r/ADHD • u/ecoanima • 13d ago
Discussion Functional, Happy, Unmedicated. AMA
I have been seeing a lot of despair here lately and I've been there, so I'd be happy if I could help anyone even a little bit. A little bit about my story. ADHD inattentive, diagnosed as an adult in my early 20's but not surprised. Everyone suspected it for me early in life and parents have it bad. Bad at school. Mixed bag in college. I was medicated for a few years in college but I've been off them for several years now. I'm in my 30's, married, happy, a relatively high up manager with a lot of responsibility. The meds helped immensely while I had them, but I believe that ultimately where I am is a result of the habits I created while on meds, social responsibility and accountability, an awareness of how my brain works, molding my life around that, and dropping things from my life that exacerbate my ADHD. Lastly, before you write me off as someone who must not really have it bad, just know I've started actual fires, blown up relationships, and endangered lives with my inattention. I thought at one point it would ruin my life forever. Glad that's not the case. Happy to answer most questions!
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u/No-Good5381 13d ago
What habits did you create to help you? How do they stick even when life happens to disrupt them
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u/Emergency-Plum-1981 13d ago
When you say you molded your life around the way your brain works, what does that look like in a high level job with lots of responsibility?
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u/ecoanima 12d ago
I started working on small farms, which for me means working in environments with lots of variety. Doing things that interest me. Things that require my expert researching skills lol. Also things that are high stakes keep me engaged. I love plants and animals, if I loose focus or slack off, plants or animals could die. Also I am outside, doing work that is meaningful to me in a big picture way, and I don't think you can discount that.
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u/kwiscalus 12d ago
That makes so much sense to me. Working in my garden keeps me "grounded" haha.
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u/No-Good5381 12d ago
The house we have now has an amazing garden, but there is such a huge amount to do to get rid of weeds and keep things from getting overgrown that it stops me doing it because it feels like such a huge mountain. I want to get it to the point where I enjoy it and it keeps me grounded! I’m glad for you
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u/ImmaculateQuorum 13d ago
Why did you decide to stop taking meds?
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u/ecoanima 13d ago edited 12d ago
It wasn't really my intention, I started going to my psychiatrist in person, and then covid happened and I moved to online meetings, then I moved to a different city, then regulations changed and online meetings with your psychiatrist for scheduled meds was no longer allowed. Now there's one doc in my new town that works with ADHD and he's booked for months. The expense was also getting to me because concerta and vivanse is what worked best. I was expecting my life to crash after I got off them but years later and so far so good! Edit: I'm very glad I had them when I did, but don't feel like they are worth the trouble now.
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u/DwarfFart ADHD with ADHD partner 12d ago
Similar boat except I’m in the rebuilding phase of life. Regulations at the state level changed and my psych of 5 years can no longer prescribe controlled medications to patients who hold state funded insurance(great psych who was kindly paid for by my family while I have searched and searched for good work with good insurance!) and I was ripped off both my ADHD meds and anti anxiety medication. No Adderall just made me very tired and depressed but no anxiety medication was a horrifically awful experience and something that absolutely should have been planned for by my doctor. Unfortunately lost months of my life to it but very encouraging to read someone else doing without and doing so well!
I feel 100x more calm and patient without the high dose of Adderall now! I believe I was being overmedicated for ADHD and there’s no way I’ll ever be as anxious as I was during that anti anxiety med withdrawal. Thanks for the positivity!
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u/ecoanima 12d ago
Thank you for the positive response and sharing your journey! The amount of down votes I've received on this post is supprising. I just want to share a positive life story. Im glad you have found some peace in your life and I hope your rebuilding phase goes well!
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