r/ADHD

​

ADHD is already hard enough.

Apparently, before you’re allowed treatment in Germany, you first have to survive phone calls, waiting lists, prescription logistics and endless follow-ups — basically every task ADHD makes harder.

There’s a concept in energy economics called EROI: how much usable energy you get back for every unit of energy you spend extracting it. A good energy source gives you a lot more than you put in.

My Elvanse EROI currently feels close to 1:1.

I take Elvanse, gain enough executive function to call doctors, chase appointments, solve prescription problems… and eventually secure the next box of Elvanse.

Does anyone else diagnosed late as an adult (I’m 42) feel the urge to overshare and tell everyone? Like I’m treated now with stimulants and it’s just so wild that my brain hasn’t ever worked like this before and ADHD just explains everything about me and my struggles?? It’s such a bizarre feeling to realize that having 3 songs in your head, a TV screen of ideas with a busted remote control changing channels every 30 seconds is not the experience of most people. And now that I’m in this cool place of self discovery it’s like - I gotta share it!

Tonight my daughter’s (8yo) tablet started beeping when she plugged it in to charge. It said moisture was detected and beeped continuously until we hit the ok button. She was wearing headphones at the time so the noise was obviously louder but the volume was set at a reasonable level. She freaked out like it was an emergency. I was currently working through a meltdown with her sister so sent her down to her dad. Dad handled it but when I asked her about it she said “noises that repeat over and over scare me. Like when Alexa sometimes beeps over and over” (I think she means if the internet is down and it has a bong noise before Alexa says she’s having trouble trying to connect)

Google says Misophonia but everything I read talks about chewing or ticking clocks or other noises like that. Would this still be misophonia? She’s not angry (that seems to be the response triggered in most people with misophonia) and she gets genuinely scared, with real tears.

TIA reddit!

Now I haven't gotten a diagnosis for ADHD, cause I'm broke so I'm not entirely sure if I have it, but I've been told that I probably have it because I show some signs. I never really thought anything about it and thought that most people acted like this.

Some of my signs are: When I get bored I find it hard to stay focused, which is why I didn't do that well in high school cause I find it so boring that I just wanna do something else to distract myself like doodling or cracking my knuckles for example. Also when I'm bored, my body feels very sluggish, like my legs feel like jelly. I'm not entirely sure if these are sign, idk.

I could name more but the point of my post is what made you realize that you should go get diagnosed because before I recently got told that I may have ADHD, I didn't really think much of it and thought that everyone does these things, which I'm still not exactly sure about. It's kinda making me rethink how I lived my life so far.

I recently got diagnosed and was started on Strattera, I’ve been on it for a little over a month and I DREAD taking it, because I know when I take it, I have to prepare myself for the wave of side effects that are about to come. I try to eat a decent amount before to help the nausea, and i always have water for the dry mouth, but both of those things still are very much happening. My heart feels bad, my body feels bad, I get irritable because my body just feels eugh. I know they say it takes months to see subtle changes, but this feels like trading my sanity for a CHANCE of feeling better. I haven’t seen any decrease in side effects, but I really am trying to be open minded. My psychiatrist told me I have to change my behaviors as well and I can’t expect it to be a magic pill, and so i have, but I think I’d be better off with a tictac and being told it’s adhd medication. I don’t want to seem drug seeking by asking to explore stimulants, but she told me if I see no result then we’ll just up the dosage. Which I assume will NOT be cancelling each other out in terms of side effects. What are your experiences with strattera and other non stimulants? Is it worth it.

I am not able to get up in the morning, like whatever I do, does not matter the number of alarms I have I could not get up in the morning. I will turn them off and go back to sleep.

Sometimes, I end up staying in bed for 10 to 12 hours. I hurts my brain and body but I can't control it.

This is the biggest reason which prevents me from making a routine. It messes my up morning and then the rest of the day.

Is there any scientific reason for that? Does anyone have any idea.

I got a Garmin watch recently so it tracks my sleep as well. On the days when I drink Monster energy drinks in the afternoon, I sleep SO FREAKING WELL like above 85 and up to 96 out of 100. on days when I didn't, my sleep score dropped to 50, may as well stay awake.

I do really love the taste (zero sugar) but during the week when I need to use my brain, I had to stop myself from drinking it because it puts me to sleep. on top of that, apparently it is harsh on kidney, so I am seeking alternative methods to calm me and also promote better sleep.

currently taking magnesium glycinate and ashwaganda but I feel like all it did was give me no result or strange feeling of "feel tired, body cant sleep"

It is truly annoying and I wish energy drinks do not do harm but looks like it does, so here I am asking for recommendations.

Granted, some of that was for my family (I live away from home) and some of it was Costco items (lotion, deodorant, a few necessities in bulk like that).

However, it’s genuinely shocking that I spent that much. I’m so so ashamed. I don’t know how I did that. I’m pretty good at not ordering in (I better be wtf) but this is crazy spending for 1 persons groceries.

Does anyone have any tips to keep them organized and within budget? I want to keep it under $500 (CAD). I’m too ashamed to ask anyone in my personal life because I don’t have any memory or explanation of how this happened. I’m going to start collecting my receipts so I can understand where my spending goes.

But PLEASE if anyone has any strategies, I’d really appreciate it. Would you believe me if I said this is including my 10% discount 🥲😭

Hey everyone so I'm a 28F and I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 3 and I haven't really had anyone explain symptoms or facts about it and I was curious what is everyone's experience with it and symptoms of it that maybe they don't tell you or just things you have figured that I might would like to know.....thank yall 😊

My parents gave me a huge lecture because I got angry with my dad criticising my CV. Within the lecture they told me that no one cares about my feelings in ‘the real world’. I cannot always be accommodated for my emotions and so much other insensitive crap about how I can control my reactions to things and how I can’t just do whatever I pleased that I honestly had to tune out because I have enough self loathing.

They are fully aware that I have low self esteem, that last month I got fired and dumped from a 3 year relationship in the same week and that I’m really struggling with not having a career.

Still they insist that I should be less emotional and I always burden everyone with my emotions (never in that exact phrase but it is how it reads).

Today I messed up by raising as we were all saying goodnight that I find it really hard to push down my emotions and that their lecture only worsened things. They of course weren’t receptive and I don’t know honestly where my filter goes late at night.

Does anyone have advice for how to just stop expressing emotions verbally. Especially late at night.

I got onto methylphenidate for the first time a few weeks ago. The problem is just that I'm 29 and I basically wasted the last 10-15 years of my life. And now I can actuallly sit down and work on something if I take enough of my medication but also I'm in like the 14th semester of my BSC. That ususally takes 6 semesters and don't have any other higher education degrees, I have less experience in dating than other people, and I feel like there are just a lot of soft and hard skills that I didn't learn because like I said I have basically been procrastinating everything for the last decade. I also don't really have a job rn and I live in a small 10 square meter room in a pretty shabby and old dorm that is scheduled to be demolished next year. Like, where do I even start ?

What I mean is, I live absolutely alone when my s/o is not home. That means, that there is nobody to talk to, nobody to keep me from hyper fixating and I don't mean in that in the sense that they are responsible for baby sitting me.. what I mean is that when I am completely alone the way I operate is different than when others are around (subconsciously)

Having others around, can be distracting at times but I feel like without having a distraction like that it leads me to hyper fixation. The hyper fixation leads to perfectionism, the perfectionism leads into stress, the stress leads into burnout.

I could have a plan in my mind of everything I would like to achieve for the day for example:

- Handle my physical needs (Shower, Eat, Medication)

- Looking for a better job

- Clean my house

- Work on some content later on after

- Plan new video ideas

- Quality time with my partner (when she is home)

- Play with my cats

but what it really turns into most of the time is me over-fixating on just one or two of those things and getting so locked in on it that I neglect to take care of all the other things.. or I will complete one of those tasks and then my inner critic comes in and makes me want to absolutely PERFECT that task.

Before I know it, hours have passed by my stimulant has worn off and I'm left feeling frustrated or unsatisfied with my performance or what I achieved within the day.

After doing this for a couple days I burn out and have to take a day or two to reset and this just isn't working well for me, I'm 25 and life never f*cking ends. I feel immense pressure to perform everyday and I think it is honestly effecting my health and aging me.

btw it's Adderall IR 25mg - 30mg

Hi everyone,

I’m relatively new to Reddit, and one of the first groups I joined was this one. I’m in my late 40’s and was diagnosed in 2022. (FYI no artificial flavors were added to this post, if you get what I mean.)

I see a lot of posts here from people who are desperately trying to understand themselves, because they want to thrive despite having ADHD.

I completely relate to that, because I’ve been fighting my that battle since I was a kid, even though I had no idea what was happening until recently.

I love my life. ADHD can be a huge pain. Sometimes it totally kicks my butt. But I believe I’ve learned a few golden lessons about ADHD, and I’d love to hear anyone else’s.

I only mention I’m Gen X because I think every generation has something to teach and learn from other generations

Also, it’s useful info for you: my general life experiences might be different from yours. And that’s the first golden rule I learned about ADHD:

Everyone’s experience of ADHD is unique.

This is important because what works for one person may not work for you, and I don’t know any two people with ADHD who have the exact same management strategies.

(For the record, I know a lot of folks with ADHD; it’s rampant in my family lol)

So that’s my first golden rule of ADHD management.

I’d love to hear yours, no matter what it is!

I will write an email, a letter, my journal, messages to my therapist, and reddit posts but I can't leave them alone. Even after editing 3 times and sending it off, I find myself coming back to the content and reading it over and over again.

At first I thought it was a vie for attention, I looked it up a tiny bit and found that it can be a common symptom of both OCD and ADHD. Basically I'm re-reading at first because I'm nervous how people will take it, then once I get a reaction I re-read it to analyze what I did well or poorly. But not just once, like sometimes for two whole hours I'll keep flipping between things I wrote. I don't notice the passage of time when this happens. The content will even get repetitive enough that I'm not processing it, but I have to keep coming back.
(when I notice this I take reddit breaks)

If any of you have experienced this, how did you move past it (or hope to)?

ps. i think i read this at least 7 times before clicking post. and since I just added to it I'll have to read it over again.

I work 10–11 hours a day. People like me, but inside I’m just lonely and exhausted.

At 15 I moved abroad with my mom and her boyfriend, wasted two years, came back with no school, no plan. My dad died of cancer months after I asked him for child support at 18. Family stuff was rough; I learned early not to show weakness.

I’m the “fun, sharp” guy, but I’m closed off. I work long hours to afford basics and catch up on things I “should” already have: license, car, some future. I have my own money now, but I’m still miserable.

I grab any chance to go out because being alone is worse. I have one friend I see outside work, and a few people I meet once every few months. That’s it. Never been in a relationship. I sometimes lie about it because I’m ashamed.

Most people I work with are studying, building something. I’m in a low‑entry job with no real prospects. Studying while working feels impossible. After 10‑hour shifts my social battery is dead. All I can do is play games, watch something, or lie in bed.

I was diagnosed with ADHD. It explained a lot: random rambling, feeling drained by evening, school and routines being nearly impossible. I’m extremely self‑critical, but I’m starting to see this isn’t just “me being lazy”.

I’ve tried therapy and SSRIs. They help a bit, but I don’t want to depend on meds; without them I feel broken. I don’t see a realistic path to a “normal” life: partner, stability, something that feels like mine.

I’m 22, no license, no car, working 10h/day to make up for lost time. Never been in a relationship. Never felt important to anyone. Always the third person, the optional friend.

People who know me wouldn’t believe how my life actually looks. I can’t share too much or I get pity, and I don’t want to be seen as a victim. Despite all the work I’ve put in, I don’t feel better. Same sadness, loneliness, need to be alone.

Maybe just to say this out loud. Maybe to hear I’m not the only one who feels like this at 22 with ADHD and no energy left.

Context: I'm 36M, married, 2 and live 800km from my family.
Diagnosed 8 months ago after many psychologist and psychiatrist appts.

I wish I could tell everyone: To explain why I'm awful at maintaining contact/returning messages, remembering neice/nephew/sister/parent birthdays, organising catch-ups, always late, and seeming like I don't care.
I want to explain. But don't want sympathy or to make excuses.

My parents: I haven't told them. They visited recently, and saw a 'news' story about some celebrity speaking about her ADHD. Their response showed they clearly don't believe ADHD exists without the most extreme/obvious symptoms associated in the early 90s.
Growing up, they'd called me the lazy child of the family. I was constantly in trouble for school reports saying "He can do the work, but doesn't apply himself" or similar wording.
It might be fun to say "See, I wasn't just lazy!"
Is it worth arguing about whether I could have ADHD, since I wasn't climbing on rooftops and screaming at teachers as a child?
Our relationship now is fine. Not close, but not argumentative.

My Sisters: Both work in medicine/hospitals. Both with a much more 'modern' understanding of this kind of thing and far more likely to be supportive. But again, I don't see a massive gain from telling them. And the more people who know, the more risk of my parents knowing.

Good friends who live intersate: Work took me interstate years ago. So my closest friends live 800km away. Maintaining contact with them has always been a massive struggle. The key downside to telling them is that I don't want to start telling some people and have my parents be the last ones to know.

Who DOES know:
My wife: The first to know, and incredibly supportive.
My co-workers and local friends: It's just easier to let them know, and have their support when symptoms look like laziness/carelessness. It's nice to share it, and none of them know my family/home friends.

It feels like I'm on such a good trajectory, I have a job that, while stressful, I enjoy the work, I'm good at it, and I'm paid very well. I have an abundance of friends who care about me, we see eachother often, and thoroughly enjoy our company. I have trips planned, vacations with my friends, I'm ascending Mt. Washington in 3 weeks, I have a good car, hobbies I enjoy and am improving at. I've started volunteering to upkeep local trails, and it feels great to be recognized around town by people seeing the work I do. It feels like by all metrics, I'm doing pretty damn good.

Except I want to shovel it all into a fire, give up my apartment, my car, my everything that I've nicely organized into a pretty tower. I just want to get in an old car and drive, drive and drive and drive until I'm somewhere I've never been, climb a mountain I've never seen, not answer calls or make drawings at work, or open up my workshop and make knives or cabinets or meet with my friends or even look at my bedroom, or anything that I own. I just want to sit atop a mountain or be in a city at a bar where nobody recognizes me.

And this is not me pretending like ways to accommodate and support ourselves doesn’t exist, or that there’s nothing I can do about it.

It just feels like such a shameful invalidation of who I am as a person and what I’m struggling with. No, spewing “if you wanted to, you would” and hustle culture at me when I’m just talking about simple desires like going back to school is not to help me. It’s to shame me, it’s to act like struggling in world not designed with consideration of disability in mind is a choice— whether you ‘intend to or not’. It’s just frustrating. As impactful as mindset is and I understand that, hearing it be posed as the end-all solution is the kind of friction we faced in school. Being blamed and shamed for a struggle we don’t even understand or were maybe not even diagnosed with until adulthood. This isn’t some thing I can manifest away, this is about brain function— about so many different factors that do not care about many of the attempts I’ve made to be less ‘ADHD’ and more functional.

I’ve tried for years to manage my ADHD without medication, without treatment, only based on my will to succeed. And not even succeed, to just execute engagement with things that I love. Then, the fact this exists on a spectrum and just because you know one person with ADHD who’s managed in a way that’s acceptable to you doesn’t mean everyone else will.

Everyone has something to say about the way I’m saying even a bit clumsy and inattentive when I’m walking. I’m not saying this as a person who makes excuses when my ADHD impacts people around me. I’m just saying it is extremely frustrating being constantly reminded that I’m not someone without ADHD and given advice about it when I never asked. Especially such reductive advice like “manage your time” HONEY BOO BOO WHAT DO YOU THINK ADHD IS???? “[Insert regurgitated productivity hack from the internet]” Sorry. I’m just annoyed. And I deal with this on a daily basis. How about you?

So I just got diagnosed with inattentive ADHD and during my screening my psych said I showed OCD traits...but he said this is not uncommon in ADHD. I did not really think too much on this , but now that I have a diagnosis, all these little things are adding up in my mind.

So I actually probably have hundreds of screenshots in my phone of stuff I will never look at again because I will just screenshot random crap all day, sometimes 5-20 different things....then randomly months later I will have to go through and delete like 500 images. I dunno why I do this unless it is like a mental highlighter or something.

Also when I get very stressed out I buy very impulsively and obsessively, and I also will start making lists of my stuff . LOL. I usually get not interested in the thing I am collecting once the crisis is over , lol.

Anyways, this is just a few things I have noticed. I used to occasionally have my brain get stuck on something when I was a kid, but I don't do that so much anymore. Like one time I had a period of a few days where I mentally drew upside down crosses and then had to right them in my mind. .

I just did not think of the screen-shotting as compulsive til now. Seemed like more of a quirk.

Do any of ya'll have experiences like this ?

ADHD is a pain in the ass, no doubt. But I just want to make a quick shoutout, to this sub and all of you guys. Knowing that I‘m not alone in this and sharing our experiences with each other has helped me so so much, more than any therapy probably ever will. Sending virtual love and support to all of you, be it for finally making that call, starting a workout, getting out of bed or just feeling less bad for rotting in bed.

<3