There are many treatments for ADHD besides Adderall. If you go to the library I am sure there is at least a shelf full of books all screaming the same thing. How to fix, cure, or rid ourselves of ADHD. Look, that’s wonderful and all, but if I’m struggling with ADHD. I don’t have the attention span, willpower, or energy to read a book.
Lack of attention
That’s the dirty little secret about ADHD. There’s plenty of information out there to help. The problem is our minds and sometimes it seems our only options are Adderall or other medications. Yet, before we set off on a chemical journey to wellness. Let’s see if there are other options besides Adderall.
Focus and attention seem like this long-lost art. I have trouble walking into grocery stores. I’m instantly overwhelmed with all the options! What did I come in here for again? Was it milk? Bread? Steak? Oh, I can make Gordan Ramsey’s famous steak Diane recipe. Oh while I’m here I should check out the pasta aisle. I could make fettucini alfredo! Or lasagna.
The ADHD brain has the tendency to wander and fall down rabbit holes that at the moment are fun. Unfortunately, they aren’t very productive, resulting in ALOT of wasted time.
So how do we slow down the Ferraris in our heads and focus on the here and now? How can we get things done with fewer distractions and more productivity?
Treatments for ADHD besides Adderall
This is not a long list. These are just a few helpful tips to aid in your ADHD journey:
Exercise
Imagine you have a little child inside your head. That child wants to run around and get all their energy out. Sure video games are fun and stimulate the mind, but they are not stimulating the body. Our bodies need to exert energy physically.
Every single time I’m struggling with attention and focus. It’s when I stopped exercising. Note: I am not saying to hit the gym for hours on end. Take a walk. Start with thirty minutes around the block. Find a quiet park, or the beach or lake.
If you want to join a gym, knock yourself out. Whatever works for you is good in my book. Just get your body moving and it will aid your focus and attention.
Diet
Surprise! What you put into your body affects how you feel. If you put poor-quality gasoline into your Ferrari brains, you’re going to pay the penalty.
Here’s another surprise. Fat is good for our brains. Not deep-fried Twinkies fat. Omega3 fatty acids, the kind found in fish are great for our minds. They are also vital for our nerve and cell functions. If you don’t eat a lot of fresh fish, look into supplements.
Omega-3 supplements or fish are great. But protein in general is also important for our minds. Eggs are rich in Omega-3 and are a great way to start the day.
Make sure you are getting enough vitamins in your diet. Eat leafy green vegetables and complex carbohydrates. You can also supplement with multivitamins. But, you should try to eat vitamins and minerals from the source and not rely on supplementation.
Meditation
I know what you’re thinking. Seriously? Meditation? We can barely remember to eat three meals a day or take a walk every morning. Now you’re saying to sit on a rock and think about achieving inner peace.
Not quite. Meditation isn’t always about reaching nirvana. It’s about staying in a moment. Focusing on the now. My favorite mediation is sitting by a river and feeling the wind on my face. Everything else just fades away and I am just there.
Of course, you don’t need to sit by a river. I kind of think that’s cheating anyway. Just try to force your mind to slow down. It’s not easy and it is going to take practice. However, once I learned how to clear my mind. It became my favorite part of the day.
If you need help starting a meditation routine, check out Youtube. There are thousands of videos that help the mind slow down and focus.
That’s it!
I told you it wasn’t a long list. Be sure to check out the rest of my blog at Mad Mental Health. It has more tips on wellness and also some fun articles.
There’s even an article on some of my favorite movie characters with ADHD.
For resources and information visit https://www.nami.org.
Another great source is https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
