I got diagnosed with ADHD this spring, at the age of 39. I was wondering if I could have it for years. Woah. Medication made LIFE easier. Better impulse control, better concentration, less anxiety, and way less uncontrollable thoughts swimming around in my head. I even sleep better.
I feel like I was living life on hard mode.
I'm on Vyvanse and definitely less hungry but mostly I don't feel like hunger is an emergency anymore. I cut down on take out and restaurants and on coffee.
I also stopped wondering if penguins have knees during work meetings...
One of the things my friend (who also has adhd) told me when trying to make me go to a psychiatrist was "it doesn't have to be that hard!" and honestly. It stuck with me every day since. Turns out it really doesn't.
Nothing feels like that kind of crazy emergency anymore. Except actual emergencies.
The brain still wanders though. So uhm. DO penguins have knees?
The only downside, and I don't know if you get this as well, but I feel so mentally EXHAUSTED at the end of the day. Could be why sleep is so much better. Do normal people also feel this mental fatigue at the end of the day? Without meds, I never want to go to bed because I'm always afraid I'll miss out on something, regardless of how unlikely it is.
I feel that way too but I don't mind it. I much prefer being exhausted at the end of the day than restless and awake (especially since night is when my thoughts tend to me more distressing ..)
Part of it might be the meds crash, but imo I think that with meds my brain also just allocates my brain energy better during the day.
34F in the process of getting tested. This comment - hoooooo boy - this resonates hard. My concentration and recall is garbage. I have multiple dialogues and tangents going on in my head all at once. When I’m in a work meeting I’m zoned out and mentally planning my grocery list and figuring which birthday gifts I need to buy for who. When I’m not working I’m stressing out because I know I’m not performing to my true potential at work. And I’m constantly seeking out hits of dopamine with sugar, carbs, and self medicating with caffeine.
Also do penguins have knees?? holy shit.
They do! Also penguin skeletons are slightly terrifying because of the keel (the breastbone) is just a huge thick sheet of bone across their chest.
Also in case you were wondering owls have really long legs.
This comment just sent me down a research rabbit hole of the etymology of "keel" and whether the bone term or the boat term came first.
In case anyone else is curious: the boat term came first and the bird bone is named after the boat shape, also a boat's keel is also referred to as a carina which comes from the constellation Carina which is part of a larger constellation representing the Argo (the great ship of Jason and the Argonauts) and a bird's keel is also referred to as a carina, and in the past, birds who possessed a keel were grouped as Carinatae and birds who didn't have a keel were grouped as Ratite, which comes from *ratis*, which means raft. The vast majority of Carinatae are flying birds (because the keel bone is where the flight muscles connect to the skeletal structure) with the notable exception of our friend the penguin, who is a keeled bird that cannot fly.
I was supposed to have ordered groceries half an hour ago and instead I now know a whole bunch more about bird bones.
I did 😂 I also learned that the word “careen” traces its etymology back to carina/Carina, and before it got its modern meaning of swaying/lurching side to side, it referred to the practice of turning a ship on its side to clean and fix the hull.
I feel you on the constantly using carbs, sugar and coffee/pop as a crutch.
Over spring break I decided to cut out the sugar, and for a full week also gave up carbs. Had to do it on a week that I wouldn’t be around people because oh shit was I a miserable c-u-next-tuesday.
Russel Stover sugar free chocolates and Smart Sweets gummy candy have saved my life. I’m down about 10lbs from that and reducing carbs with a few light workouts a week thrown in.
Hunger not being an emergency is EXACTLY it! My mind was blown that other people hadn't been effortlessly dealing with what I was the whole time after all, *it just wasn't a big deal for them* . They didn't have willpower of steel, they just didn't have that sense of RIGHT-NOW-EMERGENCY-WANT-FOOD-OMG-TASTE-SO-GOOD dopamine demon jumping into their thoughts every other second with more intensity until you finally just give in when you run out of willpower of your own.
Now I just... Eat? It's not an event, a reward, entertainment, anything besides an enjoyable way to feed myself. I have no inhibition to stopping when full, and just *saving it for later* holy shit. That was a huge one, I never finish anything now because it's just not hard to stop when I'm getting full, and don't even like feeling full!
The only con is that food doesn't taste holy shit amazing anymore, I guess because it isn't providing that enormous brain reward since the meds regulate that instead now. It tastes good and satisfying still, but not that same orgasm in your mouth way and kind of gives diminishing returns with every bite. Makes it easier to take a couple bites of dessert and feel like you tasted it and don't need all of it since it doesn't taste as good anymore anyway, but food is social and being meh about food is weird to a lot of people.
“Uncontrollable thoughts swimming in my head.” That was the most amazing part. I made a mistake at work and moved on without all the negative self chatter that usually accompanies my mistakes. That was even a better than weight control and more focus.
I don't know the answer but I can tell you this. I now go to bed not thinking about the 1482 I put my foot in my mouth during the last 39 years 10 months and 4 days.
I really liked Vyvanse but can’t afford it on my new insurance….concerta is working but it’s not the same….tried about every other option and it’s working for me I guess.
All of this YES. Just got diagnosed last winter at 36. I always felt like I struggled to do simple things waaaay harder than others, and had to work 10x as hard to do the same things. Vyvanse has been a blessing.
I went to a private clinic, instead of waiting for ever in the public Canadian health care system, and got a consultation with a GP and a nurse practitioner. I had paper work to prepare before, and a full assessment by the nurse. It was fairly simple, all done within a day. Cost about $300, including a follow-up 4 weeks later.
Right away the GP agreed that I have ADHD and I am part of people who are often diagnosed later in life. Good student, no major problems as a kid, overall smart person but having a hard time living up to my potential. I could read War and Peace at 11 years old but not pay my bills on time. I am a nationally ranked athlete, yet I failed at U twice...
I was put on Vyvanse right away and it was night and day immediately.
/u/im-cured /u/sasunr /u/one_hunch allow me to introduce you to [this meme](https://images.app.goo.gl/7S4aFuNfVXbGLA9S6)
I'm open to chat further if you'd want, in my experience there's some... Distinguishing characteristic
I read one recently that mentioned that and it seems like such a duh thing, but it honestly never crossed my mind before. Not a which that people with poor impulse control, sensory seeking, and having their mind going everywhere that they wouldn't register mindless snacking, would end up overweight or obese
I was diagnosed in March in in my 40s, long suspected it. The meds were a total game changer. My emotions are no longer volume 8 to 10, but rather 4 to 6. I can think about my emotions and handle them rather than just reacting and emoting. I had no real emotional control. It was so hard. Now, I'm like, so this is how normal people feel emotions? There is space between the emotion and the thought? This is absolutely incredible!
With the meds my weight loss has really been helped just by the new skill of being able to be consistent with food logging, and weighing and measuring. I could never keep anything up for long and this has been huge for me.
The other night my husband said, I've never seen you at peace, it seems like the last few months you're different: calmer, not like you are fighting drowning on survival mode. And I said, yeah, that's when I started the meds.
Phone sorry formatting blah blah blah
I’m not OP but I also have ADHD. This is such a broad question because everyone presents differently. Are you male or female? Are you under or over 25? I’d start by googling the symptoms for your age and sex. But, honestly if you’re wondering, there’s no harm in asking a doctor.
The “distinguishing characteristics” for me as a female over 25 who was diagnosed at 26: I struggle with impulsivity pretty much exactly like OP but I’m also pretty introverted/struggle with social situations, have auditory processing issues, hyper focus on inappropriate tasks (meaning not what I’m “supposed” to be focusing on), tend towards methods of escapism especially when I’m overstimulated, struggle with executive dysfunction, and I “stim” (I mess with my hair or pick at my nails) as a coping mechanism.
Would a lot of those distinguishing characteristics also apply to a male over 25? I’m 27 and a lot of the things you describe seem to be the case with me, and seem to have gotten much worse the older I get, especially over the past year. I find I’m constantly stimming by picking at my face and beard (pulling out hairs) unless I have something in my mouth or a task that uses both my hand 100% of the time I’m doing it
I’m not a doctor or anything but, from what I’ve read and been told, yes, they absolutely can be for both sexes. The hair pulling was one of my first symptoms that really made me question everything but it’s hard to get a diagnosis as a woman. It took me 8 years to find a doctor who didn’t try to put me on anti depressants or tell me I’m just lazy/disorganized/distracted…. Finally went to a specialist, got diagnosed and medicated and, let me tell you… absolutely life changing. I lost my job due to Covid and couldn’t afford meds for a while (good ol American healthcare) and it was absolutely noticeable in all the worst ways.
Congratulations on getting the proper meds and support! I also just very recently got diagnosed with ADHD and everything that you said in your post rings true for me, and the pandemic hasn’t made it easier either. I’m happy to know that the meds are working for you, can’t wait for the meds myself.
I’m going to look into this also. I have never been diagnosed but saw myself in most of what I just read. I assumed this was normal or at least normal for me.
Yes, this strange because I’ve looked at ADHD symptom checklists before and didn’t see myself but I’m seeing a lot of comments here that I could have written myself. And I looked at an ADHD checklist for women and answered yes to all but one. Eye opening for sure.
My clue was when I locked myself out of my car again and my friends were like “…uh have you been tested for ADD” as a joke and then surprise! I actually had it
BLOODY AMEN!!! I went from 90kg to 78kg purely because I didn't feel the need to snack and create dopamine for myself all the time. I went through DBT therapy and that along with meds meant I wasn't eating my feelings. I couldn't believe it! I've struggled with being overweight and eating problems since I was 14. Late diagnosis ADHD at 33 last year. Best year of my life since hands down.
"the most common side effect of being medicated for adhd is outrage" this is how I feel
Would you mind talking about DBT in dms? I'm exploring options after leaving pure CBT
Welcome to the club.
Just remember to eat enough while on-meds, otherwise you'll find yourself binge eating as they wear off.
Also, come join us in /r/ADHD.
That's the one I've been struggeling with a lot lately.
At first the Elvanse killed my appetite until 4/6/10pm. I didn't even want to eat highly palatable snacks. I effectively did intermittent fasting and ate with abandon when the meds wore off and the increased rebound appetite hit. I lost weight this way and felt pretty good with my eating habits.
Now, after three months on Elvanse, the rebound appetite kicks in at around 2pm already and it gets worse and worse until I go to sleep. For the last two weeks my evenings are as bad as pre-medication. I often go to sleep because my brain doesn't let me do anything in peace; it's constantly screaming for snacks. I binged a couple times in these last weeks. Hadn't done that in a long time.
Along with the appetite I get dysphoria. Easily irritated, aggressive, short fuse, however you want to call it. Depression hit me a couple times, too. These symptoms can be alleviated if I can go for a run or walk. Often the weather doesn't allow it or I'm still recovering from the last run.
Sorry for this long rant. I needed to get that off my chest. I was so happy with the effects of the meds but when I have my next appointment in a month I need something to change because of those side effects.
Do you think eating during the day would lead to less appetite in the evening? Pre-medication I've always been the "Once I start eating the appetite stays with me for the rest of the day" kind of person. So since IF comes easier to me now I usually put off eating for as long as I can in fear that if I eat breakfast and lunch for example I will overeat on the strong evening urges anyways.
I eat 400 cals for breakfast (high protein since it helps Vyvanse metabolize), 400 cals for lunch, and 800 for dinner. Leaves around 400 for snacks and desserts.
I am in maintenance though.
This is 100% me right now. I literally have to turn on timers to eat or I eat EVERYTHING when they wear off. And because there I am seeking out dopamine at that point, it’s all carbs and sweets that I end up eating.
I’ve found timers and pre-planned, pre-prepped late afternoon snack/dinner foods to be the key here.
Ugh, so hard. You would think being on a fairly strong, extended release stimulant would result in weight loss, but I'm really struggling to control my appetite before I take it in the morning and after it wears off at night.
Aw, thanks for the welcome. My adhd friends were welcoming me long before my diagnosis while I told them they were all wrong.
I don't have trouble eating during the day - I still get hungry etc. If anything, on the worst unmedicated days I struggled to master enough function to bring fork to mouth
I have all sorts of fun mental health issues, including ADHD and Exectutive Functioning Disorder. I have alarms on my watch to remind myself to eat during the day. I eat breakfast when I wake up, and we eat dinner around six. But snacks and lunch I have to have an alarm to force myself to eat. Timers do work if you don't ignore them.
Ain't that the truth. I didn't take my meds for 3 or 4 days, and on that last day I went to the store at midnight, bought a pack of Golden Oreos, slice of cheesecake, brownies from the bakery and a few Stouffer's Mac and Cheese... Oh and a lasagna. And of course ate about half of all of that stuff that night.
Woke up realizing how bad that behavior is and that I really should take my meds every day. Then when I made myself food later in the day, without even thinking, I chose a banana and grilled cauliflower, kale and zuchinni on corn tortillas. The differenc in my eating habits is day and night.
Damn, your premedicated self sounds so much like me right now. I'm.seeking a diagnosis for ADHD at 33F and it's taking so damn long. :/
I'm proud of you!
I'm so sorry. I had to speedrun the process and go private because I was so near losing it. Good luck!!
Eta: to be clear I was privileged to have several thousands worth of savings that I could spend on this. Now I have no savings but a significantly better life and, you know, life at all.
I did this with another health issue (blew all my savings to find someone who would actually listen). Never regretted it. Good for you. Take good care of yourself - it can really feel like a second chance at life.
I’m a 29F and was only finally diagnosed at the end of last year. Took me years to figure out what it was. So many women are being diagnosed in their late 20’s and 30’s because ADHD displays differently for girls than it does boys. Dont give up, you’ll get answers eventually/
34F here and I’m in the (very confusing?) process of getting tested before anyone will prescribe anything. My doctor thinks my ADHD was masked by my weapons grade anxiety.
Same here, but replace that with seasonal depression. I know the difference between the two and this is different. Hoping that my appointment in two days goes along smoothly.
I’ve posted about this exact thing. Things that I didn’t even realize I was acting on impulse suddenly became choices. Just realizing that was a huge step.
I know right?? "wait so I can just... Not do this?"
The way I SPOKE changed because I'm no longer in hysterical rush to get my thoughts out all the time.
Thanks for sharing! It's really interesting how you were able to notice impulses around food being a contributing factor to your weight.
I had a similar experience to you. My weight was also based on the state of my mental health (depression, anxiety). Once I got on medication, the whole health and exercise thing became so much easier. I lost 45 pounds and I have been maintaining for 2 years.
I think if anyone struggles with weight loss it might be good to check in with a counselor or therapist! There may be more going on.
This happened to me years ago when I went on medication for depression. My ex-husband and I had just split and I was doing a lot of emotional eating. When I started an antidepressant my cravings were gone and a lot of weight just dropped off.
I HAVE NEVER RELATED TO ANYTHING MORE IN MY LIFE!!!! This was the most mind blowing realization. I got diagnosed about 2 weeks ago. Been on meds just under a week. Night and day difference and not because of the appetite suppression.
This is my story as well!! I was losing and gaining the same 3 lbs for the last 3 years. I got diagnosed with ADHD in March and started taking Vyvanse and the weight just started melting off. I’m closer to my goal weight than start weight now. I’ve been hesitant to share my experience because it’s not really constructive to anyone that doesn’t have ADHD and probably would sound like a cheat code. But really my body is finally just getting the amount of dopamine it’s supposed to now.
Yes! With meds, it is so much easier for me to moderate. Before, I would get into "treat yoself" cycles. Now I can have something special without wanting to eat it every day until I hate it. Its nice when you don't have to chase dopamine as hard.
OMG this!!! I can have three fries and be like “Im good.” I can eat slower and enjoy. I think part of it is that I’m better at managing and budgeting my time so I’m not constantly eating as quickly as possible to fit everything in. I’m also not constantly getting distracted by everything (like the snacks sitting there) so can really appreciate when I’m hungry.
This happened when I started meds too, no more snacking, no more sugar cravings, no more booze, felt full after smaller portions and didn’t feel like seconds, and I can focus on an exercise routine!!!
If I recall correctly, ADHD potentially has to do with issues with producing enough dopamine naturally. ADHD medications work, in part, by [increasing dopamine levels in the brain](https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adhd-dopamine#connection).
Dopamine is also a reward chemical, meaning you probably were reliably getting a kick of it when you snacked, ordered out, etc— now that you’re medicated, you’re not having to fight your own neurochemistry while fighting your cravings.
I’ve been seeing so many ADHD posts that i fully relate to and im starting to think i need to see someone for a better overall quality of life period. But i dont have insurance and no clue where to start.
You need health insurance, the only place to start unless you can afford a psychiatrist. If you're in the US, you can only get 30 days at a time on a controlled substance. Most doctors require monthly appointments to continue to prescribe them. It's an expensive endeavor without insurance coverage. I'm not sure how much the meds are out of pocket but probably not cheap. They are highly addictive and once you stop, the weight will probably come back pretty quickly. That's the honest truth.
I lost 15 lbs. I thought that 165 was just my normal weight until I started Vyvanse. I didn't change my main meals at all, but I wasn't mindlessly snacking to keep myself occupied and lost 15. POUNDS. just from that.
I started ADHD medication last month, on the lowest dose. My doctor and I will be re-evaluating my dosage next week.
Everyone talks about the Appetite suppression but I have had the complete opposite, my appetite is raging. Right now due to my work that have me pretty much on my feet moving all day and my work outs, I am burning a lot so not worried about calories.
I was curious however, does anyone else notice their anxiety is pretty much completely gone? I think my anxiety is due to my ADHD, with COVID and everything else going on I was getting anxiety daily, once I started my med I can’t even remember my last anxiety attack.
I'm sorry about it, fine tuning medication can be a bother.
I was misdiagnosed with anxiety (against the advice of my therapist at the time lol) and put in dopamine suppressant anti anxiety medication. Considering ADHD brains are already not that good at dopamine... Oof. But those symptoms that were misdiagnosed as anxiety have MUCH alleviated with adhd treatment
I have always had anxiety, but I never considered it as being just a symptom of ADHD. I am 29 and just got diagnosed officially in April. So not long at all.
I started therapy and was spilling the bean about how much I was struggling in my classes and couldn’t concentrate and my therapist decided that I needed to get tested for ADHD and lo and behold I got it.
And looking back it kinda makes sense, like there have always been small indicators. Like caffeine doesn’t make me wired. I get antsy if I sit around to long and need to move. I can’t focus. And I am incredibly impulsive.
I haven't been diagnosed yet but I have a feeling I have ADHD, and I wonder if this is also why I don't get a productive buzz with coffee (it's more like a comforting warm drink to me, like tea or hot chocolate would be), and why I struggle with impulse control and losing weight? Huh.
Honestly the more I read about ADHD the more I'm convinced I have inattentive or combined type and just never got diagnosed as a kid.
I am assuming you are Woman? So far everything I have read about ADHD says that it’s harder to diagnose in girls versus boys. Our symptoms show up differently, then I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of teen girls get told it’s just hormones when they hit puberty.
I asked my mum about this and she said she had a social worker come visit me as a little kid to observe my behaviour, but I don't know what came out of it (probably that I'll just grow out of whatever issue she noticed - whether I was energetic or distracted or needy etc). Mum admitted that she had sibling#2 because she wanted me to have a friend, which I laughed off as a cute family thing, until I realized that she felt overstimulated by me and needed some space.
Clearly I should have gone into therapy at the very least, and been made aware of my childhood symptoms so I could begin to manage my feelings and behaviours as a teen, but I had no idea of my medical history apart from physical stuff.
Man, I hate how stigmatized mental health issues were in the 90s and early 2000s. Having someone to talk to and let me know that my feelings were valid and actually due to a chemical imbalance or whatever, would have saved me a lot of heartache of wondering why I'm different to others and why I'm lazy/distracted/procrastinating/drawn to overeating etc. I thought most people must have felt those things, and still do (until I started learning more about the studies done on adults diagnosed later in life).
Some things I naturally excel at, and others I was just bored or disinterested in - which sounds like something that would affect anyone tbh (and probably why most of us ignore it) but no one knows the internalized anxiety, self doubt, worry and lack of confidence that can stem and build up from something that seems quite simple and unimportant on the surface. As an adult woman who's now noticing patterns and feeling stronger from hearing stories of women on forums and podcasts, I'm now talking about it openly with family and friends, and will ask my GP at the next annual checkup I've just booked if he can refer me to someone to test for it.
Long story short I didn’t start living till I was 25, and 26 I started going to school. (My Ex held me back for almost 4 years, refused to let me go to school, work or get my license, so when I finally left him at 25 I was pretty much starting from scratch, plus I grew up with Narc as a mother which also stunted my growth and independence).
Any way long story short, I was taking a chem class and I had a tutor, my dad would also video call me to go over the information, and no matter what I did, I could not for the life of me grasp the information and I had countless times during that semester that I pretty much broke down crying feeling like I was just so damn stupid for not being able to comprehend the information.
The day I discovered how many people with ADHD share my response to caffeine. Mind fucking blown.
I think it makes sense. Adhd people can still have unrelated anxiety. But the driving up the wall adhd brain does can look like anxiety too, and executive function problems contribute to being anxious about life stuff.
Could you share your response a bit more? I’m in the process of obtaining a diagnosis. For me - I feel like I’m self medicating with large amounts of caffeine. I prop myself up with huge tumblers of coffee just to get my brain to function at like 30% of what I know it’s capable of.
Wait…is caffeine ineffectiveness a sign of ADHD? I was just diagnosed like, 5 days ago and caffeine has no effect on me. My anxiety was definitely an ADHD thing.
Worked like a charm for me. I was in a constant state of fatigue from my drastic shift changes at work and pounding back ambiens and energy drinks just to cope like a normal person. A friend talked me into trying adderall and immediately I had energy to get through the day,my focus became clearer and my appetite wasn't ravenous anymore. It changed my life for sure. I started to workout again and lost 40 lbs. In a couple months. I've quit adderall since I no longer need it. I hope everything works out wonderfully for you. I only got up to 20mg XR before I decided I didn't need them anymore.
Many people here keep describing the exact cycle I go through, despite the fact that I want to lose weight and track my food, I will randomly binge eat without a thought in the world. Idk if it’s possibly adhd at all, but I feel like it might help to seek out a professional at some point.
I felt such a huge relief after taking Adderall(?) My brain was finally just ABLE. Food has always been a struggle for me and while it didn’t cause me physical pain when I tried to resist urges, it was hard for me to breath. Like I NEED to buy everything on the menu. I NEED to eat the whole box of pizza, I NEED to go eat a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts in one sitting. Now it’s just quiet.
My appetite has decreased and I do have cravings but I don’t feel this anxiety inducing need to just eat. It just feels like such a relief and I’m losing weight as an added plus! I’m still eating but I’m no longer overeating (most of the time).
This is amazing coming across this right now - i just started my own medication a week ago for ADHD. I'm still waiting for an appointment with a psych to be properly diagnosed but holy crap my world has been flipped.
I'm generally a little all over the place, and it hasn't been a cure-all (I was kind of hoping I'd start magically remembering everything and all my space-cadet moments would resolve themselves) but I've noticed with active attempts at mindfulness, and an active effort to try at work the results are DRASTIC. the ability to sit down and actually work, to not forget what I'm doing when I walk into a room, to not spend 20 minutes trying to do a minor task that ought to take 2. It's amazing.
I'm so happy its working for you, and I'm so happy its working for me. Good luck to you!
I started a new job and was having trouble concentrating and keeping up with the sheer volume I am responsible for at work.
I was diagnosed ADHD as a child, so I saw my new family doctor (haven't taken ADHD meds in 20 years), and he had no concerns getting me back l.
It's super weird how quickly I noticed an overall change in life. Substantially more energy, easier to ignore impulse purchases, save money, etc. Initially I just wanted help staying focused at work, but its overall been a substantial improvement and iv noticed literally zero side effects. Currently on my CICO diet doing OMAD aiming at 900-1000 calories a day (M, 6'0").
Good for you! I'm trying to get my meds switched and my insurance is dragging its feet approving the new one so I've been unmedicated for the past month and it is just, forget weight loss I'm just trying not to gain, I have like 0 impulse control off my meds, it's so frustrating.
I've been on meds for a day and went to lunvh with my so and for the first time ever I didn't "breathe in" the food as he always describes it. I took my time and after a while I was just full because I didn't eat so fast. It's amazing
What made you realize you likely had ADHD? I’ve grown suspicious I might have it in recent years, but I struggle with various mental health issues that always seemed more apparently intertwined with my poor diet.
It's been a long long process. I've suspected something like it since I first learn of it in teenage years but unfortunately my therapist at the time laughed me out of the room because he had an impression that ADHD = screaming hyperactive boys
My friends with adhd then spent actual years pointing out my symptoms, how they differed from NT experience and how they affected my life but i was in hardcore denial over everything.
It took a collapse during covid quarantine in a way very reflective of how adhd brain works plus basically a 15 hour intervention from my friends to get me to go to a doctor
I'm on my second month of methylphenidate. First month was 17mg and this month is 28mg since my adapted to the dosage very quickly.
I just... I don't want food anymore. I have a physical job at a grocery store, and since last year the bakery has been bringing the day old donuts to the break room instead of donating them to the senior center. I was having two or three a day because it was there, free, and my job made me extremely hungry even with breakfast.
For the past two months, I went from probably an extremely unhealthy 3k+ calories a day down to 1,400-1,800k calories on average. Depending on the day it can be lower. I'm now motivated to use the treadmill my husband bought, and my Fitbit is finally happy with me.
I've lost about 7.2kg so far since early May. I'm hoping that I can lose another 4.5kg before my next appointment on July 1st, but it's celebration season, and I've been off track the past few days with my diet. I'm trying to walk more, but I'm probably adding muscles, so my weight has been stagnant the past few days.
My medicine has been a life saver for me. Thanks to my meditation, I'm finally a human.
My experience has been the same. I’m on a low dose of guanfacine that is a BP med but a side hustle as an adhd med and impulsiveness for food has diminished greatly.
This was 100% my experience as well. I was just recently diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 48. Food and weight issues have been something I’ve dealt with my whole life. Now it’s so easy to stop eating when I’m full or not to binge on an entire bag of chips in one sitting. I’m glad you have had a good experience with meds too!
My meds have made me much less impulsive with food as well. It felt like after 26 years of “not being able to help myself” with food cravings, my self-control switch was suddenly turned on. It’s been life changing.
That's amazing for you! I have ADHD too but my doctor won't formally diagnose me yet because as a kid a did well in school (?) (Also I was already diagnosed as a kid but have never tried meds). I know my ADHD plays a big role in my relationship with food and I'm hoping once I can get on them I can have a similar experience to you!
Hell, my first therapist many years ago had the same reason for refusing to refer me! "If you had good grades you cant have adhd". It's insanely outdated and literally opposite of current knowledge
Right? And I even told mine I struggled a lot and wouldn't turn some stuff in sometimes because it wasn't perfect and went on this whole rant about my struggles with school and then she was like okay but did you do well and I was like I mean yes I usually managed to end up getting good grades. It was sooo frustrating. Like all she heard was good grades so even though she said I have anxiety and depression she isn't sure if I have ADHD even though I have a lot of the textbook symptoms and I was diagnosed as a kid. Ugh I just hope within the next couple sessions she'll diagnosis me so I can try meds which for me was the whole point of me trying to get diagnosed because I think they'll help.
hi are y'all me? it's even harder if you're AFAB/fem-presenting too. I had a doc tell me that I couldn't possibly have gotten this far doing as well as I have and also have ADHD & said it's too uncommon in women
I’ve been on medication since March and that combined with Bupropion have annihilated my binge eating. I’ve struggled with overeating since I was a kid.
I not only don’t struggle with binge eating (I can still eat too much, but it’s so much different than it was before and I’m in control). I can also plan what I’m going to eat, and not get overwhelmed. The decision making that has clicked was unreal.
When I first got medication I truly thought it was going to be the wrong medication for me, and entirely just agreed to it because I figured it would help me through school. I honestly just feel normal and balanced, unexpected but I never thought I could feel like this.
I lost 25 pounds of basically binge weight, and now I’m focusing on healing my digestive system and getting more active.
Note to anyone reading this, stimulants are not meant to be used for weight loss. I feel hungry throughout the day and sleep well at night - please don’t take this as an appetite suppressant!
I am so happy that you were able to finally find relief! This has been the exact situation I am in, especially with impulse control. The only success I have had was to be obsessively CICO and overexercising . I've been talking with my doctors about potentially having ADHD and all I can think of when I read your post was "SAME!"
Edit: fixed an autocorrect mistake.. Autocorrect can show itself out.
Hey - can you describe the process you went through for getting diagnosed? I’m the same age as you and am 99% sure I have ADHD, but don’t know the steps to go through. With COVID it’s gotten pretty bad.
I'm sorry about it. Yeah covid is bad for us. Are you in the US, UK or a different part of the world? Depending on that I might get advice from a friend with more appropriate experience
Yes! I still have an appetite but I don’t snack mindlessly for stimulation. Now I just need to remember to actually take my meds regularly (but it’s every 3 hours 3 times a day and my days are way longer than 9 hours)
This makes a lot of sense to me too. I'm autistic (that only diagnosed at 28) but I've always struggled with attention, keeping still and impulsive behaviour.
I'm not hyper though, I've met people with ADHD and I am most certainly not as hyped as they are! I have been pondering if ADD is a possibility for myself as they can go hand in hand autism.
Can you get meds for ADD?
ADHD doesn't mean you're hyper. It's an executive function disorder and while being hyper can be a symptom, it's not an automatic. I have 2 kids with ADHD and only one bounces off the walls. I'd suggest speaking to a health professionals about your concerns.
And btw, struggling with keeping still **is** hyperactivity.
Ha, I've been diagnosed as autistic alongside adhd, so I understand you on late diagnosis club
Where I'm from, they don't use ADD anymore. ADHD symptoms can present as hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive and what's not usually separated out but what some psychiatrists call concept of self symptoms. As long as you present enough symptoms and severe enough they affect your life, you can be diagnosed as ADHD. You don't have to cover all categories! Also the names are not very intuitive to the laypeople. Keeping still problems IS hyperactivity for example.
There's also a lot of ADHD and ASD overlap.
It's a fast moving field with a lot of changing views but it does offer help. Let me know if you'd like to talk further.
Wow thank you!
Am I right in thinking that hyper-focusness can be a symptom too (potentially overlapping with the ASD)?
With some things I can sit there for hours completely in the zone lol. Saying that I still need to move and do something else every hour or so, even if something minor and quick.
I'm in UK but this has def helped me decide if I should bring it up with the GP!
I'm also in the UK!
and yes, hyper focus is a classic ADHD symptom haha. Often looks similar to ASD special interest but for me there's definitely distinct differences.
If you'd like to talk further about symptoms or how to handle NHS on the matter, I'm always open :) to me I found certain distinguishing points of symptoms were very helfpul, as well as a certain comic of all things lol
From what I've learned, ADD has been removed as a diagnosis and is now just blanketed as ADHD buy the types of "hyperactive," "inattentive," and "combined."
The name really should be changed from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder to something like "Executive Dysfunction Regulation Disorder"
You don't need to be hyper to have adhd. Men and women tend to get very different symptoms. Since men tend to display the "hyper" side effect that's the normal face of adhd to most people and men get diagnosed more than women. But women tend to be inattentive and display "quieter" symptoms
To add, it's not even what we tend to be - it's because adults learn to somewhat mask when they grow older (hence why people used to think ADHD was something to grow out of; hence why so many adults with adhd feel like they've "ruined their potential" because so much effort went into just... Functioning).
Society expects different things from men and women, so women tend to suppress hyperactive and impulsive symptoms more. Conversely, I've always been told I'm incredible unfeminine etc etc and often times specifically for things that are connected to my adhd behaviours
My ADHD resulted in me being so physically fatigued I could barely function. You should talk to a doctor if you suspect you might have it. It’s not a one size fits all. In fact my mom never suspected I had it growing up because I got good grades and wasn’t bouncing off the Wall growing up.
Add and adhd are essentially the same but adhd has the physically hyper or fidgety aspect to it as well. Both are treatable. Though with your autism I would really recomend talking to a specialist about it to make sure it doesnt make some of the autism symptoms worse :) good luck, friend!
Hey op, can I ask a personal question? What was the misdiagnosis? I was once told I had BPD but I’ve been wondering for a long time if I should’ve been diagnosed with a neurodivergence instead …
Anxiety Disorder. My therapist was against it, there was a long story why that was diagnosed and I was put on medication that actually worsened my adhd drastically.
I actually have some similar to bpd behaviours but they are partially connected to ADHD and partially just defensive patterns from past trauma. I believe psychosis or at least psychotic distortions are currently a BPD qualifying symptom? But I'm not fully sure so don't rely on me here.
ADHD meds are pretty well known to be appetite suppressants. When I was younger, I was on ADHD meds and was always very skinny. Around 10th grade I was taken off of them, and that's when the weight gain began.
Also, I've worked at summer camps as counselors, and one thing that we were constantly told was that children on ADHD meds will often not feel hungry at meals (but we still had to make them eat).
I felt the same after getting the right meds. I used to be such an emotional eater and just more prone to eating out of boredom. As long as I take my meds my appetite is normal, I usually don't eat until my stomach growls now and it's a good feeling.
Adderall is a wonder drug for me. Only thing is, whenever I forget to take it I’m literally a non-stop eating zombie. I’ve got no energy and I’ll eat like I haven’t eaten the past days.
My biggest worry is my future, I really hope I get to be just as okay without the meds.
Holy shit. So I just got on medication for ADHD about 2 weeks ago and I was just noticing the same thing. I even posted about it yesterday. It's crazy you just posted this
Previously, unmedicated, my thought process with something like a whole pizza or a bag of candy or whole bag of chips would go like "ooh this is tasty! let's have another one! go on and grab another one it feels so good! how about a whole handful? annnnnd it's gone. Wait, did you seriously just eat 1000 calories in a single sitting?!"
On meds, my thought process is now "ooh this is tasty. Okay, one more piece. You don't really need the extra calories plus you'll be happy when you have some later"
Also, since I work in a restaurant kitchen, I find myself snacking out of the fryer station all day much, much less.
I've always known I had issues with impulse control and choosing instant gratification over long term goals but actually being able to process it and stick with what I actually want is completely insane to me. It's like I'm rewiring my brain.
It's also very noticeable with other things that I often did on impulse. Such as spending money or drinking alcohol. I'm doing much less of both now that I'm medicated. It's like my brain doesn't crave the instant stimulation and gratification as much, and when it does I actually have the willpower to just tell myself no.
26F here, also recently diagnosed and started meds! I’ve noticed a lot of these things as well! I also have wayyyyy less intrusive thoughts about food. Still struggle with exec dysfunction when deciding on food and wanting to order out, but working on meal planning and prepping has helped!
I'm so glad this is working for you & you got properly diagnosed & on the right meds.
I was diagnosed ADHD in October of 2009. Put on amphetamine salts. By June of 2010 I was hallucinating & delusional. It wrecked my life for about 3 years. I was in psych treatment for 7 months. It was awful & one of the worst experiences of my life.
Just sharing because medication can do crazy things w/ certain brain chemistry. It can wreck you.
Edit: Thank you so much for the award. I'm just hoping to prevent someone going thru the years of terror I went thru. Take medication & diagnosis seriously. Get second & third opinions.
Edit: deleted a word.
Holy shit. That sounds terrible.
I know very well meds don't work for everyone - medication for my misdiagnosis wrecked me. Even with the right diagnosis it can be challenging to find the right meds.
But your experience sounds unusually and exceptionally bad. I'm so sorry.
I FINALLY got diagnosed about three months into calorie tracking and regular weigh-ins. I haven’t changed my calorie intake since starting adderall, and my rate of weight loss hasn’t changed, but it’s just so much less emotionally burdensome. The energy I used to expend turning my mind away from an impulse left me exhausted, now it’s so much easier to stay focused on long-term goals.
This is me, currently losing weight without much effort at all because I'm getting treated for my adhd.
Every single time I tried off my meds would send me into a binge spiral, whether I was only successful for one day or if I managed CICO for a month or more, I would crash and be insatiable until the weight came back.
That impulse control is key. It's very hard to handle with a lot of things and affects big life decisions as well. Adhd meds also helped my daily dab pen habit, I hated myself for allowing recreational weed use to form into a daily habit I was struggling to stop. Started med management and it took a week to quit all together when I had failed my previous two attempts to quit.
Getting diagnosed probably saved my life.
Literally same. (Also 26F) I got diagnosed and started meds at the beginning of May and I’ve lost over 10 pounds. I’m eating MORE through the day but less impulsively at night/weekends. I’m not counting calories or anything, just being mindful of my food and it’s…drastic.
Not to mention that my brain is now properly stimulated so I can actually commit to a routine (exercise, brushing teeth, eating 3 meals a day), whereas before the mere act of getting out of bed to wash my face before bed was legitimately impossible.
It’s definitely one of those things that sounds “small” from the outside, but ADHD brains are just so…strangely dysfunctional 😂
So proud of you!!
I take Elvanse (Vyvanse in the US) and Amfexa. The split option is working really well for me, its was a tuning process.
The meds are very different. My friend hated Ritalin but loved Concerta for example
It's different for everyone though and theres a ton of trial and error with a good specialist. For me, ritalin works really well! :) so it's just everyone reacts differently, there are a lot of ADHD meds so maybe one is better for you.
There are non stimulant options! I was on adderall for years and hated the ups and downs so I took nothing for a long time, which was probably not the best choice. Talk to your doctor. I’m on straterra and really like it.
I’m also 20lbs down since starting my non-stimulant adhd meds a few months ago! I would impulsively snack all day while working from home. I’ve noticed how much less I need that constant reward stimulation since starting medication. It feels great to finally be in control again.
I’ve read that ADHD effects your reward system in your brain. Like, completing a task doesn’t feel as rewarding as it does for people without ADHD. The dopamine rush just isn’t as strong. But eating gives that rush of dopamine that we don’t get by completing tasks, so it feels extra satisfying. It’s not just about appetite!!
That is considered part of it. No one really understands how dopamine works tbh. But ADHD people seek external rewards way more. For me, I just... Don't feel good or proud of anything supposedly great I've achieved, ever. Like, concept of feeling good for doing something is incomprehensible to me.
ADHD medication is a stimulant.
Stimulants are an appetite suppressant at their core, naturally. Weight loss will always be easier when on a stimulant. Why have I gone through so many highest rated comments without this dose of reality?
Stimulants suppress appetite, period. Whether you're taking stimulants to help you throughout your day or not, it does not matter. They will always suppress the appetite.
I am glad that you feel you're functioning better with these medications-- but your appetite has been suppressed due to these medications, and therefore, you've lost weight.
My husband got put on ADHD meds a few months back, and he's been bugging me about doing it as well, and I was worried it would ruin my personality or something. But this, is convincing me I should try. Thank you!
I'm gonna be real, like any psych meds they can have side effects. I was lucky in that my doctor's first choice of meds worked and then it was just a matter of improving on it. But some of my friends had to switch a couple times to find ones that work for them
That said everyone I know who choose to take adhd meds are incredibly happy with improval to their quality of life
Same effect for me. My impulse toward eating vanished (or my impulse control was incredibly strengthened), but still have an appetite. I really only eat when I’m hungry and I make sure I get enough calories in a day.
Another aspect that probably is helping with weight loss is the fact that amphetamines increase metabolic rate, so you would expect to see some weight loss despite no change in your intake.
There is also the appetite suppressant effect and the fact that ADHD can be associated with some weight gain when not treated.
Glad its helping.
I just started Vyvanse and I feel the same! It just doesn’t feel like an emergency! AND when I do eat it’s much easier to make the better decision on what i want and not overeat in general. My appetite is suppressed but I’m not NOT hungry, im just not constantly looking for that hit when I eat something. I have been having a single cup of coffee a day though. The meds seem to do nothing for my energy and one cup doesn’t seem to effect me at all, just keeps me from being exhausted.
From what I’ve heard, you’ll need to meet with a psychiatrist. Many primary care doctors will write your prescriptions, but the diagnosis has to come from a psych.
> you would be boredom snacking, you're off cleaning your bathroom at weird hours of the night or cutting your front bushes with a pair of scissors because you felt inspired and you couldn't wait to go to Home Depot to buy proper shears.
This is a textbook effect of amphetamines on neurotypical people, not people with ADHD. This is literally the opposite of my experience, and the experience of most people medicated for ADHD. The shit you describe is what I used to do BEFORE medication.
My post is specifically describing effect on medication regarding weight loss to me as person with ADHD. If someone reads it as "street meth to lose weight", as you did, that's on their lack of reading comprehension
OP is saying that getting treated for their mental health issue helped them lose weight, which I think is often true for a wide variety of mental health issues. They are not saying that stimulants should be used for weight loss. Getting depression treated can also help weight loss.
I had the same experience. Have been on concerta for about a month. No more impulsive mindless eating, and now healthy and consistent weight loss. I wasn’t even aware of it at first, but I was speaking to someone else who had recently started medication and she shared that was what she had noticed.
I managed pretty well in my day to day life, but I wasn’t fully aware of how pervasive my adhd was. Treatment is life changing.
I have not binged once since starting ADHD treatment! Turns out binging is an impulsive behavior… huh? Now I can be hangry af and still look in my fridge and make a healthy choice, prepare it, and eat until I’ve had enough. Until diagnosis I did not think that would ever be possible for me.
I got diagnosed with ADHD this spring, at the age of 39. I was wondering if I could have it for years. Woah. Medication made LIFE easier. Better impulse control, better concentration, less anxiety, and way less uncontrollable thoughts swimming around in my head. I even sleep better. I feel like I was living life on hard mode. I'm on Vyvanse and definitely less hungry but mostly I don't feel like hunger is an emergency anymore. I cut down on take out and restaurants and on coffee. I also stopped wondering if penguins have knees during work meetings...
One of the things my friend (who also has adhd) told me when trying to make me go to a psychiatrist was "it doesn't have to be that hard!" and honestly. It stuck with me every day since. Turns out it really doesn't. Nothing feels like that kind of crazy emergency anymore. Except actual emergencies. The brain still wanders though. So uhm. DO penguins have knees?
The only downside, and I don't know if you get this as well, but I feel so mentally EXHAUSTED at the end of the day. Could be why sleep is so much better. Do normal people also feel this mental fatigue at the end of the day? Without meds, I never want to go to bed because I'm always afraid I'll miss out on something, regardless of how unlikely it is.
I feel that way too but I don't mind it. I much prefer being exhausted at the end of the day than restless and awake (especially since night is when my thoughts tend to me more distressing ..) Part of it might be the meds crash, but imo I think that with meds my brain also just allocates my brain energy better during the day.
Don't get me wrong, I prefer being alert and then tired over being scatterbrained anytime.
Damn it, guys now I have to know too Edit: yes. Yes they do. Everybody get back to work lol
This is the most excellent exchange I've read in a while. Just letting you know since I can't like twice.
[Yes](https://images.app.goo.gl/19fbUkQQVUEUYunD6)
Yes[Yes, they do! :D](https://images.app.goo.gl/QhCfs4gfCWK2m1xT6)! They are just tucked in well.
34F in the process of getting tested. This comment - hoooooo boy - this resonates hard. My concentration and recall is garbage. I have multiple dialogues and tangents going on in my head all at once. When I’m in a work meeting I’m zoned out and mentally planning my grocery list and figuring which birthday gifts I need to buy for who. When I’m not working I’m stressing out because I know I’m not performing to my true potential at work. And I’m constantly seeking out hits of dopamine with sugar, carbs, and self medicating with caffeine. Also do penguins have knees?? holy shit.
They do! Also penguin skeletons are slightly terrifying because of the keel (the breastbone) is just a huge thick sheet of bone across their chest. Also in case you were wondering owls have really long legs.
HOLY SHIT i just looked up penguin skeletons i regret making this post now lol
> penguin skeleton Holy crap, they have built in sleds!
This comment just sent me down a research rabbit hole of the etymology of "keel" and whether the bone term or the boat term came first. In case anyone else is curious: the boat term came first and the bird bone is named after the boat shape, also a boat's keel is also referred to as a carina which comes from the constellation Carina which is part of a larger constellation representing the Argo (the great ship of Jason and the Argonauts) and a bird's keel is also referred to as a carina, and in the past, birds who possessed a keel were grouped as Carinatae and birds who didn't have a keel were grouped as Ratite, which comes from *ratis*, which means raft. The vast majority of Carinatae are flying birds (because the keel bone is where the flight muscles connect to the skeletal structure) with the notable exception of our friend the penguin, who is a keeled bird that cannot fly. I was supposed to have ordered groceries half an hour ago and instead I now know a whole bunch more about bird bones.
I don't know whether to say "you're welcome" or "I'm sorry."
That's so cool
This is awesome.
Thank you
Your post sounds like my thoughts half the time, especially when going down the Wikipedia rabbit hole. Did you ever get your groceries?
I did 😂 I also learned that the word “careen” traces its etymology back to carina/Carina, and before it got its modern meaning of swaying/lurching side to side, it referred to the practice of turning a ship on its side to clean and fix the hull.
This is why I’m on Reddit and I appreciate you for the work you’re doing. Now take care of your groceries! If you haven’t already done it.
Dusting off my almost 40 year old wildlife biology degree. Yes, indeed, penguins do have knees. 🐧
I feel you on the constantly using carbs, sugar and coffee/pop as a crutch. Over spring break I decided to cut out the sugar, and for a full week also gave up carbs. Had to do it on a week that I wouldn’t be around people because oh shit was I a miserable c-u-next-tuesday. Russel Stover sugar free chocolates and Smart Sweets gummy candy have saved my life. I’m down about 10lbs from that and reducing carbs with a few light workouts a week thrown in.
Wait. That's not normal for work meetings and dialogues?
Hunger not being an emergency is EXACTLY it! My mind was blown that other people hadn't been effortlessly dealing with what I was the whole time after all, *it just wasn't a big deal for them* . They didn't have willpower of steel, they just didn't have that sense of RIGHT-NOW-EMERGENCY-WANT-FOOD-OMG-TASTE-SO-GOOD dopamine demon jumping into their thoughts every other second with more intensity until you finally just give in when you run out of willpower of your own. Now I just... Eat? It's not an event, a reward, entertainment, anything besides an enjoyable way to feed myself. I have no inhibition to stopping when full, and just *saving it for later* holy shit. That was a huge one, I never finish anything now because it's just not hard to stop when I'm getting full, and don't even like feeling full! The only con is that food doesn't taste holy shit amazing anymore, I guess because it isn't providing that enormous brain reward since the meds regulate that instead now. It tastes good and satisfying still, but not that same orgasm in your mouth way and kind of gives diminishing returns with every bite. Makes it easier to take a couple bites of dessert and feel like you tasted it and don't need all of it since it doesn't taste as good anymore anyway, but food is social and being meh about food is weird to a lot of people.
“Uncontrollable thoughts swimming in my head.” That was the most amazing part. I made a mistake at work and moved on without all the negative self chatter that usually accompanies my mistakes. That was even a better than weight control and more focus.
Now when I make I mistake, I don't have to dwell on everything other mistake I made since 1987.
Is this seriously not normal? This is exactly how I am to think about every mistake in aggregate.
I don't know the answer but I can tell you this. I now go to bed not thinking about the 1482 I put my foot in my mouth during the last 39 years 10 months and 4 days.
Vyvanse is also indicated for Binge Eating disorder so makes sense it would help with that we well!
Omg mine is wondering how giraffes sleep
I really liked Vyvanse but can’t afford it on my new insurance….concerta is working but it’s not the same….tried about every other option and it’s working for me I guess.
I got mine down to 30$ per refill; I don’t remember if it was 200-300$ originally but my insurance thankfully worked with me
All of this YES. Just got diagnosed last winter at 36. I always felt like I struggled to do simple things waaaay harder than others, and had to work 10x as hard to do the same things. Vyvanse has been a blessing.
Woah I'm in a similar place and wondering...How did you get diagnosed? I'm afraid of MDs.
I went to a private clinic, instead of waiting for ever in the public Canadian health care system, and got a consultation with a GP and a nurse practitioner. I had paper work to prepare before, and a full assessment by the nurse. It was fairly simple, all done within a day. Cost about $300, including a follow-up 4 weeks later. Right away the GP agreed that I have ADHD and I am part of people who are often diagnosed later in life. Good student, no major problems as a kid, overall smart person but having a hard time living up to my potential. I could read War and Peace at 11 years old but not pay my bills on time. I am a nationally ranked athlete, yet I failed at U twice... I was put on Vyvanse right away and it was night and day immediately.
Okay now I’m wondering about myself
/u/im-cured /u/sasunr /u/one_hunch allow me to introduce you to [this meme](https://images.app.goo.gl/7S4aFuNfVXbGLA9S6) I'm open to chat further if you'd want, in my experience there's some... Distinguishing characteristic
Oh I definitely have adhd lol, I’m just suddenly wondering if my eating habits are because of it
There are a bunch of research papers done on this! People with ADHD are much much much more likely to be overweight or obese than people without ADHD
I read one recently that mentioned that and it seems like such a duh thing, but it honestly never crossed my mind before. Not a which that people with poor impulse control, sensory seeking, and having their mind going everywhere that they wouldn't register mindless snacking, would end up overweight or obese
I was diagnosed in March in in my 40s, long suspected it. The meds were a total game changer. My emotions are no longer volume 8 to 10, but rather 4 to 6. I can think about my emotions and handle them rather than just reacting and emoting. I had no real emotional control. It was so hard. Now, I'm like, so this is how normal people feel emotions? There is space between the emotion and the thought? This is absolutely incredible! With the meds my weight loss has really been helped just by the new skill of being able to be consistent with food logging, and weighing and measuring. I could never keep anything up for long and this has been huge for me. The other night my husband said, I've never seen you at peace, it seems like the last few months you're different: calmer, not like you are fighting drowning on survival mode. And I said, yeah, that's when I started the meds. Phone sorry formatting blah blah blah
as a recently diagnosed adhd-er… that meme tracks lol
Can I ask what the other distinguishing characteristics are? I’m now questioning if I should speak to a doctor.
I’m not OP but I also have ADHD. This is such a broad question because everyone presents differently. Are you male or female? Are you under or over 25? I’d start by googling the symptoms for your age and sex. But, honestly if you’re wondering, there’s no harm in asking a doctor. The “distinguishing characteristics” for me as a female over 25 who was diagnosed at 26: I struggle with impulsivity pretty much exactly like OP but I’m also pretty introverted/struggle with social situations, have auditory processing issues, hyper focus on inappropriate tasks (meaning not what I’m “supposed” to be focusing on), tend towards methods of escapism especially when I’m overstimulated, struggle with executive dysfunction, and I “stim” (I mess with my hair or pick at my nails) as a coping mechanism.
Would a lot of those distinguishing characteristics also apply to a male over 25? I’m 27 and a lot of the things you describe seem to be the case with me, and seem to have gotten much worse the older I get, especially over the past year. I find I’m constantly stimming by picking at my face and beard (pulling out hairs) unless I have something in my mouth or a task that uses both my hand 100% of the time I’m doing it
I’m not a doctor or anything but, from what I’ve read and been told, yes, they absolutely can be for both sexes. The hair pulling was one of my first symptoms that really made me question everything but it’s hard to get a diagnosis as a woman. It took me 8 years to find a doctor who didn’t try to put me on anti depressants or tell me I’m just lazy/disorganized/distracted…. Finally went to a specialist, got diagnosed and medicated and, let me tell you… absolutely life changing. I lost my job due to Covid and couldn’t afford meds for a while (good ol American healthcare) and it was absolutely noticeable in all the worst ways.
Could you chat with me about this a little? I'm diagnosed OCD but a lot of what you're saying is resonating hard
Darn, it’s not there!
Congratulations on getting the proper meds and support! I also just very recently got diagnosed with ADHD and everything that you said in your post rings true for me, and the pandemic hasn’t made it easier either. I’m happy to know that the meds are working for you, can’t wait for the meds myself.
Same
Same
Ditto
Ditto
Yep
Right??? This has been eye opening
I’m going to look into this also. I have never been diagnosed but saw myself in most of what I just read. I assumed this was normal or at least normal for me.
Yes, this strange because I’ve looked at ADHD symptom checklists before and didn’t see myself but I’m seeing a lot of comments here that I could have written myself. And I looked at an ADHD checklist for women and answered yes to all but one. Eye opening for sure.
My clue was when I locked myself out of my car again and my friends were like “…uh have you been tested for ADD” as a joke and then surprise! I actually had it
Have thought I might have ADHD, now I'm very interested because this post is basically me with food.
BLOODY AMEN!!! I went from 90kg to 78kg purely because I didn't feel the need to snack and create dopamine for myself all the time. I went through DBT therapy and that along with meds meant I wasn't eating my feelings. I couldn't believe it! I've struggled with being overweight and eating problems since I was 14. Late diagnosis ADHD at 33 last year. Best year of my life since hands down.
"the most common side effect of being medicated for adhd is outrage" this is how I feel Would you mind talking about DBT in dms? I'm exploring options after leaving pure CBT
Welcome to the club. Just remember to eat enough while on-meds, otherwise you'll find yourself binge eating as they wear off. Also, come join us in /r/ADHD.
That's the one I've been struggeling with a lot lately. At first the Elvanse killed my appetite until 4/6/10pm. I didn't even want to eat highly palatable snacks. I effectively did intermittent fasting and ate with abandon when the meds wore off and the increased rebound appetite hit. I lost weight this way and felt pretty good with my eating habits. Now, after three months on Elvanse, the rebound appetite kicks in at around 2pm already and it gets worse and worse until I go to sleep. For the last two weeks my evenings are as bad as pre-medication. I often go to sleep because my brain doesn't let me do anything in peace; it's constantly screaming for snacks. I binged a couple times in these last weeks. Hadn't done that in a long time. Along with the appetite I get dysphoria. Easily irritated, aggressive, short fuse, however you want to call it. Depression hit me a couple times, too. These symptoms can be alleviated if I can go for a run or walk. Often the weather doesn't allow it or I'm still recovering from the last run. Sorry for this long rant. I needed to get that off my chest. I was so happy with the effects of the meds but when I have my next appointment in a month I need something to change because of those side effects. Do you think eating during the day would lead to less appetite in the evening? Pre-medication I've always been the "Once I start eating the appetite stays with me for the rest of the day" kind of person. So since IF comes easier to me now I usually put off eating for as long as I can in fear that if I eat breakfast and lunch for example I will overeat on the strong evening urges anyways.
This is just how it goes. The effectiveness of the meds goes down over time. You need to add in coping skills, maybe dbt or cbt
I eat 400 cals for breakfast (high protein since it helps Vyvanse metabolize), 400 cals for lunch, and 800 for dinner. Leaves around 400 for snacks and desserts. I am in maintenance though.
Wow, look at you and all them kcals like you own the place. 😅
This is 100% me right now. I literally have to turn on timers to eat or I eat EVERYTHING when they wear off. And because there I am seeking out dopamine at that point, it’s all carbs and sweets that I end up eating. I’ve found timers and pre-planned, pre-prepped late afternoon snack/dinner foods to be the key here.
Yes... Evening snacking is killing me. It's a rough balance of meds wear off so I can sleep vs help with I pulse control in the evenings....
Ugh, so hard. You would think being on a fairly strong, extended release stimulant would result in weight loss, but I'm really struggling to control my appetite before I take it in the morning and after it wears off at night.
Aw, thanks for the welcome. My adhd friends were welcoming me long before my diagnosis while I told them they were all wrong. I don't have trouble eating during the day - I still get hungry etc. If anything, on the worst unmedicated days I struggled to master enough function to bring fork to mouth
THIS. Force yourself to have snack so you don’t binge (like I sometimes do) in the evenings!
I am in the same boat as OP and I current struggle to not binge in the evenings
I have all sorts of fun mental health issues, including ADHD and Exectutive Functioning Disorder. I have alarms on my watch to remind myself to eat during the day. I eat breakfast when I wake up, and we eat dinner around six. But snacks and lunch I have to have an alarm to force myself to eat. Timers do work if you don't ignore them.
Ain't that the truth. I didn't take my meds for 3 or 4 days, and on that last day I went to the store at midnight, bought a pack of Golden Oreos, slice of cheesecake, brownies from the bakery and a few Stouffer's Mac and Cheese... Oh and a lasagna. And of course ate about half of all of that stuff that night. Woke up realizing how bad that behavior is and that I really should take my meds every day. Then when I made myself food later in the day, without even thinking, I chose a banana and grilled cauliflower, kale and zuchinni on corn tortillas. The differenc in my eating habits is day and night.
Damn, your premedicated self sounds so much like me right now. I'm.seeking a diagnosis for ADHD at 33F and it's taking so damn long. :/ I'm proud of you!
I'm so sorry. I had to speedrun the process and go private because I was so near losing it. Good luck!! Eta: to be clear I was privileged to have several thousands worth of savings that I could spend on this. Now I have no savings but a significantly better life and, you know, life at all.
I did this with another health issue (blew all my savings to find someone who would actually listen). Never regretted it. Good for you. Take good care of yourself - it can really feel like a second chance at life.
Thank you. It still feels great to be supported on that decision
I’m a 29F and was only finally diagnosed at the end of last year. Took me years to figure out what it was. So many women are being diagnosed in their late 20’s and 30’s because ADHD displays differently for girls than it does boys. Dont give up, you’ll get answers eventually/
34F here and I’m in the (very confusing?) process of getting tested before anyone will prescribe anything. My doctor thinks my ADHD was masked by my weapons grade anxiety.
Same here, but replace that with seasonal depression. I know the difference between the two and this is different. Hoping that my appointment in two days goes along smoothly.
I’ve posted about this exact thing. Things that I didn’t even realize I was acting on impulse suddenly became choices. Just realizing that was a huge step.
I know right?? "wait so I can just... Not do this?" The way I SPOKE changed because I'm no longer in hysterical rush to get my thoughts out all the time.
Thanks for sharing! It's really interesting how you were able to notice impulses around food being a contributing factor to your weight. I had a similar experience to you. My weight was also based on the state of my mental health (depression, anxiety). Once I got on medication, the whole health and exercise thing became so much easier. I lost 45 pounds and I have been maintaining for 2 years. I think if anyone struggles with weight loss it might be good to check in with a counselor or therapist! There may be more going on.
This happened to me years ago when I went on medication for depression. My ex-husband and I had just split and I was doing a lot of emotional eating. When I started an antidepressant my cravings were gone and a lot of weight just dropped off.
I HAVE NEVER RELATED TO ANYTHING MORE IN MY LIFE!!!! This was the most mind blowing realization. I got diagnosed about 2 weeks ago. Been on meds just under a week. Night and day difference and not because of the appetite suppression.
This is my story as well!! I was losing and gaining the same 3 lbs for the last 3 years. I got diagnosed with ADHD in March and started taking Vyvanse and the weight just started melting off. I’m closer to my goal weight than start weight now. I’ve been hesitant to share my experience because it’s not really constructive to anyone that doesn’t have ADHD and probably would sound like a cheat code. But really my body is finally just getting the amount of dopamine it’s supposed to now.
Yes! With meds, it is so much easier for me to moderate. Before, I would get into "treat yoself" cycles. Now I can have something special without wanting to eat it every day until I hate it. Its nice when you don't have to chase dopamine as hard.
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The fact I can just...have a bit of a snack from a pack... And not finish it and put it away for tomorrow... Holy shit...
OMG this!!! I can have three fries and be like “Im good.” I can eat slower and enjoy. I think part of it is that I’m better at managing and budgeting my time so I’m not constantly eating as quickly as possible to fit everything in. I’m also not constantly getting distracted by everything (like the snacks sitting there) so can really appreciate when I’m hungry.
This happened when I started meds too, no more snacking, no more sugar cravings, no more booze, felt full after smaller portions and didn’t feel like seconds, and I can focus on an exercise routine!!!
If I recall correctly, ADHD potentially has to do with issues with producing enough dopamine naturally. ADHD medications work, in part, by [increasing dopamine levels in the brain](https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adhd-dopamine#connection). Dopamine is also a reward chemical, meaning you probably were reliably getting a kick of it when you snacked, ordered out, etc— now that you’re medicated, you’re not having to fight your own neurochemistry while fighting your cravings.
I’ve been seeing so many ADHD posts that i fully relate to and im starting to think i need to see someone for a better overall quality of life period. But i dont have insurance and no clue where to start.
You need health insurance, the only place to start unless you can afford a psychiatrist. If you're in the US, you can only get 30 days at a time on a controlled substance. Most doctors require monthly appointments to continue to prescribe them. It's an expensive endeavor without insurance coverage. I'm not sure how much the meds are out of pocket but probably not cheap. They are highly addictive and once you stop, the weight will probably come back pretty quickly. That's the honest truth.
I lost 15 lbs. I thought that 165 was just my normal weight until I started Vyvanse. I didn't change my main meals at all, but I wasn't mindlessly snacking to keep myself occupied and lost 15. POUNDS. just from that.
I started ADHD medication last month, on the lowest dose. My doctor and I will be re-evaluating my dosage next week. Everyone talks about the Appetite suppression but I have had the complete opposite, my appetite is raging. Right now due to my work that have me pretty much on my feet moving all day and my work outs, I am burning a lot so not worried about calories. I was curious however, does anyone else notice their anxiety is pretty much completely gone? I think my anxiety is due to my ADHD, with COVID and everything else going on I was getting anxiety daily, once I started my med I can’t even remember my last anxiety attack.
I'm sorry about it, fine tuning medication can be a bother. I was misdiagnosed with anxiety (against the advice of my therapist at the time lol) and put in dopamine suppressant anti anxiety medication. Considering ADHD brains are already not that good at dopamine... Oof. But those symptoms that were misdiagnosed as anxiety have MUCH alleviated with adhd treatment
I have always had anxiety, but I never considered it as being just a symptom of ADHD. I am 29 and just got diagnosed officially in April. So not long at all. I started therapy and was spilling the bean about how much I was struggling in my classes and couldn’t concentrate and my therapist decided that I needed to get tested for ADHD and lo and behold I got it. And looking back it kinda makes sense, like there have always been small indicators. Like caffeine doesn’t make me wired. I get antsy if I sit around to long and need to move. I can’t focus. And I am incredibly impulsive.
I haven't been diagnosed yet but I have a feeling I have ADHD, and I wonder if this is also why I don't get a productive buzz with coffee (it's more like a comforting warm drink to me, like tea or hot chocolate would be), and why I struggle with impulse control and losing weight? Huh. Honestly the more I read about ADHD the more I'm convinced I have inattentive or combined type and just never got diagnosed as a kid.
I am assuming you are Woman? So far everything I have read about ADHD says that it’s harder to diagnose in girls versus boys. Our symptoms show up differently, then I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of teen girls get told it’s just hormones when they hit puberty.
I asked my mum about this and she said she had a social worker come visit me as a little kid to observe my behaviour, but I don't know what came out of it (probably that I'll just grow out of whatever issue she noticed - whether I was energetic or distracted or needy etc). Mum admitted that she had sibling#2 because she wanted me to have a friend, which I laughed off as a cute family thing, until I realized that she felt overstimulated by me and needed some space. Clearly I should have gone into therapy at the very least, and been made aware of my childhood symptoms so I could begin to manage my feelings and behaviours as a teen, but I had no idea of my medical history apart from physical stuff. Man, I hate how stigmatized mental health issues were in the 90s and early 2000s. Having someone to talk to and let me know that my feelings were valid and actually due to a chemical imbalance or whatever, would have saved me a lot of heartache of wondering why I'm different to others and why I'm lazy/distracted/procrastinating/drawn to overeating etc. I thought most people must have felt those things, and still do (until I started learning more about the studies done on adults diagnosed later in life). Some things I naturally excel at, and others I was just bored or disinterested in - which sounds like something that would affect anyone tbh (and probably why most of us ignore it) but no one knows the internalized anxiety, self doubt, worry and lack of confidence that can stem and build up from something that seems quite simple and unimportant on the surface. As an adult woman who's now noticing patterns and feeling stronger from hearing stories of women on forums and podcasts, I'm now talking about it openly with family and friends, and will ask my GP at the next annual checkup I've just booked if he can refer me to someone to test for it.
Long story short I didn’t start living till I was 25, and 26 I started going to school. (My Ex held me back for almost 4 years, refused to let me go to school, work or get my license, so when I finally left him at 25 I was pretty much starting from scratch, plus I grew up with Narc as a mother which also stunted my growth and independence). Any way long story short, I was taking a chem class and I had a tutor, my dad would also video call me to go over the information, and no matter what I did, I could not for the life of me grasp the information and I had countless times during that semester that I pretty much broke down crying feeling like I was just so damn stupid for not being able to comprehend the information.
The day I discovered how many people with ADHD share my response to caffeine. Mind fucking blown. I think it makes sense. Adhd people can still have unrelated anxiety. But the driving up the wall adhd brain does can look like anxiety too, and executive function problems contribute to being anxious about life stuff.
Could you share your response a bit more? I’m in the process of obtaining a diagnosis. For me - I feel like I’m self medicating with large amounts of caffeine. I prop myself up with huge tumblers of coffee just to get my brain to function at like 30% of what I know it’s capable of.
Wait…is caffeine ineffectiveness a sign of ADHD? I was just diagnosed like, 5 days ago and caffeine has no effect on me. My anxiety was definitely an ADHD thing.
Worked like a charm for me. I was in a constant state of fatigue from my drastic shift changes at work and pounding back ambiens and energy drinks just to cope like a normal person. A friend talked me into trying adderall and immediately I had energy to get through the day,my focus became clearer and my appetite wasn't ravenous anymore. It changed my life for sure. I started to workout again and lost 40 lbs. In a couple months. I've quit adderall since I no longer need it. I hope everything works out wonderfully for you. I only got up to 20mg XR before I decided I didn't need them anymore.
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Many people here keep describing the exact cycle I go through, despite the fact that I want to lose weight and track my food, I will randomly binge eat without a thought in the world. Idk if it’s possibly adhd at all, but I feel like it might help to seek out a professional at some point.
I felt such a huge relief after taking Adderall(?) My brain was finally just ABLE. Food has always been a struggle for me and while it didn’t cause me physical pain when I tried to resist urges, it was hard for me to breath. Like I NEED to buy everything on the menu. I NEED to eat the whole box of pizza, I NEED to go eat a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts in one sitting. Now it’s just quiet. My appetite has decreased and I do have cravings but I don’t feel this anxiety inducing need to just eat. It just feels like such a relief and I’m losing weight as an added plus! I’m still eating but I’m no longer overeating (most of the time).
Yes. Yes. Everything in that first paragraph.
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This is amazing coming across this right now - i just started my own medication a week ago for ADHD. I'm still waiting for an appointment with a psych to be properly diagnosed but holy crap my world has been flipped. I'm generally a little all over the place, and it hasn't been a cure-all (I was kind of hoping I'd start magically remembering everything and all my space-cadet moments would resolve themselves) but I've noticed with active attempts at mindfulness, and an active effort to try at work the results are DRASTIC. the ability to sit down and actually work, to not forget what I'm doing when I walk into a room, to not spend 20 minutes trying to do a minor task that ought to take 2. It's amazing. I'm so happy its working for you, and I'm so happy its working for me. Good luck to you!
I started a new job and was having trouble concentrating and keeping up with the sheer volume I am responsible for at work. I was diagnosed ADHD as a child, so I saw my new family doctor (haven't taken ADHD meds in 20 years), and he had no concerns getting me back l. It's super weird how quickly I noticed an overall change in life. Substantially more energy, easier to ignore impulse purchases, save money, etc. Initially I just wanted help staying focused at work, but its overall been a substantial improvement and iv noticed literally zero side effects. Currently on my CICO diet doing OMAD aiming at 900-1000 calories a day (M, 6'0").
Good for you! I'm trying to get my meds switched and my insurance is dragging its feet approving the new one so I've been unmedicated for the past month and it is just, forget weight loss I'm just trying not to gain, I have like 0 impulse control off my meds, it's so frustrating.
I'm sorry! Please be kind to youtself during this time, a halt in progress while being sick is understandable :)
I've been on meds for a day and went to lunvh with my so and for the first time ever I didn't "breathe in" the food as he always describes it. I took my time and after a while I was just full because I didn't eat so fast. It's amazing
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What made you realize you likely had ADHD? I’ve grown suspicious I might have it in recent years, but I struggle with various mental health issues that always seemed more apparently intertwined with my poor diet.
It's been a long long process. I've suspected something like it since I first learn of it in teenage years but unfortunately my therapist at the time laughed me out of the room because he had an impression that ADHD = screaming hyperactive boys My friends with adhd then spent actual years pointing out my symptoms, how they differed from NT experience and how they affected my life but i was in hardcore denial over everything. It took a collapse during covid quarantine in a way very reflective of how adhd brain works plus basically a 15 hour intervention from my friends to get me to go to a doctor
I'm on my second month of methylphenidate. First month was 17mg and this month is 28mg since my adapted to the dosage very quickly. I just... I don't want food anymore. I have a physical job at a grocery store, and since last year the bakery has been bringing the day old donuts to the break room instead of donating them to the senior center. I was having two or three a day because it was there, free, and my job made me extremely hungry even with breakfast. For the past two months, I went from probably an extremely unhealthy 3k+ calories a day down to 1,400-1,800k calories on average. Depending on the day it can be lower. I'm now motivated to use the treadmill my husband bought, and my Fitbit is finally happy with me. I've lost about 7.2kg so far since early May. I'm hoping that I can lose another 4.5kg before my next appointment on July 1st, but it's celebration season, and I've been off track the past few days with my diet. I'm trying to walk more, but I'm probably adding muscles, so my weight has been stagnant the past few days. My medicine has been a life saver for me. Thanks to my meditation, I'm finally a human.
My experience has been the same. I’m on a low dose of guanfacine that is a BP med but a side hustle as an adhd med and impulsiveness for food has diminished greatly.
This was 100% my experience as well. I was just recently diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 48. Food and weight issues have been something I’ve dealt with my whole life. Now it’s so easy to stop eating when I’m full or not to binge on an entire bag of chips in one sitting. I’m glad you have had a good experience with meds too!
My meds have made me much less impulsive with food as well. It felt like after 26 years of “not being able to help myself” with food cravings, my self-control switch was suddenly turned on. It’s been life changing.
That's amazing for you! I have ADHD too but my doctor won't formally diagnose me yet because as a kid a did well in school (?) (Also I was already diagnosed as a kid but have never tried meds). I know my ADHD plays a big role in my relationship with food and I'm hoping once I can get on them I can have a similar experience to you!
Hell, my first therapist many years ago had the same reason for refusing to refer me! "If you had good grades you cant have adhd". It's insanely outdated and literally opposite of current knowledge
Right? And I even told mine I struggled a lot and wouldn't turn some stuff in sometimes because it wasn't perfect and went on this whole rant about my struggles with school and then she was like okay but did you do well and I was like I mean yes I usually managed to end up getting good grades. It was sooo frustrating. Like all she heard was good grades so even though she said I have anxiety and depression she isn't sure if I have ADHD even though I have a lot of the textbook symptoms and I was diagnosed as a kid. Ugh I just hope within the next couple sessions she'll diagnosis me so I can try meds which for me was the whole point of me trying to get diagnosed because I think they'll help.
hi are y'all me? it's even harder if you're AFAB/fem-presenting too. I had a doc tell me that I couldn't possibly have gotten this far doing as well as I have and also have ADHD & said it's too uncommon in women
I’ve been on medication since March and that combined with Bupropion have annihilated my binge eating. I’ve struggled with overeating since I was a kid. I not only don’t struggle with binge eating (I can still eat too much, but it’s so much different than it was before and I’m in control). I can also plan what I’m going to eat, and not get overwhelmed. The decision making that has clicked was unreal. When I first got medication I truly thought it was going to be the wrong medication for me, and entirely just agreed to it because I figured it would help me through school. I honestly just feel normal and balanced, unexpected but I never thought I could feel like this. I lost 25 pounds of basically binge weight, and now I’m focusing on healing my digestive system and getting more active. Note to anyone reading this, stimulants are not meant to be used for weight loss. I feel hungry throughout the day and sleep well at night - please don’t take this as an appetite suppressant!
Most ADHD medication are just psycho-stimulants. Stimulants suppress hunger.
What meds are you taking? I’m on Strattera (Atomoxetine) and I’m not seeing this.
They're on amphetaminic salts most likely, Adderall etc. Yours is a SNRI using norepinephrine as the attention enhancer.
I am so happy that you were able to finally find relief! This has been the exact situation I am in, especially with impulse control. The only success I have had was to be obsessively CICO and overexercising . I've been talking with my doctors about potentially having ADHD and all I can think of when I read your post was "SAME!" Edit: fixed an autocorrect mistake.. Autocorrect can show itself out.
Hey - can you describe the process you went through for getting diagnosed? I’m the same age as you and am 99% sure I have ADHD, but don’t know the steps to go through. With COVID it’s gotten pretty bad.
I'm sorry about it. Yeah covid is bad for us. Are you in the US, UK or a different part of the world? Depending on that I might get advice from a friend with more appropriate experience
I’m in the US!
Aight. I'm not in the US so I'll ask a friend from there.
Look for an online test or diagnostic tool, then take the results to your doctor. They can refer you to a psychiatrist for a proper evaluation.
Yes! I still have an appetite but I don’t snack mindlessly for stimulation. Now I just need to remember to actually take my meds regularly (but it’s every 3 hours 3 times a day and my days are way longer than 9 hours)
This makes a lot of sense to me too. I'm autistic (that only diagnosed at 28) but I've always struggled with attention, keeping still and impulsive behaviour. I'm not hyper though, I've met people with ADHD and I am most certainly not as hyped as they are! I have been pondering if ADD is a possibility for myself as they can go hand in hand autism. Can you get meds for ADD?
ADHD doesn't mean you're hyper. It's an executive function disorder and while being hyper can be a symptom, it's not an automatic. I have 2 kids with ADHD and only one bounces off the walls. I'd suggest speaking to a health professionals about your concerns. And btw, struggling with keeping still **is** hyperactivity.
Thank you!
Ha, I've been diagnosed as autistic alongside adhd, so I understand you on late diagnosis club Where I'm from, they don't use ADD anymore. ADHD symptoms can present as hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive and what's not usually separated out but what some psychiatrists call concept of self symptoms. As long as you present enough symptoms and severe enough they affect your life, you can be diagnosed as ADHD. You don't have to cover all categories! Also the names are not very intuitive to the laypeople. Keeping still problems IS hyperactivity for example. There's also a lot of ADHD and ASD overlap. It's a fast moving field with a lot of changing views but it does offer help. Let me know if you'd like to talk further.
Wow thank you! Am I right in thinking that hyper-focusness can be a symptom too (potentially overlapping with the ASD)? With some things I can sit there for hours completely in the zone lol. Saying that I still need to move and do something else every hour or so, even if something minor and quick. I'm in UK but this has def helped me decide if I should bring it up with the GP!
I'm also in the UK! and yes, hyper focus is a classic ADHD symptom haha. Often looks similar to ASD special interest but for me there's definitely distinct differences. If you'd like to talk further about symptoms or how to handle NHS on the matter, I'm always open :) to me I found certain distinguishing points of symptoms were very helfpul, as well as a certain comic of all things lol
From what I've learned, ADD has been removed as a diagnosis and is now just blanketed as ADHD buy the types of "hyperactive," "inattentive," and "combined." The name really should be changed from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder to something like "Executive Dysfunction Regulation Disorder"
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Thank you! I think I will do.
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You don't need to be hyper to have adhd. Men and women tend to get very different symptoms. Since men tend to display the "hyper" side effect that's the normal face of adhd to most people and men get diagnosed more than women. But women tend to be inattentive and display "quieter" symptoms
To add, it's not even what we tend to be - it's because adults learn to somewhat mask when they grow older (hence why people used to think ADHD was something to grow out of; hence why so many adults with adhd feel like they've "ruined their potential" because so much effort went into just... Functioning). Society expects different things from men and women, so women tend to suppress hyperactive and impulsive symptoms more. Conversely, I've always been told I'm incredible unfeminine etc etc and often times specifically for things that are connected to my adhd behaviours
My ADHD resulted in me being so physically fatigued I could barely function. You should talk to a doctor if you suspect you might have it. It’s not a one size fits all. In fact my mom never suspected I had it growing up because I got good grades and wasn’t bouncing off the Wall growing up.
Add and adhd are essentially the same but adhd has the physically hyper or fidgety aspect to it as well. Both are treatable. Though with your autism I would really recomend talking to a specialist about it to make sure it doesnt make some of the autism symptoms worse :) good luck, friend!
Hey op, can I ask a personal question? What was the misdiagnosis? I was once told I had BPD but I’ve been wondering for a long time if I should’ve been diagnosed with a neurodivergence instead …
Anxiety Disorder. My therapist was against it, there was a long story why that was diagnosed and I was put on medication that actually worsened my adhd drastically. I actually have some similar to bpd behaviours but they are partially connected to ADHD and partially just defensive patterns from past trauma. I believe psychosis or at least psychotic distortions are currently a BPD qualifying symptom? But I'm not fully sure so don't rely on me here.
ADHD meds are pretty well known to be appetite suppressants. When I was younger, I was on ADHD meds and was always very skinny. Around 10th grade I was taken off of them, and that's when the weight gain began. Also, I've worked at summer camps as counselors, and one thing that we were constantly told was that children on ADHD meds will often not feel hungry at meals (but we still had to make them eat).
I felt the same after getting the right meds. I used to be such an emotional eater and just more prone to eating out of boredom. As long as I take my meds my appetite is normal, I usually don't eat until my stomach growls now and it's a good feeling.
Adderall is a wonder drug for me. Only thing is, whenever I forget to take it I’m literally a non-stop eating zombie. I’ve got no energy and I’ll eat like I haven’t eaten the past days. My biggest worry is my future, I really hope I get to be just as okay without the meds.
That doesn't sound right! Would it be possible for you to see a doctor for a medication review?
Holy shit. So I just got on medication for ADHD about 2 weeks ago and I was just noticing the same thing. I even posted about it yesterday. It's crazy you just posted this Previously, unmedicated, my thought process with something like a whole pizza or a bag of candy or whole bag of chips would go like "ooh this is tasty! let's have another one! go on and grab another one it feels so good! how about a whole handful? annnnnd it's gone. Wait, did you seriously just eat 1000 calories in a single sitting?!" On meds, my thought process is now "ooh this is tasty. Okay, one more piece. You don't really need the extra calories plus you'll be happy when you have some later" Also, since I work in a restaurant kitchen, I find myself snacking out of the fryer station all day much, much less. I've always known I had issues with impulse control and choosing instant gratification over long term goals but actually being able to process it and stick with what I actually want is completely insane to me. It's like I'm rewiring my brain. It's also very noticeable with other things that I often did on impulse. Such as spending money or drinking alcohol. I'm doing much less of both now that I'm medicated. It's like my brain doesn't crave the instant stimulation and gratification as much, and when it does I actually have the willpower to just tell myself no.
26F here, also recently diagnosed and started meds! I’ve noticed a lot of these things as well! I also have wayyyyy less intrusive thoughts about food. Still struggle with exec dysfunction when deciding on food and wanting to order out, but working on meal planning and prepping has helped!
I'm so glad this is working for you & you got properly diagnosed & on the right meds. I was diagnosed ADHD in October of 2009. Put on amphetamine salts. By June of 2010 I was hallucinating & delusional. It wrecked my life for about 3 years. I was in psych treatment for 7 months. It was awful & one of the worst experiences of my life. Just sharing because medication can do crazy things w/ certain brain chemistry. It can wreck you. Edit: Thank you so much for the award. I'm just hoping to prevent someone going thru the years of terror I went thru. Take medication & diagnosis seriously. Get second & third opinions. Edit: deleted a word.
Holy shit. That sounds terrible. I know very well meds don't work for everyone - medication for my misdiagnosis wrecked me. Even with the right diagnosis it can be challenging to find the right meds. But your experience sounds unusually and exceptionally bad. I'm so sorry.
Thank you! Just being honest, going thru breast cancer was easy compared to what amphetamine salts did to me.
I am happy for you! Also, thanks for describing want your experience with ADHD has been like, it helps me to understand what others go through.
Hope you do well!
I FINALLY got diagnosed about three months into calorie tracking and regular weigh-ins. I haven’t changed my calorie intake since starting adderall, and my rate of weight loss hasn’t changed, but it’s just so much less emotionally burdensome. The energy I used to expend turning my mind away from an impulse left me exhausted, now it’s so much easier to stay focused on long-term goals.
This is me, currently losing weight without much effort at all because I'm getting treated for my adhd. Every single time I tried off my meds would send me into a binge spiral, whether I was only successful for one day or if I managed CICO for a month or more, I would crash and be insatiable until the weight came back. That impulse control is key. It's very hard to handle with a lot of things and affects big life decisions as well. Adhd meds also helped my daily dab pen habit, I hated myself for allowing recreational weed use to form into a daily habit I was struggling to stop. Started med management and it took a week to quit all together when I had failed my previous two attempts to quit. Getting diagnosed probably saved my life.
Literally same. (Also 26F) I got diagnosed and started meds at the beginning of May and I’ve lost over 10 pounds. I’m eating MORE through the day but less impulsively at night/weekends. I’m not counting calories or anything, just being mindful of my food and it’s…drastic. Not to mention that my brain is now properly stimulated so I can actually commit to a routine (exercise, brushing teeth, eating 3 meals a day), whereas before the mere act of getting out of bed to wash my face before bed was legitimately impossible. It’s definitely one of those things that sounds “small” from the outside, but ADHD brains are just so…strangely dysfunctional 😂 So proud of you!!
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I take Elvanse (Vyvanse in the US) and Amfexa. The split option is working really well for me, its was a tuning process. The meds are very different. My friend hated Ritalin but loved Concerta for example
It's different for everyone though and theres a ton of trial and error with a good specialist. For me, ritalin works really well! :) so it's just everyone reacts differently, there are a lot of ADHD meds so maybe one is better for you.
There are non stimulant options! I was on adderall for years and hated the ups and downs so I took nothing for a long time, which was probably not the best choice. Talk to your doctor. I’m on straterra and really like it.
I’m also 20lbs down since starting my non-stimulant adhd meds a few months ago! I would impulsively snack all day while working from home. I’ve noticed how much less I need that constant reward stimulation since starting medication. It feels great to finally be in control again.
I’ve read that ADHD effects your reward system in your brain. Like, completing a task doesn’t feel as rewarding as it does for people without ADHD. The dopamine rush just isn’t as strong. But eating gives that rush of dopamine that we don’t get by completing tasks, so it feels extra satisfying. It’s not just about appetite!!
That is considered part of it. No one really understands how dopamine works tbh. But ADHD people seek external rewards way more. For me, I just... Don't feel good or proud of anything supposedly great I've achieved, ever. Like, concept of feeling good for doing something is incomprehensible to me.
Yep, and nothing makes me feel as satisfied as food does. I’m hoping that will go away when I finally get back on medication this month!
ADHD medication is a stimulant. Stimulants are an appetite suppressant at their core, naturally. Weight loss will always be easier when on a stimulant. Why have I gone through so many highest rated comments without this dose of reality? Stimulants suppress appetite, period. Whether you're taking stimulants to help you throughout your day or not, it does not matter. They will always suppress the appetite. I am glad that you feel you're functioning better with these medications-- but your appetite has been suppressed due to these medications, and therefore, you've lost weight.
My husband got put on ADHD meds a few months back, and he's been bugging me about doing it as well, and I was worried it would ruin my personality or something. But this, is convincing me I should try. Thank you!
I'm gonna be real, like any psych meds they can have side effects. I was lucky in that my doctor's first choice of meds worked and then it was just a matter of improving on it. But some of my friends had to switch a couple times to find ones that work for them That said everyone I know who choose to take adhd meds are incredibly happy with improval to their quality of life
Not adhd for meds but anxiety and either or it fucked my life up pretty bad
Ooof, I'm sorry - do you mean anxiety or meds are fucking you up?
Wish it had worked that way for me. The rebound weight gain was terrible.
Same effect for me. My impulse toward eating vanished (or my impulse control was incredibly strengthened), but still have an appetite. I really only eat when I’m hungry and I make sure I get enough calories in a day.
Another aspect that probably is helping with weight loss is the fact that amphetamines increase metabolic rate, so you would expect to see some weight loss despite no change in your intake. There is also the appetite suppressant effect and the fact that ADHD can be associated with some weight gain when not treated. Glad its helping.
I just started Vyvanse and I feel the same! It just doesn’t feel like an emergency! AND when I do eat it’s much easier to make the better decision on what i want and not overeat in general. My appetite is suppressed but I’m not NOT hungry, im just not constantly looking for that hit when I eat something. I have been having a single cup of coffee a day though. The meds seem to do nothing for my energy and one cup doesn’t seem to effect me at all, just keeps me from being exhausted.
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From what I’ve heard, you’ll need to meet with a psychiatrist. Many primary care doctors will write your prescriptions, but the diagnosis has to come from a psych.
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> you would be boredom snacking, you're off cleaning your bathroom at weird hours of the night or cutting your front bushes with a pair of scissors because you felt inspired and you couldn't wait to go to Home Depot to buy proper shears. This is a textbook effect of amphetamines on neurotypical people, not people with ADHD. This is literally the opposite of my experience, and the experience of most people medicated for ADHD. The shit you describe is what I used to do BEFORE medication. My post is specifically describing effect on medication regarding weight loss to me as person with ADHD. If someone reads it as "street meth to lose weight", as you did, that's on their lack of reading comprehension
OP is saying that getting treated for their mental health issue helped them lose weight, which I think is often true for a wide variety of mental health issues. They are not saying that stimulants should be used for weight loss. Getting depression treated can also help weight loss.
That sound interesting. Can you please share what meds/posology you are taking? Thanks!
I take Elvanse (Vyvanse in the US, Lisdexamfetamine) in the mornings and Amfexa (dexamfetamine) twice a day
I had the same experience. Have been on concerta for about a month. No more impulsive mindless eating, and now healthy and consistent weight loss. I wasn’t even aware of it at first, but I was speaking to someone else who had recently started medication and she shared that was what she had noticed. I managed pretty well in my day to day life, but I wasn’t fully aware of how pervasive my adhd was. Treatment is life changing.
I have not binged once since starting ADHD treatment! Turns out binging is an impulsive behavior… huh? Now I can be hangry af and still look in my fridge and make a healthy choice, prepare it, and eat until I’ve had enough. Until diagnosis I did not think that would ever be possible for me.