kashiichan’s Reviews > Robinson Its Not A Bloody Trend Understanding Life as an ADHD Adult. > Status Update

"…why, within a month or two, people will say, “It's transformed me.” Non-stimulants work slowly, a bit more like, antidepressants, and take up to six months to take full effect…
Certainly, in the US and Canada. where I feel thev're more advanced with their ADHD treatments, people often use stimulant and non-stimulant medications… / One thing I've realised is that like any chronic condition, even physical health…"

"…conditions, treatment is a mixture of chemistry and environment. Massively, actually. There has to be a chemical underpinning going on here. Otherwise, medication wouldn't do didly squat, right? Medication is very effective, but it's definitely not the only answer. When I started this work I thought, “Oh, just take the stimulants: that's what you do.” It's not enough."

"…noradrenaline levels, particularly in the brain's frontal area. There are two chemical types: methylphenidate and amphetamine-based stimulants. Methylphenidate primarily work by blocking the reuptake of dopamine and noradrenaline. Amphetamine-based stimulants will block the reuptake of dopamine and noradrenaline and increase production. But overall, both will have the same effect of increasing those two…"

DR SHYAMAL MASHRU: "Patients tell me, “I don't want to be on a stimulant, my brain feels overstimulated as it is.” If you look at it from a medical perspective, the brain in ADHD is in a state of chronic understimulation or quick to boredom, and that's where I look at the term ‘stimulant’, so it's not the way we'd usually look at it in English. Stimulants are primarily designed to increase your dopamine and…"

"…ask, “What problem am I trying to solve, and can I reduce my need for a solution to this problem?” If you're doing something because of stress, don't worry about the habit; reduce your stress so your need for the solution decreases… It doesn't feel like it has a profound effect in the moment, but over time, it becomes something with real substance in your life."

"Whenever things aren't going to plan with food, one of my clients thinks, “What's the most mature and intelligent choice that I can make right now?” That's also completely changed things for her in other areas. / When things are on heavy rotation, we build a tolerance to them—even sugar. Diversify your tools if one thing has been doing the heavy lifting for a long time. Look at all these things as solutions and…"

"When the pandemic hit, it was a perfect storm of events. Melbourne went in and out of lockdown for two years. My eldest started to have some really big emotions, and I just remember sitting there watching him and thinking, “Fuck, I would love to do that. I'd love to be able to just lose my shit,” but I know that's not socially acceptable. That's when I realised I was trying to teach him skills I don't have."

"…anxiety. I hate that feeling of stress. If I can do something that prevents it from a long-term perspective, I will put it into place — so long as I remember."

"…of my friends who don't have these mechanisms. When I talk to them about it, they're like, “I never thought of that.” But how do people deal with their money otherwise? If my money were all in one place, I would spend it and be in a massive heap of trouble… If everything is in a bank account or a spreadsheet, I know I'm organised. I'm much more comfortable, and I have less…"

"…because it means that I don't have to be organised; I just have to do it once in a while. If I put it by, the bank does everything else. I suspect it's part of my autistic tendencies that I need to have some control. No one else is going to help me with finances and I cannot find myself in a position where I can't afford something or other… Little things like that mean I'm never caught unawares. / I look at some…"