9 replies to this topic

[bluechick]

I have ADD. My doc says that the only effective treatment for this is stimulants. He refuses to prescribe them because i have a history of addiction and abusing stimulants. Does anyone have some advice for non medication coping tips? My ADD is really impacting my life and I don't know what to do.

[jt07]

There are non-stimulant meds approved for the treatment of ADD: Strattera and guanfacine so you might try asking your pdoc about them. Therapy can also be useful. As to specific techniques, I find that making lists and adhering to them is helpful. When I was in school, I would make outlines to study because I knew that I was unable to go back and read over the material. I'm sure other people will come along with more useful techniques I have since I now take Ritalin.

[VandalismIsFun]

I suggest maybe finding another doctor. My doctor was questioning whether stimulants were right for me and he asked if i had ever taken street speed. I told him I used it for about 2 years and he asked how i felt and i replied that it just made me able to concentrate, social, motivated, slowed my speech, relaxed, etc. and hes like "oh perfect, I think well try adderall." If you try another doctor try to sense what kind of doctor he is and whether you can reveal past stimulant abuse. I planned on never telling him but I could feel that he would understand and he did. Anyways, good luck.

[bpladybug]

I immediately thought of Strattera also

[dedoubt]

I second the recommendation to find a new doctor. My pdoc knows about my drug abuse history and didn't hesitate to Rx me Adderall, because he knows me well and that I am very careful with meds.

Lists are definitely usefull. Dry erase boards are great-- you can write down what you need to do, wipe it off as things get done, and start all over again when you're all done. I have one large dry erase board in my kitchen that is set up as a weekly calendar, as well as having boxes for general things to do, things to do in the house, chores and a box for each kid to write wants/needs in.

I also utilize my iPhone's calendar ALL the time. If I lose that thing, I am screwed. As soon as I learn of an appointment, or think of something that needs to be done, I put it in the calendar, usually with alarms to go off.

Those are things I did before getting medicated, and I continue to do with meds. Meds aren't magically effective for me-- they definitely help me stay focused and with task completion, but they don't help my memory or drive to do anything. I still have to work pretty hard at things that seem to come easily to the "norms."

[WhoMe?]

I take adderall, but there are plenty of non-drug tools I use, mostly tech, and mostly geared around eliminating opportunities for disorder.

I try to keep appointments in my phone, so I can get a reminder of where to go when.

I use a tablet to along with Dropbox and Evernote so that I don't have to corral paper, instead I can search for them and essentially carry all of them with me (so I never have to worry about forgetting an important paper).

I try to schedule things where I need to be focused in the AM, since that's when I'm sharpest.

I keep things like instant messenger turned off, otherwise I'd do it all day!


I think getting a second opinion might be a good idea, if not finding a new pdoc all together. If he believes stimulants are contra-indicated, I'm not sure why he'd deny you one of the non-stim drugs.

[ericaashley2012]

Actually it's all about calming down, so you can think clearly and in the moment to focus on whatever you need to focus on at the moment. things like caffeine, red bull, cigarettes can make add a lot worse. cut down on those types of things and try some relaxing hot tea, a hot bath, etc to reduce stress and or anxiety. practice being calm and soothed at home so when you enter into the real world you will still be calm and then can think clearly.

[Mirazh]

Actually it's all about calming down, so you can think clearly and in the moment to focus on whatever you need to focus on at the moment. things like caffeine, red bull, cigarettes can make add a lot worse. cut down on those types of things and try some relaxing hot tea, a hot bath, etc to reduce stress and or anxiety. practice being calm and soothed at home so when you enter into the real world you will still be calm and then can think clearly.

Umm, while those tips can be helpful parts of a treatment regimen, some of us really do need meds. Calming down, thinking clearly? Waaaay easier said than done, for me. And I actually managed to teach myself how to do quiet-mind meditation before I went on meds - can only grasp it for a few moments, took me years of practice just to get there.

[mcjimjam]

I have a history of drug abuse, mostly speed and ecstasy, that my pdoc knows about and she still rxd me stims. She said as long as its not current its okay. I think its unfair to deny someone treatment for having made mistakes in the past. Substance abuse is so common in ADD. Its possibly lack of treatment that causes it.

[helenllama]

Actually it's all about calming down, so you can think clearly and in the moment to focus on whatever you need to focus on at the moment. things like caffeine, red bull, cigarettes can make add a lot worse. cut down on those types of things and try some relaxing hot tea, a hot bath, etc to reduce stress and or anxiety. practice being calm and soothed at home so when you enter into the real world you will still be calm and then can think clearly.

Umm, while those tips can be helpful parts of a treatment regimen, some of us really do need meds. Calming down, thinking clearly? Waaaay easier said than done, for me. And I actually managed to teach myself how to do quiet-mind meditation before I went on meds - can only grasp it for a few moments, took me years of practice just to get there.

It is also all about what other tactics etc work for people. We are all individuals so what works for us works for us and while we might say what works for us it may not work for the person asking.