Post here if you had any positive results on your predominantly inattentive-type ADD with any "misc treatments and approaches" (anything other than prescription drugs). There's a lot of info on these boards about what is "supposed" to work better for one type or the other, but if something HAS worked for your inattention - let's hear it!

Specifically, for me, I would like to have a better awareness of my surroundings, have an easier time shifting gears from one thought or task to another, and have a better working memory. I don't need to be able to focus better on the task at hand - rather, I seem to be TOO good at that, consequently tuning out everything around me in the process. It's mainly the improved awareness of my surroundings I'm seeking...

WHAT'S HELPED YOU???

my daughter (age 10 - 5th grade) has had great success with biofeedback and Omega-3 supplements. What a Difference.

Whether or not you are on medication I would recomend taking Omega-3 supplements.

I am presently between jobs so I don't have any medical coverage. This is the second time I have been laid off since being diagnosed just over 10 years ago. I didn't take the supplements the first time -- I was barely aware of the importance of Omega-3 for the ADDer then. It has made a difference this time around. I believe that these supplements have helped me to remain motivated, to be able to constructively change focus and have mitigated the inevitable depression that goes with being out of work. Luckily supplements such as fish oil are inexpensive.

When one talks about the stimulant meds one should keep in mind the fact that they are indeed stimulants -- with the side effects of stimulants. Marketing and packaging have changed -- the fundamentals have not. These medications have been in existence in some form for over 70 years. This is not a "diss" but simply a statement of fact. What is important is that one should not feel bad if/when these medications don't work for them...

1) Putting myself on a sleep schedule. (Going to sleep earlier... getting 9 hours of sleep every night.)

2) Drinking OPC every morning. (Sharpens my mind, improves my moods, helps with everything...)

3) Altering my diet. (No meat, dairy, junk food, wheat products, or alcohol. I try to eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible, and the rest of my intake comes from protein- like tofu, soy milk, tempeh, sunflower seeds, almonds, beans, macadamia nuts, veggie deli slices, etc..)

4) Studying personal development! (Believe it or not, this helped me much more than medication. :p )

feeling good works for me. Then I am much more in line with my environment and more aware. It sort of feels like there is less internal distraction.
"Feeling good" however is not that easy to switch on. I think that:

- trying to lead the sort of life that you really want, without just trying to live up to other people's expectations (quite an issue for me) is very important.

- Not trying to change things that cannot be changed (for me, for instance: not trying to "like" doing things that I just do not feel comfortable in)

- Try to build self esteem. When I found the work that I *could* do, that made a huge difference.

- I feel good after exercise. I dont like sport, but a good hike is both great to get you in the open and for the physical well being.

- Try to connect to people that really care for you and do not want to change your ADD quirks (so - not as in "ooh, you're really sweet, _BUT_ you really should do more of this and less of that and be more sociable and spend less time on (fill in hyperfocus subject)<fill in="" your="" hyperfocus="" thing="">")

- like in that old song: "you've got to ac-cen-tuate the positive, e-lim-inate the negative"

- I also tend to thing that junk food is especially bad for us. It makes me drowsy and more sluggish and more zoning out.

- enjoy music and other forms of art

- look for, and find, beauty. It is a cliche, but it is in the smallest and insignificant things. Cliche's, however, are true.

- hook up to *real* people ... :) cryptic, huh? I mean, people that do not play games. People who take an interest in things that matter rather than making money, following fads, fighting, ego-amplification, .. well, *ado* sort of covers it.

- believe in, and use, the positive side of you(r ADD). I have a great imagination and tend to live in that world a good part of my waking time. Of course, that zoning out is not always handy, but also try to employ it. It is an awesome, powerful and beautiful capacity. For me it is almost like a parallel world that I can summon. Well, not even just one, but many. If I want to spend time in there or do something that is part of this "alternate reality" - I allow myself to - although I don't let it mess up the direct reality. This can be anything from pursuing a study, to reading, - or just daydreaming ... whatnot. Cherish what you are good at.


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Luthian

I am going to print your message off and send it to my nephew. He is 15. Maybe he will communicate with you on this site.

Thanks

Aunty

feeling good works for me. Then I am much more in line with my environment and more aware. It sort of feels like there is less internal distraction.
"Feeling good" however is not that easy to switch on....
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........I have a great imagination and tend to live in that world a good part of my waking time. Of course, that zoning out is not always handy, but also try to employ it. It is an awesome, powerful and beautiful capacity. For me it is almost like a parallel world that I can summon. Well, not even just one, but many. If I want to spend time in there or do something that is part of this "alternate reality" - I allow myself to - although I don't let it mess up the direct reality. This can be anything from pursuing a study, to reading, - or just daydreaming ... whatnot. Cherish what you are good at.
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oh yes, that has always been like life energy for me! It recharges me from the core. Moreover, everything is possible with no fences limiting the experience. My ideal world.. :D

"Worked"- the "ed" implies a past tense- it is a constant struggle, like Sisyphus rolling his boulder.

First of all STRUCTURE- plan things, don't just try to be spontaneous and wait for stuff to happen-I've wasted many a weekend trying to do this. Plan for your recreation and personal time just as you would your work or school time. Use a calendar and planner and carry a small timer to help you limit wasted time.

Heavy aerobic exercise and weightlifting helps, plenty of outdoor time and sunlight (but do use sunscreen- I use SPF 45). Horseback riding, canoeing/kayaking I find helpful to fight off the depression effects. LIMIT alcohol consumption. As another poster said, controlling and maintaining your sleep schedule and getting the right amount of hours (I struggle with the discipline to do this when I'm not working in the morning). I disagree with the vegan diet advice- I recommend lots of fish and dairy and some red meat, but do take the omega-3's. I have an Omega-3 peanut butter (with flax) that makes it easier to get my dose, although I have to watch my consumption of peanut butter because it sometimes makes me drowsy.

Getting involved with people and activities-I think we tend to be reclusive but need people even when we refuse to admit it. Try to find an ADD buddy to help you keep up with all this. The last one's the toughest for me. I have plenty of buddies but most are not ADD'ers.

Things that have worked for me:

- Martial arts - I teach a Wing Chun kung fu class twice a week; I have been doing it consistently for 15 years, at least 2-3 times a week. Without a doubt, this is the biggest thing for me - regular schedule, physical activity, a challenge, a sense of accomplishment, meditation, competition & cooperation with others, etc. By far, this has been the most important thing for me.

- Weightlifting and cardio training. Feels great.

- Embrace what you love. I love to ride my motorcycle - it calms me down every time. Loud music, painting, sculpting, dancing, hiking, math (seriously) - find something you like to do with 100% of your being and do it often. Don't worry if you are hyper-focused or monomaniacal about that activity. Just accept that you won't pay attention to the outside world while you are doing that activity and enjoy it.

- Accept that you can't be good at everything. My major weakness is paying bills and budgeting, so I get my girlfriend to do it. She tells me how much of my paycheque needs to go towards rent, phone, etc., and I pay it before spending the rest of my paycheque. I'm still broke by the next paycheque, but at least my rent is paid! If you don't have a significant other or parent who can help you with some tasks, get some kind of coach.

- Get a job you don't hate. Accept that you might not be on the fast-track corporate career ladder, and enjoy your job for what it is. I have a job where I get to spend about half my time at a computer, and half the time outside, measuring properties. It's a four-month contract, so I don't feel trapped. It's great for my ADD.

- Talk to your significant other / coworkers / parents / teachers about how you would like to communicate and work with them. For example, my girlfriend knows I will sometimes completely ignore her when I suddenly see something interesting on TV or on a road sign or across the street - she doesn't get upset, she just repeats it when I tune back in.

- Competitive sports. I spent a long time being bored out of my skull in school and in sports, and a lot of it had to do with the 'there are no losers, everybody's a winner mentality'. I was taught that competition was almost dirty. Don't be afraid to admit that you like to win or lose - I just have a lot more fun when I am playing to win. I don't mind losing, I just hate playing when there is no well-defined goal other than 'having fun'. I hated phys ed throughout school, then I got involved in ultimate frisbee and I loved it. (This doesn't apply to everyone; some people like cooperative activities, and don't like winning or losing. Identify what you like and embrace it.)

- Avoid processed foods. I don't eat meat, I don't eat anything from a can or box if I can avoid it; start with fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, local fish, and you can't go wrong. Artificial flavours and colours really make me feel edgy. Avoid weird diets - you should eat a balance of fat, protein, and carbs, and you should feel full after you eat. I take a multivitamin, even though I think it's redundant. Watch out for artificial junk in the vitamins. Chocolate, potato chips, cake, etc., are all fine in moderation. Avoid fast food burgers, ribs, etc., if possible.

- Get some acceptable way to release frustration. I love to hit the heavy bag. I have a bunch of wooden swords (bokken), kali sticks, etc., that I like to swing around in the back yard. I also shout and sing at the top of my lungs inside my motorcycle helmet while riding along - very cathartic. If you don't have anything else, it's always better to punch your pillow than your co-worker.

- Embrace the positive side of your personality. I hate to point this out, but a lot of non-ADDers are criminally boring. I am quicker, more imaginative, more intuitive, more creative, more adaptable, and generally more interesting than my boring, plain-Jane vanilla peers. It's not my fault if they can't keep up.:D

- Live life as if you feel no fear. Act like a fun, confident, happy person and you might find it starts to come true.

What I have figured out and my case might be different then "pure" inattentive-type ADD due to autism spectrum and lead exposure is inattention is not near as bad as impulsivity.

One type of impulsivity is motor and essentially hyperactivity. But there are other types of non-motor impulsivity. Ultimately impulsivity makes you act an plan in a small time interval (the moment). Its a do the easy most pleasant thing in the now that you can with no regards to whats in your long term interest.

So my point is without quantifying impulsivity to inattention ratio a person has you can not really compare two people with inattentive-type ADD very easily.

I think a lot of common things treats inattention well and very few treat impulsivity well.