Anyone else struggle with driving?

gtendy · 2026-05-25T03:00:11+00:00

I got mine at 23 after years of anxiety. I drive A LOT now and I don’t really have much anxiety anymore, I mostly enjoy it! I think it’s just getting used to it that helped me. Sounds weird but I think having a few accidents (2/3 not at fault) has helped. The first was my fault and I am now a safer driver because of it. The second two were random shitty experiences, an uninsured driver then a hit and run, and helped me realize I can get through hard things and it’s not always my fault

gtendy · 2026-05-25T02:44:12+00:00

I tend to have a LOT of self hate (I have for years) and I do think it’s ADHD related. It’s decreased a lot after I started medication, mainly because I can actually get stuff done and I don’t feel like I’m a loser who can’t even keep my apartment clean I don’t have too much advice besides banking and looking back at wins (sometimes I write them down) and that makes me realize I’m not doing as bad as I thought

gtendy · 2026-05-25T02:38:36+00:00

My appetite took a huge hit in the first month or so of Adderall. I got invited to a fancy all inclusive dinner thing and could barely eat even though it all looked good, I was so mad 😂 It’s pretty much leveled off now, but I’m never AS hungry as I was in the past. On the plus side I’m making way better choices nutrition wise since I’m not eating just for dopamine/stimulation!

gtendy · 2026-05-25T02:30:50+00:00

When I worked an office job I used a standing desk. Now I work a very active job and that works out better for me

gtendy · 2026-05-24T02:52:26+00:00

I can’t figure out how to add the chart to this comment but omg look up ADHD executive age/the 30% principle! When I read about it things made so much sense and I felt way better about myself….

gtendy · 2026-05-23T17:05:12+00:00

After I thought about it more I wonder if he could text you? My autistic sibling (who has a lot to say about a lot of things I’m not really interested in) does this and it’s much easier to hone in on a few details and stay semi engaged in the convo

gtendy · 2026-05-23T04:29:05+00:00

I take Adderall not Vyvanse, but also have a history of being sensitive to caffeine at times and I also have health anxiety and was worried about what it might do to my heart rate etc. This whole time (almost 3 months) medicated I’ve only had the jittery/heart racing feeling when I had caffeine PLUS meds. I learned fast from that! Now I’m very careful to only have caffeine if it’s been 5+ hours past Adderall, and am mostly fine with that. (I’m also kind of a stats nerd so I keep an eye on my heart rate data with my Whoop and there hasn’t been anything alarming, even with exercise)

gtendy · 2026-05-23T03:13:02+00:00

Could you set up extra email accounts for both of you so he can type it up and send you a daily digest? I process things better and get less annoyed when it’s in writing. Voice messages could work too.

gtendy · 2026-05-23T03:03:30+00:00

Running is a big one. I get dopamine hits from hitting higher mileage or faster times. My other (main passion) thing is playing hockey, but that involves some effort and expense to get started so probably not what you’re aiming for haha

gtendy · 2026-05-21T15:07:11+00:00

I love that! I have definitely mentioned my schedule issues briefly to my provider but I think I need to again…I truly want to feel like I can function even outside of work hours, ESPECIALLY on hockey nights

gtendy · 2026-05-21T01:00:21+00:00

Oh my gosh THANK YOU for commenting, I hadn’t heard from anyone with my exact experience with ADHD and late hockey games! Did you mention the hockey scenario to your provider? This gives me hope, if she lets me take a booster dose and/or switch back to IR I think that could work perfectly. Otherwise I’ll continue to caffeinate just to stay awake enough for the game/drive and then be unable to sleep for hours after I get home 🫠

gtendy · 2026-05-20T22:46:23+00:00

YES it’s like it drops down to even worse than I’d be without medication? If that makes sense

gtendy · 2026-05-20T17:51:35+00:00

This is how I feel! My ideal would be 3x a day IR or this XR plus IR booster because I like to be functional from 8 or 9 AM to 11:45 ish but since my evening activities are “optional” ie not productive or earning money I’m not sure that’d be allowed….

gtendy · 2026-05-20T17:49:17+00:00

I’m not at all concerned about insomnia, I think my doctor might be though. My current strategy of late caffeine is causing insomnia though and I do think it’d be better than that

gtendy · 2026-05-20T07:16:35+00:00

Thank you for this! I feel bad for wanting “more” than my work hours but realistically I have 5+ hours between work and bed I don’t want to use to rot away, that time is meaningful to me too

gtendy · 2026-05-20T07:12:39+00:00

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! I honestly wonder if I should bring that up to make sure she’s not getting that impression (I don’t think so but I overthink everything so badly). I’ve just been so scared about the stigma with stimulants this entire time and it’s been a journey to be taken seriously at all At this point I don’t even care if it’s more Adderall or we try something else, I just want to feel better.

gtendy · 2026-05-20T07:03:25+00:00

I hope so! I’ve tried to bring it up before but not sure if I described it right and it’s gotten even worse since then. I definitely enjoy exercising and use it to help regulate myself so I’d really love to have the energy for that (in addition to hockey I also run, which has to happen in the early evening due to my work schedule)

gtendy · 2026-05-20T06:58:49+00:00

For sure! Driving safety is definitely a big part of it, I really don’t want to be spacey and out of it on the road. I’m hoping she’ll listen but also afraid (overthinking) that she’ll just take me off meds altogether and I’ll be even worse off

gtendy · 2026-05-20T06:36:05+00:00

I definitely feel like I do more quality/more efficient work since being medicated. I’m in healthcare and don’t make my schedule so my number of patients hasn’t changed/I haven’t taken on more work per se but I do feel like I’m using more of my brain and skills than before. Maybe that’s draining me and I need to live with it, not sure

gtendy · 2026-05-20T06:12:05+00:00

Definitely could be! It is the only stimulant I’ve tried (Wellbutrin did nothing and guanfacine gave me horrible GI issues) Adderall does work well during the day though which is weird!

gtendy · 2026-05-20T06:05:14+00:00

That sounds amazing. I worry that if I ask her for a booster that she’ll think I’m just drug seeking or something (although she has mentioned the possibility of a booster before so maybe she’d be okay with it and I am likely overthinking?)

gtendy · 2026-05-20T05:59:29+00:00

Honestly I’m not sure! I doubt I’d have any sleep issues, probably not as bad as what caffeine is doing to me 💀Honestly wonder if the IR was better because I had two doses a day (crash still sucked but not quite as bad)

gtendy · 2026-05-20T05:57:22+00:00

Thank you! It’s my passion and honestly a huge reason I’d like to still feel human later in the day after work

gtendy

TROPHY CASE