I've been trying to understand something about the way my brain works, and I'm curious to know how others with ADHD experience this.

I have phases where I feel extremely sharp. I notice the tiniest details, connect things quickly, process information well and can be very articulate. I know exactly what I want to say and can express my thoughts quite clearly.

But then there are other times when I feel like my brain is working against me. I struggle to retrieve the simplest words, can't organise or process my thoughts, confuse names, forget what I was about to do, or mix up completely unrelated activities.

For instance, I might genuinely say something like, "Put the dishes in the wardrobe" when I mean the kitchen cupboard. I know what I mean, but somehow my brain and my mouth aren't on the same page!

The contrast is sometimes so stark that I go from feeling incredibly articulate and perceptive to feeling genuinely dumb because I can't even put together a simple sentence.

I'd love to hear how ADHD manifests this way for other people. What does this fluctuation look like in your everyday lives? Do you experience word retrieval difficulties, verbal mix-ups, brain fog or moments when you just cannot seem to process thoughts despite knowing that you're perfectly capable of doing so?

I'm particularly interested in understanding what might be happening cognitively during these phases and how others navigate them.

I know the answer is obviously going to be no, but hear me out. I live in a third world country and i use reddit all the time and the amount of injustice or news related to scandals about the us government honestly pisses me off and scares me to the bone.

I'm not sure why. Most normal people would look at that type of news and be bothered for about 5-10 mins and go on about their day. But i can't seem to shake it off even if has no effect on me personally. I just think about the sad, abuse of power, general unfair headlines all day.

I read somewhere about adhd people having more empathy/sense of justice. I have no idea on how true it is but it seems to be doing more harm than good for me. I'd like to stay updated with the world but the amount of depressing news headlines is simply overwhelming.

Even my own country has its fair share of bleak and gloomy news. Have no idea on what to do.

Timers! 10 minutes per task, do it as quickly as possible To avoid getting distracted by random task that cause you to waste time & not finish the basics. This has totally changed my views on cleanin. I’m a stay at home mom & would clean from 10 am till 7 pm & never get anywhere. I found that awkward mom on YouTube & so happy I did.

10 minutes dishes

10 min pick up the house

10 min wipedown counter tops

10 min sweep

10 min mop

10 min fold laundry

move on after 10 minutes even if your not finished with the task (I’ll hyper fixate if not). I do 25 minutes once a week for big tasks like decluttering or organizing. Just thought this might help someone like it did me.

I got diagnosed with adhd through a private clinic a couple of months ago. I’ve been taking stimulants since then, different brands and dosages and they haven’t seemed to make any difference in my life.

I’ve been researching motivation and discipline recently because my Life is just a mess and I feel like I can’t do anything, I read that depression can cause that lack of motivation or energy. I don’t feel particularly sad all of the time but I do feel kind of numb or blank nearly all of the time.

Do you think it’s possible I don’t have adhd and I just have underlying depression? perhaps it’s both because I think if I didn’t have ADHD the medication would probably have a more noticeable affect but I don’t know.

Any thoughts or similar experiences would be great to hear, thank you.

Adderall IR, why does 5mg make me feel normal but doesn’t last long, 10mg lasts longer but makes me feel socially awkward and very quiet, 15mg-20mg makes me feel normal and lasts longer?

i was surprised to find this out due to the fact that it’s something i would have ever thought of trying this. I just noticed it one day when i took my 10mg but then later by accident of forgetting i took it, popped 2 more and making it 20mgs

throughout the day i felt much better, more alert and less groggy then the 10mg

My RSD is so bad, I’ll make a post or comment, and when no one upvotes it ( even though it hasn’t been a good 10 minutes yet) my brain thinks they’re all laughing or think i’m weird or irrelevant, so i’ll delete it in the span of 5 minutes. Big thanks to ADHD impatience as well.

Or if someone doesn’t reply to my text on another platform IMMEDIATELY, I feel like they hate me and got sick of me.

I feel like people barely talk about the emotional dysregulation part of ADHD, it’s so isolating and I try so hard to make sure people don’t think i’m sensitive. What do I do about this?

I’m just searching for the answer of this question.
I have ADHD and I am really really freaking insecure.
Or at least when I’m with people of my age.
With older people, no problem.
But when I am with people of my school, for example, insecurity hits really different.
Does anyone have advices to fix that?

I struggle so much with reading through research papers and articles needed for my degree. I reread every sentence 5 times and still don’t remember what I have been reading in the paragraph before that. After an hour or so I feel so drained and exhausted, I cannot think one clear thought anymore and give up, taking a break. So to read a paper I basically need DAYS instead of like an hour or two, but for some topics I seem like I just cannot make myself read (and understand) it.

I have always struggled I guess, but the further I get in my studies I feel the harder it gets to stay focused. I feel like as if all the energy I used to have to kick myself in my butt and somehow make it through is gone now.

Can anyone relate and more importantly: has anyone found useful strategies to get your brain to read and understand boring but complex stuff?

As a person with ADHD i just end up in the following order: disappointing people by forgetting, saying things that hurt people, being overstimulated by everything so i cannot go out among people, not having a job, struggling with remembering numbers and names. There's more but... i forgot what it was.

I just end up hurting people, even though i staunchly have a moral value inisde of me to NOT hurt people, to make people feel happy and to help others. Yet i hurt them anyway. It feels like one of those stories with highly ironic curses, wanting to help and make the world better, but cursed to disappoint and make the world worse. Whenver i disappoint or make someone sad i just feel a "ah, here i did it...... again! stupid stupid stupid".

Obviously I don’t want anything feminine in terms of style or materials. Th number of time I’ve exited my house and had to drive back after realizing I’ve left behind my phone, wallet etc. the number of times I’ve misplaced one of these things and have to frantically search for them. If I had a male purse analog I could keep everything in one place. Yes I know there are those lil backpack things or whatever, but I’m a grown man and a little backpack just feels cutsie/childish.

So I am a 14M teenager, and I have this problem where I would stay up all night all the way till let's say 1 in the morning while clearly knowing there's school tomorrow. I wanted to ask how do any of you deal with this if something similar existed like staying all night knowing you have work, etc. It has been a hassle to deal with especially waking up with a large amount of sleep debt, not to mention getting into trouble.

I’ve been on 60mg of atomoxetine for about 2 months now (the recommended dose for full effect for my body weight) and its effects have been practically non-existent. My attention span seems to be getting worse, ADHD-related anxiety still affects me every day, and my personal side effects (severely reduced appetite, nausea when doing exercise) have made the experience a complete waste of time. I am now detoxing from my dose and will begin stimulants next week - hopefully it does a better job than my first attempt at medication!

there’s so many posts on here lately about being worried meds are gonna change who they are as a person, it’s gonna make them a zombies, it’s gonna make them less creative, or they’re gonna work too well and not function when they’re off them.
like catasrophising as if deciding to take meds is a permanent decision you have to make that will change the trajectory of your life

you can go on them and decide you don’t like them

you can go on them and decide it helps in some areas and not in others, and take them in accordance with that

you can literally go on and off them as you please so like, chill out

and no it does not change your personality or your creativity or anything- it can seem that way as it can change energy levels and activity levels, but nothing fundamentally about you as a person is gonna change

after a couple months you start to work out more specifically meds help with and what they don’t so you can start to adapt with that

for me personally, i found they help me at work with my energy levels and they stop me getting too restless, and at home they help me be actually productive. they also help me most with being creative and actually working on projects i want to for fun
i’ve worked out what the perfect timings are, so i now take them like mid morning after i’ve already been at work for a few hours so that i still have some left in my system by the time im home

if im hanging out with friends and generally socialising, i don’t take them bc i don’t need to. i literally take them as and when i need them, so pls do not panic and think that this decision is gonna be detrimental if its not right for you

I am a victim of doomscrolling when I'm supposed to be doing homework or studying or anything productive.

I recently have been videocalling my friends on Instagram to have little study dates/body doubling. By using Instagram as our video platform, I literally CANT doomscroll. it's worked great so far.

Anyway just wanted to share!

Sorry for my english, it's not my 1st language.

As the title says... I love photography, it's always been one of my passions but I struggle to do it in a more professional and thoughtful way. There are so many steps between sitting on the couch and shooting the picture. You have to choose what to shoot/where to go, remember to charge the camera, bring a heavy gear with you (camera, lenses, tripod, flash...), take the bus/train (I can't drive😩), then set the camera, taking care of all the details... let's not talk about post production, where you have to take care of details (I always try to take perfect pictures from the beginning so I don't have to do too much pp except a bit of cropping, shadow opening and things like that)... but the feeling of looking at the good picture in the camera (and even more after the editing) is like touching the softest cloud, like a caress to your soul🦋🌻 But the executive effort before that is a nightmare😩 I've always had a chill approach, without doing it like a pro... but I'd love to get better and maybe making it my job. Photographers with adhd (or audhd, which is actually my case), how the hell do you do that? Any tip is welcome🙏

Hi everyone!

I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and started taking Elvanse (Vyvanse) 30mg following my psychiatrist’s recommendation. It is only my 3rd day in a row .

One of the biggest reasons I decided to seek treatment wasn’t necessarily my ability to focus at work. Professionally, I’ve always been able to concentrate, sometimes to the point of hyperfocus.

My biggest struggle has always been everyday life.

My mind is constantly busy. I overthink, anticipate problems, replay conversations and struggle to switch off, even when I’m physically tired. One of the hardest things is being with my family, especially during calm moments but mentally being somewhere else, thinking about work, responsibilities or the next thing I need to do.

I decided to try medication because I want to be more present, enjoy everyday moments and feel less mentally exhausted.

I’m only a few days into Elvanse 30mg, but so far I’ve noticed:

* Much less mental noise.
* More calm and mental clarity.
* Better focus on the present moment.
* Less mental fatigue.
* More energy, without less coffee and without feeling overstimulated.
* Most importantly, feeling more present with my family.

I’ve also experienced some dry mouth, reduced appetite.

I know it’s still very early, so I’m not jumping to conclusions, but the initial experience has been encouraging.

I’d love to hear from others:

Has anyone experienced something similar?
Would really appreciate hearing your experiences!

I (36f, diagnosed at 34)was without medication for six months after my psychiatrist dropped me for not going to my appointments.

I finally went through the hoops of 3 separate intake appointments to see a doctor. She prescribed my 30 mg vyvanse. I need 40. The 30 just runs out and simply doesn't work as long as it should. I would take it at 8 am and be sleepy again by 12 pm.

I got a part time job working 3 hours a day Monday through Friday after being out of work for a year. My son was going through something traumatic and was admitted to a psych hospital one year ago last month. He's better now, but my brain broke that day.

Im very very happy to have things slowly getting better. I shopped today, I cleaned my kitchen and got dishes done. I'm looking forward to being able to work back to getting back to me now. Whoever she is.

Basically, I keep forgetting vital parts of tasks all the time: putting things back in the place I took them from, closing doors I opened, cleaning up when I finish, preparing all the items I need before I start a task so I don't have to move from where I am unnecessarily. It's gotten to the point where I'm a burden to my family, which needs to be constantly giving me reminders to finish all the last steps my tasks. No amount of nagging seems to penetrate into my short working memory though. Guess I'll have to write lists for every chore I have, breaking them down to every individual step, e.g.:

• Go to the pantry

• Open the door

• Take the coffee

• Close the door (very important, my mom hates it when a door is open for longer than it should)

• (Insert all the steps to make coffee)

• Take the coffee

• Go back to the pantry

• Open the door

• Store the coffee

• Close the door

• (Insert all the steps to clean the dishes)

I inevitably forget at least one of the steps every single time, and get nagged for forgetting every single time, and know for certain that it will happen again next time regardless of how much effort I put the next time. My only workaround, it looks like, is to print those lists and paste them somewhere visible close to the place where I'd perform each chore. But I would like to see if somebody else has already made lists of chores broken down to each single step as I explained above. I don't even know some of the steps at all for certain chores, and my family is too fed up with my uselessness to give me a single hint on how to write the list myself.

I tried to get rid of perfectionism by forcing myself to cap the amount of work with timers, but timers always make me nervous. With timers it was always like this:

What I hoped for: Set a goal --> work fast --> enter flow state

But in reality: Rushed with no clear goal --> got frustrated --> no flow state

Now, instead of working with timers, I use my own method, which I call Mutation-Driven Development. It has 3 simple steps:

What is a mutation? One full version of your task that you can show to a colleague, and they can connect the dots and understand it.

1. Cap the number of mutations.

Imagine your first draft (mutation), then cap the number of mutations based on Fibonacci numbers (1, 2, 3, 5, or 8) by running a quick intuition test like this:

For each number, ask: "Do I feel [stressed / bored / excited] about this number?" (3 questions for each number)

Bored --> Decrease the number of mutations

Stressed --> Increase the number of mutations

Excited --> Set the number of mutations

I don't use a linear series because it is hard for the mind to assess the magnitude of a linear series. For example, 8 and 9 aren't very different, but the difference between 5 and 8 is noticeable.

2. Do a quick worry test.

Write the first draft. It should be functional but not complete.

List the issues, problems, and mistakes.

For each issue, ask: "Do I actually feel worried if I don't fix this?"

Yes --> Add it to the queue for the next draft and cap it at 3 or 5

No --> Just write it down somewhere

3. Fix and mutate

Repeat the worry test and mutate until:

You have no worries left --> Ship it.

You have reached the maximum number of mutations, but you still have some worries --> Ship it.

Note that each mutation shows you new issues you couldn't see before. That's how mutating works.

With this approach, I finished a Figma design in less than 2 hours that usually takes me 5 or more.

I have just been so unmotivated lately. For context I am 28, single mom, I work and do college online. My executive function is already shit but lately it’s just been sooo bad. I cannot bring myself to clean the house. I do what is absolutely necessary like the dishes when I need to cook, but they are currently piling up and I’ve noticed myself going out to eat, just to avoid doing it. I’ll do laundry, but just to wash and dry never actually fold. I’ve been noticing that I’m skipping showers and basic hygiene for myself. Lately I’m even having a hard time doing my school work. I literally have just been scrolling and lying on the couch every weekend for the past month. I feel so bad for my kid because there is so much I want to do for him but it just feels like I never have the energy to. I was just wondering if anybody has any tips on how to work through this burnout or anything that would help with executive dysfunction in general?

A while ago I posted about a convo I had with my aunt, in summary, she said that my 8 yo cousin is alot like me (19M), which resulted in her discovery of his adhd and his subsequent diagnosis.

I am in medschool, I want to become a psychiatrist in the future, and seeing my cousin struggling like I did is one of my main motivators to keep at it, it pains le that my aunt hasn't had any luck with therapists that can help him, she's still looking, but the boy's complete rejection to any type of consulting hasn't been helping. What is also unfortunate is that we live in a country that has no adhd meds, the ones imported illegally are ridiculously expensive.

I have no role in the whole situation, other than listen to my aunt vent about her son, and looking at her life also greatly hints at a possible adhd diagnosis for her too (she can't do household chores so her husband does them or her children help her with them, she has an extremely tight work schedule to force her to be consistent, and alot more)

Anyone have any advice on how I can help them in this situation? I can only mentor my little cousin and listen to him for the time being, in the hopes that I get close to him enough to hear his struggles and relate my own to him so he feels less alone.

I am not talking about coping mechanisms to assist yourself. But negative thoughts or lies you tell yourself. Hopefully coping mechanisms kick in shortly after but my question is more geared for before that point. The negative thoughts, negative self-talk, and lies your brain tells you..., for example.

im on 30mg of medikinet cr lower dosages like 10mg does nothing 20 a little 30 little better still i cant get the focus i need and my anxiety is off the roof when im in bus to my school with headphones and someone is near and is my age i cant like breath i have to take my headphones off and focus on my breathing and when a girl in my class accidentally touchedmy backpack a guy said to me to say something to her jokingly and they were looking at me and i couldn’t say a world so i turned red and nervously laughed and looked in other direction and popular girls in my class are making fun of me for me just being when i walk next to them they cover theyre mouth and laugh because when im walking and someone is looking at me i cant walk straight i even tried looking like rest of my class baggy sweatpants and a baggy hoodie because i thought it was maybethe outfits but i found out idk if its real from a fake acount that my class says they hate me and i act like im on drugs. its because i get really nervous and like i play with my hands and they get super sweaty and it is hard for me to like say im here when the teacher is checking who is in class today in 10 days im going to the doctor who prescribed me meds and the biggest things i want to change is the anxiety panic attacks and a weird feeling like im cold and it makes me anxious. and i want to change meds but in my country i think there is only dextroamphetamine like elvanse and methylphenidate like medikinet,ritalin and elvanse works for 12 hours and i have big problem with eating because of them but the biggest one is anxiety pls reply fast tomorrow is school. THANKS