Addiction with ADD/ ADHD - what are your strategies?

What does 'ADS' stand for? The symptoms and treatment sound like what used to be called 'ADD' and is now called 'ADHD-PI', but I've never heard the term.

 

I have neither but I do use ADHD medication for my autism spectrum disorder. I tried ritalin as a kid but I got suicidal from it, but I've since used two types of medication that have worked, for being able to keep focus and for reducing mood swings. What helps me most is making a rough planning for every day, or at least (before the isolation) for the part of day I will be at home after uni. It doesn't include times but it does include what I want to do. Sometimes, if I don't know how much energy I will have, I list several options, depending on how much energy I will have (my biggest issue because of my autism is that I get overstimulated easily, for example from social contact or watching a film). Knowing ahead of time what I'll do helps a lot, because otherwise when my head is too full I can't think of what to do anymore and might reside to what feels easiest and most tempting: relapsing.

 

After stopping ritalin I started using another brand with methylphenidate as the active ingredient, but since age 13 or thereabouts I have used atomoxetine. I think it works better for my autism issues, but there are also two downsides: while I used methylphenidate I had no bowel problems, before and after I did and do, and since I started using atomoxetine I suffer from a dry mouth/throat, which has resulted in me always having a bottle of water on me, and getting ridiculously stressed out if I'm out of water or can't find the bottle, even if for just a few minutes. Another downside has been that health insurance used to only compensate ritalin because it was the most used and works for most people, and atomoxetine (at least the brand I have been using for years) is rather expensive. But I think that's changing. Of course that depends on your country, I wouldn't be surprised if in the USA not even ritalin is compensated.

 

Strenuous exercise , keeping busy . Addiction is only really brought on for me because of boredom . If your going to have an addiction try and make it a healthy one

I like to get up early in the morning and go out on the bike, the benefits of this is it pretty much gets rid of any hyperactivity that can lead to boredom and addiction. It keeps you calm and better able to concentrate throughout the day, then later on in the evening I'll go out again and help you to get a good night sleep . Keep your nutrition and make up for the lost salts and electrolytes and you won't have any issues sleeping after a day of training

 

I'm ADHD and my strategy is stay busy on my work, i work as a online driver 12 hours a day, and that works. Day 57 right now. Training my self control as intense as i can.

 

I am only on day 12 but I have been dealing with ADHD, stress and the fact that I am locked inside and cant do shit. What I have been doing is simply creating a schedule that fills up most of my day. Now that doesn't always work. There have been days where I have come close to relapsing. Might I suggest adding app blockers etc if you don't already have them. You can block yourself out of apps for a certain period of time to find another distraction. Best of luck to you mate!

 

I used to be a courier driver , working 12-15 hours a day, it was great for keeping busy , always moving , fast paced

 

Running , biking , weight lifting , hand grip training, sketching , building things for the house . Go buy some wood , make a key rack, build a dvd rack, etc keeps you busy and fun to do. When I've got some cash lying around and am bored to hell this is a good.time.to think of a task that requires some work and time ,

 

My husband was diagnosed with severe add. We opted for biofeedback/neurofeedback. They take a brain scan and measure the theta waves send off the results to a Dr. who specifically designed a program for you personally. Twenty weeks ( 2x a week) for 40 minutes. It helped so much!

 

I really don’t know. We are still fighting our insurance but we went ahead and paid out of pocket, it’s expensive but proven effective. Some respond better than others and it’s also used to help with autism. We found it through our csat.

 

I don't really get anxiety anymore than the next person , I've just accepted who I am , stoicism baby . You sound like you get anxiety because of the pressure others put on you, everything within you is within your control , even your anxiety , it's all about perspective,

 

I asked my husband and he said “ he thinks it’s intertwined, adhd can make his anxiety worse but he feels like it doesn’t cause his anxiety “.