Hi! I'm London, an ADHD female.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that can cause above-normal levels of hyperactive and impulsive behaviors, as well as cause trouble focusing attention.
I deal with my ADHD by using this interlinked rings fidget toy. I also tap my fingers and feet a lot. Share your experiences and advice here!
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I deal with it by. . . oh look, a rabbit!
Lists, lots and lots of lists...... Also im a girl so I went to the doctor and they said its not hyper-active adhd is more of a focusing problem so they told me just to deal with it and I get no medications, just shows girls are under diagnosed :/ and they said they could give me meds but they think I can handle it till high school.
I don’t really do much about it. But I’ve always been told that the stuff I do isnt “ladylike” who cares? I’ve also struggled with TONS of teachers who have told me me to shut up (not like that) while they are talking. I see where they are coming from with that one but....
Gum, it helps me so much.
I've taken up crocheting as a hobby to manage it, but when I can't do that, running around the house/outside works well too
I'm in IT. I am at least twice as productive if I have a second screen that runs TV shows. Shows like "Britain's got talent" and cartoons work best; documentaries are too distracting.
Tried medication, but it changes my personality and kills my creativity.
Imagination. Helps so much that it should be illegal. If I get angry, or really hyper, I'll just lean back in my chair and start imagining stuff. I can come up with some crazy stuff
What kind of things do you imagine, do you have a specific way you imagine? Sound kind of silly, but I sometimes have trouble starting my creative brain @TheHolyFatherOfToast
I sit in my hammock swing (think like a hammock, but a chair instead of a bed) and spin when I feel wiggly. I also sometimes fidget with a random bracelet that I sometimes wear when I know that I'm going to be bored.
I have stims that I do on cue, such as the hang loose sign and wave it around. Also, having putty to play with helps tremndously. Having a comfterable pattern (leg going up and down), for me the vibrations help and feel good.
I doodle. it helps me focus on schoolwork, although teachers I haven't talked to about this think I'm not paying attention.
medication, and caffeine surprisingly helps, but no sugar.
I keep lists that breakdown whatever I'm working on into small bite sized pieces. Keeps me focused and feeling like I've accomplished something as I check things off. Little victories.
ADD Here. The best way I handle it is I try to turn whatever the task into a challenge or a game. For example years ago when I was a cashier I'd remove all order separators from my lane because it would force me to pay attention to what I was doing. Made a lot of customers mad, but it worked for me. Turm mundane tasks into something "fun".
I have lots of little repetitive stims, but my favourite/most common is tapping out complex rhythms with my thumb and fingers (usually TOOL songs!)
ahhhhhhhhhh this i love tapping lil rhythms, and especially when u have a few surfaces or thingymabobs that make different sounds i just realized i was drumming with my ankle on my chair while typing this...whoops
I got a dog last year. Whenever I can, i take him for a walk. What also helps me is taking pictures.
I personally touch my pointer finger to my thumb repeatedly and rapidly
Find a way to channel your hyperactivity. Not a random therapy thing. I know from experience. If you feel really hyper, clean something. Blast an audiobook at top volume and just zoom around. If you're in school, fidget. Try not to be too obvious! Tap on your desk. Be careful to notice if you are distracting anyone else. You probably already know, but those small sounds can be annoying. Final thing in this long response: embroider. Embroidery is sewing patterns with colored thread. This may seem boring, but it is actually really relaxing, especially if you are listening to something.
I take medicine but that kinda kills my ~vibe~ but for me reading something you like gets me focused
I benefit a lot from bike touring and I try to make a habit of going to the forest to sleep in my hammock every sunday. Nature really clears my head!
I enjoy breathing exercises, but have given up on meditation - I really, really have a hard time believing some people can actually have real quiet and peace inside their head.
I organize. Daily to-do-lists, weekly lists, near future lists, far future lists. I even have lists of what music i like, otherwise i can't remember the bands.
Stims, repetitive tunes in my head, background "noise" to block some of my brain.
I could go on. I started on Vyvanse in the spring and it's got some effect. Slowly increasing the dosage.
Oh - and I totally love doing laundry and folding it! It's the perfect mindfulness! :D
And I only work 15 hours a week as a result of my "impairment".
Oversharing? Oh yes! How could that be avoided in this thread? I'm struggling to stop myself right now, but I'll do so!
And check out "How to ADHD" on youtube!
I'm stopping now. For real!
Maybe try meditation again, it's not about 'clearing your mind of all thoughts', it's about stepping back and observing your thoughts without getting involved, which still takes practise but it's really helpful for recognising (un)healthy thought patterns and reactions. You can also meditate while doing things like washing the pots and concentrating on the physical sensations and your associations that come up while you're doing that, or walking in the forest and taking in what's arou d and what's going on inside you. Meditation is introspection and observation, not silence.
Gum, letting myself open bored panda every now and then, and opening The Flat Earth Society and reading a load of s*** there as a punishment if I get distracted
If this is just for hyperactivity and focus help, I sway side to side and wiggle if I've got too much energy. When I need to sew I sit down and watch youtubers (Jacksepticeye and captainsparklez) to help. Music works in the car but music literally anywhere else screws me up. Roommate wants to play music while he cooks? I can't go downstairs it's like a force field
Constantly massage myself especially neck, arms, hands, feet--drives my partner nuts. I'm a massage therapist by trade--super convenient occupation, keep moving, keep the hands busy... :D
I'm a licensed therapist with ADHD, and I (of course) specialize in treating adults with ADHD. The most helpful things I have found are 1) use the 20/80 rule. Start 20% of the thing you need to do, let yourself be distracted for a bit and come back to it. Starting something is always the hardest part anyway! 2) utilize both therapy and medication (if you have the means of course!) and 3) Embrace who you are! Those with ADHD are uniquely creative, intelligent and some of the quickest thinkers I have ever met. Look at your ADHD as a blessing, not a curse :)
I tap my feet till they get tired. Then I tap my fingers together.
I like to write in my journal, not so much my feelings, just stupid thoughts, funny stuff that has happened, and what my favorite things are that day. I tend to go off on a tangent, and if there is anything even remotely similar to a lyric or quote from a musical, I'll write the whole song down. I have just a little notebook so I can bring it to school with me and it doesn't look like an actual journal.
i have little mini fidgets to keep me occupied but also on task, tapping my leg helps but annoys others
I usually tug on my earlobes a lot. I use fidgets, but I usually try and eat them because I LIKE EATING PLASTIC OWO
I like chewing on the plastic rings that are under the lids on plastic water bottles UwU OwO UwU
There’s a lot I can say, but will simplify it for today. I asked for help, and learned to appreciate my mind for the chaotic mess it is. There are resources out there, find and use them. The world is changing, and you need to be brave to carve out space for yourself. It helps when you realize that you’re not alone. 1. Exercising or dancing early in the morning. Well endowed ladies, put a bra on before you hurt yourself. 2. Learn how to organize and tackle a few things at a time. 3. Limit background noise and distractions. 4. Make a network of connections for your thoughts. If you’re bored doing/studying one thing, try to see how it relates to something else you like. 5. Don’t feel ashamed of your energy and how intense you can be.
I took meds about it a few years ago but then my therapist told me I should focus more on my depression....oh look a buterfly!!
a lot of things really, tapping my fingers, gum, swinging my leg, combing my fingers through my hair, etc.
I'm 15 and in school, so I have a really hard time focusing. i take medicine for it but my attention span is still that of a 5 year olds on crack. you should see me at 2 am
I deal with it like this
I'll have a chew necklace on all day so I use that and I sleep
Hi. I am Sophie and I have ADHD. I also have Anxiety and Autism. At times I can get really angry over little things, and it can cause me to lose control. I take special tablets and see special people to help me. I’m learning to control my ADHD as well as my emotions.
You cant have to much sugar and other people have higher doses of medicine then others that show how bad their ADHD is like mine is 60mg and my neighbors 18 year old brothers is only 35 mg so mine is worse then his.
Unmedicated since I was 10 and felt like the meds made me “not myself”
Lists and staying organized. Helps me feel in control. And crossing out to-do items gives a sense of accomplishment to chase.
During the day working from home I’ve found listening to music or the news in the background helps keep me focused
After work, I self medicate with weed. Sativa calms me without zonking me out.
One of the main ways I deal with it is by imagination. I will wait until its bedtime and imagine what I wish my life was like. I'll go on amazing adventures, and ill have the greatest friends. I feel like if I wasn't able to do that I would be barely as successful with my work and I would be below average
