Hello! So I have ADHD and I have a desk job which I am good at but I am deeply unhappy. I love the outdoors and being outside and yard work and workouts etc. I have a business degree, late 20s, and want a career change. Anyone know of jobs that aren't just at a desk and include more manual labor? My favorite job in college was the stock room...I just am so bored and unmotivated at work it's just not for me.

Last year, I started ADHD medication for the first time, and it made a huge difference to my concentration and my grades. Unfortunately, after taking it for a couple of months, I developed what feels like tendinitis or muscle strain affecting both forearms, my Achilles tendons and my neck. The pain came on while I was taking the medication, and despite stopping it months ago, it has never completely gone away despite it being 4 months.

The worst part is my forearms. Typing for even five minutes can make them hot, painful and fatigued. Because of this, I had to defer my university exams, as they're all computer-based and I have four three-hour exams.

I've been assessed, rested, and the symptoms have improved a bit over time, but the recovery has been incredibly slow. I genuinely don't know whether this is something the medication triggered directly, whether it made me more susceptible to repetitive strain, or whether it's just an unfortunate coincidence.
Has anyone else experienced persistent tendon, muscle or repetitive strain problems while taking stimulants (or atomoxetine), especially symptoms that continued even after stopping the medication? If so:
Which medication were you taking?

How long did the symptoms last?

Did you ever make a full recovery?

Was there anything that actually helped?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's had a similar experience, as I've struggled to find many people describing something like this.

Due to a history of epilepsy AND an arrhythmia, my psych is unable to prescribe me any medication whatsoever until getting a cardiologist's blessing, which will be months from now.

So, until I can see my cardiologist - or if they can't give their blessing - how have those of you survived being unmedicated? What have you done to mitigate symptoms?

I'm feeling pretty bummed out to be honest. ADHD has hurt my social life, it's hurt my professional life, and it's hurt my personal life. I was really hoping to finally be free of this, and now I've hit another roadblock against treatment.

i have all the symptoms, diagnosed combined type, mostly hyperactivity and inattentiveness. there’s definitely something off in my brain, but maybe it’s not adhd? i’m starting to think this because methylphenidate up to 60mg made me hyperaware and have palpitations but no real benefits, and starting vyvanse doesn’t seem to do much for me either, although i’m only at 30mg. caffeine also doesn’t really make me feel sleepy either, and there’s no way i’d be able to self-medicate with it, it kind of makes my hands a little shaky and doesn’t do anything else.

so i think i have adhd but I think I'm just thinking that for attention and I'm actually just a really lazy person and sometimes I hope that's not true and that i actually have something wrong with me so that my worst fears don't come true where I'm just faking shit for attention and stuff and like whenever I see smt that's adhd related and I think yea omg I get that but then I just think I'm such a pick me and hate on myself and i can't really go for therapy lowkey and like i keep overthinking every now and then about it like maybe I'm just a weirdo who's.aking stuff up and is lazy af and is asking for attention yup and I'm really sorry if this is offensive its just really been on my mind and I'm not trying to impersonate and stuff

So I'm probably like 9-10 weeks into titration.

Up to 20mg of mediknet- my task intitation and staying power have improved- but I also feel fairly amped up at a the same time which is counterproductive.

Also, beyond that, just pretty wired on it a lot of the time- strangely not today though.

Beyond all of that an perhaps most concerning for me personally is a massive spike in horniness.

I'd dialled down porn completely, not looked at any at all in ages. But when I take medikinet it sends my sex drive through the roof. Told my prescriber who thought I was saying this is a postive thing- it's not. I want to dial it down a bit and had been doing until I started medication.

Also seem more prone to anxiety and catastrophic thinking.

There are absolutely benefits to the medication, perhaps it's juts finding the right dose- I was just wondering if anyone else had similar experiences?

Before I started meds I was a big coffee drinker, always a latte in the morning and then an afternoon pick me up either more coffee or RedBull. I stopped drinking it when I started my meds because I was worried it would worsted anxiety. And I kind of proved myself right because the few times I have decided to drink coffee I end up with severe anxiety.

I would love to still stop at Dutch bros now and then, and occasionally at work my bosses or coworkers buy Starbucks for everyone. I don’t know what to ask for anymore. Getting decaf feels like such a waste of coffee, so I’m thinking maybe I’ll shift to low caffeine teas?

What do you all get when you go to a coffee shop or someone is buying and asks for your order?

I’m looking for school supplies that will make school with ADHD less overwhelming and unorganized. For example, I found out about top bound notebooks, which takes away the overwhelming feeling I get when writing notes. The bad part is those kind of notebooks don’t have multiple subjects, so you have to buy a bunch. Strategies for staying organized would also help.

As an example: I’m passionate about art and art history. I read academic articles and books about art history extremely often for fun.

I took an Art History class in a subtopic I’m extremely interested in, figuring this would make it really easy to complete the material.

But I’m being presented with the exact types of articles that I would read for fun on my own, and I cannot make myself read them for anything now that they’re assigned, sometimes even when I’m medicated!!!

What’s up with that lmao

I assume it’s an ADHD thing, but I’m not sure where it fits in to the models of ADHD we’ve got going on.

I’m inattentive type if that changes anything, but it seems like this is maybe one of those problems we all have lol

I don’t know what’s wrong with me, and I honestly don’t know how to explain it to other people.

I had my master’s thesis left to finish, but at the same time I started working full-time. I procrastinated on the thesis for far too long, and in the end I submitted something that I really dislike. The whole process was incredibly difficult, stressful, and exhausting. I hate the final result.

Despite that, my supervisor has been very supportive and seems determined to help me pass.

Because I submitted at the last minute, I think I accidentally uploaded a version where an entire paragraph was missing. Two weeks ago, my supervisor emailed me asking whether it was a mistake and requested the correct version. I didn’t reply for three days. Then he emailed again. I said I was on a business trip and didn’t have access to my personal computer, and that I would send it on Monday. He was fine with it.

Then I didn’t do it the entire following week either. This Wednesday, he asked again.
The thing is, the task itself is ridiculously simple. All I have to do is open my computer, attach the correct file, and send an email. That’s it. After waiting this long, I could even have fixed a few small things before sending it.
But I can’t do it.

I know this probably sounds irrational, but every part of me resists opening that file. I don’t want to look at it. I don’t want to think about the thesis anymore. I feel frozen. For the last ten days, this has been in the back of my mind constantly, and I feel anxious all the time. Every time I get an email notification, I physically jump.

I’m genuinely asking. How do I convince myself to just do it?

I'm reading a book by Twyla Tharp, a choreographer, talking about creativity and how to wire your brain to create cool stuff. She shares an exercise called What's your pencil? Basically you need to find the answer to the question "what is this thing or tool that pushes your creativity and without which you feel 'naked' when leaving home". She talks about how writers always grab a pencil or notebook, or ppl who make cartoons never come back home without "catching a face" (they sketch ppls faces and make up stories about them).

I always considered myself a creative person and like many of us had lots of hobbies but I haven't become a specialist in any of them. Im 26 and I just came back to dancing after a 6 year pause. I paint occasionally. I used to write consistently but rn I have some kind of a writers block. But I feel the urge to create more than I consume. That's why I started this book. And this exercise she shared made me think about this thing. It's difficult to identify things you want to be creative in. I'm thinking about what is my pencil and it could be many things and simultaneously its nothing cause I'm not pursuing any career. People who create stuff, have you been lost and confused about what's your passion? What are you doing right now?

Over the past few months, I've been having issues getting words/sentences out and it's getting progressively worse.

Could this be an ADHD thing? Has anybody else experienced this? Anyone managed to resolve it?

I get stuck on words and stop dead mid-sentence, or can't even get the sentence started. Sometimes I say the wrong word and don't even realise at all.

This is every day, worsening as my ADHD meds wear off. It's really bad and affects my work and relationships. I've started to avoid talking.

Sometimes I'm saying the sentence in my mind but can't get my mouth to do anything. Other times, my mind is throwing associated words but not the word needed.

I'm generally better with writing, but often I can't "understand" how what I want to say turns into a sentence. The connecting words don't really make sense.

I have been to the doctor, who did some blood tests and said I'm fine. I have some gastro issues and have been referred on for that, with the comment that this might be causing fatigue and once resolved, my speech should improve. But my blood tests don't indicate my gastro issues are causing fatigue (no nutrient/vitamin/blood issues).

This is my biggest problem right now :( I just feel mentally drained often, especially towards dinner time - seems to cause some anxiety too. If I enjoy a hobby for a while, my brain will get exhausted and any practice time will be just diminishing returns at a point. It sucks because I want to keep doing it. Breaks can help, but aren't that effective for me. Once my brain is fried it stays there for a long while. Don't get me started on work and social situations.

I take vyvanse currently, and recently got off adderall for the longer lasting effect.

I really need to figure this out

There’s a lot of discussion about ADHD hacks on this subreddit, which I find very helpful. But it got me wondering about common “traps” we may fall in - sometimes it helps me to identify behavioral patterns that tend to lead to greater issues.

For example - I have this nasty habit of feeling like if I don’t do something perfect or completely then it’s not worth doing. Like cleaning the house. Sometimes the dishes need to be washed, the floor needs to be mopped, the bedroom has to be cleaned - and if I’m not up to doing them all, I just don’t do it. Reframing my mindset from “all or nothing” to “somethings better than nothing” has helped me make sustained and steady progress on things like keeping the house cleaner.

What about you guys?

I (26f) was recently diagnosed with ADHD. To make a significantly long story short - Last Thursday, I met with my psych and we agreed to increase my dose from 18mg of concerta to 36mg and that starting the next day (Friday) I should start taking two of the 18mgs. I did exactly that but noticed that there was a miscount on how many tablets I had left.

She told me that she would send in the script on Tuesday, but due to the urgency of the matter I called the office Monday and they told me they would let her know that this was a top priority situation and that I would hear back one business day later.

I waited, and heard nothing so I called again Tuesday, same thing. Except this time they did mention that she apparently was off on Monday and Tuesday.

Today is Wednesday and I did call again this morning for a separate prescription as well as a status update on the other one and they gave the same spiel of "We have sent it to your prescriber with high priority; please give it 1 business day to see if theres any update". However, they did say that she was working today so HOPEFULLY that means she will send in my scripts

At this point I'm frustrated. I am completely out of Concerta (took my last 18mg tablet I have left on Tuesday) and since I also struggle with OCD tendencies; I keep freaking myself out about the side effects of not taking the medication.

Should I try messaging her through the patient portal instead of calling? The only reason I keep calling is cause the patient portal says to wait 3 days for a response and I just feel like with this I don't really have the time to wait 3 days.

Hello everyone! For the first time about 2 weeks maybe a week and a half ago I started taking vyvanse. It’s really helped me focus and I was able to do everything I would’ve normally be able to like get in a routine or doing things then starting it and not switch to multiple different tasks. But about a week later i noticed something, my upper stomach (not my chest) started to feel really tight whenever I made a deep exhale, my heart rate as remained the same since before I took it but idk why this is happening. I’m an over thinker so my thought was oh my days I’m gonna die . Has this happened to anyone else?

I am a diagnosed ADHD 22y/o female, I’m currently a hairdresser but I really want to study psychology or human health at university. I am self employed and work full time but I know it’s not what I want to do forever. I have thought of reducing my days down and studying part time. My family have told me it’s not a good idea because it’s a big commitment and I can’t juggle both plus if I change my mind I’m in debt. Is this an ADHD thing? Am I wanting to do too much? Can anyone else relate? It’s like there’s this belief that I won’t be able to succeed at university. I’m not academically gifted, but when I am interested in something it seems different. Advice?

I'm 16, turning 17 in September. Lately I've been in one of the hardest places I've ever been mentally. I got so stressed during my exam that I became sick and didn't pass. Now I have to retake it in August, and the thought of it just makes me even more stressed.

Ever since I failed, it feels like my life has been falling apart. Nothing feels right anymore. I'm on vacation, but instead of enjoying it, I spend most of my days sitting alone, thinking and trying to figure out what's wrong with me. The more I think, the worse it gets.

I want to do so many things, but I can't make myself do any of them. I stopped going to the gym after finally becoming consistent, I barely eat because I have no appetite, and I spend almost every day trapped in my own thoughts. It feels like I'm desperately searching for something, but I have no idea what it is.

I've talked to older people with ADHD i know, but no one has had this problem this early in their life and my friends my age with adhd cant relate

I'm constantly agitated, exhausted, and honestly, I feel completely lost. I don't even know why I'm writing this or what I'm hoping to get from it. I just know that it feels like I'm slowly falling apart, and I don't know how to stop it.

Edit: i am a bricklayer wich means my job is 7-3 and that job relies on my passing of exam. I would have to basically reset my whole education if i fail my second exam.

How can I use planners like notebooks or journals to manage my ADHD and get the things I want to do done without forgetting anything? I bought like 10 A5 planners/notebooks because they were very cheap and they were super cute glitter, but I'm afraid I'll write stupid things in them and ruin them or start them and leave them hahaha so I don't know what to do with them, how do people use planners? What do you write in them? I need ideas thanks

Working a 9 to 5 in data entry and logistics, numbers and excel sheets etc i take zoloft and atomoxetine and throught my work i take 3 2mg nicotine gums to focus , i cant focus on work without listening to background noise it could be a movie , instrumental music , YouTube etc. I come back home brain fired. Sleep sometimes 2 to 4 hours and game abit ive been trying to get into coding and I've been studying during my lunch break at work for an hour. I come back home hoping to get more studying done but even after sleep I just feel tired and would rather game. Does anyone have any tips on what to do or does anyone have experience with working and studying. Im adhd more add leaning. I always feel guilty for my lack of studies and try to fight the guilt by saying I need to relax.

I come from an ADHD family, both sides.

All the way up both sides of my family, no one got along, for as long as records were kept. I don’t even have a great relationship with my sister, although in recent years, this has slowly improved slightly.

That expression of loving someone like a brother or sister? I can feel what it means in my head, but the concept is slightly alien to me. I can imagine you have some cool, great looking popular fun siblings as a teenager that you look out for and support and have memorable times with. I never had those times with my sister.

Now with my spouse, she doesn’t have ADHD, and gets along well with all her siblings and has for most of her life. It’s really odd to me, but in a positive way. They aren’t dysfunctional, and that’s so weird.

So the question is per the topic. As I get older now and begin to understand ADHD, it seems like emotional regulation is at the core of these problems in some way. Insecurities will manifest in ugly ways that destroy relationships. Or everyone becomes hyper aware of the weird tendencies of the other people around them, which makes you distance yourself from them because it’s bizarre to be around, even though you have your own set of tendencies that does the same to others around you.

I dunno. Curious on your thoughts on this.

I do not know if this is just my anxiety surrounding keeping my life routine and stable but i always have these thoughts of what life will be without medication. I am currently on 72mg of Concerta previously on 36mg (since I was 12 and now I am 21). I am prone to overeating even on medication as a way to stimulate my under stimulated brain but i have been doing well with avoiding eating just for stimulation that will end up being more harmful. I am afraid I will derail my whole life if I ever lose access to medication for some reason. Has anyone experienced going off medication for any reason and has any tips for me. my general idea now is just to do the same things i did on medication as medication does not magically make me not adhd.

Hey all! I’ve been on meds for 20 years. First adderall and now vyvanse. I don’t like vyvanse because it makes me irritable and angry. And it doesn’t seem to really work. On it I can only semi focus and I still have impulse issues. Is there some other medication I can talk to my doctor about that is more heart healthy? I’ve noticed the older I get, the higher my resting heart rate is. I have a follow up appt tomorrow to talk it over but wanted to see if anyone here has anything they’ve tried that works.

I am currently on the wait list to be assessed and who knows how long that will take.

I have always struggled with fiddling in school and attention difficulties, being on time to school for as long as i’ve been going to school by myself, and a lot of other childhood symptoms.

However I never really thought of them as issues because that’s how i’ve been my whole life.

School will be the most important aspect of my life til i graduate from university, and a lot of my issues are school related; lack of focus in class, zoning out, always fidgeting and unable to sit still.

I always just felt like although these things are impacting my school life and life in general, maybe I just have to try harder and eventually I’ll get there. I had extremely inconsistent grades, so i could tell that i was capable.

Due to a doctor also invalidating my mental experience before i joined the waitlist i’m just not sure if it’s worth pursuing.

So did anyone else feel this way before diagnosis? Feeling like your problems aren’t real problems and instead a lack of effort

After 10 years of stimulant use I went off it for 3 months ( Vyvanse 40mg was last dose ) And then started 1 mg guanfacine. It's been about 7 weeks. I take it at night, but I feel like I am absolutely exhausted needing naps in the middle of the day. Granted I'm 40 years old and exhausted but I just can't perform in my physical job this tire