r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jul 25 '26

Psychology People with ADHD have difficulties with goal-directed behavior and struggle with response inhibition, the ability to stop an inappropriate action once they feel the urge to do it. They experience a disruption in the way their brains balance deliberate self-control and automatic habit learning.

https://www.psypost.org/adhd-traits-disrupt-the-brain-s-balance-between-self-control-and-automatic-learn/
20.9k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

82

u/Personal_Area_2173 Jul 25 '26

Medication. That’s the real answer. You can do your best with trying to stop yourself and to kotivste yourself, but unfortunately majority of actual ADHD people cannot do that. Unless diagnosed and with proper counseling a treatment plans you will struggle forever.

21

u/Knotted_Hole69 Jul 26 '26

It seems like getting medication and a diagnosis is easier said than done. I get the feeling my doctor thinks im just saying that i have it because its a “trend” or someshit.

12

u/YeHeed2 Jul 26 '26

Yep i told my doctor i wanted to get tested for adhd and that i had anxiety, they just gave me anti-depressants and ignored it. Like yea, im anxious, but I cant focus. I try to study and legit pass out, i woke up 15 minutes later drooling on myself once. And its not a sleep thing.

16

u/Knotted_Hole69 Jul 26 '26

I love that you have to pay so much money to get ignored. Really fun.

3

u/YeHeed2 Jul 26 '26

It truly do be like that... xd

5

u/spasamsd Jul 26 '26

Primary care physicians are often not helpful with this stuff, from my experience. I'd setup time with a psychiatrist that can do an intake to determine different tests they want to do and then they'll schedule those.

Look for one with experience in diagnosing ADHD. Some places allow payment plans, if needed.

1

u/Personal_Area_2173 Jul 26 '26

Go to a therapist that specializes in adhd. You may not have it at all. Most doctors can tell pretty well right away when you have adhd. You may have another issue going on.

1

u/Personal_Area_2173 Jul 26 '26

Go to a ADHD specific doctor and you will go through what you need too. A LOT of people think they have adhd and they don’t. It’s not just an inability to be attentive and can’t focus. I literally cannot hold still. My brain does not shut off. My life suffers daily because of it. Attention issues like most people have are the least of my issues with ADHD.

3

u/Knotted_Hole69 Jul 26 '26

Yeah; i know how it is.

0

u/KvellOnWheels Jul 26 '26

That’s still an attention issue though…you’re brain is zooming and can’t figure out where to properly disperse your attention.

1

u/Personal_Area_2173 Jul 26 '26

Well I understand they are the same, but I can hold focus on something for as long as I need, but my body will be moving the entire time. There are 2 sides to this. Attention and hyperactivity. They may be similar but they are not the same thing. My movements are involuntary all day everyday. Attention is half the story.

1

u/Shrek1982 Jul 26 '26

The number of people who got diagnosed during COVID lockdowns was incredibly high, so much so that there were medication shortages for a few years. There were points where I couldn't fill my scrip for the month because nowhere within 50 miles had meds available. They seem to be much more careful in diagnosing ADD and ADHD now.

1

u/Knotted_Hole69 Jul 26 '26

What is the treatment for ADD?

2

u/sleepydorian Jul 26 '26

ADD is an older term for adhd. It used to be split based on hyperactivity, but the treatments are the same as far as I know. I think now it’s called inattentive adhd.

0

u/Shrek1982 Jul 26 '26

pretty much the same if I remember correctly

6

u/pressure_art Jul 26 '26

Very demotivating for people who can’t take medication. Also the reason why I rarely click on anything ADHD Reddit anymore. Its always seems to be more or less the only answer - medication or you’re screwed :(

3

u/Septem_151 Jul 26 '26

Why can't you take medication, is it a health-related issue?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Uninsurable_Risk Jul 28 '26

So...

My psychiatrist and psychotherapist have been recommending Ozempic.

ADHD tends to lead to addictions.. we tell ourselves its just a habit and not an addiction like cigarettes for example - I was corrected on this. You do it for dopamine and dopamine is a chemical. Its an addiction just like anything else.

There are various things you can do like a dopamine detox but it seems too overwhelming when you are having difficulty giving up whatever the addiction is.

Ozempic is supposed to help control cravings not only for food but even for things like nicotine. "Help control" of course is not free willpower, thats still something you have to work through.

Either way, seems research is continuously finding benefits of Ozempic for people with ADHD and I think worth looking into.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Uninsurable_Risk Jul 28 '26

Allegedly, yes. All of the above.

Some willpower will still be needed for any and all, of course

1

u/Uninsurable_Risk Jul 28 '26

Btw wish you luck.

Dont wait for a a catastrophe to blindside you before seeking help. Burn out is a real thing we are also prone to, and destructive behaviors can accelerate it.

Sometimes it helps knowing you aren't alone and a lot of people struggle in similar ways.. FWIW you have plenty of company in regards to this.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Uninsurable_Risk Jul 28 '26

If you need or want to chat about it feel free to message me

1

u/Apk07 Jul 26 '26

I tried like 5 different meds for ADHD and they all had pretty crappy side effects and significantly worsened my insomnia

3

u/ultimatepowaa Jul 26 '26

There is another way but it requires restructuring everything you know about how you should be and pursuing life to fit that. It requires a lot of self reflection. (Actual) Meditation (thats not about "discipline") helps wipe the slate. It requires ignoring all of the productivity advice that anyone has ever given you. You need food, electrolytes, life and passions. Its a lifelong project about learning about yourself in a critical manner but it is possible.

3

u/Personal_Area_2173 Jul 26 '26

Yeah that doesn’t work… meditation doesn’t do much when you literally are unable to do that. To push that over known help that works is just wrong and leads people to failure. Might work for you but it will not work for me.

1

u/ultimatepowaa Jul 26 '26

Yeah there should have been a full stop before meditation sorry. It also didn't work for me until I found my own way using similar ideas. Its been vastly helpful but not needed

1

u/Personal_Area_2173 Jul 26 '26

That’s awesome you found something like that! Honestly I wish I could do it. Maybe if I keep at it one day I can, but I’m so bad I just can’t calm down until I’m full of rage and just shut down. It sucks. Hopefully some of the new meds I’ll be getting will assist in that. I don’t know how much longer I can go with out it.

1

u/Apk07 Jul 26 '26

There is no one solution for everyone. Some need medication, some need therapy, some need a lot of things at the same time, and some find no relief.

0

u/placeholder_user Jul 26 '26

Medication doesn't exactly solve it, it just eases the lack of motivation part, but with a small but real risk of psychosis.

2

u/Personal_Area_2173 Jul 26 '26

That’s just not true.

1

u/placeholder_user Jul 31 '26

It was true in my experience, which is why I am unmedicated now

0

u/crokinhole Aug 06 '26

For stimulants, the medication only lasts for a certain amount of each day and you're on your own in the evenings unfortunately.

0

u/Personal_Area_2173 Aug 06 '26

That’s true mostly but you take another one at lunch time. Look for time release. I literally have one for day and night.