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ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

creative_writerSenior Contributor04 Mar 2025, 3:37 pm AEDT

ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

Anyone else find when their ADHD symptoms are worse they get paralysing intrusive thoughts that it is impossible to do much? Anyone else find that ADHD feeds their existing depression, anxiety and ptsd?

14 replies

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In response to: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

tymeModerator05 Mar 2025, 6:58 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

I'm sure it does @creative_writer .... between ADHD and OCD, the thoughts are real

In response to: Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

creative_writerSenior Contributor06 Mar 2025, 8:04 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

@tyme I completely did not see this post. ADHD does make you more prone to getting stuck, racing thoughts can be hard

In response to: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

RahNew Contributor07 Mar 2025, 12:38 am AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

I found when I decided to be treated also with medication for the symptoms of adhd (I say also as have been having cognitive behavioural therapy CBT for years ) that I began to have more of what is described as “ruminating” thoughts. The therapist after some time and discussion with psychiatrist for ADHD felt I would benefit from trialing the medication to “balance” the chemicals and “slow” my processes down enough to take in the CBT strategies and exercises.

In response to: Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

creative_writerSenior Contributor07 Mar 2025, 3:34 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

@Rah I’m glad to hear medication helped you. I am finding I’m also feeling overwhelmed, but medication isn’t an option for me.

Anyone know of any alternative ways to improve concentration. I’m using caffeine and saffron as an alternative, still struggling. I don’t know if I need to give it more time

In response to: Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

rav3nSenior Contributor07 Mar 2025, 3:51 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

@creative_writer you could look in chyawanprash, i used to eat it as a kid but i stopped after a while simply cos i fell out of habit. it's supposed to boost immunity as well as help with concentration, calming the nervous system, etc. definitely do some research and see if its something you'd like to try (Chyawanprash: A Traditional Indian Bioactive Health Supplement - PMC) - my dad used it more regularly than me and he found it super helpful. i will warn you that it does NOT taste good (which is sorta why i stopped it eating haha), i used to dip it with milk or milo to eat it. not sure if this is the sorta thing you're looking for but i thought i'd just suggest it 😊

In response to: Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

creative_writerSenior Contributor07 Mar 2025, 4:16 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

@rav3n I am impatient, I want things to get better now, I don’t feel like waiting. But thank you for the suggestion 💖

In response to: Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

creative_writerSenior Contributor07 Mar 2025, 4:54 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

I feel super agitated and I don’t know why. I can’t cope

In response to: Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

rav3nSenior Contributor07 Mar 2025, 4:59 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

sorry you feel agitated @creative_writer are you able to maybe step outside and get some fresh air/space?

In response to: Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

creative_writerSenior Contributor07 Mar 2025, 5:12 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

@rav3n it’s very hot 😔. I’m panicking, I feel like I need to get my anger and frustration out somehow, without doing something destructive. Can’t tell you all the thoughts I’m having about the destructive stuff I could do to myself. I feel so disgusting too even though I know that’s not true. Somehow my brain is convincing me that I somehow let shit happen to me, even though I know I had no choice.

I am safe for now, though I have mixed feelings of staying safe. The anger and frustration feels too much

In response to: Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

rav3nSenior Contributor07 Mar 2025, 6:32 pm AEDT

Re: ADHD and obsessive thinking and rumination

@creative_writer what are some healthy ways of releasing anger/frustration that have worked for you in the past?

i can share a couple that's worked for me (changes depending on the situation):

journaling and writing out everything that's been annoying, sometimes i even just scribble angrily and rip a couple pages.
singing, i like listening to songs that i relate to and i sing loudly in the car.
taking long deep breathes and holding onto a squishy toy, so if when i do struggle to calm down, i can give the toy a squeeze and try breathing again.
oh and i did scream into a pillow a few times which really did help.

i also want to remind you - thoughts aren't facts. i'm sorry that your brain is trying to convince you to believe some UNTRUE things, but know that its your brain feeling low. you did not deserve to have bad things happen to you, it was not your fault that bad things happened.

i'm sitting with you & sending you gentle hugs

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