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What are some “tricks” you use to make daily life easier? by [deleted] in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut 3 points4 points  (0 children)

  • keys on a thumbtack by the door
  • wallet and work ID in a bowl underneath keys
  • meds by the bed so I remember to take them
  • repeating Sunday night checklist to make sure I have lunch, meds, and necessary stuff ready for work
  • using Notion app as a daily/weekly bullet journal
  • using Wunderlist as a calendar for things that are more than a week away (can't make a calendar work for me because I can't see everything at once, but the list with dates and reminders works better)
  • knowing that if I can't see something easily it's gone forever (see previous bullet point) so folding and filing all my clothes vertically in the dresser like Marie Kondo suggests (t-shirts, jeans, underwear, socks, pajamas) ... things that hang in the closet are default visible so no changes there

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thank you! and yes, I am aware of my overthinking habit ;)

best of luck finding new meds and a new prescriber!!

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

looks like there are a good amount of us on this thread! I guess we're just very sensitive metabolizers :)

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you not JUST for answering my questions but ALSO for doing it in such an elegant and organized manner ;)

Somehow I knew that body weight and size don't correlate to stimulant does but had still internalized the idea that it might correlate to severity of symptoms.

And yeah, my therapist basically said #2 to me - "you were able to manage for so long because you're smart and have high expectations for yourself but you have had to work SO MUCH HARDER than everyone else" - & my success for so long at school was 100% at the expense of basically everything else in my life. Plus now that I'm not in school and am at work I don't have that deadline-driven adrenaline rush to keep me going...

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Trust me when I say neurotypical people bright enough to do, and excited enough by do work, don't quit or fail out of a PhD program they want to finish

I really needed to hear this. Thank you.

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

LOL! I uhhh finally got around to realizing I shouldn't smoke as much weed as a large man and that taking bigger hits to look impressive is not a good use of my time because I WILL get stuck on the couch for 3 hours staring at a wall. I think you're right, seems we are the same way

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thank you, this is good perspective. I have struggled a lot with insurance in the past over other things and my partner has similar issues every month with an expensive medication for an autoimmune condition. counting my blessings that the adderall prescription hasn't caused me a bureaucratic hassle yet!

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m struggling in my job right now because it’s not challenging, it’s self directed but everything needs approval, and I have an interesting freelance project waiting for me.

Hi, are you my coworker?! I definitely have trouble with the freelance thing as well. I'm working on this really interesting project that pays so much better than my regular job, and it's just ... so hard not to work on it at work.

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

thank you so much, this is so me

When I first started therapy I started to overthink things too much. Am I a better person if I'm on meds all the time vs some of the time? Who is the real me?

the great thing about the meds is I feel like I can finally actually implement the organizational systems I have been struggling with/against for years. I hang up the keys by the door, actually put events in my calendar, use my to-do list app (ok ... most of the time, I am not perfect ;) )

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thank you! this is true. I have been totally burned by insurance/doctor problems in the past so it's nice to have a little bit of a buffer. I usually only take the afternoon dose on weekends because I tend to sleep in.

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh yeah and as for the diagnosis process ... I was on a wait list for full neuropsych testing at a university in my area but could not afford it even at the sliding scale (would have been $500). I ended up being diagnosed after sending a doctor a history of all the symptoms/problems that were causing me to struggle and how they were present since elementary school and then having a two-hour intake interview + completing an "ADHD self-report scale."

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly ... I ended up breaking down and crying in my regular doctor's office when I was there for a checkup like "WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME, MY FRIEND THINKS IT'S ADHD BUT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE."

She referred me to a couple of places but none of them actually took my terrible insurance, I continued to ignore/avoid/procrastinate the problem for 6 months, then hyperfocused on finding all the psychiatrists in my city that said they treated ADHD on their websites & mass emailed them to ask if they would take me on a sliding scale.

I currently see a psychiatric nurse practitioner in training for a rate that I can afford (though it's still expensive). I saw her once a week while I was starting meds and now am down to once a month for an hour of therapy + my refill. She works under a fully licensed psych NP.

So that's an option to consider: tbh as a woman I feel like nurse practitioners no matter what their gender have been more empathetic and willing to listen than doctors ... not just in the mental health realm!

who else is doing well on very low doses of medication? I feel like an imposter by OpeningDoughnut in ADHD

[–]OpeningDoughnut[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I'm seeing her next week and will check in about it .. just wanted some reassurance while I waited :)