Has anyone tried to overcome their ADD without meds, antidepressants and choose to reduce symptoms with a low-carb diet (no preservatives/sugar/junk food etc.) combined with regular exercise, meditation & positive affirmations etc.
I know this is not possible for everyone to improve their ADD symptoms without medication, but I'm just curious to find out if anyone has some success with this approach.
Hi Jenn15~ I've been doing meditation - guided on YouTube for about 7 months now. It does really seem to help out. I am much calmer after I do it every day (twice). I've cut out carbs because I want to lose weight and eat more healthfully. I've been told that whey protein is really good to add to smoothies and helps boost energy. Also taking vitamins helps. I'd recommend that you to talk to someone that knows natural foods and supplements because it's a safe way to boost your vitamins, etc. Good luck on your journey.
So how well is this all working for you compared to medicine? I want to try as well but my doc said it would only partially work and never be the same as the Vyvance I’m taking. I’m not sure if he’s just pushing the drugs or is giving me advice from his experience with other patients.
Hi wildbrain~
It is somewhat successful. The diet is good for me and does make me feel better. The meditation REALLY helps as well.
However, I can tell you that having taken Focalin just over 2 weeks now, (10mg to start) there is a definite difference with the medication. My thoughts are much more calm and not all over the place. BTW, I really had to fight to get an ADHD rx for myself. It was a rather arduous task.
It's doubtful that your dr. is pushing the medication. Since most of these medications are considered dangerous, and a narcotic, most docs are limited to how many scripts they can write for this type of medication.
Hope this helps you on your journey.
Very interesting- thanks! I’ve been skeptical since I got a prescription on my first visit. I felt like the process of getting diagnosed was far too casual. I don’t exercise regularly, don’t eat as healthy as I could and above all, I already know I do much better with more sleep (~8hrs) than I usually get (6-7hrs). So I’m really questioning whether I could skip meds altogether if I somehow figured out how to do these other things.
I didn’t consider that my doctor may actually have a limit to the total amount of Vyvance he prescribes.
You didn’t mention sleep. How is yours?
I would check on this documentary: youtu.be/pTVyaLO0bUw. I just watched it recently, have not tried yet.
Hi there. When I started working with my current psychiatrist, we focused on sleep and nutrition exclusively. I made many changes to my diet, including cutting out wheat and dairy; worked on improving my sleep hygiene so I was getting closer to 7-8 hours of sleep a night; and added several supplements—magnesium, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B (I had already been taking a multivitamin and fish oil). I already exercised regularly (I run) and meditated a few times a week. After a few months of this, I noticed feeling more relaxed and less overwhelmed, but I still was struggling with focus and motivation. We started with a low dose of stimulant medication (methylphenidate), and that has made a big difference for me being able to get things done. I’ve also noticed feeling less emotional when I take it, which has been helpful. Diet and sleep changes, combined with a regular exercise regimen, can help mitigate some of the side effects of the medication and may allow you to take a lower dose. If you’re interested in reading more about changes to diet/supplements, I recommend “Finally Focused” by Dr. James Greenblatt. Hope that helps. Good luck.
ADD and Dissociation/Detachment
Having untreated ADD while Fire Department training 
ADD and work
What happened to ADD and what is it called now.
