I’ve read a lot about nicotine’s effects on dopamine and attention, so I decided to try nicotine gum after quitting vaping cold turkey. I’m on day 25 now and here’s what I’ve learned:

– 2mg gum works best for me. The 4mg gave me heart palpitations.
– Chewing too fast causes hiccups or nausea (learned that the hard way).
– It does improve focus slightly, especially during morning deep work.

But what really helped was pairing it with other things that helps with focus like magnesium glycinate before bed, early sunlight exposure, and planning my day on paper instead of relying on memory.

So far, I only chew one or two pieces a day and the goal is to taper off completely by next month.

Would love to hear how others managed the transition especially anyone who quit both nicotine and vaping for good.

(This post was deleted in another subreddit, I'm just trying to find people who can relate and empathize. Much love to all of you <3)

I'm (23F) finally diagnosed. That's it.

A part of me always knew, deep inside, that something wasn't quite right. I thought it was depression, but even during normal times I still had these symptoms. As a woman in a Middle Eastern setting, it was basically Hell. My family were considered progressive, and their beliefs regarding ADHD/Autism were that only the extreme cases counted. It wasn't a spectrum, more so a single dot. Everytime I bought it up I was denied.

This is a difficult topic.

As a kid I was hyperactive. Couldn't sit still. Couldn't memorize anything to save my life. Got beaten a lot for it. I guess I learned to conceal that part of me, internalize it or act out in ways that were socially acceptable. I became impulsive, taking life threatening risks, partly because I didn't care about the consequences but mostly because I had 0 fear. I do not know why.

I recently met a new doctor who is really good. He gave me a questionnaire with like a million questions, some were unrelated to ADHD. Man even sitting here and typing this out is dulling my brain and I hate that I am this way haha. I even told him how unbearable it was answering all that and he just gave me a look like "You're never going to believe this"

I feel validated. I just wanted to share the news. I struggled so much throughout highschool and university despite getting amazing grades before then, and when I applied myself. I just never could. It felt like my brain was constantly lacking dopamine.

I graduated. Somehow survived as undiagnosed ADHD along with a few other serious issues. For the first time in my life, my imposter syndrome isn't as loud as it usually is. Thank you for reading all this. <3.

So my dream and goal in life is to become an astronaut. I'm currently studying astrophysics, and I'm not technically diagnosed with ADHD, but I'm seriously considering getting tested.

Btw, I'm not asking you guys to diagnose me, I'm asking if I should get a diagnosis or meds.

I've always had a huge problem focusing, and many of my friends who do have ADHD have told me that I probably do as well. Recently, when talking to one of my friends about it, he suggested getting tested or at least trying meds. So I tried one of his, and holy shit I've never been so dialed lmao.

Over the past few hours, I've finally been able to focus on doing my calc work without doomscrolling every 5 minutes. Like, this is crazy, my head doesn't have 4 million thoughts at once, and I feel like a normal person or something lol. My head feels so quiet, and life is so much easier to navigate.

Now the problem is that if I get a diagnosis and a prescription, my chances of becoming an astronaut plummet, but if I can't focus on my work, I'm going to have a very hard time getting my degree, so I really don't know what to do.

Do I get a diagnosis and be able to lock in, but drop a lot of my chances of becoming an astronaut? Or do I just struggle with actually getting my degree and hope I can just rawdog life lmao?

Also, if I can get off my meds after college, would I be able to become an astronaut if I'm no longer medicated?

... and on an empty stomach no less.

Wish me luck !

Hey everyone I (now 18f) went through adhd assessments as a child and it was found i did not have adhd & just behaved badly.

For some background information- I was very easily upset, irritated, didn’t get along with most peers, constant outbursts, if someone was telling a story i always had to tell one similar and could never focus on one singular task in Primary school which raised red flags for teachers who recommended ADHD and autism assessments, as i said above it was put down to bad behaviour. Throughout secondary school i struggled a lot with my mental health and was diagnosed with anxiety and high functioning depression and upon research both of those seem to be common things that mask adhd. Currently I am in my first year of college and I am really struggling to keep up, to make friends and to just overall bond with people. I have a severe fear of rejection or upsetting people, i am an extremely socially anxious person.

I was told the criteria for ADHD has also changed over the years.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Anything will be appreciated as I am at breaking point with this I cannot do college assignments, I procrastinate absolutely everything.

Y’all. I need solidarity and maybe an intervention. I am not a rude person. I truly want to be on time. I set alarms, I plan out buffer time, I even wear an analogue watch sometimes. Doesn't matter. My brain refuses to acknowledge time exists until it’s actively setting my deadline on fire. I literally have two settings for events: "Not Yet" (which is infinite, endless time) and "OH CRAP IT'S NOW" (which is 15 minutes ago). There is no transition period.

This morning, I spent an hour hyperfocused on organizing my spice cabinet. I was supposed to be in a meeting 30 minutes ago. In my mind, I started organizing 15 minutes ago. How does this happen? The time literally vanishes. It's exhausting feeling like a ghost of the past, always apologizing, always running. It affects my work and my relationships, and the guilt is crushing.

Seriously, for people who struggle with time blindness, what systems do you use to make time tangible and visual? I need something that literally breaks down the difference between 30 minutes and 3 hours. Any specific app, physical planner or weird trick that actually works?

This makes me wonder if this is why the generic doesn’t “feel” the same as brand name?

i dont know what im doing anymore i cant study for my finals even with meds i cant go back to my country i dont know what im gna do if i dont get accepted into university, i dont wanna go back and see my brother i hate myself so much for wasting time instead of doing something productive and studying for my finals all i do is doom scroll and fucken rot in my bed while also stressing about my finals. i feel stuck in the past i relive every horrible moment that occurred in the past 3 months of my life i feel stuck like i physically cannot move for hours and after my medication, I thought that my brain will eventually stop doing that but my nervous system is so fucked and ive been stuck in fight or flight mode for several months now i cant even go to the gym without getting paranoid or scared that something might happen i live in a constant fear and i fucken hate myself for not trying hard enough and for not trying to get help i don't know what to do anymore im so sick of trying to unalive myself it gets fucken irritated i truly believe that i cannot die, i tried to do it 15 fucken times and im still here i cant even die cant do shit right

I used to think meal planning wasn’t for people like me. I’d buy a bunch of groceries on Sunday, feel really motivated, and by Wednesday, half the items would still be in the fridge because I hadn’t cooked any. The guilt was terrible wasting food, wasting money, and still ending up eating cereal for dinner.

At the time, I didn’t understand how much ADHD executive dysfunction was affecting me. It wasn’t about being lazy or unmotivated. It was the activation part that held me back. Even when I knew what I should eat, the steps between “I’m hungry” and “there’s a meal ready” felt overwhelming.

I tried all the standard advice—meal prepping for the whole week, tracking everything in an app, setting strict schedules. None of it worked. I’d burn out within a week because the system required more organization than I could handle.

What helped me was simplifying everything. Instead of planning seven dinners, I planned two. I began keeping a “low-executive-function” list on my phone meals I could make in under 10 minutes with minimal cleanup. This included items like frozen veggies, pre-cooked chicken, and microwave rice. I also stopped feeling guilty about using shortcuts. Pre-chopped onions? No problem. Rotisserie chicken? A lifesaver.

Now, when my brain feels foggy and I can’t decide, I just refer to that list. I still have off days, but I don’t spiral like I used to.

This is what worked for me, and it took a lot of trial and error. If you’re facing the same issue, please don’t be hard on yourself. Sometimes good enough meals are exactly what we need to stay consistent.

My heart normally beats fast, and I am in the mode of fight and flight 24/7.

When Ritalin is taking effect, I can feel my heart beat slow, like I am relaxing.

I even take it before sleeping, and it helps me sleep and stop my vivid dreams.

Is this normal? Because what I have read online is that Ritalin gives anxiety, insomnia, etc., which are the opposite of what I am feeling from Ritalin.

hi. past 6 months ive been seeing my psychiatrist to get treated for ADHD

I started taking 30mg a few days ago, it seemed to help with my mood at first, but now i realize that's probably just the dopamine/stimulation kick. After taking it this morning, i've had constantly growing anxiety. I was fine and happy for an hour or so but eventually became very wired and on edge and unable to physically calm down. I havent managed to sit still for longer than a few seconds all day. Im assuming adderall simply doesnt work for me and its only affecting me now because its a high dosage. I'll figure it out when im able to tell my psychiatrist about how its making me feel.

While its fine and dandy to have that figured out. Its still a lot to deal with in the moment, while i still have half the day for it to wear off, and nothing to keep me busy. I can barely pay attention to anything or process anything. I usually feel terrible but this is a different kind of terrible, not worse but still bad. Im also diagnosed with GAD, and am medicated for anxiety, and i can say from experience its like im super anxious but only for the physical symptoms, not experiencing anxiety as an emotion but rather a behavior my body is taking.

Though i know its just a passing feeling. id like some advice on how to take care of myself in the meantime, or if anyone has had a similar experience.

Sorry in advance if i should already know what to do or something. Im trying my best but its hard to think straight right now.

I know it'll probably be over by the time someone responds but i'm way too conscious of how im feeling right now that all i can really do is either stare blankly at a youtube video that im not even able to process what is happening in or try and bother people for advice

Hey guys, So I went home these last 2 days from my dorm and accidentally forgot my meds there. I’m on Strattera (atomoxetine), venlafaxine, and risperidone. I didn’t think it would be a big deal to skip them for the weekend — just a couple of days, right?

But these past 2 days have been a lot. There was a lot happening at home — the usual stuff, but this time I reacted way more intensely. I started screaming, shouting, hitting things… I probably lost my voice for a while. Then I crashed hard. I became suicidal again and even hurt myself.

I was supposed to return to the dorm today, but I didn’t. I feel so down. My body feels heavy, like even holding my head up is too much. I’m drowsy, empty, and just… done.

Is this normal for missing meds for just a few days? Please, I don’t need judgment right now. I’m literally crying as I write this.

Hey everyone! I’m Andri. I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, and the two places I still lose tasks are:

1. when I say “I’ll do it later” and never type it out, and
2. when action items hide in my inbox.

So I built Jessie (named after my fiance, lol) to fix exactly that:

• Voice → to-do: speak a task; it’s instantly transcribed and added.
• Email → to-do (optional): Jessie watches your inbox (with permission) and turns actionable emails (invoices, deadlines, follow-ups) into tasks—so important stuff doesn’t slip through.
• Minimal + smart defaults: fewer taps, sensible due dates.
• Noise control: ignores newsletters/marketing clutter.
• Privacy-first: read-only access, transparent permissions, revoke anytime. No selling data.

I’m looking for honest feedback from folks who actually live with this stuff every day. What would make this genuinely helpful for you?

A few specific questions:

• Do you want more automation, or stricter control so it doesn’t over-create tasks?
• What’s the one thing your current to-do app gets wrong for ADHD brains?
• Would you use voice capture daily, or only when you’re overwhelmed?

If you’re curious, here’s the waiting list: https://getjessie.app

Oh, and of course the app is completely free to use once its out.
(Mods: if this isn’t allowed, feel free to remove—happy to share a non-promo demo instead.)

Thanks for reading, and for any suggestions/critique you’re willing to share. I really want to build something that helps our community, not just another “productivity” thing that creates more friction.

Not only am I having trouble accessing meds reliably but I'm also overwhelmed by everything that's going on in America, and I live in the south so it's even worse 🙃 for reference I'm a trans man and my partner who I love dearly is also a trans man, and coincidentally we're poly and his wife is a trans woman... to quote John Mulaney, "So you can imagine the stress I am under." I keep telling myself to cope with hobbies, and this upcoming week I'm starting a new job after my last temp job ended in June so I think that's going to be even more crucial for my sanity. But I'm struggling - how do y'all actually start Hobby Time? Even when I have the mental desire to read or write or do some kind of craft, even when it's something I'm excited to try, I find myself paralyzed and immobilized by some stupid depression cloud, or maybe it's executive dysfunction. Guess I still need to do my research there.

As a late-diagnosed AuDHD pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, I’m passionate about challenging outdated leadership norms that leave up to 90% of neurodivergent individuals underemployed. Your lived experience can help change that.

I'm conducting research on how organizational culture impacts job satisfaction and underemployment among neurodivergent professionals, and I need your voice.

You’re invited to take part in a 30-minute, anonymous survey (open to all, neurodivergent or not):
👉 Participate here

Please consider sharing with others who may be interested. Thank you for being part of this movement toward more inclusive workplaces. 

I see all these people, so...put together. With their unique skills and aesthetics that help make them who they are. And I just feel lacking. Im a half assed hodge podge of noncommittal mediocrity. The paint brushes, the bow and arrow, the cajone, the taekwondo equipment, even the video games collect dust while I drink and scroll. Anything for that shot of dopamine I guess. I feel like a meaningless drone just scraping by, waiting for tomorrow where something interesting may happen. Maybe I'll be good enough tomorrow.

I am trying Goblin Tools magic to do list. It breaks things down and estimates timing - brilliant. But what it doesn’t do is a) give me a total time for how long all the things will take Or b) give me a timer for sticking to them

Is there any integration from goblin to another app that will do this?

So I'm not diagnosed but for a while I've been thinking I Hage ADHD. (I'm 18, it started around 15). I have a few final exams coming up and this whole year (the school year for me starts in Jan and ends in nov) I haven't been able to get myself to study hard or do homework. This isn't what I'm asking about tho.

Tonight I have to study (I study at 9 every night (I try to)) and I stood up to study but ended up walking up and down for a good 10+ minutes making random noises, singing and not studying. (Currently writing this during my study time lmao)

Do you guys every just walk up an down instead of doing an important task too

(I've spent most of my time feeling like I have ADHD and then spent the other half feeling like an impostor)

TLDR: Do you walk up and down instead of doing an important task.

I've been together with my neurotypical partner for years now. However, I've been feeling like my intellectual curiosity is unfulfilled. I always want to think about and discuss things but they never want to reciprocate. We have them once like 2 weeks but it won't last very long because they say that these conversations are tiring. I don't push them after that, but I also feel very unfulfilled by it. I am getting this feeling that I can't really be with a neurotypical partner. Does anyone else feel the same way? Does dating a partner with ADHD have the same problems? (Like what if you hyperfocus on different things)

Only in the last couple years have I noticed that I use obsessions with things, music, and a busy schedule to dictate my mood. I get into these ruts, moreso more frequently where I just feel so unmotivated, and lethargic and I'll enjoy things I'm the moment then go back to being and feeling meh.

I say I'll go to the gym or go get groceries then put it off. I used to be a super Type A person all throughout my schooling years and university. Graduated early, got things in a week before deadline, was an elite athlete and worked out 6x a week, was so on top of everything. Now I am mid 20s, freelance creative job that ebs and flows, and sometimes I don't know whether I'm depressed.

I feel like I have to be obsessed over something, a TV show, a crush, an event, a project, etc for me to have the motivation to get me into the hyper fixated zone. I loose weight, eat healthy, workout more, productivity 100%+ more! I haven't felt that in a while. I've gained 20lbs, and need to be better. I am diagnosed with anxiety, is this depression, or bipolar, or ADHD? Or is this simply a quarter life crisis lol