Other ways to keep ADD in control than taking pills?

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If you have ADD and don't take pills for it how do you keep it in check? I've got anxiety induced ADD and have stopped taking pills for both anxiety and ADD and don't want to take pills. I've been trying other methods like meditating but during high stress periods I'm a big mess. Any helpful tips?

Thanks.

Have you tried exercising? I'm a very hyperactive and anxious person and exercising works wonders for my problems.

Changes in diet can be helpful.

Eat more walnuts, fish and green veggies.

High stress puts a tall load on working memory. Even under low stress this memory is difficult, and I've managed this with a relaxed mental state that I've developed. I take a sleep aid at night, and this helps with this tremendously.

Before I knew what was going on with this condition, I took an over the counter stimulant called ephedrine. This would allow my brain to click along somewhat normal. This was made illegal in the U.S. by the FDA. Since then I make my own cocktail. It consists of "Nootropics," such as Acetyl L Carnitine and Phosphatidylcholine - all natural.
I don't know if Stratt. or Ritalin would do better if in the right dose. I think this is difficult to find this dosage balance point, from my knowledge, especially if autism is involved.

Last edited by Mdyar on 21 Aug 2011, 10:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.

But pills are so awesome...

Chamomile. You can make it in tea, but you need to brew it extra strong - 3 or 4 bags to a cup. It is available in gelcaps online. I am told the effect is equivalent to a couple of Xanax. I've never had Xanax, but I find Chamomile does wonders to take the edge off the nervous jitters and allows me to focus my thoughts without feeling stoned.

Makes me feel sleepy but yes it does work for me.



I already do.. but thanks.



It works sometimes. Other times it just makes me more hyperactive.

There is a meditation exterize that is said to work.
It is based off of zen mediation
You sit comfortable and force all thoughts out of your mind and focus on your breath...if a thought enters your mind...gently focus back to your breathing...it does not matter how many times you refocus yourself because the act of refocusing is what matters. Before long you will be able to focus on your breathing for longer and longer periods of time. It is also very relaxing and grounds your mind into the now.
I have a friend who got control of Adhd symptoms this way. After 6 months he was a totally different person and had a good control of his mind and impulse control and attention

Also avoid foods with red 40 in it as it can make Adhd worse.

Some people have had success with an all organic diet saying that all the chemicals in foods today is what cause ADHD...I dont know if that is true or not

Yeah I practised a lot of meditation, and it totally gave me concentration skills, which improved a lot of other areas for me.

Don't force anything though. Gently persuade your attention to be on one thing of your choice.

Fundamentally, one is going to need a central nervous system stimulant, regardless of the type of Attention Def.

There is not enough in food intake quality to curb this, and not enough in cognitive training.

There are ways of improving symptoms with "supplements," such as the things I've mentioned.

See what one Doctor says about this( lecithin is Phosphatidylcholine) : http://www.unritalinsolution.com/adhd_phospholipids

I feel very relaxed with lecithin. It increases neuronal activity, thus inhibiting anxiety, . Sleep as sound as Rip Van Winkle, too.

Well, I have ADHD inattentive and I don't take pills either. I choose not too,
as I've come to the conclusion that ADHD isn't really a disorder, but I can get more into that later.

I find the best way to keep my ADHD under control is to get enough exercise, but not enough that I'm totally exhausted.
Then I must try to eat healthy, making sure to get adequate protein, vitamins and minerals. I find Omega 3, Zinc and B complex
to be the most helpful. It helps to stay hydrated as well.

Finally, you need to manage your life so that you don't have too many stressors that will destroy your focus.
It's like the keep it simple strategy. Well, that's all I've learned from trail and error. Hope it's insightful.

Guys? Diet and exercise are all well and good, but aren't we overlooking the most important part of ADHD management?

Learning how to organize, how to prompt yourself when you need it, and how to remember to do things--how to stay focused--is a skill like any other. When you grow up with ADHD, it's ridiculously hard to learn it. Once you know about your ADHD, even if it vanished in a second, you'd still have these deficits.

You need to learn this stuff! Lists, planners, organizers--making notes to yourself, setting alarms, transitioning from one thing to another--These are all useful skills and if you don't learn them then you'll never take full advantage of any stimulant you may be taking.

Sure, it's a good thing to keep tabs on your general health. But let's be a little more specific here. ADHD needs to be managed, and you need to learn how to manage it. If you don't, you'll be stuck in your own mess and disorganization no matter how much chamomile tea you drink or how many miles you jog every day.

The good news is that it can be managed without medication. The bad news is that it can take years to get to a point where you are able to cope well. The second bit of good news is that my brother has ADHD and is med free and he is doing brilliantly!

It can be; but should it be? I mean, sure, in some cases, medication isn't necessary, but the way I see it, I'd rather learn what I need in three years on meds than in six years without them.

Give people the information, and they can decide for themselves.

I can see learning how to learn with drugs, as it let's the strategy through, allowing it ( the learning) into the long term memory - "quicker," as Callista mentioned, too.

I'm going to guess that the ones that do "great" later in life without meds. are not the SCT inattentive types?
The "inattentive type" have a working memory deficit, where these other types do not have WM deficits or -"dysecutive functioning."
Add in SCT and this makes this slow in "processing speed." This combo seems to resemble "autism" in terms of executive functioning.

If you read through postings of this in ADD Forums, you can find one's later in age, that didn't become "human" until these found these ADD drugs. When "off" they slowly sink into what they were.

I guess this is a spectrum too. Someone in my family needed Ritalin to pass school. Without it they were unmotivated and making completely unpassing grades. Later in life could work and support they're family without the meds.