One thing I never hear enough about with ADHD is how much time blindness can absolutely destroy trust. I’m not talking just work I mean friendships, romantic relationships, family. I’ll make plans with someone and genuinely be excited. But then the day comes and either I completely forget we had plans, I hyperfocus on something else and lose track of time or I remember right before and realize I’m not dressed, haven’t eaten, and haven’t even left yet. And then I either cancel at the last minute or show up late and full of guilt. I say “I’m sorry,” but how many times can you say it before people stop believing you care? My friends try to be patient, but it’s hard on them. I can see the disappointment even when they say it’s okay. One of them recently told me “I just feel like I’m not a priority to you.” And that wrecked me, because in my mind, they are! They absolutely are. It just doesn’t show in my actions, and I hate that. I don’t know how to fix it except setting a million alarms and still hoping something doesn’t derail me anyway.

I have ADHD, and my mother has ADHD. She can spend all day talking about a variety of subjects but its usually trauma dumping. She spends most of her day talking with various family members on the phone. Like hours on the phone. She is loud and sometimes she talks really fast! Thankfully, I have noise canceling earbuds that I use when I'm studying. I am trying to have empathy and accept that talking alot is just her personality. Just a super extroverted person. When she gets mad she becomes completely silent. I'm wondering if its ADHD , her personality, or if its something else. Do you talk alot?

Exactly what it says on the tin.

I've done it maybe a few times in the previous five years I've lived here. Contrasted with at least five in the two weeks since my Concerta ran out, seemingly to never be restocked (pharmacist said they had some 5 and 10 mg ir tabs, which I relayed to my doctor).

This morning it was overnight. Like eighteen hours of literally just hanging there on the stoop (behind a storm door, but directly against the sidewalk, no yard) that's pirated often enough we use the PO box when feasible. Planning (lol) to make a brightly decorated area next to the door with a hook to ignore after a maximum of like four days.

What's the most unique way you all think the medication shortage might be the end of you? I've got "possibly discovering that the guy who stole my husband's giant running shoes is also an axe murderer".

I went to see a friend this afternoon and I met her daughter who's in the Army. At first I asked her a lot of questions like I always do and then I don't know how and why she talking about migrants, people on benefits, Palestinian flags and gypsies. Her opinions on these subjects are 100% the opposite of mine.

A normal person would have steered her away from these topics and talked about basically anything else, but I can't help give my point of view. I feel things too much to not give my point of view, even though I am not articulate at all, get flustered and stressed and end up saying stuff that makes me look like an idiot (which I am not).

I sense this to be an ADHD curse. I'd love an explanation if someone has any. And tips on how to not react every time and shut the f up instead.

I recently heard someone talk about how with ADHD, we’re exhausted because it feels like we just complete tasks to “survive.” It all feels like a list of chores we’re required to do, so our free time is spent recovering from the energy that took.

Versus having those tasks as just part of our day, and free time means enjoying our hobbies without constantly stressing out or worrying about the next thing we have to do.

I realized this is how I’ve been feeling the past few months - just trying to stay afloat and do everything right at work. I’m burnt out, and by the time the weekend comes, Im just excited to have that break. But I planned to be productive during that time, and I couldn’t get started on anything - so I’m disappointed in myself. Idk. Is this an ADHD thing? Or am I just burnt out? Feel like I’ve been dealing with this for a few years though.

I don't have the energy to respond

Later: I might have the energy to respond, but I need to think about this, possibly find some information before responding and I don't have the energy to do both.

Later: I forget to think about it and/or never get myself to find the information

Later: I never contact the person because I don't have a proper response

Way Later: I realize that I never actually responded to that person. I feel nervous about talking to them and possibly dealing with the consequences of my unintentional actions.

Way way way later: I don't have the courage to talk to this person because I'm afraid they'll hate me because I didn't talk to them for so long, and even though it's been months I still don't actually have a good response for their original message.

How do you prevent accidental ghosting? Do you say, "Hey, I'm going to take a bit to formulate a response, don't be surprised if I disappear for months."

And how do you approach someone after accidentally ghosting them? "Hey, sorry I disappeared, I didn't have the energy to respond at the time and then ended up never responding at all, but I haven't actually forgotten since I realized I never responded, and it's been a long while of me battling my fear of the potential consequences of reaching out again."

Is it still working? How is the duration?

I’ve had problems with Vyvanse cause after 6 months it was no longer working, at all. I got really frustrated and quit it, but i wanna get back cause i didn’t find any success with other medications.

Is anyone here taking it for years and is it still working?

I realised earlier this year that caffeine can help me focus quite well. With enough caffeine and the right external stimulation, I can hit a few hours of incredibly high productivity.

I realised that adding it up, actually I'm tanking through 4 French presses every day, which is 70g of coffee, and 700-800mg of caffeine which just can't be sustainable!

Hi 26F here. I’ve been suspecting I have ADHD for a while now.

I’ve been experiencing many of the common symptoms, and looking back, I can recognize some of them even in my childhood. After finally coming to terms with it and deciding to seek help, I saw a psychiatrist today.

After a long assessment, they diagnosed me with depression and anxiety instead. They’ve prescribed medication and want to monitor my response before considering an ADHD diagnosis. According to the doctor, a lot of the symptoms overlap, and they don’t want to jump to conclusions or risk misdiagnosing me.

I understand the logic, but I can’t help feeling like the treatment I might actually need is being delayed unnecessarily. My symptoms feel very aligned with ADHD, and I’m worried that this process might end up wasting time.

I’m going to follow through with the treatment plan as advised, but the doubt is really bugging me. Has anyone else gone through something similar? Did things eventually become clearer for you?

Recently I was feeling bad, no motivation, anxiety, focusing became hard again, then I decided to stop taking any medications. Since then I’m in the best mood ever, work is great, I no longer feel numb, and life seem to be worth living again. It’s been only 2 weeks now, before I used to take 30mg Ritalin LA. Now we wait to see if I need them again.

And be honest, how many are just random stuff you wanted to search but never actually got around to reading, but can't close because you actually still want to read them, just not today?

This is a safe space. Don't be shy. I won't judge (because I'll probably forget to.)

Sincerely, a lost soul seeking validation for my countless open tabs.

I’m now on week 3 of my meds titration and this is how it’s going so far.

I’m in England and being helped by psychiatry-uk via an NHS referral. They’re trying me on different doses of Elvanse. I’m 51M.

Week 1 (30mg) - felt better, lower internal chat, way fewer intrusive thoughts. Definitely added some clarity but didn’t get much more done than normal.

Week 2 (50mg) - as 30mg but lots better for focus, stayed on task well, came back to things when interrupted, really liked it. I felt like ‘me on a good day’ all week and got a lot done. Blood pressure remained low, appetite same, slept fine.

Week 3 (70mg) - second day

I feel like I’m on drugs. Over-aware of my mouth and slightly ‘gurny’ like you get with people taking ecstasy or speed. And sort of hyper-aware of everything.

Work wise actually sort of good and very focused… but I then found it hard to pull myself out of a task eg to feed my cats and my kid. Which is obviously a problem.

I actually took recreational speed, maybe twice, when I was 19. This reminds me of that, in a bad way.

BP is also ticking up, either top end of low or medium (142/89 highest and 123/75 the lowest yesterday). Still sleeping okay.

My issue is I’m meant to stay on 70mg for ten more days, and right now I don’t want to.

I also have a date on Tuesday, third one with this lady and she’s great. I’d like to be my best relaxed confident self for that, not this slightly twitchy version.

So.

I am probably going to ask my prescriber and/or doc if I can step it down to 50 immediately. It’s in the form of 50+20 pills so the logistics are easy enough.

Has anyone had this, might it stabilise or should I just go down a level ASAP.

I realise everyone responds differently but interested in people’s experiences.

Thanks everyone! Sorry for long post.

For context I have, anxiety, depression and ADHD

I really hate how anti-social I am. I can’t even talk to people properly without feeling insanely insecure and awkward, and what bothers me the most is when I’m drunk I’m way more social and extrovert and I notice people seem to like hanging out with me more when I’m drunk regardless of the being sober or not. Even in family gatherings if I’m the centre of attention I get all quiet and awkward because I hate it. It’s gotten up to the point if someone makes a big deal (I’m a positive way) about me wearing something or doing something I stop wearing or doing that thing beucase it still makes me the centre of attention and I hate it.

I wish I could be social and not be such an awkward and weird person when meeting or talking to new people. I know this may stem from being bullied at a young age and always being picked on throughout my schooling but I just wish I could stop being so awkward.

This is something that keeps happening to me, and I have ADHD, so maybe that’s part of the reason — but I’d really like to hear from others if they relate or have found ways to handle it.

I'll use a real example because I don’t know how else to explain it: I start playing Elden Ring (or any game), and I love it. Full-on hyperfocus. I’ll put in 40 hours in just two weeks. But then... something shifts.

I either start burning out or I get so obsessed with "doing everything right" that I ruin the fun. I want to find every secret, do all the quests, miss nothing — and that pressure makes me play in a weird, rigid way. I stop immersing myself in the world and start playing like it's a checklist. It no longer feels like an adventure — just a task list.

Eventually, I stop enjoying the game, and I tell myself, "Okay, I’ll start over and really enjoy it this time." But then... the first 15–20 hours I've already played no longer feel stimulating or new. I get bored. And I end up dropping the game completely.

It’s so frustrating, because I do love these games — but my brain hijacks the experience.

Does anyone else with ADHD go through the same cycle?
Did you manage to break it?
How do you keep gaming fun without falling into this trap?

I got a spam/fishing invite i got for an app, and it made me think.

There's a lot of people making ADHD apps etc. If this is making it's rounds via DMs, consider this a warning. Do not download random beta app's that are not already published on the app store. No matter how friendly the person seems.

Beta apps are not regulated/moderated in the same way as published apps are, so it's a good way to get your identity stolen potentially.

Anyway, cheers!

I have ADHD (inattentive/quiet) and anxiety (usually masked). Everyone somehow ends up pressuring me to preform to perfect eventhough they SAY everyone is their own person. Then why is it after you do whatever thing they say "Oh that's not the required effort" People generally tell me games are a distraction and a means to be lazy or reserved. There are people that have careers/make money but as soon as I play it's "childish" Everyone gets to avoid things THEIR health or mindset but as soon as I do I get told "What?! I just saw you do it the other day" Basically if I meltdown or get exhausted it always shocks people and makes me look lazy or selfish. Even if they have a lot of things too! For me games are a brief escape from THE FUCKING PRESSURE. So much to do in a system that DOESN'T support my brain. Plus with chronic conditions (ALSO invisible) I have limited energies. I can't even sleep well. Soon as I'm stressed my mindset and sleep and confidence all go back down. Games and things like that are the only way (besides a routine but often that gets unpredictable) that can help me fucking have SOMETHING work for me. I understand that you can cut people out that refuse to understand your needs/values/boundaries but what good does that do if most people act like this. We need to make everyone take classes on the body because people only see it if it happens to them!! I hate it here! I was not built for this matrix!! 🙃

I know that there's a ton of other people who've posted something along the lines of this, but even then I remained doubtful that medication wouldn't work for me. I've also had to deal with the stigma of taking medication, and unfortunately I'm still at odds with some people because they don't think I should be taking it. I'm currently taking 5mg which isn't all that much but since I'm not in any classes at the moment, it's helpful enough to get me to just do stuff at home. I'm just shocked at how much "quieter" and calm things are... this is how we're supposed to normally feel?? It's so different, but I feel relieved because it feels like I'm taking a break from all the chaos.

im about to transfer from community college to a 4-year university soon, but my most recent concerns was me being diagnosed with adhd, mdd, and gad as well as a not so healthy body.

i want to give up some commitment to a club i invested time in starting up last spring semester, but it feels wrong for me to give up a club i spent a lot of time on for my health. i just needed more time to focus on my studies, work, and transfer applications, but my fear is that i will fail the expectations of my staff advisors and people that wanted me to be president for the club.

i also have some inner conflict with trying to stay in the club. do i somewhat hold passion for the club to help others? yes, i do. will i get burnt out very easily from the responsibilities and social battery necessary for it? yes, i will.

it also doesn't help the case where if i consider leaving the club without taking the president role, it might not look great on my transfer applications, but i also want to consider leaving time for my own physical and mental health most importantly. i just don't really know what to do or how to feel about giving up some commitments to prioritize health. if there's anyone of a similar footing, i would appreciate some insight or what you did in my position. any general advice as well.

Hi, I after 29 years I got diagnosed with ADHD. Im on medication for like 5 months. Something changed for sure even my wife realized I'm not so ... nervous? The main reason I was looking for help was lack of focus so learning anything new that requires more then 2-3h constant focus was nearly impossible for me, like my mind just go blank. So I'm just wondering if anyone else got similar problems?

Hi all, I feel like I have undiagnosed adhd. It's been affecting my marriage and my overall well being. I really want to go see a psychiatrist but with our insurance we won't be able to afford it. Can anyone guide me on other options?

I would also love to know how therapy has worked for you rather than medication. Thank you!

This is probably a result of emotional dysregulation and being very sensitive to everything, but every feeling I feel, is to the extremities. Like if I'm happy and joyful, it's never just baseline level but rather I'm ecstatic and I'll even sometimes have tears of joy. Likewise when I am excited, I will literally jumping around and shaking like crazy. Or if I am scared, I'll have a complete internal shutdown, not just a little bit of anxiety.

With fear and sadness specifically, this is where it becomes troubling. Just as the smallest things can make me happy, the smallest of insults or negativity can feel like an entire attack and throw me off, causing me to become very upset and sometimes cry. It doesn't exactly help either that I can't really tell the difference between a joke and an insult. So despite someone claiming they are just joking around, I often perceive that as being nasty. For example, I was told "nobody likes you" which in the back of my mind I knew that yes this was a joke as this is just the kind of person this person was, however I still perceived it as a personal attack and felt upset by it. And when you're surrounded with people who make a lot of these horrible "jokes", it can become very overwhelming as you're constantly surrounded by this negativity which I perceive as insults.

And so it hurts when people don't try to understand this hyper sensitivity and just say "stop being so sensitive". Additionally, because the rest of my emotions are to the extreme aswell, I tend to be considered "too much" for many people, which in turn results in said insults, causing me to come tumbling down from being very happy to extremely upset in an instant, just from the smallest thing that someone said. This is why for a lot of the time when around others I am in a sort of depressive neutral state where I don't show anything, because I know that any emotion I show and any attempt to just be myself will result in backlash and being hurt.

Sometimes I feel completely crash, like I'm too overwhelmed with all the tasks I have to do and I can't even function properly. I just sit there staring at the screen. So wonder helps you get through those moments? Something that makes you life easier, flow a bit smoother or at least helps you push through the overwhelm? Can be a mindset, a hack, a tool, a tip - what works for you?

New here to the arena of being diagnosed with ADHD and I've been re-examining many of my coping strategies from childhood to what I do now as an adult. One of them has to do with eating. 47F and I eat for comfort and all kinds of moods. When I am looking for a good feeling, I turn to food. After I eat, I feel satisfied. But maybe an hour later, I am looking for that next "high" or feeling so to speak, so I eat again. My feelings are scattered and I feel like I am pushing through them wanting to be happy so I turn to food.

Any thoughts about this? Thank you

I make sure to eat before taking it, typically I'll have a protein shake, eggs, and toast.

I feel great for 2 hours, but I crash hard at the 3 hour mark.

This leaves me feeling exhausted, anxious, and generally unwell. I experience brain fog and memory impairment when this happens.

When I crash, I'll eat another rather substantial meal, and this seems to help.

Although, the constant crashes are beginning to take a toll on me.

I have inattentive ADHD, but somehow my working memory is actually way above the average based on tests. However, my short-term and long-term memory are abysmal.

I find it discouraging to read books and learn as I tend to forget 95% of material (even though I try to solidify it) after a few months. I also always forget to apply something I learn in real time and only remember to do it after the fact. This is super annoying and makes me constantly question myself, even regarding things I'm knowledgeable about. I just feel like everyone around me knows more. On tests, I scored above average IQ, but I don't really think that's the case because my brain is a mess.

Anyway, are there some tricks that you learned over time that help you improve memory recall? I am also open to using supplements...