Autistics that experience life without medication (because there isn’t any):
“Well, first of all, with alcohol and masking, all things are possible, so jot that down.”
My kids say I am ADHD self medicating with coffee. But I have held a job for decades, and figure the line for medication is when you have distress. I am not really distressed, or wasn’t until I read that untreated ADHD was a risk factor for dementia, which was sort of distressing.
It’s hard to get diagnosed old though, and I can’t do Adderall, like my kids do, because I had restrictive eating disorder young and really like speed. Yes, probably because it “fixed” me but I am afraid I’d abuse it, and very certain that wrecking my appetite would be a mistake. Too easy to feel virtuous about not eating and unfortunately midlife eating disorder is pretty common, I have mixed feelings about the more womanly and bigger body I got at menopause. Everyone else tells me I am in great shape, but I miss tall skinny angular build.
Anyway, in short- I do have personal reasons to avoid the meds. So usually coffee at 10 and 2 (14). Strong coffee. But not strong enough I forget to eat.
ETA: Coffee and Niagen, actually, Nicotinamide Riboside, a B vitamin thing - the Niagen really clears my thinking. I started it because it was said to improve physical recovery time. I didn’t get that, but from the first dose, it was remarkable how much clearer my mind was, it felt sort of like putting on glasses. So I have also taken that at lunchtime for about a dozen years.
In my 20s, I decided that ADHD wasn’t real and I didn’t need my med. I also went through eight cups of coffee and a pack of cigarettes a day. Went back on my meds in my thirties, it’s easier and cheaper.
you must not live in the united states. I needed 700mg of Vyvanse to level me out and kill the fog. Unfortunately without Insurance that shit is like $400 a week.
No, I’m in the States, I just have insurance. Four weeks of Adderall cost me $10, cigarettes cost me about $15 a day.
You guys are drinking coffee?
I only started drinking coffee within the last 5 years or so, but it semi-helps! Puts you on the toilet a lot more so you’re exposed to more shit and less bullshit! (Unless you doom scroll Lemmy like me…)
Got diagnosed at 45 and got some meds, absolutely life changing
That is until your pharmacy runs out and you have to call 10 other places to find it while falling back on your old coping techniques that are way more work than you realized
Ain’t life grand
Pretty much the same story here.
I had other issues that were getting more and more difficult to manage as I got older and when I finally went through the process for diagnosis and was given meds, it blew me away how much more productive I am.
- If I had started this treatment as a kid, who knows how much further along I would be in life.
- I would not have been allowed in the Navy and I had some pretty good experiences there and would have missed out on that. (But then again it’s also the source of those issues that have gotten more difficult to manage as well.)
At least the VA provided for the diagnosing and treatment. If I could have taken Adderall while active duty, I’d have been a god damned Admiral.
Silly question, but how do you even begin that process when you’re not a kid? I’m 34 and feel like I might have had ADHD my whole life, but never bothered looking into it. I’ve made it this far into a successful career without meds and I just assume that any doc will think I’m a wannabe pillhead or something.
I feel like my kids having it diagnosed helped me a bit but it started with getting a therapist and talking about my life experiences. I expected to have to take a test but they just put me on the meds pretty quickly. My 3rd grade teacher suspected me but my parents never acted. I guess I am a clear case so testing wasn’t involved in my diagnosis
Ask PCP for referral. Talk to psych lady. Try some meds. See how it goes.
I originally went in for post-lockdown depression, but as I was describing my life and symptoms, she realized there was more going on. First she gave me prozac, which was terrible. Then we tried some Wellbutrin and Adderall, and that was the ticket.
I asked a therapist for a diagnosis, and she didn’t even attempt to do the questionnaire bcz it was so obvious. My family doctor took her word for it, lol.
It’s all in our heads anyway.
Caffeine? For ADHDers? Idk about the rest of you, but that doesn’t help me accomplish anything. Anger in the other hand …
Anger helped with some things, but it usually took the sheer panic of imminent doom for my mind to agree to do the shit I needed to.
Even on Vyvanse I can still have issues, but as long as I get myself going in the right direction, I’m usually good.
Possible? Sure. Easy? Hell no.
I just got my meds TODAY! After 7 years of trying to get on them again. I miss normal life. Gonna go get it.
Me until a year ago when I started seeking medical help (still no meds tho)
Ironically I have primarily inattentive ADHD (previously ADD) so youd probably find me spaced out rather than angry
I’d be a lot angrier if I was paying attention
Doctors won’t prescribe me uppers because of my heart problems. Unfortunately nothing else has worked.
Oh yes, I rage
In my early 20s I was told I was too high functioning for drugs. Now in my late 40s I tried again as I was struggling at my new job, still won’t prescribe me drugs unless I’m actually failing at life.
…🤦…
don’t forget an almost fanatical devotion to marijuana
Doesn’t use medication
Five cups of coffee a day
:-/
