r/ausadhd

Victoria, 30M.

Just discovered in May that I have ADHD (though suspected for a long time).

The tl;dr is I was put on Concerta 36mg. For the first week I was almost crying with joy at how ALL my lifelong problems had disappeared within an hour of the first tablet. I could remember where I put things, follow along conversations, the brain fog was gone, the lethargy was gone, my spatial awareness and reaction times had improved. I was motivated, wanted to actually DO things instead of running off to fantasy land in my head. I felt like I finally had all the answers I was seeking. But then after a week... nothing. I could take days off, multiple days off, hop back on and feel no difference. I was back to normal.

Psyche then tried Vyvanse 20mg. Felt absolutely nothing. No pros, no cons. Accidentally double-dosed a couple times (super groggy mornings and forgetting what I was doing) and still nothing. I'm at a total loss now. The psyche is already talking as though I'm a lost cause and suggesting they can't do anything for me.

Has anyone else experienced this sort of thing? I don't know what to do. I felt so optimistic after that first week but I'm at the point now where I've lost all hope. I'm sure this comes across as rather juvenile but I'm in a pretty bad place emotionally right, not going to lie. I had a glimpse of functionality that disappeared as quickly as it came.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently taking 20mg a day of Dexamphetamine and I find it works great for focus, boost of motivation and a bit of “happiness”..however i really also struggle with emotional regulation (for most of my life) and controlling/switching off my thoughts which dexies help a very small bit but not so much.

I’m too scared or hesitant to switch to something else other than Dexies as they really do help with my executive dysfunctions and focus.

My psychiatrist has mentioned that dexies can be combined with some other forms of ADHD medications but I just wanted to see what people have experienced and have any feedback or opinions.

I’ve read that Guanfacine is a common medication non-stimulant that is commonly used in conjunction with dexies, and that it may help with emotional regulation and sometimes improve sleep (which is what I struggle with heaps too).

Thankyou all in advance 🥰

Yesterday I took a couple extra Dex. Slept, woke up took my usual 40mg vyvance and 1 Dex as I am prescribed. I stuffed up my coffee and ended up having a double shot, and I have been terrible ever since. Internal shaking, high heart rate, stiff hands. The heart rate has come back down to normal, but I feel anxious, my chest feels heavy and my hands are a bit stiff.

Am I going to be okay?

Hi everyone,

After recently being diagnosed, OzADHD sent through some helpful resources including a list of books. Sharing here in case anyone is interested ?

• Taking Charge of Adult ADHD – Russell Barkley
• Smart but Scattered Guide to Success – Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
• Living with ADHD – Thom Hartmann
• You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! – Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo (a widely recommended read for adults newly diagnosed with ADHD)
• The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD – Lidia Zylowska (useful for combining mindfulness with ADHD management strategies)

I’m here to vent, not looking for confirmation, that’s a task for a professional. Bit of a read but here goes. I’m a 43 year old man. This is how I’ve experienced life so far. It’s affected relationships along the way, mostly with people closest to me, I’ve never understood why I’m like this. No one in my life, no medical professional has ever picked up on the fact that I may have ADHD. I haven’t been diagnosed, I have an appointment with a psychiatrist coming up soon for an assessment.

I struggle with sleep. I have trouble shutting my mind off, I sleep light and wake multiple times. When I was 13 I started using music to help with sleep, at around 21 I started using a fan instead.

I struggle to relax. I fidget and get restless legs.

I have trouble regulating my emotions. Things that may be a little annoying for others can be extremely frustrating for me. I think negativity a lot.

I can’t handle rejection.

I overthink and ruminate. Often having imaginary arguments or scenarios in my mind.
I worry about what others think about me, how I’m perceived. I just worry a lot in general.

My short term memory is terrible but my long term is astounding.

I’m impulsive, when there’s something I decide I must have, I must have it. I’ll focus on making that happen, then I get it and I’m on to the next thing. When I find a product I really enjoy, I’ll latch on to it, only buying that particular brand/model/flavour until it’s no longer available and I’m forced to something else.

I struggle with active listening and focus. I hate small talk. I can be a bit socially awkward around new people and also around people that I’ve known for a long time if I have no interest in them. I often interrupt people in conversation.
I find it hard to motivate myself to participate in anything that doesn’t interest me.

When I start a task I can get distracted and start doing something else. I can put focus into something I don’t enjoy if I absolutely must but if I enjoy it it’s not so much of a problem. My school report cards always had comments like “He has the ability to do better if he applied himself”. “He’s easily distracted and becomes a distraction to others.” In kindergarten I had a behaviour card that my teacher would sign off and I’d have to take it home for my parents to review.

I need routine or a process to keep me on track with life and tasks, if that’s gets disrupted I struggle. I feel that my way of doing things is the best way of doing things and when someone does it differently I get annoyed.

At work and in shared areas of my home, things have their place and they must be in their place to maintain order. My garage, the only place in the house that is just for me, it’s a mess.

When it comes to reading, I continually have to go back over what I’ve read because my mind will be diving in and out of focus, my eyes are reading but I’m thinking about something else. Same with movies and TV, I’m looking at the screen but my mind is somewhere else, tuned out. I can focus intently on music, I’ll sit and listen to music for hours, music really moves me, I frequently experience frisson and an array of emotions while listening, I absolutely love music.

I’ve had recurring bouts of depression and anxiety since about 25 years old, I have self medicated with cannabis for many years. I currently feel like I’m suffering burnout.
Somehow I’ve managed to hold down a 21 year relationship to a beautiful woman and we have raised 2 awesome kids, both teens now.
I feel like I finally might have an answer to the root of my issues. I’ve been reading Shattered Minds and so much of it resonates with me. I’ve had a lightbulb moment.
Reading through this group has been unbelievably therapeutic for me.

I can be articulate when writing but it doesn’t come easy. It took me a couple of days to write this.

I have the general idea that one hour after taking either meds is when it begins to hinder the absorption of either drug. but there's been times when I've taken vitamin c because I no longer want to feel the effects, which is pretty much a couple minutes before the hour mark of taking it but I was wondering if anyone knew how precise the timing is? say I take a rit/dex at 4:30 but then take a vitamin c at 5:40, will it still hinder the absorption? I'm aware this may be a hard question for some to answer given it's presumably not something so meticulously researched, but I also assume the hour mark is only a rough estimate

And if so what’s the process of getting it done like?

Did you find that it worked and that you feel noticeably better on the medication it showed should work best for you?

So long story short; this was a simple question I was asked by a therapist/counsellor about 4 months ago when faced by corruption in the workplace where my employers were essentially trying to intimidate me out of pursuing Workcover claim regarding an injury that I suffered at work.

This was a question that really resonated with me, a question that I found myself unable to answer. I began to realise; I often overthink the simplest of questions. I find that answers I provide must be meaningful and logical as to not be misinterpreted or misconstrued.

Thoughts that gathered;

• I am a father
• I am a husband
• I am a son
• I am a *employment role*
• I am a good person
• I am kind
• I am thoughtful

I however found myself unable to answer with any of these as if I needed more clarification behind the depth of the question.

Is this sense of "self" or "identity" a struggle for many other adults with ADHD?

Once you've burned out from all possible career paths, sports, hobbies, friends, family and all aspects of life. How do you then begin to define yourself? How do you then know who you are?

For example, if I was into any hobby, it would become an obsession at the core of my day-to-day life. The same for impulsive job switching, the new workplace would become an obsession until I became bored, and the novelty began to wear off.

How do you keep things interesting and just enjoy work or hobbies in the moment, instead of obsessing to become really good at something in a short period of time and then lose all interest whatsoever.

I have a beautiful child, a loving and caring partner, I have a job that is the pinnacle of my career, however I don't feel any sense of fulfilment or at least a sense of "something to look forward to." I have no interest in any prospective hobbies anymore, no desire or curiosity.

TLDR; I've "lost my spark" has anyone experienced a similar feeling? How did you manage to overcome it (or deal with it)?

Hey guys,

I'm on 40mg Vyvanse. I'll be going to NSW for 3 days soon and while it's not imperative for me to bring my medication, I'd like to. I think it may be too short notice for me to get a doctor's note, but I have called my GP about this and hopefully they call me back by Monday!

Am I allowed to bring my medication like Vyvanse with me like in a carry bag? Or do I need to declare this beforehand? I've tried to find specific information on this but most travel is to other countries, not within the states, which is all that I'm doing.

If anyone has any advice/experience with this, please reply ^^

I have been seeing Dr Steven Chau at Melbourne Mental Health for a little bit, and while he’s nice enough, it feels like extortion paying so much 3-4 times a year! I thought it would be interesting to compare and look at cost variability so if you’re willing comment bow with how much you pay and where you go if you’re happy to? I’m unable to see my GP as I need ongoing care for a while unfortunately but have a good GP for when I do. Medicare rebate is around $134.

So I was diagnosed with ADHD late last year and have since tried Vyvanse (had to stop as I couldn’t sleep) and am now taking Ritalin.

I’m tolerating it much better, however I’m not seeing massive improvements in my current life situation and weighing up the benefits vs long term side effects. (It’s probably mostly due to the fact that I’m currently unemployed and not studying and it’s hard to gauge if it has actually helped or not).

I initially sought diagnosis as I had education issues/sticking it out at university.

If I stop medication - and return to study, what’s the process like when it comes to trying meds again?

Do I have to go through the diagnosis process all over again?

Or will the clinic I went to, still recognise it, no matter how much time has passed?

Does the diagnosis have an expiration date so to speak?

And if I stop medication - should I make an appointment with my psychiatrist to let them know. Or is it acceptable to just stop on my say so?

In the meantime I’d like to try going to a support group.

Has anyone had success with alternatives to meds - like supports group etc?

Thanks

Just wondering if it’s only me, but does anyone else when life gets heavy try to fill the void or create happiness by spending obscene amounts of money on shit you don’t need (only want) and then have a crash afterwards and regret doing it I just spent 2K last night on clothes and gym equipment Lego all sorts of shit. I don’t necessarily need it at all but at the time I feel like I believed it was absolutely necessary. Goddamn, just event human me with any of your own poor life choices. Happy Friday. I hope everyone is doing well and my poor life choice gives you a laugh. Not even sure who spends 600 on fucking temu- its me, i do. 🙃🙃🙃

My psychiatrist is collaborative, but I feel like I’m directing my own treatment.

I’d really appreciate thoughtful input, especially from psychiatrists, psych NPs, psychologists, or anyone with similar experience.

Lately, I feel like I’m acting as my own psychiatrist. I spend a lot of time reading research papers, treatment guidelines, and forums (including Reddit), then bring ideas to my psychiatrist. He’s very collaborative and is willing to consider medications if there’s a reasonable rationale.

I’m grateful for that, but it also makes me wonder whether I’m missing something obvious because I’m so close to my own situation.

**Current diagnoses / suspected diagnoses**
Bipolar II (most likely)
ADHD
Suspected Autism Level 1

**Biggest issues right now**
Current depressive downswing
Executive dysfunction and decision paralysis
Trouble starting tasks I’ve been avoiding for weeks or months
Constantly losing my train of thought
Difficulty focusing while reading or watching movies

**Current medications**
Zenzedi 10 mg three times daily
Jornay PM 40 mg nightly
Lamotrigine 100 mg daily
Buspirone 10 mg three times daily
Clonidine 0.1 mg twice daily
I also have a prescription for Latuda 20 mg but haven’t started it yet because I’m trying to understand where it fits into the overall picture.

**Things I’ve noticed**
I’ve tried several ADHD medications over time with mixed results. Stimulants help somewhat, but they haven’t fully addressed the executive dysfunction.
One thing that has confused me is that, historically, marijuana and psilocybin seemed to make it easier for me to start tasks, read, stay engaged, and get out of my own head. I’m **not** saying I think those are the right treatment or recommending them—I just mention it because it feels like an important clue about what’s going on, and I’m curious how a psychiatrist would interpret that.

**My question**
If you were evaluating this case from scratch, what diagnoses, treatment approaches, medication classes, or blind spots would you be thinking about?
I’m **not** asking anyone to diagnose me or tell me exactly what medications to take. I’m more interested in hearing how you would think through a case like this and whether there’s something I haven’t considered.

I’m not looking to get high or chase a feeling. I just want to be stable, functional, and mentally healthy so I can be the best husband and father I can be.

I’m trying to understand whether this is an ADHD thing or just a personality difference.

I genuinely love my partner and I enjoy kissing, cuddling and physical affection when we’re being intimate or spending intentional time together.
But during everyday life, if I’m watching TV, on my phone, reading, or focused on something, a hug or kiss almost feels like it pulls me out of whatever mental state I’m in.

It’s not that I find affection gross or uncomfortable. I don’t.

The frustrating part is that a quick kiss or hug often isn’t enough because my partner naturally wants it to last longer, and I find myself feeling irritated, almost like I’m waiting to get back to what I was doing.

I wish I could just surrender to the moment because I know that’s how my partner experiences it. For them, affection seems grounding. For me, it often feels like an interruption.

Once I’ve mentally switched into “relationship mode,” I’m completely different. I love kissing and physical affection. It’s specifically the transition from one activity to another that feels difficult.

Has anyone else with ADHD experienced this?
Did you figure out whether it was related to context switching, hyperfocus, demand avoidance, or something else?

I’d really appreciate hearing how you experience it and whether anything helped.

Same goes with sex as well.

I'm 24f, diagnosed at 22 with post partum depression and GAD, saw a counsellor and psych and wanted to focus on psychological intervention and behavioural correction.

I mentioned the possibility of starting meds after my second kid, if post partum got bad again.

Now I'm 24f , 7 months post partum and it's rough, really rough.

Mood swings, typical ADHD symptoms on high, bad depression, high anxiety- constantly thinking something bad is going to happen and everyone hates me, you know the really high highs, really low lows

Anyways , the previous service I went too and was diagnosed at said to come back after baby was born ( as you can come back for free until the first child is 5)

So I did that, got rejected , so we tried two other services to begin meds. Got rejected for capacity or not specialising in ADHD.

Everything in my life is fantastic can't complain, almost finished my degree , have a loving little family, have supports, house over my head, exercise, eat really good but my brain is fucked hence why I'm trying to seek more than psychological intervention.

I have the diagnosis all I need is someone to give me the clear so my GP can prescribe stimulants cos with out it, I can't begin

Super super frustrating, found my old psych but the wait period is 6 MONTHS and like $1k ...

So can anyone help? Any advice ?

I'm from South East melb.

I recently was diagnosed (24F) and my psychiatrist had trialed me on Vyvance originally but due to metabolism and some other science stuff i had absolutely no effect from either 30 or 50mg vyvance.

My pych has now started me on the loading process for dexies. The first week (5mg once in the morning) was the same as with the vyvance but now im on the second week (5mg, twice, 3 hours apart) and im finally starting to see a very small window of time where i might be feeling the drugs effect !

Problem is, i think i am crashing very hard after that second dose. My motivation and emotional regulation is horrible and i kinda just seem like a shell for a few hours which has been kinda horrible. Im hoping that its because im still on such a low dose and that once im increasing the dose and able to have 3x a day, my crash wont be so bad but also im worried that if im crashing this bad kn a low dose, itll only get worse on a higher dose??

Basically im getting approx 1.5hours of positive impact for a reallt bad 3 hour crash:(

I only take Dex once a day when I wake up, 15mg or 17.5mg depending on what I’ve got to do and how tired I am. I obviously feel it wear off around halfway through the day but I’ve worked out that I just cant tolerate any additional stimulation after the first dose, even super small like 2.5mg.

Due to this I accept that the second half of my day will be less productive and focused, and I’m fine with that.

My question is do you think it would still be beneficial to take the odd medication break in my case? With me only being medicated for about 5 hours a day I’m just not sure if I’d need to take the odd day off to help with tolerance etc. just looking for any advice or guidance - thanks!

I am debating if I should take my 30mg vyvanse … I took my last 5mg adderall 3 hours ago, and the effect wore off but I wonder if it’ll correlate or cause any anxiety if I put the vyvanse in a water bottle?
I have a big exam in 7 hours and scared to have an anxiety attack but also need the vyvanse to keep pushing through my studying before the exam. I’ve done it before but it’s been a while. Should I take a sip and see how that goes even with Adderall still in my system 3 hours in or do I just give it a couple of more hours then take the vyvanse?