#fucking adhd

[wild-magics]

ADHD *Hacks* That Help Me Immensely

I just turned 30 this year and I feel like I've finally gotten more of a handle on my ADHD and developed some habits that make doing tasks MUCH easier. I still have my difficult days but overall I'm much better at getting done the stuff that I need to do, and I thought I'd share them so they may possibly help others. Some of them unfortunately do involve a monetary investment to purchase certain items but the way they have helped my mental health makes them 100% worth it to me. I also know some of these have been mentioned in guides before but it never hurts to hear them again.

*For people who are forgetful about taking their meds: DOWNLOAD A MEDICATION APP ON YOUR PHONE THAT SENDS OUT MULTIPLE REMINDERS UNTIL YOU'VE MARKED OFF THAT YOU'VE TAKEN THEM. This has been THEE most helpful for me and making sure I take my medications consistently and mostly on time. I use the free version of Medisafe on my iPhone. I put in the meds I need to take and a time I need to take them, and it sends me a reminder every day. If I don't take them immediately and mark it off, it sends me reminders every few minutes until I check off that I've taken them, and it tells me the time I took them. You can snooze the reminder if you need to take it later than usual, and you can turn on critical reminders that make noise. If you have a problem getting out of bed to take them, you can keep your meds and a drink next to your bed so that you don't have to even get up.

*For people who often forget their hot drinks for long enough they get cold: Buy a coffee mug warmer. I like to drink my coffee in bed in the morning, and I have it on my dresser next to my bed. It keeps it warm long enough for me to finish it, and if I forget to turn it off, it has an automatic shut off so it doesn't stay on all day. Mine has a cord so it needs an outlet nearby, but they probably have battery-operated ones if you don't have an outlet nearby and that you can probably move with you.

*For people who have trouble with oral health: buy an electric toothbrush and keep it visible on your counter, and buy floss picks. My electric toothbrush goes for the full 2 minutes recommended by dentists, but it buzzes in 30 second increments so that I can brush the 4 quadrants of my mouth equally. Also, for some reason I find it easier to pick up a floss pick to use instead of a pack of floss, probably because it takes less time.

*For people who find it difficult to clean up small messes: buy a cordless vacuum and a mini broom and dustpan and keep them visible. A lot of mini dustpans have a hole in the handle so they can be hung up, and I have mine on a hook on the side of my fridge that I only use on my counters. If I'm making toast or something and I get crumbs all over the counter, I can clean them up immediately. And if I drop small things on the floor, I can pick it up and move it over and quickly vacuum up the tiny particles. (I'd also recommend microfiber slippers if you have hardwood floors, because it's an easy and quick way to clean up dirt with minimal effort.)

*For people who spend too long in the bathroom: keep a clock visible. I know they sell clocks specifically to hang in the shower, but I have one that is on a shelf close enough to my shower that I can just peek out and quickly check the time.

*For people who have difficulty cleaning the bathroom, especially showers and toilets: buy a daily shower cleaner and keep it in the shower, and a toilet bowl cleanser that clings to the side. If you spray the shower cleanser after every shower, it means less soap scum to clean up later and helps keep mildew at bay. If you keep it visible in the shower (out of the spray of water), it makes it easier to just use it after every one, and you don't have to wipe anything down. And a toilet bowl cleanser that clings to the side generally takes less than a minute to install, lasts for a while, and helps keep the toilet cleaner so that if you are able to do a more thorough cleaning, you have less to clean.

*For people who have difficulty throwing things away: keep multiple trashcans around. This one is said all the time, but it really does help me to put trash where it belongs. I have one in my kitchen, one in my bathroom, one under my vanity, and even a miniature one that I keep on my bedside dresser for small things like q-tips and tissues.

*For people who have trouble remembering their perishables in the fridge: Buy a magnetic dry-erase board, put it on your fridge, and write down the stuff that goes bad. You can also write down the sell-by or expiration date if it has one, or the date you purchased the items and when it needs to be used by, or even the shelf life of each item. When you've finished them, you can erase it. You can also do this for non-perishables items like snacks and dry goods and stick it to the cupboard or pantry so you know what you have in their and what items you've run out of as soon as you've finished them up. **You can keep lists of ANYTHING honestly. I store many things in containers, like cleaning products, OTC painkillers and other meds, and stock-ups of toiletries and hygiene products when I'm about to run out of them, and having a list of what's in these containers helps me to not buy back-ups of things I don't currently need (I used to forget I already had things like contact solution and toothpaste, so I would buy a back-up when I was almost out of the one I was currently using and come home to find that I already had like, 3 of them). You can just write them on a post-it or something and like, tape it to the side of the storage container. When it's gone, you can cross it off/erase it, and then put it on the shopping list immediately. I would also suggest, if you can afford to, re-buying the things you need RIGHT BEFORE you run out, like when you have a few uses left, so that you don't have to stop-and-restart them.

*For people who have trouble remembering what groceries they need: download a list app on your phone, and write what you've run out of or what you need to buy immediately, as soon as you think of it. I use the free version of AnyList on iPhone. You can create your own lists, and I have two lists: one for food (Grocery List), and one for everything else (Shopping List).

For people who spend too much time on their phone scrolling: download an app blocker app. I use the free version of Opal on iPhone, but I'm thinking about upgrading to the paid subscription. The free version only lets you block a certain amount of apps and websites, but I use it for tumblr and ao3, because I spend the most amount of time on them. You can set the times you want them blocked and on what days (which are limited on the free version), but if you WANT to access a blocked app, you can take a break from the block in up to 15 minute intervals.

*For people who forget to eat during the day: keep non-perishable items visible on the counter. I have a fruit bowl for things like apples, oranges, bananas, etc. You can also place healthy snacks like granola bars, nuts, etc., in a visible container; or even unhealthy snacks like chips or cookies in them; eating SOMETHING AT ALL is better than nothing.

*For people who have trouble remembering to drink water: buy a reusable water bottle and keep it near you at all times. It doesn't have to be a big one; you can use a small tumbler - water is water. If you can remember to do so, bring it with you whenever you leave a room. You can even buy multiple water bottles and keep them in multiple rooms if you can't remember to bring it with you - water doesn't go bad. If you prefer sparkling water in a can or bottle over regular water? Pour that in there too. It may go flat and loose its taste, but it is still drinkable. They even have apps you can download that send you reminders. I've even seen water bottles that light up to remind you, and even ones you can attach to the side of bottles that you already own. **It doesn't have to be reusable honestly, plastic water bottles work just as well (and don't require you to wash them, because I know some people have difficulty with), but I've found that keeping it in a container that I think is cute and/or keeps the drink cold (which I prefer over lukewarm) makes me more likely to drink it. **You can buy multiples of lots of stuff and keep them in different rooms, honestly. If you wear glasses and need to clean them often? Buy multiple glasses cleansers like microfiber towels or lens wipes and keep them in as many rooms as you need. Keep snacks in different rooms to remind yourself to eat. If you take pills, buy little containers and place them in different rooms. The world is your oyster.

***Of course there's the usual recommendations like cleaning as you go, setting a timer for like 10-15 minutes and doing what you can in that time frame, buying frozen fruits and veggies, etc., but these tips are repeated over and over, so I wanted to mention ones that I have found the most helpful personally.

****If you want recommendations of the exact ones I've bought, you can definitely reach out and ask, but honestly if you google each item and read the reviews it should work out the same.

I know so many people have made guides like these and may have already mentioned these tips, but you can honestly never have too much help when it comes to dealing with ADHD fuckery. If one of these ideas helps even one person, it would be worth the 30 minutes it took me to write out this post lmao.

[sak-supernatural]

Wondering how much fanfic I could write in I didn’t have crippling ADHD (or maybe if it was medicated). There’s so much in there (my brain) but I just can’t focus to get it out into words.

[saisons-en-enfer]

What are the best live gigs you saw and where were they? And what are some acts you would like to see?

Hope you are doing good 🤗

Hope you’re doing well thanks for the question

So I don’t actually take much pictures or videos at concerts and because of ADHD I plain forget sometimes which concerts I’ve even been to in my life (like just a few months ago i found a ticket for autechre and just then remembered I’ve seen them)

Anyways in no particular order:

The knife (April 25, 2014, Kool Haus, Toronto)

Godflesh and Prurient (The opera house, Toronto) I went to this concert because again I wouldn’t be alive without frozen Niagara Falls and this concert was after the release of that album so I went purely for prurient and didn’t know godflesh at all and was completely blown away by them ofc

Posh Isolation showcase (June 11-12 2016, Montreal, various venues) during the showcase I saw Damien Dubrovnik, xarah Dion, lust for youth, varg2TM, Marie Davidson (back when she was just a local hero before her big breakthrough via ninja tune) and Croatian amor. The last three performed from 2 am till 7 am in an abandoned building that was burnt down years prior, also pharmakon was there the whole weekend chilling with everyone

Nicolas Jaar & Actress (Massey Hall, Toronto)

Years of Denial & SMFORMA (Urban spree, Berlin) this was the first ‘concert’ I went to after something about 7 years of hiatus because I stopped going altogether in Toronto around 2017 (literally after the actress and Nicolas jaar concert) due to depression and anxiety getting really bad

Bonus

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry (SOLE DXB 2019, Dubai) sole is a streetwear fashion ‘festival’ with live performances and I literally only went for Lee Perry, skepta (who performed in a crammed replica of a London bus that was like part of the exhibit), black star (mos def and talib kweli) and wu tang (I think it was Raekwon, inspectah, gza, cappadonna and masta killa) I didn’t care about the ‘fashion’ frankly streetwear is so boring to me especially because rich assholes wear them as a substitute for not having their own style

Bonus bonus:

If memory serves, I went with a beloved tumblr mutual for their birthday ( @trekkiee hi hellloooo) to a death metal show and it was all local bands and that was really fun I distinctly remember there was a band of dudes wearing nun outfits all covered in blood

Bonus bonus bonus:

I met said mutual in a Ty Segall concert and it was the first time in my 20’s I fought back anxiety and just said hi to a person I thought looked rad af and it turned out lovely soooo ye the concert was hella fun too

Bonus x4: completely forgot I’ve seen rose mcdowall (at smiling Buddha bar I think lovely bar) and death in June as well they are definitely up there and I got to meet and have a conversation with Douglas and I know at least for myself he’s not a bigot, I still have the shirt from that concert it’s just the death in June symbol instead of the maple leaf of the Canadian flag in black and whiteee

Thank you so much hope you’re doing well

[drowning-poet]

"mh matters" people say on social media, believing that makes them a good person, while only including the "pretty" parts of mental illness, that they can twist and transform into a disgusting form of aesthetics.

They draw the line at problems with hygiene.

They draw the line at personality disorders.

They draw the line at paraphilias.

They draw the line at intrusive thoughts.

They draw the line at drug abuse.

They draw the line at alchool abuse.

They draw the line at the reality of most of us that struggle.

Mental illness is not only depression and anxiety. Depression is not only being sad. Anxiety isnt simply being worried. OCD isnt only (or at all depending on the case) enjoying a tidy enviorment. ADHD isnt simply inability to pay attention. Bipolar isnt changing moods/opinion fast.

Yes, the truth is people struggling with their mh can be abusive. They can also not be.

Some disorders have a bigger chance of its symptoms causing harm, but looking for help and trying to get better should be rewarded.

A person isnt evil bc they have npd or aspd.

A person isnt disgusting bc their symptoms impact their hygiene.

Someone's intrusive thoughts do not define them.

Lacking emotional empathy doesnt make anyone a monster.

But most ppl (those whose speech is based on lack of information) are not ready for this conversation.

[sleepynlazy]

definitely didn't forget the 27th is my birthday, yupp definitely didn't forget my own birthday

[fanastraea]

something reminded me of this song yesterday and i haven't stopped listening/watching this since then

[twisted-tales-told]

I love remembering I have a 9:00 am class at 1 am

[sweaters-and-vertigo]

i love these little side adventures. not everyone has the chance to experience this.

[dreamtigress]

Unless the way your ADHD works means that if there is a deadline, your executive functioning works better....... Then, the deadline is TOMORROW!

STOP THINKING THERE IS A DEADLINE. THERE IS NO DEADLINE. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND TAKE YOUR TIME.

[sak-supernatural]

ADHD is killing me right now!!! I can’t focus on ANYTHING!!!

Want to read fanfiction?: no, takes too long and too much concentration needed to process words.

Want to write?: nope, words again.

Want to watch edits?: gets distracted every 5 seconds.

Want to watch tv?: still distracted, and also board just sitting there.

What the fuck am I supposed to do? Everything is simultaneously boring and too much effort 😭 I hate feeling like this. I have so many things I want to do but I just can’t do any of them! And I am so mad about it!

[covington-shenanigans]

...we read a lot of books and drew a lot of weird shit and made up bizarre games with our siblings and spent a lot of time making as many annoying noises into a tape recorder as we could produce (also with our siblings) and ran around the yard/biked around the neighborhood when we drove our parents crazy enough that they kicked us out of the house to "get it out of our systems"

we also didn't get our homework done and had to deal with being labeled as "having potential" but "trouble paying attention in class" or whatever and at least some of got into a ton of trouble and/or got addicted to whatever substance would turn our brains down a notch, but that probably hasn't changed with the advent of the internet

[scretladyspider]

“If you have time to watch Netflix you have time for a side hustle” my side hustle is relaxing so that my body and brain can heal from by this nose-to-the-grindstone bullshit. I refuse to feel guilty for being a human with the need to relax sometimes. my side hustle is no.

[hattrackk]

procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination procrastination

[flintstill]

Also how the fuck do pack it in at like 8:30 and still fucking end up awake and needing to pack at 11:30 I fucking hate myself why are you like this

[icarusinfreefall]

reminder that adhd medication isn't a luxury or preference, but a lifesaving medication. a 10 year long study in the usa showed that, when properly medicated, the rate of car crashes people with adhd get into goes down significantly--men's rate drops by 38%, and women's by 42%. the med shortage, denial of meds by doctors, rising prices, and the "war on drugs" has killed--with such a car dependent society, not driving frequently isn't an option, which means we need better healthcare and need it now.

https://shorturl.at/8VD8B

edit because i forgot to explain: short link is to an article by the washington post, it should be free to read

[alchemistdoctor]

having ADHD will have you going round your house saying aloud, "Okay, so if I were me, and me is a dumb fuck, where the hell would I put X," and you still can't find it