Do you use subtitles? I'm using them more and more when they are available? It helps me to keep track of what's going on, and I like that I can turn the sound down when if it gets overwhelming.
I frequently have to re-read the same paragraph over and over again before it sinks in. It is really frustrating, and makes reading a book take forever. It even happens when I’m listening to an audio book.
🤫 P.S. We’ve also been inviting #neurodivergent scientists to share the tips, tools and resources that helped them plus messages of support. #AskingAutistics#AskADHD
Context: I'm newly diagnosed with #adhd (inattentive type, ADD) and had the hunch I got it throughout the last year or two.
Earlier this year I was really struggling with this, and my childhood friend (also ADHD) was quite certain I had the diagnosis. He asked if I wanted to try out one of his medication as a test to see if it helped me and I agreed. (I know this is not a good idea health and safety wise, but I really wanted to try)
The medication brand was Elvanse (Vyvanse, Lisdexamfetamine, 30mg) and it really was a life changer for me. Suddenly I had the drive to start important things and keep to them, it wasn't noisy in my head, could context switch tasks somewhat efficiently and more.
I got a limited number of these pills from him and I've used them very strategically throughout the year when things have been absolutely critical to get things done. An example was this weekend when me and my wife had to move out of our home due to a pipe leakage in our flat/apartment. Honestly, I wouldn't of been able to orchestrate and execute it if I hadn't been on that medication.
Fast-forward to today: I finally got my diagnosis and since I knew Elvanse had such a positive effect on me with no foreseeable downside (no problems sleeping etc), I wanted to start medication immediately.
The doctors said that they want to start off with Ritalin (Methylphenidate) first, because "they don't prescribe things like Elvanse before trying everything else". They have not really explained why they wouldn't give it out first hand, and I can only guess to what it could be. (If you're reading this and knows, please do tell!)
The Ritalin only gives me a very subtle, almost negligible improvement to my focus in comparison to Elvanse. They've upped the dose, but I still don't feel like much is improving. Rather, it makes me feel more stressed to be honest.
Tomorrow I'll be switching to Concerta, and maybe that will somehow be better, but we'll just have to see.
The big question after all of this is: Am I wrong for comparing the effects of these medications to Elvanse? Could it be that my perception of how ADHD meds should work is skewed because of that? Or is it that Methylphenidate is not working for me and it's Lisdexamfetamine I need?
This post was catered towards teaching ADHD folks, but some of the comments & feedback have made me wonder about what other general barriers #ADHD folks experience when learning?
What are the most common barriers you face when learning? #AskADHD
So I got a burst of "driving energy" this morning and thought I'd clean up what I think people nickname "doom piles" 💀. A pile of the most random items on the floor, on surfaces etc all over my bedroom, and it's just horrible being in here.
I went in trying to deal with it, but it goes something like this:
These winter clothes goes in a box, but where does the box go? 👕
The loft/attic where we have a storage room, but it's full, need to get rid of things but how? 📦
We need to drive them off to a recycling station but we don't have a car, so we need to arrange that somehow. Ask around? Rental? 🚗
At this point it feels like my work memory is all used up. It's like the thoughts recursively met the limit and now I feel overwhelmed and eventually my energy has run out 😩. The task is just too big and I don't know where to begin anymore.
I just have too much stuff!!! Barely any of this is of use and I would love to just get rid of it all, keep what is actually necessary. But even that seem like a humongous task.
I don't have a diagnosis, but from self reflection I'm diagnosing myself with at least ADHD, because I can't go around waiting for some official to tell me when my brain is ruining my life like this. It just ain't normal.
(I would however not consider myself a hoarder, I am pretty sure we own as much as anyone else, it's just extremely unorganized)
Any thoughts, ideas, feedback from people that is or has been in a similar situation would be very appreciated, or boost so that maybe someone else can reply 🔄
Looking for app/software/(hardware?) recommendations for taking notes and/or adding things to my calendar using voice much like voice assistants like iOS Siri, Amazon Alexa etc
The catch is that I would like to find an alternative that is not big tech giant. If that's the only thing there is then I might have to surrender to it, but I rather not
Not looking for some all-in-one AI solution, just some app that can recognise I want it to take a note when I talk to my android phone (always on standby or a "one press" kind of deal) and note it down for later use
I'm struggling hard with remembering things and typing it down manually, so ideally the less steps to get something noted down the better
I'm not lazy, I just know myself well enough those are my flaws and I try to find solutions to them
Okay, real dumb #adhd question (but that's what my account is for):
Can you feel sad/depressed by not drinking coffee for a while? ☕
Trying to figure out reasons to why I've just been so unmotivated and blue the last few days and noticed I've barely had any when I usually do
There's too many factors to be sure whether it could be lack of caffeine, but I'm mostly curious if it could be a potential culprit.
Also, sadness from the lack of caffeine might be a common side effect everyone has? I have no idea tbh! 🫤