Greetings, fellow ADHDers!
These last three years have been a shit show, that led to the simple conclusion: Medication sucks (for me).
Iβve been through at least 8 Non-Stims and 3 Stims. The only Medications that worked for me was Adderall (but the anxiety it induced was unbearable) and Straterra (but Iβm of the lucky few who have Urinary side effects). My Psychiatrist tried to balance it out with Zoloft and other similar medications but the side effects whacked me out so hard, it resulted in a Misdiagnosis of Bipolar Type 2. (Two weeks after i stopped taking all meds, all side effects subsided and my emotional state stabilized.)
Now, Im terrified of Medication. A lower dose of Adderall would conceivably help, but I dont like the health risk its impact on my cardiovascular system could have, and I have a genetic history of heart disease.
In conclusion: Medication isnβt for me, and I need some tips of managing symptoms and depression related to ADHD symptoms. Life is HARD.
Thank you
Iβm not the person you responded to, but Iβll throw my hat in with them and say that running helps my mental health too! Iβve had a terrible history with exercising consistently, but Iβve been running at least a couple times a week for over a year now and the thing that helped a lot was getting away from βmy goal is to run X number of daysβ and focus on rather βmy goal is to make the idea of running less painful.β I didnβt want to get super active, I just wanted to lower the bar for action so that it was something I would continue to want to do. I never shame myself for not going, itβs always an open choice for myself to help me feel better, and I let myself even just βgo for 60 secondsβ or βdown the block and back.β
And one thing that helps a lot is if you can figure out a time of day that works the best for you. I have a harder time going on weekends because I normally run during my lunch at work. On the days I donβt run, I walk, because I sit a lot at work and it drives me mad to spend lunch sitting around too. Plus running is a lot more fun if itβs literally taking you farther away from responsibilities, lol. Also, if you tend to do better forming habits with the buddy-system, donβt be afraid to look into trying to use that as a motivator too! :D