Anyone able to manage ADHD without medication? How do you do it?

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I have ADHD and am not on medicine because I have heart issues that most ADHD meds exacerbates. I have a few “hacks” that I use to get stuff done - the way I organize my to do lists (separate tasks by time estimates), figure out my natural tendencies (early mornings I like to do my long tasks; afternoon I like to jam out a bunch of short tasks); use the pomodoro method, do this thing where I number all my tasks and use a random number generator to pick what task to work on (great when my to do list is a bunch of things I don’t want to do and haven’t started), standing desk, under desk treadmill. A bunch of crutches, but they work!

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I like that one too. Neat!

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I’m on meds but wasn’t for a couple years. The key is to try and find ways to hyperfocus on work and not the million other distractions that constantly try to derail your day. Exercising before you work is a great way to get the dopamine flowing. So is starting your day off with one win and then keeping the momentum going as long as you can (I find that using a written to do list and crossing out tasks as they are completed gives me a little boost no matter how small the task). Adrenaline also helps and forcing yourself to be accountable to others does too (although this can also be demoralizing when you are in a dip and feel like you are letting everyone down). Also some days just aren’t going to work and that’s fine too - sometimes it is enough to just make it to the end of the day. Recognizing those days and having compassion for yourself is difficult but necessary.

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Caffeine and work pressure allows me to hyperfocus. If I'm slow, it's a disaster.

likesmart

ADD coach. There’s a bowl for ADHD lawyers you may find helpful.

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Adrenaline helps. It’s the caffeine rush without jitters. Not even kidding

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The pressure of deadlines. If they sold adrenaline in a supplement…that’s not adderall or cocaine…let me know! Lol

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No. Why go without meds and make your life even harder?

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Heart issues, ulcers, side effects, crashes etc etc etc

Yes, I like my personality without the medication, which has driven a lot of my decisions in life and I don’t feel like myself on meds. Taking full advantage of the desire to work whenever it strikes. I’ve done some of my most productive work after 9pm.

Don’t stress about not being able to focus during “working hours” as long as you’re responding to emails so your team doesn’t think you’ve gone AWOL. Dont check e-mails when you are focusing on a specific task.

If you absolutely need to focus, do a mini workout and immediately sit down at the task.

I find having a self imposed timing goal helps, e.g. I have to be out of the office by 7pm for a workout class, better hit that deadline.

If it’s something I really don’t want to do, I promise my self a reward, like training a spazzy small dog.

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Get pregnant

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Hm that’s a tough one! I’m very dependent on mine and worried how I’ll function once it’s time for pregnancy.

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Aw, thank you! ☺️ one day at a time

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It’s not as bad as people make it out to be. I got over mine by spite (I hated the meds and my psychiatrist and resented feeling like there was something wrong with me). We get bludgeoned by those who act like it is debilitating but it isn’t.

Im not opposed to adults taking meds for it and often wish I did, but as another poster said you’re stronger than you think.

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Starting early and minimizing distractions helps a lot. Lists of things that have to get done in the day for applicable matters too and trying to set specific eating or going outside times.

I also have found it helps a lot if I try to get all the non-work things out of the way at one time, usually late morning

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I actually just started ADHD medicine yesterday and it has been incredibly successful. What’s your reservations? (not trying to pressure, just genuinely curious)

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OP- I had the same thing with different meds. I think experimentation can be helpful. Everyone reacts differently. I now have meds that help me tremendously and the side effects are really minimized.

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Some people swear by “time-blocking” on their calendars…

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Define “medication”? Are we talking medically prescribed or “medically” suggested? To be clear, I have ADHD and have smoked like…Um…conservatively…every day. But, when I started, it wasn’t a medication, or legal for that matter.

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@P1, yo, where do you work? You sound chill af

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Some good headphones to block out noise really helps.

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