Medication yes, but what else?

[madadder]

How come it seems that most people on these forums don't seem very interested in treatments for ADHD other than medication? Please don't say that ADHD is like having bad vision and medication is your pair of glasses. I'm not saying that medication is not needed, but I think that other types of treatments should be under discussion much more than they currently are. I feel like medication allows us to live an unhealthy lifestyle through instant relief from our ailments. If we had no medication then we would surely concentrate on living better, and perhaps we wouldn't need medications nearly as much (expanding beyond adhd). I personally couldn't be happier at the prospect of receiving medication for my adhd. The idea of instantly being relieved from what all of us experience is something to look forward to. I am currently taking strattera, but I have been motivated to piggy back off my medication to improve my symptoms.

ADHD might not be able to be cured, but it's symptoms can be improved through some suggestions:

-Proper Diet
-Exercise

-Meditation
-Medication
-Proper sleep
-Brain training (dual n back)

You can go beyond these and actively work on your brain. Learn a new language, instrument, socialize more often, play chess, get into comedy, practice story telling, take classes, read more often, and concentrate on managing your stress. These are all things we should be concentrating on.

Are you taking omega-3 supplements? Do you know why are they important? Are you taking the recommended dose on the bottle, or more? Considering that you can take about 10x what the serving size is and still be safe (despite your fishy burps).

Do you know what free radicals are and how they can make your brain age faster? Do you know how to minimize them?

Do you know the effect that "bad fats" have on your brain vs good fats? Bad fats cause free radicals in the brain. Good fats protect your nerve cells (cell membranes are built from omega-3).

Are you familiar with the positive benefits from meditation? Have you tried it? How many times a day? What did you notice different?

Are you challenging your brain on a daily basis? Have you tried dual n back for several months? Did you notice a difference in your working memory?

Are you exercising everyday? What difference have you noticed? Do you have more energy now? Perhaps your add symptoms are better with the increased dopamine production?

These are the types of discussions I think we should be emphasizing along with medication. We should look past our add, and figure out what we need to do to maintain a healthy brain overall. We should be pointing those newly diagnosed with ADHD to multiple ways of dealing with their ailment, not just medication. Doing these things will certainly help with our symptoms, and I'd love to see more people trying them and reporting their experiences.

[CheekyMonkey]

Exercising is one of the few things that can really help me re-focus when I've gone way off track. It has been really great for me. The problem is staying in the habit.

[Ranmaru]

I'm not looking for medicine, just help in any way. And you know, maybe an explanation or something. Suggestions. etc.

[tortilaman]

I'm pretty sure the OP has kind of named all the things that you should be doing in addition to medication that help with ADD. I know that in general, the three things you do for optimal brain functioning and chemistry are Exercise, Proper Diet, and Proper Sleep.

Professionals won't really tell you anything on omega 3's or anything like that because "there's no studies saying that it works" or some crap like that, but people keep on saying that it helps them. There's millions of books talking about the benefits of the things you listed, and there are specifically a bunch that talk about them in reference to ADD.

The problem with all of the things you listed is that they require planning, follow through, and sustained mental effort, three things that I have a lot of trouble with personally. Not trying to discount what you're saying, just saying that you're describing "the holy grail" for me, and it's just not something that is obtainable by me right now.

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by madadder

How come it seems that most people on these forums don't seem very interested in treatments for ADHD other than medication? Please don't say that ADHD is like having bad vision and medication is your pair of glasses. I'm not saying that medication is not needed, but I think that other types of treatments should be under discussion much more than they currently are. I feel like medication allows us to live an unhealthy lifestyle through instant relief from our ailments. If we had no medication then we would surely concentrate on living better, and perhaps we wouldn't need medications nearly as much (expanding beyond adhd). I personally couldn't be happier at the prospect of receiving medication for my adhd. The idea of instantly being relieved from what all of us experience is something to look forward to. I am currently taking strattera, but I have been motivated to piggy back off my medication to improve my symptoms.

ADHD might not be able to be cured, but it's symptoms can be improved through some suggestions:

-Proper Diet
-Exercise

-Meditation
-Medication
-Proper sleep
-Brain training (dual n back)

You can go beyond these and actively work on your brain. Learn a new language, instrument, socialize more often, play chess, get into comedy, practice story telling, take classes, read more often, and concentrate on managing your stress. These are all things we should be concentrating on.

Are you taking omega-3 supplements? Do you know why are they important? Are you taking the recommended dose on the bottle, or more? Considering that you can take about 10x what the serving size is and still be safe (despite your fishy burps).

Do you know what free radicals are and how they can make your brain age faster? Do you know how to minimize them?

Do you know the effect that "bad fats" have on your brain vs good fats? Bad fats cause free radicals in the brain. Good fats protect your nerve cells (cell membranes are built from omega-3).

Are you familiar with the positive benefits from meditation? Have you tried it? How many times a day? What did you notice different?

Are you challenging your brain on a daily basis? Have you tried dual n back for several months? Did you notice a difference in your working memory?

Are you exercising everyday? What difference have you noticed? Do you have more energy now? Perhaps your add symptoms are better with the increased dopamine production?

These are the types of discussions I think we should be emphasizing along with medication. We should look past our add, and figure out what we need to do to maintain a healthy brain overall. We should be pointing those newly diagnosed with ADHD to multiple ways of dealing with their ailment, not just medication. Doing these things will certainly help with our symptoms, and I'd love to see more people trying them and reporting their experiences.

I think this is probably because none of those things have been proven as treatments for adhd. They help, especially when used with medication. Medication has been proven as a first line treatment for adhd.
Let me just say that medication for my bipolar helps me to be functional. It isnt immediate and is not a cure. There are no cures for either adhd or bipolar. I think that acknowledging the importance of pharmaceuticals is just as important as acknowledging a healthy lifestyle.

[fracturedstory]

I exercise when I can and I love it, because it does give me extra energy and prolonged focus afterwards. Omega 3, meditation (prayer because I can hardly sit still and meditate without having thoughts), and all those things that prolong focus aren't as long lasting as medication. I still do do them but they work half as well and I have to keep doing them constantly to keep my focus going.

I also eat dark chocolate to help me read when I struggle to process the words. I only have a square of it.

I get into brain training every now and then. Don't say Dual n Back. That is agonising and makes me feel pretty stupid. I'm also a writer and an artist who loves to read so everyday my brain gets a workout. And I give myself impossible art projects to complete in a set time, and that involves learning a new skill. I love learning.

I don't see medication as a quick fix because I don't just take it and expect the magic to happen. I actually eat healthier and more often, I plan my whole day out so that I'm not just playing video games while on Ritalin. I write, I draw, I read and get all my chores done. And I need it to socialise because I talk more and am not cranky and overwhelmed by a high sensory environment.

I take weekends off too to see how I can manage without medication. That's when I take Omega 3 and exercise. I do most things except work on my novel or read books that require some mental effort. It's better I do that while on medication because of focus, comprehension and memory problems.

Good post though it did seem like you were accusing us instead of bringing it up in a positive suggestive kind of way. I think other methods should be implemented but some of us need medication to actually try those other methods.

I'll add one more, kind of like meditation but it's just getting outside and looking at nature. I've noticed it does increase focus temporarily, except when all you have to look at is a brick wall because you live very close to the city.

I pretty much self-medicate with food too. I get a lot of energy and focus from certain things, very noticeable amounts of it. Fish will actually make me hyperfocus for like 6 hours. But it gets uncontrollable. So I'm thinking I have some type of sensitivity to it.
As for drinks I just have water or tea, and an occasional beer. So no juices, soda or milkshakes. Actually, milk makes me go SCT. I think I have an intolerance to it.

And bedtime is around 10:30/11pm. I like routines. And I really value my sleep to help me be at the top of my game the next day.

[ginniebean]

I don't know why you feel anyone owes you an explanation for.their choices.

The evidence for unmedicated adhd is in, why haven't you looked at it? Do you simply reject the science based on your personal opinion?

[phantasm]

I'm with you when it comes to other things to try aside from/in addition to medication.

But you can search those thread ideas and bump them, or start a thread with those subjects to get the conversation going too.

[jhank26]

-Proper Diet
-Exercise
-Meditation
-Medication
-Proper sleep
-Brain training (dual n back)

I think I would pay someone $300 a month to tell me to do each one of the above.
What about allergies? Hydroxyzine was given to me for anxiety, but it cleared up my acne. I thought this was always from the Adderall, but it turns out I have a soy allergy. My theory is that the Hydroxyzine being a anti-histamine was actually treating my allergies. My head also feels a lot clearer after I took soy out of my diet, but this could also be due to a lot of things.

Just started back on the Dual N Back and after 1 week I already feel like my memory is improving. I take 3600 mg of Fish Oil concentrate, but I read some research earlier this year that this may not help and/or effects may be minimal so I am thinking about starting to just eat more fish (I live by the ocean). For the free radicals I stopped drinking any alcohol, I drink 1 cup black tea, 1 cup green tea, and 1 raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, pomengrate shake a day. My running has tappered off in the last couple months to around 40-50 miles a week, and this keeps me sane. Meditation I try to do a minimum of 10 minutes a day, but I struggle with this. Being in college helps with learning and fraternization, but also increases the stress 10 fold. I also belong to a couple running clubs, so this helps out in a couple different areas.

I look for any way I can improve the thing on top of my neck. Counseling has just not worked out for me, but that has to do with the people I have seen and how I approach it. Between not understanding the medications they are handing out (acting how I like to call them "Adderall Pez Dispensers"), not understanding ADHD, and instantly jumping to PTSD (Due to my military background, which sounds more impressive than it was; which after seeing 5 different therapists they have never diagnosed me as having, and my ADHD symptoms go WAY back before I joined.) Anybody with any other tips, please chime in!

[Ipsofacto]

I think it's easy to think like the OP suggest on all kinds of issues. Whether it's obesity, poverty, or any one of dozens of issues where some action on the part of the sufferer might change the outcome; "if I can do it, why can't they". It's basic human nature, and I think my ADD might have tended to make me even more judgemental when I was younger. It took half a lifetime and a lot of life experience to realize; that isn't the way the world is. Everyone one has their own burdens to bear and barriers that prevent change.

Joining this forum recently, I must say it is easy to get the impression that the main focus is on medication. I know medication has been of huge benefit for me generally, and has also made making life changes much easier. What I have come to understand though is, if it were not for having very positive results from relaxation, meditation, and sports in the past, I would not have been able to muster the same motivation now even with medication.

My wife just got a diagnosis of ADD from her family practitioner (he has known for for many years). My having done so much reading on ADD recently, it became obvious why my wife and I are sooo similar. The doctor sent her on her way with a script, but with little mention of therapy. Thinking of someone like my wife, who is not motivated at the moment to do a lot of research, I think there is the possibility that a new forum user could get the impression that it's all about the medication.

[madadder]

Originally Posted by CheekyMonkey

Exercising is one of the few things that can really help me re-focus when I've gone way off track. It has been really great for me. The problem is staying in the habit.

Same here, I have the hardest time following an exercise regimen. It's just having the "will" to get up and do it that's hard. This is where medication can certainly come into play.

Originally Posted by tortilaman

Professionals won't really tell you anything on omega 3's or anything like that because "there's no studies saying that it works" or some crap like that, but people keep on saying that it helps them. There's millions of books talking about the benefits of the things you listed, and there are specifically a bunch that talk about them in reference to ADD.

That's odd, my doctor actually prescribed me omega 3's so it wouldn't have to come out of my pocket. My doc is very knowledgeable about the brain of course, and is somewhat open to discussing alternative treatments. I mentioned meditation to him and he said that is specifically good for ADHD. I had to ask him about it though. I guess that's the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

Originally Posted by fracturedstory

I exercise when I can and I love it, because it does give me extra energy and prolonged focus afterwards. Omega 3, meditation (prayer because I can hardly sit still and meditate without having thoughts), and all those things that prolong focus aren't as long lasting as medication. I still do do them but they work half as well and I have to keep doing them constantly to keep my focus going.

I also eat dark chocolate to help me read when I struggle to process the words. I only have a square of it.

I get into brain training every now and then. Don't say Dual n Back. That is agonising and makes me feel pretty stupid. I'm also a writer and an artist who loves to read so everyday my brain gets a workout. And I give myself impossible art projects to complete in a set time, and that involves learning a new skill. I love learning.

I don't see medication as a quick fix because I don't just take it and expect the magic to happen. I actually eat healthier and more often, I plan my whole day out so that I'm not just playing video games while on Ritalin. I write, I draw, I read and get all my chores done. And I need it to socialise because I talk more and am not cranky and overwhelmed by a high sensory environment.

I take weekends off too to see how I can manage without medication. That's when I take Omega 3 and exercise. I do most things except work on my novel or read books that require some mental effort. It's better I do that while on medication because of focus, comprehension and memory problems.

Good post though it did seem like you were accusing us instead of bringing it up in a positive suggestive kind of way. I think other methods should be implemented but some of us need medication to actually try those other methods.

I'll add one more, kind of like meditation but it's just getting outside and looking at nature. I've noticed it does increase focus temporarily, except when all you have to look at is a brick wall because you live very close to the city.

I pretty much self-medicate with food too. I get a lot of energy and focus from certain things, very noticeable amounts of it. Fish will actually make me hyperfocus for like 6 hours. But it gets uncontrollable. So I'm thinking I have some type of sensitivity to it.
As for drinks I just have water or tea, and an occasional beer. So no juices, soda or milkshakes. Actually, milk makes me go SCT. I think I have an intolerance to it.

And bedtime is around 10:30/11pm. I like routines. And I really value my sleep to help me be at the top of my game the next day.

It sounds like you have been dealing with adhd for a while and have looked in depth into little ways to help make your life go smoother. I'm still new, but I recently have started trying meditation when I go to bed early enough. I'll do it in bed prior to falling asleep, or right after I wake up. The problem though is if I'm tired I just fall asleep again. I haven't really been able to focus on one thing yet while meditating. There is always some other thought that takes over my brain until I realize again that i'm trying to meditate, not brainstorm whatever pops up. With the dual-n-back, it's still really tough on me. I've been doing it fairly consistent and I'm still stuck on "3 back". Very very slowly it seems to be getting easier, by the slightest bit at a time. And I suspect the same with meditation will happen. It'll just take a lot of time.

I agree with you that medication is necessary to try and implement these other practices. Medication should be the first step, hopefully allowing people to find the motivation they need. They just need to be informed.

I have begun making changes to my diet. I read a book recently about improving the brain and it's emphasis on diet was eye opening. I've always been so close minded when it came to my diet, but that's just beginning to change.

I read that just having some kind of plant life in your apartment will lower your stress levels, even if it's fake. Also, having a pet of some kind will do the same. I plan on getting a dog as soon as I can, but these apartments wont allow it :/.

I apologize for coming across in an accusatory manner. My wife and I actually had a major argument that night so I wasn't in the greatest of moods. The main point I wanted to get across is that we should be changing our theme on treatment. Medication first, then throw everything else possible at this thing we call adhd

Originally Posted by ginniebean

I don't know why you feel anyone owes you an explanation for.their choices.

The evidence for unmedicated adhd is in, why haven't you looked at it? Do you simply reject the science based on your personal opinion?

I believe you misunderstood my post, I don't believe anyone owes me an explanation for their choices. I don't believe in leaving ADHD unmedicated, and I am a firm believer and follower of science. There are also science studies that show other treatments that help ADHD.

Originally Posted by jhank26

-Proper Diet
-Exercise
-Meditation
-Medication
-Proper sleep
-Brain training (dual n back)

I think I would pay someone $300 a month to tell me to do each one of the above.
What about allergies? Hydroxyzine was given to me for anxiety, but it cleared up my acne. I thought this was always from the Adderall, but it turns out I have a soy allergy. My theory is that the Hydroxyzine being a anti-histamine was actually treating my allergies. My head also feels a lot clearer after I took soy out of my diet, but this could also be due to a lot of things.

Just started back on the Dual N Back and after 1 week I already feel like my memory is improving. I take 3600 mg of Fish Oil concentrate, but I read some research earlier this year that this may not help and/or effects may be minimal so I am thinking about starting to just eat more fish (I live by the ocean). For the free radicals I stopped drinking any alcohol, I drink 1 cup black tea, 1 cup green tea, and 1 raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, pomengrate shake a day. My running has tappered off in the last couple months to around 40-50 miles a week, and this keeps me sane. Meditation I try to do a minimum of 10 minutes a day, but I struggle with this. Being in college helps with learning and fraternization, but also increases the stress 10 fold. I also belong to a couple running clubs, so this helps out in a couple different areas.

I look for any way I can improve the thing on top of my neck. Counseling has just not worked out for me, but that has to do with the people I have seen and how I approach it. Between not understanding the medications they are handing out (acting how I like to call them "Adderall Pez Dispensers"), not understanding ADHD, and instantly jumping to PTSD (Due to my military background, which sounds more impressive than it was; which after seeing 5 different therapists they have never diagnosed me as having, and my ADHD symptoms go WAY back before I joined.) Anybody with any other tips, please chime in!

Wow, you run like a marathoner. I wish I had your strength. I've actually just begun taking 3600mg of fish oil as well. Before I was only taking 600mg having misread the bottle. Hopefully the increase provides some kind of help. What are you up to on dual-n-back? I think it may be helping my reading comprehension, I can read somewhat faster, and still retain what I'm reading while reading out loud to others. Usually that's a difficult thing for me to do.

Originally Posted by Ipsofacto

I think it's easy to think like the OP suggest on all kinds of issues. Whether it's obesity, poverty, or any one of dozens of issues where some action on the part of the sufferer might change the outcome; "if I can do it, why can't they". It's basic human nature, and I think my ADD might have tended to make me even more judgemental when I was younger. It took half a lifetime and a lot of life experience to realize; that isn't the way the world is. Everyone one has their own burdens to bear and barriers that prevent change.

Joining this forum recently, I must say it is easy to get the impression that the main focus is on medication. I know medication has been of huge benefit for me generally, and has also made making life changes much easier. What I have come to understand though is, if it were not for having very positive results from relaxation, meditation, and sports in the past, I would not have been able to muster the same motivation now even with medication.

My wife just got a diagnosis of ADD from her family practitioner (he has known for for many years). My having done so much reading on ADD recently, it became obvious why my wife and I are sooo similar. The doctor sent her on her way with a script, but with little mention of therapy. Thinking of someone like my wife, who is not motivated at the moment to do a lot of research, I think there is the possibility that a new forum user could get the impression that it's all about the medication.

You hit the nail on the head. That's exactly what I was trying to get across through my unorganized thoughts . When I was a "new new" forum user that is exactly the impression I got from these forums. Especially from that stickied adderall thread about positive results. Best of luck with your wife, and congrats on the diagnosis, because usually a diagnosis of adhd means a change for the better.

[madadder]

Also, any post relating to treatments other than medication / general adhd get moved to the bottom of the forum where nobody really looks.

[SeanQuail]

I think it's best to attack on all fronts.

I take fish oil, vitamin D, multi vitamins, pom juice, greens etc. along with my meds. This may make nothing more than expensive pee, but I figure it's worth a shot.

Forcing myself to make task lists with priorities by each entry and doing the thing I am most dreading on the list first.

Turning off my internet for a portion of the day has been extremely helpful, but hard to do.

I got a dog two years ago and he forces me to go outside every couple of hours and break the hyperfocus trance. The dog is the best thing I've done for my ADHD I think. He forces me to socialize too and is amazing company.

Beyond that yoga and meditation, when I'm able makes me feel great and stay calm. It's hard to get on a good schedule for this, but if I do it at the same time every day, it helps

[namazu]

Originally Posted by madadder

Also, any post relating to treatments other than medication / general adhd get moved to the bottom of the forum where nobody really looks.

If you navigate using the "show new posts" option, threads -- including plenty about meds! -- do have a habit of getting lost. It's just the nature of a system where the threads most active at any given moment, regardless of topic, get bumped to the top of the list.

However, there's another way to navigate ADDF that makes the discussions you're seeking much easier to find.

Under the "Treatment & Management" header on ADDF's main forum navigation page, you can find entire subforums dedicated to:

Advocacy, Coaching, Counseling and Practitioner Referrals (with info about coaching and various types of psychotherapy)

Resources, Tools & Organizational Tips (which includes technology, organizational strategies, books and other media, etc.)

Exercise and Nutrition (and the nutrition section includes a lot about healthy eating and supplements)

Meditation and Spirituality

and

Misc Treatments and Approaches (which includes things like neurofeedback, "brain training" programs including n-back, and other approaches that don't fit into one of the above categories).

In addition, the subforums about jobs/career, education, relationships, parenting, etc. often have helpful non-medication strategies.

On the broader issue of medications seeming "dominant" on ADDF...

My personal best guess is that it's because there are very few other places to find information and share experiences about ADHD meds. On the other hand, there are plenty of sites on the internet devoted to general health, exercise, nutrition, meditation, etc.

Starting or changing medications also tends to concern people in a way that trying a new diet or exercise program, taking a yoga class, downloading software, etc., often doesn't.

So, I suspect people often come here with questions and concerns that aren't addressed elsewhere , and that translates into a large number of questions about medications.

I agree with you that managing ADHD usually requires a combination of strategies, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach that works for everyone.

Most active ADDF members, if I had to guess, already do use multiple approaches, and are hungry to learn about new, effective strategies for managing ADHD.

So don't hesitate to post in the sections mentioned above, and don't think you're alone in wanting to throw everything but the kitchen sink (and even that, if it would help...) at your ADHD!

Best wishes, and happy posting.

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by madadder

Also, any post relating to treatments other than medication / general adhd get moved to the bottom of the forum where nobody really looks.

I dont think they get moved its just that maybe not so many people identify or respond.