Does anyone have an effective non-medicated treatment for Adult ADHD with GAD?

I have severe ADHD and GAD along with a myriad of other comorbids.
I wouldn't say I have effective non medicine treatment for it, but meds didn't work on my ADHD. Meds helped my other problems though, but I'm not on any meds now.
Anywho, the one thing I've found that helps is lowering my anxiety. When my anxiety is high, all my disorders grow huge - to the point I can't function.
Taking care of myself is a huge change I've made, and it's made a difference. Putting myself first at times - like when I'm slipping into depression or anxiety.
Getting the deep diagnosis I did from an ADD specialist psychologist made a big difference in my ability to understand and deal with my disorders.
I think that's been the tool that's helped me more than anything. Knowing exactly WHERE my brain is effected - what processes it stumbles on - shows me the map so I can skirt around those areas, bypass them so to speak.
Yeah, I'd say that's the biggest tool I have. Because with all my "severe" disorders I have, I should be in a padded room, and I'm not! Ha! Fooled them all! :p

From what I have read when there is a combo of disorders, ADHD is the primary disorder. Treat the primary disorder first. Having said that, there is a relatively new talk therapy for anxiety that do not require meds. They basically decondition the anxiety.

Interesting Scuro. Can we recondition ourselves without the help of a doc? Is it like biofeedback? Is it just stuffing the anxiety down when it starts to rise?

I went to a workshop on this. Basically someone does a case history of your anxiety and trys to find the initial cause and then talk about that incident. It was a while ago so I don't remember the particulars. Then they try to slowly decondition you by gradually putting you in contact with what makes you really nervous. Over time your reactions can become normal. This approach has better long term results then meds. They did suggest using meds, especially if the anxiety is really bad at the present time.

Well if there was only 1 cause for a persons anxiety, I can see how that would work.
My anxiety is brought on by many things - i.e., fear of losing a child, fear of failing as a mother, fear of getting in a car accident, fear of other people's disapproval, fear of the future, fear of my lack of self control, etc.

I had to look up Gad, general anxiety disorder -
I suffer from anxiety, not as much now as before but I could remember having to go breath deeply in the bathroom when I was out on a new date.
I do think I have a low level all the time but I do not consider that a bad thing as it keeps me on my toes
i'm probaby very weird but when I slip ,I just crumple to ground like a rag , now I know this prevents injury rather then stiff arming to stop the fall , everyone around assumes you got really injured but you bounce right up with I'm OK :D

Yeah I am add inattentive and I have a huge problem with anxieties. Ive tried xanax before I knew I was ADD and it didn't really help.

And about therapy and don't beleive it would work because most people with ADD already know whats wrong with them but they still can't help the way they feel. It's like trying to use your mind to stop your heart. You can't because you have no concious control over your heart. Therapy however might work with normal people.

Actually, therapy works wonders with anxiety disorders. It's the most effective long term treatment. It gets to the root of the anxiety issue to help deal with it. Many people know they have anxiety, but don't know where it started.

Medication can effective in masking the symptoms, but therapy can help get rid of it.

I have recently been reading research articles about etiologies of anxiety and how it "spreads" to other areas (derived relations - they're so interesting).

All the research I've read is in agreement w/ scuro and his post.

Actually, therapy works wonders with anxiety disorders. It's the most effective long term treatment. It gets to the root of the anxiety issue to help deal with it. Many people know they have anxiety, but don't know where it started.

Medication can effective in masking the symptoms, but therapy can help get rid of it.

I have recently been reading research articles about etiologies of anxiety and how it "spreads" to other areas (derived relations - they're so interesting).

All the research I've read is in agreement w/ scuro and his post.Im not trying to be mean but I have anxieties and ADD and you sound like you only have ADD Im more aware of how impossible it can be to get rid of GAD. Plus the study probably wasn't about ADD people so you can throw that out the window. And If you spent your hard-earned money on a therapist wouldn't you be telling people that it's working too? PLus there is a slight chance of people thinking its working thanks to the placebo effect. If anything it's the placebo effect working its magic.

I, too, thought to myself, "If only!" when I read the remark that sounded to me like it was saying therapy can easily get rid of GAD.

I am diagnosed with GAD. I am very aware of how difficult it is to deal with anxiety. I have spent hard earned money on therapy and it was well worth it. With the help of my therapist, I figured out where my anxiety was based from and can now deal with it in a more effective manner.

However, my reason for posting isn't because I wanted to share my personal experience, it's because I wanted to share what research studies are saying is the most effective treatment for GAD and other anxiety disorders.

I have read numerous studies on anxiety, particularly GAD and they conclude that therapy is the most effective long term treatment, even with co-morbid diagnoses, such as ADHD.

I didn't say that it was easy, because it's not. It takes time. There is a "root" to anxiety disorders and dealing with that "root" will help deal with the anxiety.

Notice that in my post I didn't say "cure" or that it "completely gets rid of" anxiety. I stated that research proves it's the most effective long term treatment.


The effective long term treatment is as scuro posted. An assessment/evaluation is done to figure out the "root" of the anxiety. There may be one, there may be several. Then, the clinician gradually deconditions the fear(s) very systematically.

What if there are many roots livinginchaos? Is that possible, or does it only seem that way?
Is it a matter of removing the straw that broke the camel's back? Or must all the reasons be removed?
Could it be that you had one cause whereas I have several?
I don't know, I'm doubting everything right now. Maybe there is just one big cause behind it all and it just looks like many causes...I just don't know anymore.

Does anyone have an effective non-medicated treatment for Adult ADHD with GAD?
I have found an effective MEDICATED solution to my ADD and GAD+ Depression: Adderall and Klonopin and Cymbalta or Lexapro (or some other SSRI/SNRI). I looked for years and did all the therapy and "natural" stuff but for me nothing has helped like the stimulant/benzo + anti-depressant combo.

I learned to deal with the ADD since childhood, and I'm not on any meds since HS (1984-1988).
I still have it, and I know my limitations, but I also take measures to help myself.
I make lists, double check to make sure I have the list when I go somewhere, talk to myself to remind myself of things I have to do, etc.
It's annoying, but it works.
As for the anxiety.
I should have had it growing up, because I was told by teachers and principals that I would never get through HS, or college!
I have a Bachelors in Management and Marketing BTW, so they were wrong. I also dipped snuff (3 cans a day for 16 or 17 years).
I also drank alcohol excessively.
Once I got off tobacco (and alcohol), I used nicotine gum and lozenges
(2001-2005) to keep me from freaking out.
In 2005, I was diagnosed with a digestive condition (what a shocker!).
I was put on Librax, which is anti-anxiety, because I just started freaking out for no reason, and Reglan (for the digestion) but it's really a bad medicine to be on as it has a lot of bad side effects.
I take the Librax 1x a day (because of weight gain over a years time of
25 pounds!) and not 2x a day.
None of my Dr's know what caused me to start having anxiety attacks, I just did.
I still have periods where I feel like I'm going to freak out, but I catch myself usually.
If I don't, I have Xanax.
Anxiety is really scary, because you know nothing is wrong, but your mind just won't let you calm down.
I would continue the Librax 2x a day, but I just shot up on my weight, and it wasn't healthy for me.
I'm down 10 pounds in less than a month, on a path to lose 25 total.
I have to keep myself busy, because of the decrease in meds.
But I want that weight off!
Anxiety sucks, I know.
And those that don't have it DO think you can just "talk it out."
No you can't fool!
The mind is more powerful than people believe.
Once you experience an anxiety attack, or any type of anxiety, you are able to sympathize with others that have it.
I don't know of any cure outside of meds.
Other than to try and "stay calm" like that works. :D

I'm a believer in the somatic therapies.

CBT & rational reasoning never helped me with anxiety. (A bodily sensation or feeling or emotion is not always cognitively-alterable.)

Anxiety rebounds worse when tranqs wear off. Tranqs also make memory/learning/ADHD/Executive Function worse...

Blah.

The best thing that cured me of GAD/PTSD/DES, etc. was SP (Sensorimotor Therapy) and Trauma Therapy.

:)