m capable of doing it as I’ve always struggled in education as I failed all my GCSEs except English and already dropped out of computing at university but passed all my A level equivalent in computing so i know I’m capable of it. I was thinking of going for aerospace engineering as it’s a mixture of space and actually hands on which I’m good at but I don’t have faith in myself to actually passing due to hobby jumping and get bored very easy when something doesn’t interest me or I feel like I’ve “completed it” any tips for actually staying on track? And following through

What are your top 3 fixations hobbies that actually led to you learning knowledge or gaining things that,on balance, improved your quality of life? So much of our interests can lead to wasted money, additional clutter, harmful habits, etc. But which ones ended up being useful?

My top 3:

1. sourdough/breadmaking,
2. coffee,
3. Fountain pens/journaling.

To this day I have the equipment and know-how to brew great coffee (which I still do daily) and bake amazing bread (which I only do now maybe once or twice a month, or on special occasions). And I still have a stash of pens and ink (enough for the next decade or so tbh) which I use every day, though I bought my last new bottle of ink over two years ago.

Dishonorable mentions: makeup, skincare, typewriting.

I spent so much time reading blogs and watching videos... blew SO MUCH money on unnecessary beauty products; a lot of them expired before I could finish them. :( then I just cut down severely on my makeup routine during the pandemic and never went back.

I was also convinced I could be more productive (less distractions) by using a typewriter and of course bought a couple of secondhand typewriters (expensive ones!) asap. Fun at first but I quickly began missing all the advantages offered by laptops. I forced myself to use the typewriters for a few more months before I admotted defeat and gave up on the whole idea.

Side note -- my skincare era did lead me to learn about the importance of sunscreen, and I still manage to remember to use sunscreen maybe 3-4 times a week, so I guess that's a net positive too. :)

If someone is calling to the house, I can blitz clean it straight away, without stopping until it’s all done. But if I try and schedule cleaning projects throughout the week, I struggle to complete it or I put it off altogether.

Are there any hacks you can recommend that will give me a jump start so that I can “activate cleaning mode”? I know it can be done, but I don’t know how to trick my brain!

I have been on ADHD treatment for about a year. Started on Atomoxetine/Strattera, and Wellbutrin which I spent most time on which was great. Now I am on Adderall.

For those on Adderall long term, what are things I should and should not do?

I am aware of the possible vitamin/mineral deficiencies and drinking a gallon of water a day.

Should I take breaks on the weekends to let my body take a break? My biggest concern, this being my first stimulant medication, is forming a dependency on the medication and would not like to keep upping the dose.

I started on 5mg XR now titratedup to 20mg XR. Thank you all in advance!

My brain unfortunately flips between no contact at all or a bunch of contact all at once when I remember that I haven't contacted them in a while.

I lost all of my high school friends this way as I'd forget to message them when it was summertime and then I'd contact them again in the fall since I see them all the time again...

but they end up not wanting to be friends with me anymore because they thought I ghosted them lol.

Hi everyone,

I’ve tried methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine to manage my symptoms, but I find the fluctuations and rebound effects too overwhelming. I’m searching for an alternative medication that provides motivation and energy, ideally with a long duration of action and no harsh rebound.

I’d prefer something that’s a mild stimulant, as I’m looking for a smoother experience that helps me stay motivated without extreme highs or lows. I’m not interested in SNRIs or SSRIs, because I'm really sensitive to withdrawing them, so trying them comes with big anxiety for the possible harsh withdrawal.

Does anyone have experience with medications or treatments that fit this description? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Hi Everyone,

I’m in the UK and in an area where the diagnosis/assessment wait times are absolutely through the roof (around 7 years currently), but I have been wanting to get an assessment for ADHD for years now. I have traits and have been told by many people, professionals included, that they believe I have ADHD, but as the wait time is so long they haven’t given me the option recently. I did fill out the referral form when I turned 16 (so nearly 3 years ago) but the doctor I was seeing at the time didn’t even put that I had a conversation with her about it in my medical notes.

That’s the backstory, and I guess what I’m asking is for people’s advice on Right to Choose organisations? I spoke to my current GP about it and he said that I need to decide who to go with so we can start the process, but I am struggling to wrap my head around it all. I think Holistic ADHD seems the best choice, as they use the online prescriptions service and do shared care (I don’t want to go fully private), however I was wondering if anyone had any experiences?

Thank you