5 months ago, I got diagnosed and on Elvanse.
At first, it was a life-changing magic pill. I made completely out-of-character impulse decisions like: Let’s list & process all issues that can be fixed with a phonecall or email right now! After less than 60 minutes, 70 % of the weight from unfinished tasks was off my shoulders.
But more and more it became clear that I need my old crutches (lists, timers, methods, …) and the meds. It’s still pretty great, because when I make the decision to do one item from the list, I can do it without feeling like cutting into my own flesh. I just make the decision.
Lately, especially on meds, I’m pretty hard into doomscrolling. Reading on Reddit frontpage (still there) and commenting my stupid opinion / “insight” to a wild mix of posts.
Currently recovering from the flu, which didn’t help, and a lot of urgent todos got stacked up, deadlines missed.
Of course I know what needs to be done, and I’m starting. Got a browser plugin to limit certain websites etc. It’s slow.
I think I should try a therapist who is specialised in ADHD. Not so much to process trauma from a life living undiagnosed, but rather to help me get all that done, get to a sustainable level of productivity.
Dr. K. said something interesting in a recent video. People can’t just make a conscious decision like “hey, I should stop being a slob and instead improve myself 2 hours straight per day!” or “I want to be someone who gets up early, eats a healthy breakfast, works out, has a completely different life!”. It’s a different part of the brain that executes this, and you can’t just order it around.
Anyway, life changed for the better, a lot, but I want to pick up the pace.
Hi. I’ve been taking Adderall since November and have had something of a similar experience. It felt like an immediate change for me when I got started, but I still rely on lists and routines to get my stuff done.
I use an Excel workbook to track every email I receive. I can use it to mark emails with one of five levels of importance and whether I need to act as a result of getting it. I have another worksheet in that workbook where I keep track of my tasks, when they’re due, and how far along I am with completing them. I even have progress bars.
I could use tools in Outlook for all of this, I’m sure, but there’s something about adding a manual process that makes it feel like I’ve got some skin in the game and makes email feel more important.
But yeah, I absolutely must have lists and notes and whatnot. I don’t think I’ll ever not need my lists and notes. I don’t think that’s what the medicine is for. I think, for me, that it’s to poke me in the butt to use my lists and notes and stay on top of my tasks.
Essentially, if I don’t write it down, I’ll forget it. Taking my medicine makes gives me the motivation to write it down. That way, I have a better shot of remembering it.
And I also said routines. My house has three exterior doors. I have to pick just ONE to use every time I come and go. And I MUST unload my wallet, keys, and badge by the door each time I come home. Otherwise, I throw them wherever and freak out when I can’t find them the next morning. So using the same door every time makes it easier to remember to leave my stuff by it, especially when there’s a designated drop zone for that stuff.
Sorry. This got way longer than I wanted it to lol