ADD and A's without medication?

[flisk]

Point blank: There are a lot of posts about ADD here. I have ADD.

My case isn't too severe, and I didn't get a diagnosis until I was 12/13 when I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, OCD and depression. Prior to the diagnosis I had good grades and post diagnosis (and no medication) I still have good grades and am able to function without medication.

My coping mechanism is odd though... I have to constantly multitask to get anything done. Even typing this post I'm watching TV and doing a bit of studying. I can't concentrate on one specific task for too long or my mind starts to wander or I'll flat out get up and go do something else. It's a little odd but it works for me. That's what the doctor said anyway. That's not to say I don't struggle... test taking is still difficult for me (finals are a nightmare!) and I have academic accommodations for longer test times.

Just my coping mechanism. Anyone else have success of treating ADD without medication?

[.:PrincessZelda:.]

I have ADD, but I haven't had any success treating it without medication. I have to take medication. When I'm off my medication, my mind starts to wander and I can't concentrate(just like you were saying). But, I do know of people who have ADD and don't take medication because their's is not as serious as other people. What they do is try to keep their mind concentrated on one thing or like you, they multitask.

[flisk]

I'm not saying in anyway that its always possible to treat ADD without medication... sometimes its necessary and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Mostly just interested to see if anyone else uses multitasking to help their ADD!

[.:PrincessZelda:.]

I know you didn't say it that way. I must of misworded my response; sorry about that. Whenever I'm not on my medication, I sometimes multitask.

[Always *]

I have ADD too. I knew by the time I was in grade 10 but wasn't officially diagnosed until grade 11. I have struggled with depression a few times, but I am not clinically depressed. For the last 2 years I have taken meds on and off, but largely off. I usually take them cause I get stressed out and think it'll make what ever situation better, but they don't make such a big difference for me that I find it important long term. My ADD isn't THAT bad, I get my work done, my grades are decent, I just make goals and try to keep busy. Like I tend to get REALLY restless and REALLY bored quite easily. Like at a movie theatre I am better off not cleaning my purse out and organizing it while in the theatre.... I'll use my computer or read a book or knit while watching a movie. I tend to crack my fingers and stuff when talking to people, but aside from the fact that I tend to talk a bit to much and there are little signs to the fact that I am restless (I'll move my toes around instead of my fingers and I'd find it odd if people were looking at my feet) and that way people won't think it's weird if they realize I don't sit still for long, like one time my friend asked if I could make tea when I go to the kitchen, I was like "what makes you think I intend to go to the kitchen any time soon?" her response, well, apparently she doesn't see me NOT getting up to do something or other while the tv is playing something haha... But yeah, I am pretty goal oriented, keep a schedule, will officially have to make it more rigid though due to a stricter than usual training plan along with volunteering and school but yeah, I am fine off meds lol, sorry if that is a bit ranty

[medic2013]

I have to keep on my medication. I can't do anything without it. I go crazy. I can't keep my mind focused on what i need to. I get destracted really easy when i don't take it. I hate b/c it makes everything so much harder on me.

[Always *]

I think it depends on who you are too. I was 18 by the time I tried the meds, so I had spent 18 years NOT taking medications, so I learned how to cope with the easy-to-be-distractedness and stuff without letting it mess me up totally. I'm not saying it's easy. Just that it's possible. I found the meds would cause me a higher level of anxiety than normal and stuff, so I would rather not take them.

[medic2013]

The medication seems to keep my anxitey under control along with the ADD. I go back to the dr auguest 9th and i will findout if i can try to come off of it when i finish school

[Always *]

yeah, not for me, I get it worse. But I was also dealing with a lot of crap that had me feeling depressed and anxious a lot while I was consistently taking medications any how, i just felt like it was more likely to accelerate out of control more often into full blown break downs when I was on meds. Like I'd be doing what ever and would go for a drive to help calm me down but start crying any how and literally could stubble to get into my apartment and fully breakdown and I'd end up just lying on my couch or in my bed for the rest of the night not able to function.... It was cause I was just dealing with a lot though and was trying to hard to get it together and NOT let anyone see how badly I was hurting, and like I said, meds made the depressed/anxious moods worse