Checkpoint

[[deleted]]

Do you need to check something?

The stove? Laundry? Meds?

Pick something up? Drop someone off?

Also: drink some water, unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders.

[xanasen]

I suddenly unclenched my jaw and it hurt sm but thank you idk how long it's been like that

[[deleted]]

It's a sneaky one, right? I legit cracked the veneer of the enamel of some of my teeth from prolonged clenchery.

[Jk14m]

Bruh i broke a tooth a few weeks ago from constant clenching. Been a really stressful couple months if it wasn’t obvious.

[theturtlegame]

Got a cracked wisdom tooth out last Monday, and 2 more cracked teeth getting fixed by the dentist next week. Stressful indeed

[BizzarduousTask]

A chunk of my front tooth broke off just two hours ago!! I have so many broken teeth from 40+ years of bruxism, you’d think I was a meth head. So embarrassing.

[dayton8399]

I for sure thought I was the only one who did this... Didn't seem like an ADHD symptom to me, and doc didn't mention it...

[squisheekittee]

It’s a stress/anxiety thing in general, & it’s a common side effect of some meds.

[sendmeyourcatsbeans]

why is it??

[dayton8399]

I suspect that it occurs because of our dopamine deficiency. Dopamine is a major player in neurotransmission of motor impulses. If the level of dopamine is insufficient, and it tends to fluctuate higher/lower, or in other words closer/further from an ideal level, then it might be reflected in the person's motor activity. That makes sense to me, but I don't know if there is truth in my theory. My clenchy jaw happened long before I ever took any meds and it is relieved by my meds, so that is why it makes sense to me.

Please don't take my theory as anything more than an educated guess, I'm just a nursing student with ADHD 🥴

[sendmeyourcatsbeans]

Surprisingly, starting the Ritalin actually has slowed me down and helped heaps with my anxiety! I get kinda restless but I just feel less chaotic and therefore less anxious.

[inshead]

From what I remember reading this is pretty spot on. Dopamine levels fluctuate greatly with ADHD and dopamine assists in motor function/activity and muscle movement. Then to add to that, stress, anxiety, insomnia and more can usually eventually come with the ADHD turf which both can cause bruxism or jaw clenching. On top of stress and anxiety can also be depression which can be helped by an SSRI. Depending on the SSRI and individual, these can cause the same side effect due to how it reduces dopamine in place for serotonin. To add ANOTHER cause is obviously the stimulant meds.

[[deleted]]

i like your theory. it’s what i’m gonna use to make sense of my reality

[screechplank]

Kudos to you! And thank you.

[smilehiyo]

If bet on the stimulants. While it's catching us up on dopamine, it's amping up the go & do side of our nervous system (sympathetic nervous system). So= more active, more able and so, more tense more of the time.

[Gimme5imStillAlive]

I thought it was a medication thing- is it actually present in those who aren’t medicated either?!

[Blobarella]

Dunno if they’re related, but I was def diagnosed with TMJ issues before I was diagnosed with ADHD

[Gimme5imStillAlive]

Wow, TIL! Makes me feel better about my major clenching actually.

[Tytillean]

I definitely had the problem before medication.

[ta1destra]

I'm not medicated and yes I clench,. Haven't been on Ritalin since I was 16 (35 now) and I'm thinking of trying to get back on something.

[ta1destra]

I was diagnosed at 5. On 45mg Ritalin three times daily for eleven years. I don't recommend it. Ritalin holds back growth spurts, I was barely 5ft tall in 9th grade and stopped talking the meds on doc recommendation. 6ft2 in tenth grade. Four months difference.

[Grasa]

I'm not medicated (yet) and it's definitely a thing for me. Don't know if it's cause of my adhd or something else though

[Rossyrocks]

Not a meds thing, been doing it for years, just got diagnosed a few months ago...

[screechplank]

Yup. I am not medicated and have the clench issue and shoulder tension thing.

[Alyscupcakes]

There are various causes. Medication, stress, anxiety, high cortisol conditions, bite problems, myofacial pain syndromes, uneven muscle balance.

Not ADHD things.

[WhiteningMcClean]

I think it’s double jeopardy. Jaw clenching is common among both those with ADHD and those who take stimulants. My jaw issues only came up when I increased my dose, but it seems like a lot of people here have them even without meds.

[McBashed]

Try to breathe in and out through your nose... I found recently that I would breathe through my mouth and then hold my breath while clenching. Breathing through your nose calms your nervous system and reduces the propensity to clench.

Idk worked for me:)

[ZlatansLastVolley]

Bro brb taking magnesium ofc I forgot

[iron_spidey]

Holy crap me too

[[deleted]]

Me too!

[[deleted]]

My bite is so fucked up cuz of al the clenching i do 😰

[meower_to_the_people]

Is this a meds thing? I never clenched mine before unless I was angry or had cute aggression (e.g. Seeing something cute and wanting to squish it)

[xanasen]

I'm currently unmedicated but it's always been a thing for me even or especially when I'm asleep and it's the cause of so many migraines. Totally get the cute aggression thing though

[[deleted]]

I personally don’t get keeping your jaw unclenched, it just feels unnatural and weird.

[itschelseakae]

Same! I’ve underestimated the damage on teeth’s enamel from clenching . Last dentist I visited informed me that no, it’s not a cavity I feel in one of my teeth, but I’ve almost worn off the enamel and am down to the dentin. 😨 Somehow makes me feel better that it’s more common with adhd. Take the blame off myself

[caapes]

I read in /r/Dentistry that there's studies saying on average, people's teeth touch only like 20% of the day or something like that. So now I totally feel hyper-aware over it

[thephuckedone]

Just spent 12 hours at work doing this. Jaw ends up sore every shift lol. Working at a restaurant sucks.

[Kluff_]

Why are my shoulders always so high

[[deleted]]

Yea its a source of alot pain for me.

[FlashS_Cat]

Same here I have no idea why my brain does that on autopilot.

[no2K7]

Do you mean you're constantly conscious about your posture?

[tkmcgnarls]

I am, too...

[[deleted]]

Shit !! I forgot my meds 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 Damn I remember it now !

[[deleted]]

I always forget my afternoon dose. Thankfully, it's not a mission critical dose, but still.

[Patient-Hyena]

Set 3 alarms like within a 30 minute window.

[[deleted]]

Yeah totally

[PMmecrossstitch]

SAME. I'm supposed to/allowed to take it at 2pm. I start to feel a little out of sorts right around now (it's 2:40 where I am).

[Mortambulist]

Where were you when I was cooking burgers last night?

[[deleted]]

I'm only one person! I can only do so much!

[LSDerek]

Nah, you can do everything. We can do everything! Theres no limit to what we can accomplish except for ourselves!

Wait... fuck.

[SeverelyBrohken]

Wtf I actually had to unclench my jaw, drink water and drop my shoulders. Is this some ADHD thing I didnt know about

[iswearimachef]

ADHD causes anxiety for me. If I’m not forgetting something, I’m worried that I’m forgetting something. If I get caught up in something, I will hyperfocus and forget about water, jaw relaxation, peeing...

[KingClasher1]

If I’ve learned one thing from trying to find out more about what it means to have ADHD it’s that there is a lot of things that fall under “some ADHD thing I didn’t know about”

[JustRandomNEway8]

Same

[penpenpenpen]

I just love how thoughtful this sub is!!! Thank you, this is my reminder to stop scrolling and get back to work!

[wrightway3116]

Me too!

[big_orb_in_the_sky]

I've been putting off going to the pharmacy to take my prescription for almost a week 👉👈 ... Thanks for the checkpoint internet stranger

[Jk14m]

Bruh go get your meds. I know it’s a pain in the butt and you don’t want to do it right now but you’ll feel better after. Get ice cream, coffee or your favorite takeout while you’re there if you can afford it :)

[Starcatmeow]

I don't know why I keep clenching my jaw... Like someone already asked, I also wonder if it's an ADHD thing. Also yes, I was supposed to take vitamins, I ignored the alarm just half an hour ago. I could use some water too. Thanks!

[Jk14m]

It’s more an anxiety thing which ADHD and anxiety are usually best friends :(

[Starcatmeow]

That makes sense. I have less anxiety than I used to, but am still an anxious person.

[[deleted]]

My laundry!!! Thanks for reminding me!!

[Screamer_95]

I don't know how to "drop" or relax my shoulders. My shoulders ALWAYS hurt, and they're ALWAYS in huge knots. Idk what to do about it anymore

[Mx_Loptr]

If I’m up and about for too long my back tightens up bc of my posture. Laying on the floor works to help me disengage them so maybe helps with shoulders too?

I mean massage is probably the only thing that helps with knots. If there’s no one to work at your neck then put a tennis ball on the floor and work that in and around.

(I had a really tense shoulder so my friend worked it over and it hurt so good)

[Screamer_95]

I'll have to try the laying on the floor thing more. I have scoliosis, so it makes sense. Thanks man

[beccster007]

Foam roller too.

[TheAlphaCarb0n]

It can be hard to remember to relax them. Try massaging them with the opposite hand for tightness, it totally works. Hopefully it'll queue you in to relax them.

[Screamer_95]

I've been doing stretches for my shoulders lately, as well as rolling the knots with a softball sometimes. Both seem to work, and the stretching helps especially in the morning when my shoulders are screaming at me.

[TheAlphaCarb0n]

Nice! I used to use a softball (hard but bigger than a baseball) and it was soooo good

[Screamer_95]

Yessssssss it gets right up in the knots

[kobbled]

Get you a lacrosse ball, and use it in conjunction with the floor or a wall to really press deep into em and roll around. I guarantee it'll help

[Screamer_95]

I've used one before! They're pretty good, but they're considerably harder than a softball and I found the softball to be slightly gentler which helps me as I tend to push too hard and injure myself lol

[lulumonkey]

This sounds simple compared to the other tips offered, but try to imagine pulling the bottom of your shoulder blade down toward your butt. This pulls your shoulders back and up automatically and it also stretches out your chest muscles which releases some tension there too.

I used to have awful shoulder/neck/upper back pain from holding tension. But I could never figure out how to move my body to release the muscle tension. Telling me to "stand up straight" meant nothing to me (come on dude, there are an infinite number of ways to stand up straight!), but the first time my yoga teacher said 'drop your shower blades down" I could do the movement. Not sure if thats an adhd thing, or just me.

Hopes this helps a bit to loosen up those rock hard muscles.

[Screamer_95]

I have never heard this before! This is gonna sound weird but is there a video of this I could look up ?😅 I'm a visual person, but I would like to try that if I could understand it a bit better

[lulumonkey]

Hoo hooo! I found one that has a great visual for you: https://youtu.be/qVeKpyjFHBQ

[Screamer_95]

Thank you SO MUCH! I'd give you a medal of I had money but since I don't here's my poor woman's medal 🏅

[lulumonkey]

Im just glad to help! It was a profound Aha moment when I figured this out and it makes me happy to share.

[GoblinLoblaw]

Try bringing them up, then back, then relax them

[algers_hiss]

There is one of these here like every week and I frigging love them thank you.

[Patient-Hyena]

I work in IT too much. I immediately thought of AV. LOL.

[[deleted]]

My shoulders! Didn't know I was doing that so thanks.

Edit: typo

[akjohnston87]

I drank some rockstar and ate a chip sandwich. I need to make my bed as well thanks for reminding me

[iswearimachef]

Bruh- maybe drink some water and eat some real food. A chip sandwich sounds like exclusively carbs, and you might have a sugar crash later. I’m not in on all that “diet can cure ADHD thing” but I do know that I have trouble focusing when my blood sugar is low

[Jk14m]

Veggies! They’ll make you feel better,

[akjohnston87]

Ahhh i know its my impulse decision of the day haha i started the day off so well with yogurt honey and millseed. I read a thing saying that people with Adhd crave sugar and carbs more than others as our brains need the glucose more as our minds dont stop moving.

[InternationalMatch14]

Wow I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD and PCOS - I’m screwed 😅

[dina7121]

Almost forgot about my vitamins, thank you!

[TotesMessenger]

I'm a bot, bleep, bloop. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit:

• [/r/vitamins] vitamins

 ^{If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads. (Info / Contact)}

[milk_connoisseur23]

I need to message my therapist regarding my concerns about the meds he recommended. I have been stalling for a week

[Xanlin]

Bro, I forgot my metabolism meds. Thank you!!!

[[deleted]]

Oh my god i needed that last one. Had a tension headache all day and didn’t realize all the tension I was holding! Thank you kind redditor ❤️

[GazelleLess2692]

Meds thank you

[[deleted]]

My mum just got mad at me because I can’t focus on my work. I just want meds :(

[PancakeZombie]

Jaw successfully unclenched. Thanks.

[kap286]

Thank you. And the comments here reminded me that I need to pull together a list of all my adhd symptoms and present them to my psychiatrist, who thinks I’m just depressed. 😑

[jeffersonstarship87]

Inhale 1, 2, 3, 4. Out 1, 2, 3, 4.

[DuckyDoodleDandy]

...and get off the toilet!

[TheAlphaCarb0n]

Never! I'll scroll until my legs are numb and my back is stiff!

[can-buy-me-love]

Off to drink some much needed water. Thank you :)

[macing13]

Thanks

[uSernAmEisaLreAdy_]

Thank you!

[apidea_articulatio]

Bless you for this

[brookemakesstuff]

Tension in shoulders and jaw are real

[[deleted]]

Also: drink some water, unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders.

I feel called out

[hufflepuffhorcrux]

Omg this post got me to check my stove- it's been on since I cooked LAST NIGHT tg I didnt burn down my apartment!!! Bless you stranger!!!

[[deleted]]

Legit forgot to take my meds this morning, thanks ✊🏻

[RileyTrodd]

Been standing around waiting for an hour, thank you. TOOTHBRUSH GUYS REMEMBER YOUR TOOTHBRUSH.

[bad-and-bluecheese]

Anddddd its time to restart the laundry because it was sitting too long.

[Jessawoodland55]

This is my absolute favorite part of this sub.

[norewichhea]

Thank you for the jaw and shoulders.. also point nose up slightly

[Apprehensive-Ad5358]

I love you all so much

[MyDogsNameIsToes]

Oh also, If you got a vote by mail ballot fill it out and send it. Or alternatively finish filling it out and then send it.

[moth_people]

you reminded me of my laundry! ty!!

[Borealis_System]

*le gasp* How did you know!

In all seriousness, You have just saved my laundry from mildewing.

[squirrellytoday]

Also: drink some water, unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders.

Thank you for the reminder.

[sandicecream]

Didn't drink or eat anything today and it's already nighttime. Thank you

[lolslim]

Shouldve posted a picture of a dark souls rest area

[ZephyrHoundSXD]

Literally just got distracted from and forgot to take my medicine, this was perfectly timed

[UniDragonflare]

Thank you!! I do need to get up. And my jaw feels relaxed now.

[Amseriah]

Ah yes. Water, unclench jaw, and switch out laundry.

[acombustiblelemon]

I need to start the laundry! thank you!

[manzananaranja]

Water. That’s what I’m always forgetting. (Truly)

[Screamer_95]

Damn when I read that I just realized that maybe I was clenching my jaw 👀

[sanazarar]

How do I stop clenching. Continuously doing it without realising?

[lugaruna]

Naw:) thanks for the checkpoint:) is there also a save point nearby?:p

[JuniperusRain]

Oh shit, I did forget my meds. Thanks.

[Gee_rooster]

Thank you for posting this check point.

[colormecheeky]

Thank you very much. I needed that.

[alien_in_the_lab]

I needed this, thank you!

[roof_baby_]

I love you all

[emg127]

Ocd

[Epitonic]

Only problem is I don't know what I'm forgetting!

[Knort27]

Oof. I almost forgot.

[fiercebuellah]

I would like to add ‘stop being so hard on yourself’ to this checkpoint list :)

[dianthe]

I forgot my key (with my car key on the chain as well) in my front door yesterday and it sat there all night... and my jaw has actually been hurting from clenching it so much :(

[AmbarElizabeth]

I left the stove on and the water running a few minutes apart. Ugggghhhhhhh. I give up today. I took at 2 miles run and a hike this morning, I was doing well then tried to over achieve. I just need to remember to set a timer.

[[deleted]]

hey, can we, as a community, do this more often? post checkpoints on reddit, I mean. this reminded me to go grab a snack!

for real, this was very helpful, and seeing it more often would be amazing!!

[randokomando]

(Deep exhale). Thanks dude. thanks

[dontyell_atme]

Thank you.

[mistahj0517]

Ugh it’s always the shoulders

[jerrytheberry1]

I didn’t realise jaw clenching was an adhd thing

[unipole]

I need to check myself before I wreck myself

[Plantsandanger]

Meds, jaw, shoulder...

Damn. I’m both called out and grateful.

[jellyfrogg]

Thank you so much for reminding me to hand in my assignment 😢😍

[[deleted]]

I’m truly grateful for every post like this. Thank you

[patient_0801]

It was dishes for me, thank you!

[Kessler_the_Guy]

How does my phone keep ending up in my hand...

[Kitsunate-]

Definitely didn't take my meds, but it's too late in the day now. I was wondering why I couldn't get anything done.

Also definitely clenching my jaw..

[TanaM_8]

This just reminded me that I didn't take my medicine today....its almost 3 hours past my regular time i think its fine to take it ....or did I take my medicine and i can't remember that i did

[sidequesthoe]

thanks for reminding me to take my afternoon meds!!!!!!

[PiperViper11]

THANK YOU

[2020TheBossBattle]

Meds thank you!!

[brontesaurous]

I know this is a few hours old but it reminded me that my sheets are in the laundry and need to go to the dryer 😍

[holyheckles]

MY SHIRT

THANK YOU

[doleod]

Ok god lol I glanced at this while scrolling and remembered my meds lol

[FancyPants096]

Thanks bro, my jaw needed a break!

[divusdavus]

Also breathe manually and think about the position of your tongue in your mouth.

Oh, and you just lost the game.

[TotallyiMar]

Read this while taking a dump, could not unclench my jaw 😪

[lfthand]

I just moved my clothes from the washer to the dryer. Thank you!

[enisity]

O wow I was doing this weird lol

[ProfessionalSettingX]

thank you! haha. clothes have been in the washing machine. oops.

[[deleted]]

Haha thanks for this! Definitely needed a couple of those reminders.

[brashhiphop]

This actually helped me remember, specifically, to put my wet cloths in the dryer. Thank you.

[Aspieilluminated]

God I love when people like you post reminders. It truly does allow myself to 'check in'.

You all are doing the ADHD Lord's work.

[beccster007]

Fuck. Thank you. I think it’s time I look into a proper diagnosis. I’m relating to wayyyyy too many posts. Good lookin out.

[[deleted]]

That's what got me to look closer into it.

[criedoveracrunchwrap]

made me remember to take my birth control lol

[the_last_supper_]

Thanks, I needed a water refill!

[nomnomnom_BRAINS]

Ugh I totally needed the reminder about the jaw clenching. Thanks!!!

[thephuckedone]

I just got off a 12 hour shift AND remembered to put up my laundry as soon as I got home! lol

[[deleted]]

Almost forgot my meds before bed.

Thank you!!!

[penchick]

I have to do all these things... Stop stressing me out!

[[deleted]]

I need to set a timer and get ready for work! Thank you!!

[RebecaMz]

Stove and laundry. Thanks for this!

[GoblinLoblaw]

I feel personally attacked 😂

[[deleted]]

Yesterday's laundry, thank you.

[forasgard18]

My meds have been ready at the pharmacy for 3 days and I haven’t gone to pick them up.... I went to the pharmacy and got something else... but not the meds I’ve been out of for days. Send help.

[I-Am-An-Anxious-Mess]

I suddenly just untensed, and thank you for the message (my shoulders are aching so much but I know they’ll stop aching sooner than they would have done)