I read an article online that says Ritalin, Adderall, and other Stimulants work by stimulating the central nervous system. This in turn causes a release of adrenaline, causing the brain to be more alert (focus). Blood rushes to your muscles, and your digestive system shuts down which causes your hunger to subside.

Essentially stimulants put you into fight or flight mode - generally FIGHT! You are ready to roll, or fight, or run like hell, or read, whatever floats your boat.

If this theory is correct - then all we ADDers need is find something that really gets us excited to get our adrenaline flowing. That tells me that we, as a people (ADDers) are born for something greater in life.

We are born to get out of our comfort zones. We are here to experience a lifelong adrenaline rush. So, instead of taking medication we should be getting out of our comfort zones and scaring the hell out of ourselves!

To OUR SUCCESS! GET THE RUSH!

What you become if you use adrenaline as a form of self-medication for ADHD is a 35 year old with a broken body and a speeding mind! My husband was not diagnosed until 2 years ago and has used sports and adrenaline to make it through his entire life. Bad back, shoulder surgeries, knee surgeries you name it he has it. Due to injuries he has not been able to maintain the the volume of adrenaline necessary to be normal so we have had to seek out professional help. Possibly he would be in better shape physically if we had gotten help years ago.

yeah, plus it's not just the increase in catecholamines, the category of chemicals of which adrenaline, also called epinephrine, is one. it's also how the add drugs raise these levels, which involves not only increasing the tap but also plugging the drain, which is important, and also where in the brain you need to stimulate. remember that add drugs tend to have a calming effect in many patients, this is because they are stimulating certain areas, but it's the areas that actually need stimulating, not just randomly stimulating everything. once you stimulate the underactive areas, the brain stops needing the constant stimulation or hyperactivity in order to function.

as lbawd pointed out, a lifelong adrenaline rush can have some negative conseuences...i'm just now recovering from an achilles tendon injury suffered last fall doing taekwondo. on the other hand, physical activity is always a good thing, and people with add should definitely be engaging in some sort of athletic training. i've actually found that meds plus regular physical activity is best, because the meds help you stay focused and prevent you from making hasty unwise decisions that can lead to unsafe situations.

If this theory is correct - then all we ADDers need is find something that really gets us excited to get our adrenaline flowing.


Thus the mention of “risk taking/ risky behaviors” being mentioned in the diagnostic criteria!

The adrenaline junkie so to speak can be an ADDer trying to self medicate! The basic problem can arise in not only what kind of “risky” behavior the unmediated ADDer chooses to participate but as so well pointed out


My husband was not diagnosed until 2 years ago and has used sports and adrenaline to make it through his entire life. Bad back, shoulder surgeries, knee surgeries you name it he has it.


But apparently degree can be a factor as well!

Physical exercise good


physical activity is always a good thing, and people with add should definitely be engaging in some sort of athletic training. i've actually found that meds plus regular physical activity is best, because the meds help you stay focused and prevent you from making hasty unwise decisions that can lead to unsafe situations.


Physical injury a bad thing!

Some also seek this adrenaline rushed by choosing professions that provide this chemical release….emergency medicine, fire fighters ect…. Naturally this would depend on the individuals expression of ADD traits and well as ability to function in these areas……


i'm just now recovering from an achilles tendon injury suffered last fall doing taekwondo.


Mention of this activity strikes interest as I didn't have desire to participate in martial arts (don't think I knew it existed-distractions-lol) until after I started treating my ADD! When ever I would do demonstrations and stuff though I only took a half a dose of my ADD medications….full does made me too “mechanical” no doses messed with my timing!


I do agree that those with ADD should give life all that can be given to reach goals and see dreams come true!

I would also like to add the type of ADD one has along with individual personalities/ preferences would determine weather or not the person is a “thrill seeker”. Not all ADDers are “adrenaline lovers” some who are inattentive do not enjoy the high stimuli thing as impulsives like myself and some of those folks who have combined ADD. ADD comes in as many flavors as people who have ADD!

I read an article online that says Ritalin, Adderall, and other Stimulants work by stimulating the central nervous system. This in turn causes a release of adrenaline, causing the brain to be more alert (focus). Blood rushes to your muscles, and your digestive system shuts down which causes your hunger to subside.

Essentially stimulants put you into fight or flight mode - generally FIGHT! You are ready to roll, or fight, or run like hell, or read, whatever floats your boat.

If this theory is correct - then all we ADDers need is find something that really gets us excited to get our adrenaline flowing. That tells me that we, as a people (ADDers) are born for something greater in life.

We are born to get out of our comfort zones. We are here to experience a lifelong adrenaline rush. So, instead of taking medication we should be getting out of our comfort zones and scaring the hell out of ourselves!

To OUR SUCCESS! GET THE RUSH!Hey, I love you post and agree! Well, mostly agree! There are times in ones life that you might choose the less stimulating path and need a littlel help from meds. For me it was becoming a parent of two gals and a stay at home mom. My functioning dropped way way off (Ratey describes this exact scenario in his book Shadow Syndromes). But I would much rather take meds for now than miss out on being a parent. It is the best experience of my life, but has many "boring" jobs that attend taking care of little ones.

Secondly, I think your theory probably would work best with folks with mild ADD. As Ratey describes more serious cases of ADD, the effect of ADD is so disorganizing that it is hard to even monitor one's own experience much less make adjustments for it. Also the amount of stimulation someone with a frank case of ADHD would need probably would be unsustainable and possible illegal.

Before kids, I was in a field I loved and my ADD symptoms were much milder and more managable, and I accomplished some things I was very proud of, so I think a stimulating productive life is a great goal for all and might make meds less necessary for some.

Scattered

i'm just now recovering from an achilles tendon injury suffered last fall doing taekwondo ouch, i do enjoy watching kaekwondo clips, amazing how much height people can get on their kicks, also i love the flip kicks that they do, it's something that i've thought of doing but there isn't a place near where i live that does it, i've often wanted to join a martial arts dojo, i used to do karate when i was young, got as far as brown and black belt and had to drop out, something that i've really regreted :(

theres a wing chun kung fu place near where i live but i have no money at the moment :(

i kinda display triats of both, when i'm in my room i don't wanna do anything at all, but when i'm actually doing something i really REALLY enjoy it, when i went ski-ing for instance, i disliked the speed that people were going down but as soon as i started going down i just couldn't go quick enough, bearing in mind that this was the 2nd time i'd even gone ski-ing and i hadn't learnt how to stop properly yet, hell i couldn't even snow plough properly but as soon as i started speeding up it was like "ah screw it, in for a penny in for a pound", course i'm very suprised that i didn't break my leg and/or ankel concidering how much i wanted to just go for it, also i couple of times i stacked it, i somehow managed to roll with it and stand up again like shocking myself that i wasn't hurt, by the end of the 2nd day i was trying to do jumps (mini ones not those massive ones u see on tv), scared the absolute cr@p outta myself but loved every minute of it.

i also very tired alot of the time, but i have like hyper moments that i usually run everywhere, jump around, jump over the banisters, climp around on them that kinda thing (hard to describe) luckily i have excellent balance or i woulda broken my neck a long time ago.

ermm....i think i'm missing the main point *goes to check title*

...maybe not, i dunno, u decide lol

LOL Ladies and Gentlemen - I was NOT suggesting becoming some sort of crazed adrenaline maniac, nor was I suggesting the use of drugs or extreme sports. I said GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE for an adrenaline rush. For some people that would be talking to 5 new people a day. It would excite you, and get that stuff pumpin through your veins!

For others this could be running every morning, or going to the gym. For another it could be sky diving, and at the same time for someone else it could be returning an overdue library book.

Just do something you are afraid of, and BAM. Instant adrenaline! At least for me, and I am pretty sure everyone works this way. C'mon guys, have an open mind, ADD isnt a bad thing. It means it is VERY hard to keep our attention - maybe it isnt us, maybe its THEM.

We are meant to be doing better and more exciting things. Normal tasks and conversations BORE the hell out of us =D

But hey, thats just the mindset I choose to take about my ADD. You are all welcome to be as negative or as positive about it as you want. But whatever you do, remember you have it for life...LEARN TO LOVE IT!

For me, laughter gives me that adrenaline rush so I tend to go out of my way to find things to laugh at or ways of making everything funny. Nothing really entertains me unless its funny. i cant watch news really or dramas or any of that stuff, it has to be a comedy. My husband and I are funny so we laugh pretty much constantly so sometimes just sitting on the couch with him laughing at all sorts of stuff and that can keep my attention endlessly.
-A