I was medicated for my ADHD for 16 years

Summary

The speaker, a long-term non-medicated ADHD individual, shares personal strategies for managing ADHD without medication. They emphasize the importance of a flexible work schedule, enjoying one's work, and maintaining a positive mindset. The summary also touches on the benefits of organization, alarms for reminders, physical activities like gardening, and the power of a strong support system, including family and online communities. The key message is about adapting life to work with ADHD and finding personal ways to thrive.

Takeaways

• 😀 Embracing a non-medication lifestyle for ADHD requires personal systems and tools tailored to individual needs.
• 🛠️ Finding a flexible work schedule and reducing the number of scheduled meetings can be beneficial for managing ADHD symptoms.
• 🌱 Engaging in self-employment and choosing enjoyable work can increase motivation and satisfaction in life with ADHD.
• 🧘‍♂️ Maintaining a positive and optimistic mindset is crucial for overcoming feelings of inadequacy and building self-esteem in individuals with ADHD.
• 🌟 Prioritizing self-compassion and challenging negative self-perceptions can aid in reducing shame and anxiety associated with ADHD.
• 🌱 Spirituality and a 'trust in the universe' attitude can help in reducing stress and fostering a belief that everything will work out.
• 🗓️ Utilizing organizational tools like Notion and setting up alarms for reminders can assist in staying organized and on track with daily tasks.
• 🌼 Gardening and other relaxing hobbies can provide a therapeutic outlet and contribute to a balanced lifestyle for those with ADHD.
• 🧘‍♀️ Incorporating meditation into daily routines can help manage overwhelming thoughts and improve focus for individuals with ADHD.
• 🏃‍♂️ Regular exercise can enhance productivity and improve sleep, contributing to a more balanced life for those managing ADHD.
• 🤝 Building a strong support system, including family, friends, and online communities, is vital for emotional well-being and accountability in ADHD management.

Q & A

How long has the speaker been off ADHD medication?

The speaker has been off ADHD medication for 10 years.

What is the speaker's approach to managing life without medication for ADHD?

The speaker emphasizes making life work for one's ADHD, which includes a flexible work schedule, self-employment, and avoiding over-scheduling.

Why does the speaker limit the number of meetings in their self-employment job?

The speaker finds it difficult to handle more than one meeting a day, so they limit meetings to reduce stress and maintain productivity.

What is the speaker's perspective on finding work that one enjoys?

The speaker believes that enjoying one's work is crucial for a fulfilling life and suggests exploring different activities to find what one likes.

How has the speaker's mindset contributed to their management of ADHD?

The speaker has a positive and optimistic mindset, which has helped them overcome feelings of inadequacy and build self-esteem.

What role does spirituality play in the speaker's life with ADHD?

Spirituality helps the speaker reduce stress and maintain a calm attitude towards work and life, believing that everything will work out fine.

What organizational tool does the speaker recommend for managing ADHD?

The speaker recommends using Notion, a tool they use and create templates for, to stay organized and manage tasks effectively.

How does the speaker use alarms and reminders to assist with ADHD management?

The speaker sets up alarms and reminders for important tasks and meetings to ensure they don't forget or miss anything crucial.

What non-digital activity has the speaker found beneficial for their ADHD?

The speaker finds gardening to be therapeutic and beneficial for their ADHD, helping them relax, sleep better, and feel more normal.

How does the speaker view the concept of discipline in relation to ADHD?

The speaker sees discipline as a muscle that can be trained and is working on building it by keeping small promises to themselves daily.

What is the importance of a support system for the speaker with ADHD?

A support system, including family and online communities, provides understanding, encouragement, and a sense of belonging for the speaker.

How does the speaker's husband contribute to their daily life with ADHD?

The speaker's husband is very supportive, helping with household chores, keeping the speaker on track, and ensuring a healthy routine.

What is the significance of the online community for the speaker and others with ADHD?

The online community provides a space for connection with others who understand the struggles of ADHD, offering support and shared experiences.

How does the speaker define an 'easy life' in the context of managing ADHD?

The speaker defines an 'easy life' as one that minimizes stress and struggle, focusing on achievements rather than shortcomings, and making life as manageable as possible.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Life Without ADHD Medication: Strategies and Insights

The speaker shares their personal journey of managing ADHD without medication for a decade after a 16-year period of medication use. They emphasize the importance of tailoring life to accommodate ADHD, which varies for each individual. Key points include maintaining a flexible work schedule, prioritizing enjoyable and fulfilling work, and developing a positive mindset. The speaker also discusses the significance of self-compassion, overcoming shame, and the role of therapy in their journey. They highlight the importance of believing in one's capabilities despite societal and self-imposed doubts, advocating for a mindset shift from feeling inadequate to embracing self-worth and optimism.

05:01

🌱 Embracing a Holistic Approach to ADHD Management

This paragraph delves into the practical tools and habits that have been instrumental in the speaker's ADHD management. They mention the use of Notion for organization, setting up alarms for reminders, and incorporating physical activities like gardening to reduce stress. The speaker also touches on the benefits of meditation, exercise, and hiring an ADHD coach to provide personalized strategies. They discuss the importance of creating a stimulating work environment, using reward systems, and developing discipline as a muscle. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's ongoing efforts to improve discipline and the incremental progress they have made.

10:01

🤝 The Power of Support Systems in ADHD Management

The final paragraph focuses on the crucial role of support systems in the speaker's life with ADHD. They describe the impact of their family, particularly their husband, who provides emotional and practical support, and the close proximity to their parents, which offers additional stability. The speaker also highlights the importance of their online community, which provides a sense of belonging and understanding among individuals with similar experiences. They encourage others to seek out or build such communities for mutual support, sharing, and encouragement. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the pursuit of an 'easy life' on 'easy mode,' suggesting that while struggles persist, a positive outlook and proactive strategies can significantly enhance the quality of life for those with ADHD.

Keywords

💡ADHD

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In the video, the speaker discusses their personal experience living with ADHD and the strategies they've developed to manage it without medication. The term is central to the video's theme, as it is the condition the speaker is addressing.

💡Medication

Medication refers to drugs used to treat or prevent diseases. In the context of the video, it is related to ADHD treatments the speaker has chosen not to use for the past 10 years. The speaker's decision to forgo medication is a significant aspect of their narrative and the strategies they've adopted.

💡Systems and Tools

Systems and tools in this video refer to the organizational and operational methods the speaker uses to manage their life with ADHD. These include digital tools like Notion, as well as lifestyle practices that help in staying organized and focused, which are essential for the speaker's approach to living without medication.

💡Self-Employment

Self-employment is the state of working for oneself rather than for an employer. The speaker mentions being half self-employed, which allows for a flexible schedule and autonomy in their work, accommodating the needs of someone with ADHD and contributing to their overall life management strategy.

💡Flexibility

Flexibility in the video is discussed in terms of work schedules and the ability to adjust one's routine according to personal needs. The speaker values a flexible work schedule as it helps them manage their ADHD symptoms, allowing for a more comfortable work-life balance.

💡Mindset

Mindset refers to a set of attitudes held by an individual. The speaker emphasizes the importance of a positive and optimistic mindset in managing ADHD. They share their journey from feeling inadequate to developing a strong sense of self-worth and capability, which is crucial for their non-medication approach.

💡Shame

Shame is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress. The speaker discusses overcoming shame associated with ADHD, which is a significant step in their personal growth and self-acceptance. The video suggests that addressing shame is an important part of living with ADHD without medication.

💡Spirituality

Spirituality in this context is a belief or sense of connection to something greater than the self. The speaker finds comfort and stress reduction through spirituality, which helps them maintain a positive outlook and contributes to their overall well-being without medication.

💡Organization

Organization refers to the act of arranging and planning one's tasks and environment systematically. The speaker uses Notion as a tool for organization, which helps them manage their ADHD symptoms by keeping track of tasks and schedules, illustrating the importance of organization in their life.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the practice of training oneself to follow a pattern of behavior. The speaker talks about building discipline as a muscle, emphasizing the importance of following through on commitments to oneself. This concept is integral to their strategy for managing ADHD without medication, as it helps in establishing consistent, healthy habits.

💡Support System

A support system consists of resources and relationships that provide assistance and encouragement. The speaker highlights the importance of their family, online community, and husband as part of their support system, which plays a vital role in their ability to manage ADHD without medication and maintain a positive life.

Highlights

The speaker has not taken ADHD medication for 10 years and has developed various systems and tools to manage their life without medication.

Emphasizes the importance of making life work for one's ADHD, which will differ for each individual.

Advocates for a flexible work schedule and minimal meetings to accommodate ADHD needs.

Finding and enjoying work is crucial for a fulfilling life with ADHD.

The speaker took 23 years to find work they loved and emphasizes the journey of self-discovery.

A positive and optimistic mindset is essential for managing ADHD and overcoming feelings of inadequacy.

Therapy was instrumental in helping the speaker deal with shame and negative self-perception associated with ADHD.

Spirituality helps the speaker reduce stress and maintain a positive outlook on life and work.

Using Notion for organization is a key tool for managing ADHD.

Setting up alarms and reminders in Notion helps with time management and task completion.

Gardening has been a significant part of the speaker's routine for relaxation and overall well-being.

Meditation, particularly guided meditations, can be beneficial for managing ADHD symptoms.

Exercise is a powerful tool for improving focus, sleep, and productivity for individuals with ADHD.

Hiring an ADHD coach provided personalized tools and strategies for managing ADHD.

Creating a colorful and engaging workspace can boost dopamine levels and motivation.

Implementing reward systems and breaking down tasks can make starting difficult tasks easier.

The importance of discipline as a learned skill and its role in managing ADHD.

Building discipline involves keeping small promises to oneself and gradually improving.

A strong support system, including family and online communities, is vital for individuals with ADHD.

The speaker's online Discord community provides a space for connection, support, and shared experiences.

The goal is to live a stress-free and easy life by focusing on achievements rather than shortcomings.

Transcripts

I have not been on ADHD medication for

10 years and that was after taking them

for 16 years so I have had to find

systems and tools to use to manage my

life and I'm going to share some of

those with you today so that if you are

interested in exploring a nod medication

life for your ADHD you can get a little

glimpse into what that might look like

for you in terms of tools and support

the first thing I want to say is that

this has taken work and I just want to

preface with that one of the biggest

things I would say is making your life

work for your ADHD and that is going to

look different for every single person

but I'll tell you what that looks like

for me it involves working not a lot of

hours living a kind of slow life I'm

half self-employed and my non-

self-employment job has a very flexible

schedule I can kind of work not entirely

when I want to but like I can come and

go kind of within a certain time frame

and if I like wake up one day and I'm

like oh I can't do it today then that's

fine I don't have to that's huge is

having a schedule that's like very

flexible the other thing is in my own

self-employment I do not schedule

meetings like very often maybe like I

will limit it to like two a week some

weeks I might not be able to do that but

I have a strong priority to not schedule

a ton of meetings especially on the same

day I know that I don't do well with a

ton of meetings on the same day I can

literally barely handle like one meeting

a day I've figured out ways to work that

doesn't require me to meet with people

and if I do it's usually something

really fun and exciting and then it's

it's like totally worth it for me that's

a huge one making my work something that

I'm good at and that I enjoy is also

huge because work is a huge part of your

life and if it's something you don't

like that's really going to suck I have

made it a high priority Within Myself to

find and do work that I like and I enjoy

and if you don't know what you like or

you enjoy yet I recommend exploring a

bunch of different things to figure out

something it took me a while I would say

like 23 years it took me to find

something before I was like work that I

liked and even then even though I liked

it at the time it took me another like 7

years till I was like oh I love this

like I didn't love work until I was 30 I

never even thought I would say those

words like I love work but now I do and

it's great and it's fun and it makes me

happy and it's so exciting and I hope

that everybody can get to a point where

they really enjoy what they do the other

thing I would say that's been huge for

me is mindset now I've always been a

very positive and optimistic person my

whole life people when I was like

growing up would always say like I was

blinded by optimism just extremely

positive I'm more realistic these days I

would say than I was as a kid but I

definitely still am very very optimistic

and I think mindset with ADHD is huge

because I spent so long feeling stupid

and inadequate and like I wasn't good

enough and I couldn't do anything right

and I was always making mistakes I was

always letting people down and I just

had very little self-esteem when I came

to like working and like who I was as an

adult andig figuring out and working my

way through that to really like break

down all of those things that i' had

been told as a kid that I'm dumb and

that I can't do things right and I just

kind of like had to get rid of that

facade because it wasn't true and if you

believe that about yourself right now

I'm telling you right now that none of

that is true you may feel really stupid

and inadequate and incapable and like

you're letting people down but I promise

you that's not forever you will get

through it I promise I promise and you

surely surely are not stupid and are not

incapable so that was huge being nice to

myself really supporting myself and like

figuring out like I'm not stupid and um

I can do these things and really like

shame I feel like so many ADHD people

carry a ton of Shame so trying to figure

out ways to get rid of that shame was

like really really huge very very

important so um therapy helped me with

that so thanks the other thing I would

say is spirituality which for me is

really just believing that everything is

going to be okay and if I kind of have

this like everything is going to be okay

everything is working out for me

attitude it really helped me reduce

stress in what I do in my work nothing

is ever urgent nothing is really ever an

emergency and I used to wake up every

day just being like Oh I feel anxious

about work and stuff and then I started

breaking breaking it down and being like

okay nothing is really that important

nothing is ever that big of an emergency

I don't need to put all this like

anxiety and pressure on myself to do all

this stuff so kind of just trusting in

the universe and trusting in myself that

everything is going to be fine fine

everything is going to get done I'm

going to figure it out and those kind of

mindsets have really helped me when that

doubt does creep in because a lot of

times like I don't know how I don't know

the how I never know the how so I've

just been able to overcome that by going

like well I don't know how but I like

I'll figure it out and I don't know like

what the outcome of this situation is

going to be but I know that it's

probably going to work out in my favor

that's helped me a lot is just my

mindset mixed with a little bit of like

spirituality and woo woess when it comes

to like actual tools like tangible

things that I use to manage my ADHD I

would say a huge one of those is being

organized via notion I make and sell

notion templates for ADHD people you can

check out my website it's notion 4

adhd.in with your head cut off checking

out notion can be an amazing thing to do

or just figuring out any way to get

organized that works for your brain it

could be a bullet Journal it could be an

app whatever it is finding something to

be organized as an ADHD person is very

helpful going in line with that I also

use a lot of alarm systems so my

calendar if I do have a meeting is going

to alert me when it's time to leave or

time to set up the zoom I have reminders

and recurring things in my notion that

will notify me based on when I need to

do certain tasks so that's really

helpful having alarms set up when I need

to take medication or need to take

vitamins um things like that the other

thing that's huge for me is penjamin

I've been partaking in

gardening for like over a decade and

it's always really helped me so I know

that's not for everybody but it's huge

for me it helps me relax it helps me

sleep helps me eat better it just helps

me kind of feel like a normal person

most of the time and so that's something

that I I like to use going hand inand

with that kind of something that has

helped me in the past that I'm not the

best at doing right now was meditation

meditation can be really really great

for a lot of ADHD people and I think a

lot of people think like that just means

you have to sit in silence absolutely

not the case defin Ely check out guided

meditations and you can find guided

meditations for anything are you trying

to sleep do you need to relax are you

really angry are you feeling anxious

look up a guided meditation and just try

it I do a little 10-min that the woman

is only like silent I would say for like

2 minutes it's broken up throughout the

whole thing so it's really helpful for

when you just feel like your thoughts

are consuming you which I feel like as

an ADHD person is kind of a lot our

brains are just

like and meditation think of it like

training your brain to shut up it's

being able to shut your brain up on

command at least it is for me and the

more I train it and the more I practice

it the better I get at it so that's

something that is really helpful this is

also kind of cheesy but exercise helps a

lot I feel like a lot of times I'm like

a dog you Tire me out I'm going to be

able to sleep better I'm going to be

able to work better I do some of my best

and most productive work after I have

worked out and showered actually that's

right now I worked out today finally did

a pelaton ride and showered and it's

like I know that I'll have an great

productive work session if I am a little

bit tired like like I exercise tired

something else that I did when I first

started my business was hired an ADHD

coach that is a very privileged thing to

be able to do and I know that that is

not available for everybody but having

somebody to kind of give you tools to

help you some huge things that that

woman taught me which you might be like

how did you not know this already but

making sure your workstation is colorful

and bright or like gives you dopamine

whatever that means for you for me it's

colorful and bright and cute characters

and stuff even if it comes to like

colored pens and colored sticky notes

that you like anything that can give you

more dope and mean when you sit down to

do hard stuff is really helpful and then

reward systems I'd never used reward

systems but if I have something really

hard to do I will give myself a reward

in addition to she also taught me how to

break down tasks so instead of doing

tasks saying like I'm going to do this

task today I might say I'm going to work

on it for 30 minutes it really helps you

with getting started you can also say

like I'm just going to work on this for

5 minutes if it's something you really

don't want to do 5 or 10 minutes usually

almost always I end up working longer

cuz I get in the groove and I'm like

okay let's go so yeah an ADHD coach can

be really really really fabulous if

you're able to afford one the other

thing that I'm still working on that I'm

definitely not perfect is working on

discipline and that's like for me for my

understanding is like I tell myself I'm

going to floss every day every single

day when I go to floss a little monkey

brain in my head says oh we don't have

to floss it's fine so for me discipline

is saying to that voice no we're going

to floss like shut up you don't know

what you're talking about that to me is

discipline being able to trust your own

word knowing that when you say something

you will follow through and I think that

is like a muscle that you can train I

didn't grow up with discipline my

parents let me quit everything anytime I

wanted anytime I didn't want to do

something they let me quit so I grew up

with zero discipline and I had to teach

myself as an adult how to be disciplined

my husband he is the most disciplined

man I've ever met in my entire life he

can do anything you tell me he has to

wake up at 5:00 a.m. like he's going to

go do it he is really really great at

disciplined his parents were better than

mine in that way but I never had

discipline so I had to learn it and it's

a muscle and I'm working on it and it's

hard and takes a lot of work but I'm

getting better and if you want to start

building your discipline I suggest keep

one promise to yourself every day just

one small thing doesn't have to be the

same thing every day or maybe you want

it to be the same thing every day but

pick one small thing and say I'm going

to do this and then do it and that for

me is how I work on building my

discipline muscle and it does get easier

it's easier now for me to say no to the

stupid little voice in my head that

tells me not to floss than it was a year

ago when I first started a year ago when

I first started I had like a 50/50 or

less win rate when that little voice

would say we don't need to floss it won

a lot of times and I had to work on it

we're getting better but we're still not

perfect okay this is about 1% every day

right 1% better every day not Perfection

I don't strive for perfection in

anything in my life because it's just

not attainable to me I just am like eh

good enough whatever the last thing that

really helps me with my ADHD is my

support system and my support system for

me is my family my husband and my online

friends I have friends in real life I

just don't see them often my husband is

very supportive in that he cooks and he

cleans a lot so I have somebody at home

that kind of is like making sure that

I'm eating good food and we kind of help

each other out in that sense but anyways

that is a great support system because I

hate cooking dinner I don't want to cook

dinner I don't want to cook lunch I

don't want to make breakfast I drink a

yogurt every single day chabani complete

they're great anyways my husband is a

very very good support system for me he

lifts me up he keeps me on track he

makes sure I go to bed at the right time

he makes sure that I don't sleep in too

late like he's kind of my person who

helps make sure that I stay doing all

the things that I'm doing he's he's

really great we are a great team we're

also High School sweethearts so we've

been at this for like 15 years now we

got it down we are super good the other

thing is I live very close to my parents

well my family I live within a 10-minute

drive to my parents and one of my

sisters and my other sister lives in the

same state just like 2 hours away I also

work with my family heavily so I work

very closely with my mom I work very

closely with my dad I get to see them

probably multiple times a week at work

that's something that for me is huge

it's just really nice to see your

parents I lived away from them for like

6 years and it was hard so I really love

being able to see them all the time so

that's really huge and then going back

to my online community I have always

found a way to have online community

even before online communities were like

a huge thing and I think it's so

important and right now I run a Discord

for notion and ADHD but you don't have

to like be super into notion to come and

join you'd also don't have to be

diagnosed with anything or even suspect

you have anything it is just a really

like tight-knit community of people and

one of the reasons why I think it's so

important as an ADHD person to have

these online communities that you can go

to is because For the first time in my

life when I met like other people with

ADHD was online and to hear other people

be like I struggle with that I went

through that I understand what that's

like is huge because you go through your

whole life literally feeling like nobody

knows what you're going through and

you're kind of an alien at least for me

like when I was in high school and stuff

I didn't know a single other person with

ADHD having an online community where

you can talk to people and be like this

is what I'm going through this is what

I'm struggling with and for other people

to be like oh my gosh me too and this is

how I helped myself or this is what I

did is huge it's so so so powerful and

so I think if you're not able to have

like a massive support system having a

small support system that is really good

in the sense that they understand you

can be really powerful so please come

and join the Discord the link is on my

website again notion for adhd.in

the Discord we would love to have you

it's a really good place it's full of

like friendship and fun and events and

support and accountability and

productivity and all kinds of good stuff

and we can help you with notion if you

want those are the things that help me

with my ADHD and help ensure that I live

a very happy kind of stressfree easy

life not that I don't struggle because I

definitely do struggle but I tend to

have this very positive mindset that

lets me not focus on my struggles a lot

because I tend to focus on my

achievements over my shortcomings and

really kind of do the work to here's my

shortcoming how can I like Meet myself

halfway to ensure that like my life is

easier the end goal for me is easy life

life on easy mode that is what I'm

trying to achieve I feel like I've done

a really good job so far I don't know if

it'll always be this way but that's like

if you're going to do ADHD without meds

try to figure out how can I make my life

easier and maybe meds is the answer

right now some of these a lot of these

work great in tandem while you are on

meds it doesn't have to be one or the

other that's just my personal story

thank you so much for listening I really

appreciate it if you have any questions

or want to know more about this feel

free to let me know in the comments and

I really hope to see you around bye

friends