Help for Robbie

[Robbie911]

I am married snd my ADD is effecting my marriage to a point my home life is being effected. I tried adderall but it’s no where to be found. I am a healthy man and I don’t like the feelings of the drug. I would like to see if it’s possible to get the help needed without drugs if possible.

[BlessedLady]

For many, it takes a while to find the right medication and the right dosage. If you were taking the extended release you might want to try immediate release. Have you talked with your doctor about prescribing another medication like Dextroamphetamine or Ritalin. Have you called independent pharmacys to ask if they have it ?

[Robbie911 in reply to BlessedLady]

the pharmacies will not give info out on that type of medication. Typically you have to have a prescription then they will let you know if it’s available. I use a smaller pharmacy and they are saying out until September October.

[BlessedLady in reply to Robbie911]

Have you gone to chain pharmacys ? I know it can be time consuming but if you have already called and they will not tell you over the phone. You really have no choice if you need the medication. Also ask to talk with he pharmacist. Usually the pharmacist does not answer the phone at chain pharmacys. Sometimes they will give info when other staff will not.

[STEM_Dad]

Medication is usually the most effective treatment for ADHD, but it's only one part of all the things we can do too manage our ADHD. Right now, many people are effected by the medication shortage.

* You can ask your doctor to try a different medication, which might be in better supply, but the Adderall shortage has spilled over into a shortage of other ADHD medications.

Non-medication things which can help:

CARE FOR YOUR BODY:

Get adequate sleep

Stay hydrated

Make healthy eating decisions

Exercise regularly

Consider vitamins and supplements to help meet your dietary needs

Manage any other health conditions that you have

CARE FOR YOUR MIND:

Manage stress

* Learn and practice mindfulness techniques; some types include: progressive relaxation, breath control, yoga, tai chi, other meditation

* Get counseling or therapy when you need to (cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, can teach you techniques similar to mindfulness which can help manage stress and anxiety, such as "grounding" exercises)

DEVELOP HELPFUL SKILLS AND ROUTINES:

Take a look at your routines, and make small changes that can have an improvement on your lifestyle and relationships.

For instance, when I decided to state l start taking vitamins, I decided to take them with breakfast. I used the existing habit (eating breakfast) as a cue for the new habit (taking vitamins). Using one habit as a cue to another one is referred to as "habit stacking".

* To start a new habit like this, I've found that it helps to tell myself (verbally) "WHEN I do [this], THEN I will do [that]." (This same When-Then technique helps me to remember to do things, like "when I get back to town, then I will gas up before I go home".)

[I have another memory hack that I use when I have to go to another room to find something, and don't want to arrive there and wonder "what was I looking for?". It's a proven phenomenon that people forget things when then walk into a new environment. The hack is: imagine yourself in the place you're going to and finding the thing you need, then hold that image in your mind until you get there.]

-----Other things to consider-----

IMPROVING YOURSELF FOR YOURSELF WILL BENEFIT YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS.

Be dedicated to bringing out the best in yourself: body, heart, mind & soul.

SHOW GENUINE CURIOSITY IN OTHERS, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR LIFE.

SHOW GENUINE APPRECIATION FOR OTHERS. Work on speaking in positive, uplifting words...it takes 5 positive comments to offset 1 negative comment.

JOURNALING FOR SELF-REFLECTION

Many people use journaling to help them reflect on their thoughts and experiences. Instead of lamenting about doing something the wrong way, like getting angry about something, write about the experience. Reflect on how you might handle the situation differently if it happens again. This will help your mind to start reprogramming how you respond to everyday situations. It's not magic, you might still struggle, but a little bit of intention will still help you to make little changes, which will make your overall lived experience just a little bit better.

[DragonJeep]

If you can't find Adderall, see if your doctor can prescribe an alternate stimulant medication. Vyvanse could be a good alternative. It's got a more gentle ramp up when you take the med and let down at the end of the day. If you don't tolerate stimulants at all, talk to your doctor about some other alternative meds. My psychiatrist actually switched me completely off ADHD specific meds and to something that is more commonly used for seizures and mood disorders. So far, so good for me. He was also able to order a genetic test that is supposed to reveal information about which medications my body might metabolize and/or tolerate better or worse than others. I'm excitedly waiting for those results.