Functioning with ADHD

@tyme I think it has, sometimes I feel like I know too much lol 😂

I’m actually starting to wonder whether one of the reason why I feel like crap especially in the evening is bloating and nausea. Sometimes stuff you try to ignore irritate you. Might explain why the back feels more stiff and tender to touch. Hopefully, there is a solution for it

Oh no. I hope you feel better soon. I'm also mindful that with stress, it can really impact the body. I know that when I was struggling with my mental health, my immune system was a lot weaker. I remember getting bronchitis all the time @creative_writer !

You did a social work degree?

@tyme the nausea and bloating is an everyday thing, so I’m used to it. I didn’t find any relief from low fodmap diet, not sure what’s going on. It could be another intolerance or something else. My appetite isn’t great and food can make me feel worse at times (especially later in the day).

Back pain is a daily thing. My back is weird, one shoulder is definitely compressed compared to the other. That’s where physio comes in. Maybe exercise will help, it’s a form of metabolic therapy.

Yes, I did social work, I’m currently looking for work

Have you been to chiro before? @creative_writer

Also, I'm starting to learn more and more about social work only in the last few years. I'm starting to find it really interesting!

@tyme I haven’t seen a chiro. I’ve just tried physio, I get a few sessions through Medicare per year and my private health insurance covers part of the cost (if more sessions are needed).

I’m finding is challenging to differentiate how much of my physical symptoms are explained by mental health and how much are explained by other factors. It’s hard having physical symptoms, my digestive system disturbances and physical pain, and fatigue starts getting worse at this time. I can’t seem to think around this time, it’s frustrating

Hiya @creative_writer how you goin this arvo?

I err on the side of caution on this response, cos I am not medically trained but I have heard that some folks do alright with the types of medication usually prescribed for narcolepsy! But heck, maybe that's got the same addiction potential? Not sure!

Another thought... just because there's the potential for addiction, doesn't mean there's a guarantee. Just from your track record with your PRN I feel like you are generally a pretty cautious/risk-minimising person... so like, do you definitely agree that stimulant meds are a no go for you, or is that based purely on the psych's recommendation? I mean definitely listen to your psych above me lol I am not medically trained, but just some food for thought anyhow.

How's things anyway? How's your poor wee eye ball? 💜

@Jynx I hope you are doing well today 💖.


I’m more concerned about getting addicted to something that I’m not prescribed than prescribed. A lot of us with ADHD try to find ways to get that boost. Research shows unmedicated ADHD are more likely to develop addiction than medicated ADHD folks. I’ve just had moments recently where it felt too hard to resist.

I have a lot going on physically right now. I have looked at my lunch to see if something is making me sick, obviously I’m not medically trained. My lunch varies day to day, the only more consistent thing i eat is bread. Hopefully I’m not reacting to gluten, don’t want to have to give up bread.

My eye is still bruised, the doctor had to remove small infected stones at the corner of my eye 🤮.

Gotcha gotcha @creative_writer - I'm really hearing how frustrated you're feeling about how imapacted you are by the ADHD symptoms. It's hard, hey. Sounds like you're even deeper in the brain fog than I right now too, so I really do feel for ya hun. Hugs 🫂🫂

Honestly, I believe anyone can, and in fact most people do, struggle with addiction - to some degree. The mistake is thinking addiction only relates to substances, but shopping, gambling, over-eating, and overly/risky sexual behaviours could all be described as addictions, and are farrrr more common. Heck, we're all addicted to our phones!!

The point is, that addiction isn't the problem, addiction is the solution. Folks become addicted to various things because they use em as external regulators of their emotions. You reaching for a substance, prescribed or not, is NOT 'making a choice to be addicted or unhealthy', it's an attempt to manage overwhelming emotional states that are making it next to impossible for you to function.

So if I am hearing you correctly, you haven't been prescribed stimulant ADHD meds cos of risk of addiction, yet without medication you are tempted to turn to non-prescribed sources of regulation anyway? If that is the case, wouldn't the stim meds be the lesser of two ...well not evils, lol meds aren't evil, but like... lesser of two risks I guess?

Just trying to understand 😊

@Jynx my pdoc was more so worried about mania with stimulants. I definitely have engaged in multiple behaviours. So it doesn’t surprise me I have relatives who have used unhelpful coping methods, from smoking to gambling. I am certainly addicted to my phone, I need to spend less time on it.

The thing is the brain fog is complex, part of it is ADHD, part mental health stuff and part physical stuff (that I don’t even understand). All aspects need to be addressed. It all feels so overwhelming because there is so much that is causing the brain fog and making me feel exhausted 24/7. People will tell you there isn’t much you can do, they’ll tell you just manage the inattention, exhaustion and chronic pain through therapy and self-management. I’m like how? So I’m just supposed to live with it because nothing can be done? I’m not just talking about ADHD, but this constant physical health turmoil. People think chronic pain isn’t hard and there isn’t anything you can do. I have seen psychiatrist, psychologists, neurologists, a dietician and a
gastro. It’s enough to drive a sane person insane

@creative_writer aye it's all interlinked and complex and oh so frustrating - to make it a vast understatement.

The greatest issue I see is not in you, but in our healthcare system. As long as we continue to treat the mind and body separately, we are going to continue to struggle to build realistic and effective treatments that actually meet folks' needs.

You know, an old friend of mine told me, during their nursing studies, that whenever the body has any physical ailment, the very first symptom is usually anxiety. I would imagine with your eye continuing to cause you grief, that would be impacting your mental state. Probably no surprises there but I sometimes find it helpful to remind myself of those things whenever my mood goes wonky. It easily becomes a self-perpetuating cycle, where the stress makes it harder to heal, and the ailments make us more stressed.

I've actually been contemplating starting up a thread on like, 'what to try when it feels like you've tried everything' - as a way of compiling all these wonderful pathways to and through recovery that aren't just 'take meds and see a psych'. Maybe we can, as a community, have a discussion about what that can look like, and about how different ways of healing might fit into our recovery. What do you reckon?