how I cope with my ADD-PI (other than meds): supplements, caffeine, music, water, book, food, sleep

[belenen]

icon: "ADD-PI (two electromicroscope photos of crystallized acetylcholine, overlaid & warped in several ways)"
[a brief history of my ADD and of supplements I have tried]I didn't get diagnosed with ADD as a kid, like many who have ADD-PI (attention deficit disorder - primarily inattentive). But I grew up with an unsympathetic, controlling, abusive parent who also had ADD and had learned ways to cope with

Comments

[wantedonvoyage]

Pictures are not loading for some reason, so I can't see what brand you are recommending.

Have you ever used anything from New Chapter, and if so what are your thoughts about them?

[belenen]

There are no pictures, just links. I edited to add the names of the brands though. ;-)

I have not used any New Chapter products.

[topum]

Thank you, this is very useful.

[belenen]

You are most welcome.

[ragnarok_08]

This was a very enlightening post - thank you :)

[belenen]

you're welcome! :D

[meepalicious]

It sounds like you've got a good system worked out for you. That's so valuable!

This is the first time I've heard of ADD-PI, but I'm filing it in the back of my mind; I was tested for ADD several times as a kid, but since I was a girl and didn't have any of the stereotypical hyperactivity and impulsiveness, I wasn't diagnosed. But I still wonder about it. (I mean, after the fifth or sixth time you test a kid for the same thing, don't you start to wonder what you're missing?)

[belenen]

I agree!

I've heard that more than once! My brother was diagnosed as a kid, but I wasn't until two years ago as an adult.

[ellie_nor]

This is really interesting. I've never been diagnosed with ADD -- no-one's ever even thought to suggest it -- but some of my challenges are consistent with the symptoms. But I also have lifelong depression, SAD and fibromyalgia. What's fibro-fog and what might be ADD? How much is down to sleep deprivation (from disturbed sleep patterns rather than not being asleep) which is a constant with all of those?

Anyway, is dopamine involved? I'm asking because of the Gingko and Curcumin thing, and the acetyl-choline, which iirc is how dopamine is delivered. Curcumin is readily available in ground turmeric, as long as you also have it with freshly ground black pepper / a drop of black pepper essential oil. When I remember (ha!) I have turmeric / golden milk every day: 2 cups milk / milk substitute of choice + 2 tsps ground turmeric + a good pinch of freshly ground black pepper + whatever other spices you like (e.g. ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon). All in a pan on a low heat. Simmer for 20 minutes. Drink hot or cold.

[belenen]

Overlapping diagnoses can be hard -- anxiety is one of those things that is sometimes almost indistinguishable from ADD, for instance. And of course, stress exacerbates ADD AND can cause similar symptoms... but the behavioral coping things would work for the symptoms regardless, I'd imagine? The biggest physical tell is how caffeine affects you -- if it makes you calm and focused, that sounds like ADD, but if it amps you up, that doesn't seem like ADD.

I dunno if dopamine is involved? is dopamine involved in memory? probably... but I don't know anything about that. curious now though.

I could never be so committed to a 20 minute ritual, I don't think... I have a habit of taking pills now (with my phone alarm) so that's not a struggle.

[ellie_nor]

I normally have a really weird reaction to coffee: I buzz and vibrate for about 30 seconds, then pretty much keel over asleep. (I'm sensitive to lots of foods.) When I don't have that reaction, though, it does tend to make me alert rather than buzzed, but obviously, when I don't know what reaction I'm going to get, I tend to avoid it!