5 months ago, I got diagnosed and on Elvanse.
At first, it was a life-changing magic pill. I made completely out-of-character impulse decisions like: Let’s list & process all issues that can be fixed with a phonecall or email right now! After less than 60 minutes, 70 % of the weight from unfinished tasks was off my shoulders.
But more and more it became clear that I need my old crutches (lists, timers, methods, …) and the meds. It’s still pretty great, because when I make the decision to do one item from the list, I can do it without feeling like cutting into my own flesh. I just make the decision.
Lately, especially on meds, I’m pretty hard into doomscrolling. Reading on Reddit frontpage (still there) and commenting my stupid opinion / “insight” to a wild mix of posts.
Currently recovering from the flu, which didn’t help, and a lot of urgent todos got stacked up, deadlines missed.
Of course I know what needs to be done, and I’m starting. Got a browser plugin to limit certain websites etc. It’s slow.
I think I should try a therapist who is specialised in ADHD. Not so much to process trauma from a life living undiagnosed, but rather to help me get all that done, get to a sustainable level of productivity.
Dr. K. said something interesting in a recent video. People can’t just make a conscious decision like “hey, I should stop being a slob and instead improve myself 2 hours straight per day!” or “I want to be someone who gets up early, eats a healthy breakfast, works out, has a completely different life!”. It’s a different part of the brain that executes this, and you can’t just order it around.
Anyway, life changed for the better, a lot, but I want to pick up the pace.
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Damn, just being able to say “I’m gonna do _____” and actually, y’know, DO IT, sounds fucking amazing
There is truth in the expression, “Success is a lot of small decisions stacked on top of one another.”
It can be hard for us to embrace because it often doesn’t provide the immediate reward sensation that we crave and don’t get enough of. That said, if you can find a way to focus on one area of improvement at a time, your chances of success are much higher and it will help keep you from feeling overwhelmed by your larger goals.
Hi. I’ve been taking Adderall since November and have had something of a similar experience. It felt like an immediate change for me when I got started, but I still rely on lists and routines to get my stuff done.
I use an Excel workbook to track every email I receive. I can use it to mark emails with one of five levels of importance and whether I need to act as a result of getting it. I have another worksheet in that workbook where I keep track of my tasks, when they’re due, and how far along I am with completing them. I even have progress bars.
I could use tools in Outlook for all of this, I’m sure, but there’s something about adding a manual process that makes it feel like I’ve got some skin in the game and makes email feel more important.
But yeah, I absolutely must have lists and notes and whatnot. I don’t think I’ll ever not need my lists and notes. I don’t think that’s what the medicine is for. I think, for me, that it’s to poke me in the butt to use my lists and notes and stay on top of my tasks.
Essentially, if I don’t write it down, I’ll forget it. Taking my medicine makes gives me the motivation to write it down. That way, I have a better shot of remembering it.
And I also said routines. My house has three exterior doors. I have to pick just ONE to use every time I come and go. And I MUST unload my wallet, keys, and badge by the door each time I come home. Otherwise, I throw them wherever and freak out when I can’t find them the next morning. So using the same door every time makes it easier to remember to leave my stuff by it, especially when there’s a designated drop zone for that stuff.
Sorry. This got way longer than I wanted it to lol
Sorry. This got way longer than I wanted it to lol
Same happened with my post …
Yes, the one thing that got better from meds alone is that I can just make the decision to start something, and I’ll do it. And that is fantastic! But my forgetfulness and “senile” behaviour is the same. I’m basically Joe Biden on speed. Mistakes happen, but things get done.
And it feels like I got “better” at doomscrolling. New trap, but I’m on it.
The thing with the spreadsheet is absolutely justified, keep it. I use my mail client to mark things as “todo”, “urgent” etc., but guess what happens … nothing.
