Thank you!! I only figured out that I have (always had) a raging case of untreated ADHD not quite two years ago (I'm in my mid-50's), and this is the first post I have come across that addresses the impact of ADHD on diet and sleep, both of which I have had serious challenges throughout my entire adult life. I find it particularly frustrating that I almost always have the worst "sleep nights" on the rare days when I "do everything right"....
I feel for you and apologize if I was one of those people in your feed talking about my then 4th grader who got by on a can of coke or a cup of coffee at the teachers direction because the district would not test my kid. We did finally get him tested when we sent him to a private High School in Jersey City. He did get meds finally in High School but it was not until College that he got the name brand Adderall - everything got better for him once he started on his meds. He just made special trip yesterday to pharmacy to get this months supply.
While reading books like Driven to Distraction among others to study up when our pediatrician first tested him I learned what I suspected all along, I too have some ADHD, and have had it much of my life. My kid is doing well with his dosage now and is a graduate with a job as a bench chemist and looking to go to grad school maybe come the new year. But in the early days it was very frustrating cause we paid thousands to have him privately tested after the pediatrician said it is likely he will need a IEP education plan but the school only wanted to give us a 504 instead. \
For me giving up tobacco was much easier than giving up caffeine (I consume massive amounts)
I tried Adderall once or twice but being an addictive type I gave it up after a couple of weeks, plus there is a history of depression with my siblings and my mother so I was not wanting to take any risks getting those feelings.
Well written and thanks for sharing - Hopefully the decimation of your mentions was not too over the top there on that one...
I'm recently diagnosed and adjusting to Adderall. I discovered that if I don't eat, I get a massive headache, which generally makes me try to remember the last time I ate.
You — doing PSA is something I didn’t expect but then it falls right in line with your work in general. This was exceptionally well written on a subject that stills needs more understanding in our educational system as well as society. Thx!!!
I've learned more about what my adult son is dealing with in the minutes it took to read this post than I have from his myriad doctors over decades of appointments. I still have questions, of course. But some things make a lot more sense now. I can't begin to let you know how impactful this piece is, or how grateful I am to you for sharing it.
One more thing. I have found the comments regarding the nature and management of ADHD very useful.
But I don’t want to contribute to any risk of Mike losing readers who may not find the comments useful or interesting. OTOH, I could just be paranoid and obsessing about a non-issue 😂 I just thought I’d put it out there in case anyone else had a similar thought.
So we'll said!!! I have ADHD and have to explain this to so many people I'm in contact with daily. Although it was worse while I was raising my kids, 1 with ADHD and because of the way her Dr and I together worked out her treatment we did not give her anything with caffeine in it unless we changed something else. Because caffeine can be dangerous in conjunction with medications.
Thanks for the PSA Mike. This information would’ve been helpful when my husband was alive. He was unmedicated and I struggled to understand what he was going through. Pre ALS diagnosis he would sometimes have some sativa and I was always amazed how well he functioned. Post diagnosis he mostly fused with cbd oil to manage his pain. A lot makes sense now, thanks to your explainer. 😊
Susi’s suggestion of a handbook on “How to ADHD for neuro typicals” would be half written already. Would the compilation and editing provide enough challenge? I’ve learned a ton from this and other posts.
[Okay, I’m gonna say it: that donut is pretty much sugar and fat, which would make anyone crash a few hours later... at least a bacon-egg-and-cheese thing would have some protein. Agreed, it’s not remotely my business!]
I have a son who was diagnosed ADHD at a very early age, who is now 43, and for the first time in my life, I understand everything he's been going through so much better now. So, so many arguments over so many things that were beyond his control...it breaks my heart to realize my ignorance of his struggle. A "public service" announcement indeed. Thank you so much for sharing.
As I said on the thread, if only caffeine was a treatment life would be a lot easier. If you could just take some when out of meds it would be great but doesn't work that way.
Sleep, meditation, nutrition is a tricky dance with adhd. Especially when you add in days being under/un medicated.
I’m always grateful for your insights into ADHD. My son (age 11) was diagnosed in the winter with ADHD inattentive type. He now has a 504 plan at school so all of his teachers know. He also started taking meds in July. We opted for one in the newer class which is less likely to cause issues with appetite & sleep. So far so good .
Thank you!! I only figured out that I have (always had) a raging case of untreated ADHD not quite two years ago (I'm in my mid-50's), and this is the first post I have come across that addresses the impact of ADHD on diet and sleep, both of which I have had serious challenges throughout my entire adult life. I find it particularly frustrating that I almost always have the worst "sleep nights" on the rare days when I "do everything right"....
I feel for you and apologize if I was one of those people in your feed talking about my then 4th grader who got by on a can of coke or a cup of coffee at the teachers direction because the district would not test my kid. We did finally get him tested when we sent him to a private High School in Jersey City. He did get meds finally in High School but it was not until College that he got the name brand Adderall - everything got better for him once he started on his meds. He just made special trip yesterday to pharmacy to get this months supply.
While reading books like Driven to Distraction among others to study up when our pediatrician first tested him I learned what I suspected all along, I too have some ADHD, and have had it much of my life. My kid is doing well with his dosage now and is a graduate with a job as a bench chemist and looking to go to grad school maybe come the new year. But in the early days it was very frustrating cause we paid thousands to have him privately tested after the pediatrician said it is likely he will need a IEP education plan but the school only wanted to give us a 504 instead. \
For me giving up tobacco was much easier than giving up caffeine (I consume massive amounts)
I tried Adderall once or twice but being an addictive type I gave it up after a couple of weeks, plus there is a history of depression with my siblings and my mother so I was not wanting to take any risks getting those feelings.
Well written and thanks for sharing - Hopefully the decimation of your mentions was not too over the top there on that one...
I'm recently diagnosed and adjusting to Adderall. I discovered that if I don't eat, I get a massive headache, which generally makes me try to remember the last time I ate.
You — doing PSA is something I didn’t expect but then it falls right in line with your work in general. This was exceptionally well written on a subject that stills needs more understanding in our educational system as well as society. Thx!!!
I've learned more about what my adult son is dealing with in the minutes it took to read this post than I have from his myriad doctors over decades of appointments. I still have questions, of course. But some things make a lot more sense now. I can't begin to let you know how impactful this piece is, or how grateful I am to you for sharing it.
One more thing. I have found the comments regarding the nature and management of ADHD very useful.
But I don’t want to contribute to any risk of Mike losing readers who may not find the comments useful or interesting. OTOH, I could just be paranoid and obsessing about a non-issue 😂 I just thought I’d put it out there in case anyone else had a similar thought.
Thanks for putting it out there. Julia Rucklidge and her team have been studying micronutrients and adhd for some time now and the evidence is that they help. Particularly as the brain and body need good nutritional support to function well. Julia doesn’t endorse any particular company but they do use Hardy’s https://www.hardynutritionals.com/blog/2021/06/vitamin-and-mineral-supplements-as-non-pharmacological-treatment-for-adhd
You can find more on Julia in other sources too - The Better Brain book, etc
So we'll said!!! I have ADHD and have to explain this to so many people I'm in contact with daily. Although it was worse while I was raising my kids, 1 with ADHD and because of the way her Dr and I together worked out her treatment we did not give her anything with caffeine in it unless we changed something else. Because caffeine can be dangerous in conjunction with medications.
Thanks for the PSA Mike. This information would’ve been helpful when my husband was alive. He was unmedicated and I struggled to understand what he was going through. Pre ALS diagnosis he would sometimes have some sativa and I was always amazed how well he functioned. Post diagnosis he mostly fused with cbd oil to manage his pain. A lot makes sense now, thanks to your explainer. 😊
Susi’s suggestion of a handbook on “How to ADHD for neuro typicals” would be half written already. Would the compilation and editing provide enough challenge? I’ve learned a ton from this and other posts.
[Okay, I’m gonna say it: that donut is pretty much sugar and fat, which would make anyone crash a few hours later... at least a bacon-egg-and-cheese thing would have some protein. Agreed, it’s not remotely my business!]
I have a son who was diagnosed ADHD at a very early age, who is now 43, and for the first time in my life, I understand everything he's been going through so much better now. So, so many arguments over so many things that were beyond his control...it breaks my heart to realize my ignorance of his struggle. A "public service" announcement indeed. Thank you so much for sharing.
As I said on the thread, if only caffeine was a treatment life would be a lot easier. If you could just take some when out of meds it would be great but doesn't work that way.
Sleep, meditation, nutrition is a tricky dance with adhd. Especially when you add in days being under/un medicated.
This is a great article.
YES YES YES!!!! I’ve never read about it so distilled so perfectly!!!!!
I really had no idea about ADHD - thank you for writing so clearly and telling your story.
I’m always grateful for your insights into ADHD. My son (age 11) was diagnosed in the winter with ADHD inattentive type. He now has a 504 plan at school so all of his teachers know. He also started taking meds in July. We opted for one in the newer class which is less likely to cause issues with appetite & sleep. So far so good .
Thank you.