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Any thoughts on meditation? Has it helped you?
How do you get more dopamine?
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Water. Electrolytes. Stimulants cause dehydration which can cause muscle cramps.
So you are looking for a more natural alternative for dealing with it, is that right? There's been a few studies that show mindfulness practices can help combat ADHD. I meditate almost every day and I can vouch that it's definitely helped me but that's just anecdotal. You can read up more about it here (https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/mindfulness-meditation-health-benefits-and-how-to-start) and here (https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-mindfulness-meditation-yoga). Something to consider.
Honestly I wish there was something I could suggest other than stimulants. I got diagnosed later in life and up to that point I was combination self-medicating and wayyyyy overdoing it on the caffeine. Stimulants got me out of those cycles and I just managed the shoulder tension by stretching, being mindful of my posture, setting reminders to walk around, etc. Good luck.
Rising Star
Try reducing dose and add more exercise/stretching. Yoga is also good, I find getting some blood circulating and the metabolism going helps me.
Is this something you do naturally (i.e., tense your shoulders/have poor posture) that you find is exacerbated by stimulants? I have not heard of stimulants causing muscle tension directly, but can imagine it may be a result of increased anxiety that results in you involuntarily/unwittingly tensing your muscles?
Only you really know, I'm just trying to think what may cause it to understand how it may be prevented! But if the above could be the case, breathing exercises may help reduce the physical anxiety symptoms stimulants can cause (my stimulant medication definitely exacerbates the physical symptoms of my anxiety, personally), and something like stretching your shoulders and/or using a foam roller or trying yoga may help reduce that tension. Good luck!!!
Definitely sending well wishes, OP! I get the shoulder tension and neck pain, too, but my neck was injured in a car accident I was hit in some years ago so I definitely empathize with how much it sucks to feel that muscle lock-up. 🧡
Have you tried doing lifting routines with exercise bands instead of weights? It helps me a lot when my muscles are sore.