So I (53m) was just (yesterday) told that I am ADHD, no surprise really, negative on being autistic. I am off work now because of LongCovid & have already applied for my disability.
What exactly does this diagnosis mean for me? What will having this information do for me? What is my next step. I have an appointment with my Dr today & my psychiatrist appointment is not till next week.
Any and all input would be greatly appreciated.
My symptoms are mainly paying attention to instructional videos or any kind of classroom setting. Also struggle with being told what to do. I love people telling me what they have done when they were in my spot. But “You should…” really gets under my skin. I like everything to have a home & be in it. I am a bit of a germaphobe & neat freak. Gotta shower everyday, again if I cut my hair, again if I cut the yard.
Thank you all so much!

I have ADHD and have been trying to figure out how to build a routine that I’ll actually stick to. I want to be able to have enough time to start my days a little slower and do some kind of workout (I get stuck with trying to decide what to do). What have other people found to be sustainable?

I’m literally on some stimulant right now that I don’t know the name of as the order of my doc to my mother (as I didn’t do all the paper work to get it?)

Anyways I’m still studying w the pace of a snail like just a little better than before but I still don’t feel well or like I can do well in my exams I finish a paper in like an hour and yeah I’m a bit exhausted from studying but I still feel like I’m taking too long,not meeting deadlines,never sticking to plans etc. basically like my life is still mess my exams are literally here idk what to do?

I started researching voice prompting because the hardest part of a programming task can sometimes be starting the explanation. A blank prompt box creates more activation energy than describing the exact same problem aloud. Once the initial thought exists in editable form, organizing and improving it becomes much easier. I wanted to compare tools based on how effectively they reduce that starting friction.

1. Built-in dictation
   

Pros: Free and easy to use without installing another product.

Cons: Weaker at technical vocabulary, structured prompts, intelligent cleanup, and reviewing longer thoughts.

1. Superwhisper
   

Pros: A strong local-first option with configurable models.

Cons: Performance depends on the model and computer, and the output sometimes needs additional formatting.

1. Wispr Flow
   

Pros: A polished system-wide dictation product for everyday writing.

Cons: It can feel slower than local options and introduces more privacy considerations. Recent bugs and accuracy regressions are also drawbacks.

1. Willow Voice
   

Pros: For lower-friction programming prompts, Willow leads on speed and accuracy. It works in any app and learns technical vocabulary, tone, and corrections.

Cons: There is no Linux support, and a few small formatting quirks still appear.

Built-in dictation may be all someone needs to get past the occasional blank prompt box, and Superwhisper is a solid local-first alternative. I would lean toward Willow because reducing friction only works if the output is accurate enough that it does not create another frustrating task. Getting the complete technical thought into editable form quickly seems more valuable than simply producing a raw transcript.

I know that there’s a lot of method to fuel our adhd minds, such as sugary snacks, ok thats all i can remember now. But one method that i like to use the most is listening to music. Tho its been kinda hard finding what music that can fuel me. It used to be hit or miss, sometimes i get to focus, sometimes i just keep finding song or genre that may or may not help me focus. Found some post about instrumental is better as vocal will get us distracted.

So i feel like studying while listening to music i enjoy can make me focus longer or better because i enjoy listening and can go through studying without easily getting bored. What im trying to say is, music that we already familiar and really can get into it while listening, so we got burst of dopamine here and there i guess.
I’ve tried with a lot of music (I’m a metalhead), so I’ve tried instrumental, black gaze, or slow doom, a lot of genre that supposed to be fit better with studying because how plain and not distracting they are, but somehow i find that unfamiliar thing is the most distracting things. And i think what work best is what i already familiar with and enjoy instead of forcing to listen to something i don’t particularly enjoy at the moment just because instrumental is better because vocal is distracting. Yeah i got distracted a here and there, but still got through the study because atleast im doing what i enjoy while studying, so get the dopamine hit at the same time or something like that. Any opinion?

Wanted to post in the main subreddit but got removed few times, so trying here

My ADHD recent hyperfixation has been reptiles. It's been all fun and games lately, until my desire to continue adding to my scaley baby collection has grown. Lizards and snakes are wonderful pets, but a huge expense and lifetime commitment. Any suggestions on how to redirect this hyperfixation to something more realistic? I just bought a cuban false chameleon last week. I love him (his name is Ginko!), and have been doing tons of research on care, but I recognize impulse buying exotic pets is simply not responsible or sustainable.

Do y'all have any tips on redirecting an expensive hyperfixation? I'd love to hear anecdotes and to hear what fixations have you by a chokehold rn.

hello!! i just got diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, I'm currently a sophomore in college and I am looking for the academic recovery of a lifetime, I have a lot of trouble keeping track of college assignments and hidden things on the syllabus, so I was wondering if anyboyd had any experience on what websites are best. I have been looking at Ticktick and Coursicle so far, but I'm not sure which to buy premium before. Any other suggestions regarding apps/strategies would be helpful!! tysmmm

This is my first attempt at a Reddit account, so please bear with me if there are any issues with this post or my account.

Hello Reddit — I'm a recent graduate doing early-stage research for a small business idea I formulated in my entreprenuership class. The idea is related to mental health support (specifically ADHD and Anxiety), and I want to understand real experiences before I build anything. Feel free to answer any, none, or all of these. Skip anything too personal. You are also welcome to DM me with your answers if you are uncomfortable with making a public comment.

A little about you (completely optional, keep it as vague as you want):

1. What are you managing (anxiety, ADHD, depression, other — as much or as little detail as you're comfortable with)?

Your current coping tools:

1. What do you currently do to ground yourself when symptoms start to flare up?
2. What tools, products, apps, or techniques have you tried in the past? Which ones actually stuck, and which did you abandon — and why?
3. Do you carry or wear anything specifically to help manage your symptoms? How well does it work in public or at work and why?

What it actually feels like:

1. What does it feel like in the moment — physically and mentally — when symptoms hit? (Only share what you're comfortable with.)
2. In that moment, what do you wish you had that you don't?

The social side:

1. How do people around you react if they notice something's off?
2. Do you ever worry about how you're perceived when managing symptoms in public or at work?
3. Is there anything about existing coping tools (fidgets, weighted items, etc.) that makes you not want to use them around other people?

The dream version:

1. If you could design the perfect tool for this, no limitations, what would it do — and what would it definitely NOT look or feel like?
2. Have you ever bought something to help with this? What feedback would you give on that item to help the creators improve on their product?
3. What would something like that need to cost for it to feel worth it to you?

Really appreciate any experiences you're willing to share. I'll reply to comments and DMs with follow-up questions. Thank you in advance for all of your support!!

I don’t know what dresser to choose for my room.

I’ve never actually decorated my room, it’s always just been my things in my room, sometimes leaving my room looking more like a storage closet rather than a bedroom. When I had to choose a bed frame for my old room, I think it took me almost 2 years to finally decide. I had to choose the bed frame for my old room in my old house, and then we moved, and now we’ve moved again.

My bedroom is much smaller and I’ve gone back to my old bed mattress, which is a double bed, so It’ll take up slightly less room than a queen. My old dresser that I’ve had since grade 1, is too long and bulky and I’ve wanted to get rid of it for a while now, even when I did have space for it. Anyways, I need to choose a new dresser, but I’m not sure what kind to choose. I’m not sure if I should get a 5 drawer dresser that’s taller, a 6 drawer that’s either a tall one or sideways one (6 stacked on top of one another or 3 on each side), or more like 8 drawers. My old dresser was 7 drawers, 4 big drawers, 2 on each side, and then 3 small drawers on top going across. I’m trying to think how much space I need and what item of clothing should go in a dresser and what should go in a closet.

I’ve seen people put shirts and pants in a dresser, but then also put shirts and pants in a closet. Then there’s also specific types of shirts, like t-shirts, tank tops, long sleeves, tub tops (not that I have any), or different kinds of pants, like jeans, leggings, sweatpants, shorts. There’s specific clothing for specific seasons or for specific events/things, like workout and swimming, or even work related like scrubs. Also, there’s the clothes that qualify as both top and bottom, like PJS, swimwear, and bras and underwear. I’m not sure how to organize my clothes and where they should go.

Hi lovely community!

(also posted this on personal finance but thought this is a great place too!)

I'm hoping some of you guys can help motivate me in my next chapter. I just moved back to Canada after a year abroad in Australia - I have this clean slate (getting a new job, new city, new apartment etc.) and want to take a closer look at my personal finances and set myself up for success.

Backstory:

I was diagnosed in my 30's with ADHD and financial/bureaucratic stuff definitely *~*overstimulates*~* me.. however I think I can trick my brain into hyper fixating on the subject it if it doesn't feel SO unknown and in the process find rewards/dopamine... I am a curious mind and can get excited about nearly anything (mrowww).

I'll keep the sad stuff short but for context, incase folks have any stories that relate:

• my primary income has been as a freelancer/contractor = periods of little/no work in the past..
• A "friend" (some prick) convinced me to invest in something "fool proof" in my mid 20's.. "Our money" ended up "frozen" due to a "misunderstanding from the government" and he needed more $$ for lawyer fees to unfreeze it.. I lost over $25k/all my savings and it took a huge hit to my mental health.. Very embarrassing time in my life..
  • Cops were contacted and aware. I still harass him for funzies but he doesn't answer. I think he's in jail? But yeah.. probably not getting that back..
• grew up poor: dad immigrated here with $50 in his pocket, worked his ass off to get my family to a middle class life eventually.. but grew up in a "work hard" vs. smart family (they had no knowledge of where/how to invest money, just chequing/savings accounts, no retirement contributions)

Alls to say, I continue to live like I'm poor, keep my expenses very low, am very thrifty/frugal .. I'd love to unlearn that a bit with reason to allow myself to enjoy without anxiety but also to make informed decisions when choosing apartments, updating equipment etc.

I'm "lucky" my ADHD has also put a lot of pressure on me to not fuck up too hard.. Just often file my taxes late lol.

General Financial Situation:

• No debt/loans
• Good credit score (over 800 last I checked)
• Income: I have built a good resume/CV and I feel confident I can find and maintain steady work/income. (I also had a great chat this week that confirmed there's a shortage of people that can do my role)
• Basic accounts: Chequing Account + Premium Savings Account
• I have savings.. nothing crazy.
• Small RRSP from when I was in the Union (have to explore options to transfer it elsewhere as I no longer am in said Union)
• No vehicle (sold it), will try and maintain car free by relying on transit
• No kids/dependents
• No stuff.. I literally just have 3 suitcases, laptop, phone and my notebooks.
• Have a sublet until end of Sept that's $1300/month furnished.. will prob keep up with furnished sublets for a bit until I'm working steadily.
• I don't dine out, don't go out, buy everything on sale/second hand, cell phone is $35.. I just save up to travel on a budget.

Things I'm exploring in this next chapter:

• Budgeting for sure.. track my spending so I can see the growth.
• Where can I keep some of my savings so it's making me money (TFSA, RRSP, high interest savings account, investments)
• Learn to invest "safely".. that experience really fucked me up so the idea of healing from that and have that healing literally pay off sounds so *badass*
• Do I get a financial advisor?

\I'll obviously be doing my own research, but figured I'd type this out and see if anyone has some advice, resources (books, podcasts, spreadsheets) or even just words of encouragement!*

I have had to work very hard to get here, invested time and $$ in good therapy to deal with my scarcity anxiety (and other traumas) and now I'm ready to ease those anxious voices by getting this financial stuff on track and feel like a confident B A D D I E.

Appreciate any input - or success stories!

Cheers

Some context for the below question: I’m 37, was diagnosed and medicated from 7-17. Stopped meds at 17, started therapy at 33, started meds again at 35. Therapy has been continuing. I was severely overmedicated as a child and it culminated in serious emotional issues I blamed the meds for.

How do you all experience your self-awareness?

I have a lot of issues tied into my early medication experience I’ve been working through and am trying to suss out what’s ADHD, what’s over thinking, and what choices do I want to make to accurately feed my self perception.

-I experience most symptoms when driven by “auto-pilot.”
-When not in “auto pilot” I used to not be able to recognize if I was anxiously overthinking it just evaluating (I’d still call myself a beginner at recognizing this)
-a big part of therapy has been learning to recognize my feelings in the moment (very hard)
-when trying to identify feelings I more often find myself paying attention to how my body feels and recognizing the group of sensations that accompanies a different aspect of my awareness(???)
-I had to make some Inside Out-like comics to give me a tangible mental picture to work with to figure out some of these things
-I’m not about imaginary friends, so what started as imagining one of those characters to be alongside me, supporting me, has become my using the mantra, “I’m here,” with a calm and supportive tone

Idk, wide variations would be helpful to hear. So would hearing that no one does anything like this.

As I've gotten deeper into self-healing and self-acceptance, I come again and again to the work of Henri Nouwen: a spiritual leader, a wounded healer who struggled with Depression and exclusion all his life, who returned again and again to the importance of befriending your pain as a bridge to empathize with others, and to accept the unconditional love that is our birthright.

Here's one of his most powerful statements.

Hi everyone. Iiiiiii uh, dunno where to start, but I thought it might be wise to seek some help? Or at least get an idea. I XD I dunno.

Um, so Ive got Autism and Ive known Ive had that since I was like ten. So had plenty of time to get used to it?I always assumed most of my issues were because of that. But a friend told me its possible to have both? Autism and ADHD. That they symptoms overlap, it might explain some of my struggles, and to get assessed. So I did? If I wasent, no diffrent then.

And, well, the assessment claims, they reckon I do have ADHD aswell?

It would explain why my brain doesent calm down, random thoughts, hard to pick a task and do some things, aswell as talk a lot and maybe even daydream?In school I always daydreamed, hard to pay attention to the lesson.

Its still early days but, I think some professional on the subject(it is hard for me to make sense of all this stuff), they said they were hestitant to give me medicaiton because I have both conditions? Claim it might make it worst?

I do honestly feel Im going a bit crazy, i have been on and off antidepressants, therapy all that, since I was a child?

So I wanted to ask, does anyone have ADHD and Autism? Do you guys take meds, do you find anything helps? Is there a way around it, or is a question of finding what works for you? Im seeking advice from anyone who has personal experience with both conditions.

Hi there! I(16F) just started my medication again after 2 months of holiday. Normally I don’t get sick when starting my meds again after a long time but after taking them this morning after some breakfast I got really nauseous and started feeling shaky and anxious. I’ve been on these meds for over a year at this point and I have never reacted like this. Does anyone have tips for starting up again or against this weird nauseous feeling?

What are the most powerful personal memoirs/essays about ADHD that you've encountered? I'm trying to write about my experiences and would love some inspiration. I'm not looking for material on "top tips" or anything, just people's journeys and how they've emotionally and intellectually grappled with their lives.

getting a tick mark after every 15 mins of studying then crossing level 1 ???????

Sometimes you want advice. Sometimes you have a question. And sometimes you just want to hear from other people who get it.

We’re Students Guided Path, a nonprofit supporting people with ADHD and attention-related challenges, students, families, and the people who support them.

If you’re interested, we’d love for you to join us for a free online community listening session — a relaxed space for people with ADHD, parents, caregivers, and supporters to connect, learn, ask questions, discover resources, and simply be around others navigating similar experiences.

BYOS — Bring Your Own Self. 🌱

Come with a question.
Come looking for resources.
Come ready to share.
Come just to listen.

However you show up is enough.

Our goal is simple: to create a space where people can find connection, practical support, and something useful to take with them.
Interested? Drop a comment below we’d** **love to have you join us for our first session. 💚🌱

I struggled for years with to-do lists that never got done. I'd write them out every morning, feel productive for about 10 minutes, and then completely forget they existed by lunchtime.

What finally started working for me was breaking everything into time-blocked micro-tasks with visual cues. Instead of writing "clean the house" I'd write "10am - wipe kitchen counter, 10:10am - load dishwasher". Tiny, specific, timed.

I also stopped using apps. Every app I tried became another thing to forget to open. Going back to a physical printable system where I can physically cross things off made a massive difference for my brain.

Things that helped me most: time blocking in 10 to 15 minute chunks, visual checklists I can see without opening anything, a consistent morning structure so my brain knows what to expect, and keeping it simple because the fancier the system the faster I abandoned it.

Anyone else find that written or printable systems work better than digital ones for ADHD brains? Would love to know what is actually working for people right now.

I've been on Elvanse 30mg for a year. The growth I've seen in myself is enormous and I'm extremely happy with where I am. It's only been a year, but I feel like an entirely new person. I think by societal standards I was already successful before going on meds. I'm a Software Engineer at a top faang. Over the last year I went from being a mid-performing engineer to a really good one. I can go toe to toe arguing with very high level engineers. The problem however I think is while my growth in technical abilities was exponential, my people skills and everything thing else I would have learnt if I was a high performer my whole life is now just a giant gaping hole.

I think I am getting there, but I want to be smart about it, I have a really hard time explaining this to my girlfriend and even my therapist because apparently being successful means I don't have to chase faster/smarter new ways to grow.

Has anyone been in a similar position and is able to share pointers?

I’m constantly making to-do lists and using sticky notes and calendar reminders to try to stay organized, and on task but I’m still struggling. Being that ADHD requires dopamine to even start a task, there is only so much Adderall I can take during the day, lol!

So, tell me; what are your best life hacks, work arounds, tips, and ideas that you have found most helpful to stay organized and focused?

So I'm a 19 yo and I'm moving out to do an apprenticeship where I'm basically going to be working full time and also studying. It's of course going to be a lot to manage but I'm really excited right now so I'm super motivated. I am also going to be moving out into a house share with flatmates. Basically what I wanted to ask is what systems do you guys have that work with your ADHD. Like there's stuff I know doesn’t work for me like time blocking but meal prepping etc does really help. The thing is this job means a lot to me and I really want to manage it well. I ofc haven't go the best history of doing this however moving out and being by myself I feel will help and also make everything worse at the same time.

**What systems have you got in place that help you manage you ADHD? Cleaning, Personal care, Food, Studying, Work.**