I've had ADHD for approx. half my life. Ritalin (and other drugs) while they do help can feel almost like walking around with a crutch. I'm also one of those crazy people who hate popping pills.
I've found a number of things that either help with the symptoms are work their way around them.
A few help stuff.
Caffiene is your friend. Ritalin is basically a stimulant. I've found controlled intake of caffiene actually have a similar effect as the Ritalin. The amount goes up and down during the month. Sometime it's a can of pepsi (or coke) every 3 hours, sometime it is more. The up side is that you don't have to take pills, or worry about co-workers (or boss) finding out you're taking them. The downside is 1. the calories (go diet) and 2. The cost. How many of us have a mini-fridge to put store bought pop?
Another thing that helps is exercise. I've found a 30 minute walk in the morning, a walk on my lunch break, and a walk in the evening helps dramatically. The theory is "stimulation." ADHD aren't really attention deficiet, rather they simply pay attention to too many things at once. If something is stimulating you, your brain has a tendancy to "hyper focus." Thus finding little activities that help you be "stimulated" can darmatically decrease the attention issue. Exercise also helps with the hyperactivity.
As for work arounds. This probably is different for every person. But I have found my 3 great weaknesses are 1. Remember tasks, particularily the ones I don't like or find boring. 2. Keep Organized and 3. Procrastination (I tend to automatically steer myself to activities I find more stimulating than what I HAVE to do).
To compensate I use lists. LOTS of lists. And I'm very specfic. Saying I will be making phone calls from 8 to 9am, following working a press release for 9 to 9:30. Etc etc. Granted these tend to change but just making a strict schedule that you force yourself to adhere to helps.s
I also don't let myself get too unorganized. I clean my desk and my files 3 times a day. Once in the morning to get everything I need for the day, once close to lunch like a "mini" break, and once at the end of the day. It's a pain in the butt, but I'm able to find almost everything... almost.
Finally, I remove anything and everything I think will distract me too long. The strict schedule helps. I'll put the stuff I really hate to do after a short project I want to do. Sometimes I break those hateful projects up into little chunks to make them easier to swallow.
I would talk to your doctor. Diet, and exercise can have a dramtic effect on ADHD symptoms. At times more so than taking medication.
Slashdot Mirror
I've had ADHD for approx. half my life. Ritalin (and other drugs) while they do help can feel almost like walking around with a crutch. I'm also one of those crazy people who hate popping pills. I've found a number of things that either help with the symptoms are work their way around them. A few help stuff. Caffiene is your friend. Ritalin is basically a stimulant. I've found controlled intake of caffiene actually have a similar effect as the Ritalin. The amount goes up and down during the month. Sometime it's a can of pepsi (or coke) every 3 hours, sometime it is more. The up side is that you don't have to take pills, or worry about co-workers (or boss) finding out you're taking them. The downside is 1. the calories (go diet) and 2. The cost. How many of us have a mini-fridge to put store bought pop? Another thing that helps is exercise. I've found a 30 minute walk in the morning, a walk on my lunch break, and a walk in the evening helps dramatically. The theory is "stimulation." ADHD aren't really attention deficiet, rather they simply pay attention to too many things at once. If something is stimulating you, your brain has a tendancy to "hyper focus." Thus finding little activities that help you be "stimulated" can darmatically decrease the attention issue. Exercise also helps with the hyperactivity. As for work arounds. This probably is different for every person. But I have found my 3 great weaknesses are 1. Remember tasks, particularily the ones I don't like or find boring. 2. Keep Organized and 3. Procrastination (I tend to automatically steer myself to activities I find more stimulating than what I HAVE to do). To compensate I use lists. LOTS of lists. And I'm very specfic. Saying I will be making phone calls from 8 to 9am, following working a press release for 9 to 9:30. Etc etc. Granted these tend to change but just making a strict schedule that you force yourself to adhere to helps.s I also don't let myself get too unorganized. I clean my desk and my files 3 times a day. Once in the morning to get everything I need for the day, once close to lunch like a "mini" break, and once at the end of the day. It's a pain in the butt, but I'm able to find almost everything... almost. Finally, I remove anything and everything I think will distract me too long. The strict schedule helps. I'll put the stuff I really hate to do after a short project I want to do. Sometimes I break those hateful projects up into little chunks to make them easier to swallow. I would talk to your doctor. Diet, and exercise can have a dramtic effect on ADHD symptoms. At times more so than taking medication.