r/adhdwomen • u/annamonapia • 1d ago
Medication & Side Effects Is your adhd better with completely quitting alcohol?
I’m 40 days alcohol free. I feel a ton ton ton better. My adhd is better. I am still starting vyvanse today to try to help myself through the daily adhd struggles. Anyone having similar time? Thoughts ? Any tips on vyvanse ? Any thoughts on alcohol free?
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u/theelephantupstream 1d ago
YES, a million times yes and I’m so happy for you. Read This Naked Mind by Annie Grace and/or check out the podcast of the same name. There is another podcast called Home that was very helpful for me. Recovery Dharma groups also. Vyvanse plus sobriety has changed my life. Six years and counting:)
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u/DistractedEntwife 1d ago
Congratulations! 🎉 This Naked Mind helped me so much. There is also a companion app that guides you through the first 30 days without alcohol. I’m also on Vyvanse and have been sober for 200+ days. I was 100% self medicating with alcohol, for insomnia, to quiet racing thoughts, to ease social anxiety, the list goes on. But after I got diagnosed I realized that I could either keep my unhealthy coping mechanism or really try to address my adhd with meds and therapy, but I shouldn’t be doing both. It’s not been easy, but it’s already been very rewarding. I look and feel healthier. And I’m proud of myself, so I feel more confident without needing the alcohol. And if I’m feeling bored and have pent up energy at night, I call my sisters, color or play video games. Leaning into things that give me a natural dopamine boost at night helps. Especially because that’s when my meds wear off and I can get the occasional craving. I feel like it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself mental health!
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u/VisualAnxiety4 1d ago
I didn't notice a big difference in my ADHD symptoms when I stopped drinking any alcohol, but the improvement to my sleep quality was enough to get me to not want to drink anymore.
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u/zamio3434 1d ago
drinking has never been for me. I get too crazy and hyper very fast, which maybe was cute and all in my 20s lol but not anymore. I also started getting panic attacks the morning after.
Nowadays I drink very rarely, I can share a bottle of wine with a friend and I'm good. If I'm out with a group, I have one drink and then it's bubbly water for the rest of the night. My Tasmanian Devil is officlially retired 😬
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u/Ok_Bother_3823 1d ago
My 31 year old self reading this knowing it's time for mine to retire too lol
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u/Psychological-Owl-82 1d ago
Do it! I was a Tasmanian Devil too, and also developed into a glass or two most nights girl. Nothing excessive but it was a go to activity for every stress or celebration or just, you know, Friday. Not a good habit.
I highly recommend the book "The Naked Mind" and the podcast "Over the Influence". They totally changed my perspective. I'm not fully sober, but I'll happily go weeks without a drink, even on a birthday or going out to a nice restaurant or even a pub.
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u/500mgTumeric 1d ago
I can't say that if it gets better or not, but I can tell you that sobering up was the second-best decision of my life.
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u/yours_truly_1976 1d ago
What’s the first?
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u/500mgTumeric 1d ago
Leaving my abusive husband.
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u/tigerribs 1d ago
Congrats on both, those are massive feats! 💜
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u/500mgTumeric 1d ago
Thank you. One lead to the other.
Drinking was a very unhealthy way to deal with a very abusive relationship.
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u/LaCorazon27 20h ago
Proud of you! Thank you for sharing. I hope your life is exactly as you’d like it to be.
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u/500mgTumeric 20h ago
It was a living hell and nine months post divorce, he's still harassing me.
I'm taking it a day at a time though. I realized that I can't rush it force healing. Have to be patient with myself.
I'll get there.
Thank you for the support. It helps.💗
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u/LaCorazon27 17h ago
I’m so sorry he is harassing you. This is absolutely not ok. Do you feel safe and have support? I hope you’ve got people around you to take care of you and you can go to if you need.
I’m divorced too and there was emotional abuse and cheating. I went to live with family for a bit and it took a few years, but I feel mostly healed. It was hard to start again and even when we know it’s not right, it’s still a lot of grief. Sometimes I think about it and I think I always will have pain there. But I promise you that you will heal and saying it’s not ok and leaving started that journey for you.
You’re absolutely right–be kind to yourself and a day at a time is ok. Sometimes there might be setbacks, but it’s all moving in the direction of peace and freedom which you deserve.
Even when it’s a bit much and you need to be still for a while, know that’s also ok. It will go up and down, but you will come through it. I had to learn to have self compassion. Therapy helped are as well. It gets better.
Rooting for you. Take care 🧡
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u/500mgTumeric 6h ago
Yes, I am safe and I have support. It's just been a ride, and I thought it would stop when I got off. But it just kept going, lol. If that makes sense.
It's just been so over the top at times. It has calmed down, but for a bit there it was so unreal. Almost like a dark comedy, if it wasn't happening to me. Off the wall BS.
Don't know if I articulated that correctly.
And thanks for the support. It's weird because usually it's ME offering the support, and it can be hard to admit that I need it sometimes.
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u/Justice_of_the_Peach 1d ago edited 1d ago
Everything is better without alcohol, especially if you were overindulging. I don’t drink, but I know I’m better off without weed because the temporary depression relief and sleep aid are hardly worth increased memory issues, anxiety, anhedonia, binge eating, etc. If you’re looking to motivate yourself to stay sober, I highly recommend therapy to get to the bottom of why you started drinking in the first place.
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u/lulububudu 1d ago
Quitting alcohol actually allowed me to see myself without interference and that’s when I was able to see I’m AuDHD.
I used to take a tiny piece of the thc gummies and while I loved that I could sleep properly, my medication is doing that for me now, so I don’t need it. Sure I miss the little fuzzy buzz I used to get but it’s not worth it.
I’ve been sober 2 years and I don’t miss alcohol but I miss the gummies just a tiny bit. I used to take about 3 pieces a month so I didn’t do it regularly. I’ve heard it can interfere with Bupropion so I don’t indulge anymore.
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u/Suspicious_Load6908 1d ago
ADHD people are 5x more likely to have a problem w alcohol because of the instant dopamine rush. Life is so much better without it. But sometimes I miss being able to shit my Brain off.
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u/anangelnora 20h ago
Yes, I miss shutting my brain off too. I take naps to kinda do that… it’s almost 6pm and I’m gonna lie down for a bit. I’m hoping to stop napping so often soon, but I feel like a zombie if I try to stay up.
I’ve also started exercising a lot and it has helped my brain calm down a bit naturally because of the physical fatigue. I also experience the “runners high” type thing now, but with swimming.
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u/Mcreeeeeeek 1d ago
Going on meds also helped my drinking habits! Drink way less.
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u/Tyty__90 1d ago
This has been my experience, especially with Vyvanse! Something about Vyvanse makes me crave alcohol a lot less. I wasn't an alcoholic before Vyvanse but I definitely enjoyed a cocktail while making dinner or after a stressful day, and for some reason Vyvanse has made that go away. I also don't want to continue drinking after one cocktail.
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u/Spirited_Concept4972 1d ago
Congratulations on your sobriety!! I’ll be three years into my sobriety in June. And yes, it’s better without alcohol.
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u/Multilazerboi 1d ago
Yes! But also my physical health and energy to get more done, also relaxing! Been sober for 4 years and I am never going back. Ever 😊
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u/Natenat04 1d ago
Alcohol made every single symptom of ADHD worse because alcohol is a downer. I nearly had a mental breakdown when I was unmedicated from ADHD meds, and ended up self medicating with alcohol.
Alcohol also lowers your inhibitions, so you are way more likely to not have any impulse control, and a re more likely to do things you will regret sober.
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u/aliaaenor 1d ago
I had to give up alcohol in my early twenties as I quickly realised I had a problem with it, I could not stop drinking once I had started so it was easier to never start. Now I realise it was probably ADHD that caused that. Obviously I have replaced it with an addiction to nicotine lozenges, crochet and copious amounts of ice cream which I now have to give up because I'm fat.
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u/OptimisticOwl66 1d ago
Yes! Life in general is better. I'm going on two years this summer and I have zero desire to drink ever again. My mind can still be frustrating cause ya know ADHD, but alcohol just made so many things even worse for me
Congrats on 40 days! That's great. Do you find yourself wanting to drink or are you feeling like you could go longer without it?
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u/ae_and_iou 1d ago
Yes, absolutely. I quit drinking 16 months ago. At first it was weird. I didn’t realize the role it was playing in my socialization until I stopped. It was very vulnerable socializing without alcohol for a while.
Now, I am way more connected to my body. I feel my feelings more. I get to know people deeply and am more able to be vulnerable with people. My ADHD is better, but I also am able to notice it more. It’s like I removed a layer of issues, and that made it easier to see what was underneath.
Congrats on 40 days!!
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u/Lurking-Loudly 1d ago
I didn’t notice a difference with quitting alcohol. The big game changer for me was a regular work and sleep schedule, like holy moly!!
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u/Solid-Decision702 1d ago
I don’t know the depths of your alcohol journey or why you decided to take a break/quit- but a month is something to celebrate! Not drinking alcohol literally makes everything in your body better (inflammation, emotional regulation, sleep, the list goes on and on).
I haven’t intentionally looked for the differences in how I feel after a night of drinking/ not drinking- but based on everything we know about alcohol it definitely SHOULD make a lot of ADHD symptoms a bit milder!
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u/Aromatic-Cherry-7989 1d ago
i’m at 49 days and i’m feeling a lot better in my body. i know there’s a “honeymoon period” after you go AF, but my anxiety levels have decreased a lot which makes my ADHD a bit more manageable. i still don’t have a solid sleep schedule but the sleep i am getting is of better quality which likely also helps the symptoms. i’ve thought of switching my meds to vyvanse after hearing great things about it so i’d love to hear about how it goes for you. keep us updated!
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u/anangelnora 20h ago
I’m at 35 days completely sober today!
I’m not against having a beer now and then, but I don’t want to and I’m happy that urge is gone.
I started self medicating with alcohol during my divorce 7 years ago until last year... at that time I was drinking like 375+ ml of 40% hard alcohol at a time, sometimes most every night. When I think about it I get chills now.
I am loving Vyvanse. I’m only taking 20mg and trying out 30mg a bit. Wooo, 30 makes me so sleepy! When I take a 30 I feel like a nap within a couple hours. That being said, it’s a ton better than being anxious or my mind not shutting tf up.
I knew when I started Vyvanse that I for sure had adhd lol.
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u/WeTeachToTravel 1d ago
One yes! A month in and I’m crushing my job and my university school work. Would never have happened if I was drinking.
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u/lucky5031 1d ago
Mazel on your sobriety! I always had bad effects from alcohol so could never sustain a lot of drinking but I think part of my ADHD-anxiety combo made being hungover, etc, worse.
Us ADDers are known for poor sleep and alcohol doesn’t help. I am not alcohol free entirely but I drink like 1-2 drinks per month at most these days.
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u/fallapart_startagain 1d ago edited 1d ago
BPD diagnosis and pending au-dhd diagnosis. I'm 4 months sober and feel so much more confident in myself.
I struggle to filter my thoughts and control my impulses as it is, and alcohol has gotten me into so much trouble as it makes all of my symptoms worse. I usually get manic when I drink, overshare, and then have panic attacks in the following days due to hangxiety. In my 20s, I used to get into arguments and occasionally fights.
Edit to say: I also have problems with moderation and so drink really quickly and don't know when to stop. It's safer for me to refrain entirely.
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u/juliuspepperwood0608 1d ago
Also have a BPD diagnosis here. I will have 3 years sober in May. It has immensely helped me be able to actually use healthy coping skills and become more emotionally mature. Drinking cranked my BPD symptoms all the way up, it’s so much more manageable without. Still awaiting my neuropsych results.
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u/fallapart_startagain 1d ago
Congrats to you! That's an amazing achievement. Every time I think about drinking, I think about how much more manageable my symptoms are when I'm sober. Still get depressed, still get anxious, still get impulses -- but sobriety means I can find healthier, more mindful ways to manage them. 🙏
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u/Pixie-elf 1d ago
I rarely drink because I don't like how it makes me feel, and there's a 50/50 chance the next day I'm gonna feel icky.
I found out it's because alcohol screws up your dopamine and the levels of it. As in, one drink fucks the chemicals up in your brain for a week.
A whole ass WEEK. So when folks are drinking regularly, it means that their neurotransmitters are a good bit scrambled and it takes a good bit of time even after you quit for all of that to get back to baseline.
A good way to think of it, is it takes the brain a while to fully recover from that level of fuckery, so give yourself plenty of grace, and remember that as you abstain your brain is going to work better, and better. The Vyvanse will definitely help with the cravings and the Vyvanse will help you recover quicker.
You're doing great at 40 days, I'm proud of you!! You have this!! Remember, addiction is a disease NOT a moral failing. Any time you get down on yourself for self medicating, remember that. We use whatever we can to get through the day, and now you're in a place where you don't need it any more.
With Vyvanse make sure that you eat a good protein heavy meal. If you have a hard time with that, which, I myself do, make either a peanut butter + banana smoothie or something similar, make sure you have snacks around, so that you can eat throughout the day in case it kills your hunger.
Don't drink OJ in the morning (vitamin C screws with how it's metabolized ). Vyvanse takes 1-2 hours to kick in for me so I sometimes set an earlier alarm from when I need to get up so that when I do, it'll have kicked in.
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u/abg33 1d ago
This is so interesting. I used to drink nightly, and then just stopped cold turkey (the day after the 2016 election, actually) for several years. Nowadays, I'll have maybe 3 or 4 drinks a year, but I kind of dread it because I know with even one drink I'm going to feel ABSOLUTELY AWFUL for at least 2 days. I was looking into whether I had some sort of allergy (which makes no sense since I used to drink for years, but I guess I just felt like shit then all the time because I was drinking too much). Maybe it's also because I'm in my 40s now and everything seems harder on the body. Or maybe I have an actual baseline of what it feels like not to be hung over all the time, so relatively speaking, the next-day pain is greater?
But it's crazy how I used to look forward to those glasses of wine at the end of the day SO MUCH--it took up so much space in my mind--to now have zero thoughts about it or zero desire to drink in part because I don't want to feel like shit the next day... I don't really know what I'm saying except it's just so remarkable how stark the contrast is from now to then.
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u/anangelnora 20h ago
Alcohol is a cns (central nervous system) depressor. That’s why it feels so nice for anxiety/certain adhd issues.
So, when you drink alcohol for a long time, your cns is depressed, and your brain gets used to that baseline. If you stop, there is this terrible rebound effect, and your brain starts to go haywire and short circuit.
This is why alcohol withdrawal can be so dangerous. One thing that can happen with the increase in brain activity is that you can have seizures. It’s the same with benzos, another GABA interactive med. When you are trying to detox off alcohol they actually will give you benzos to help mitigate the damage.
This is also why people start drinking earlier and earlier in the day when they become very dependent on alcohol—to stop the brain from “overreacting.” That’s what happened to me before I finally came to my senses.
This is also what happens when you get “hangxiety” after drinking.
Yeah alcohol is the fucking worst. Sadly, though, at times not having its effects seems almost even more damaging. That’s why I personally dealt with the sickness and pain.
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u/miggywasabi 1d ago
i am SO lucky to be allergic to alcohol. between the ADHD diagnosis and the history of addiction in my family, i really dodged a bullet. alcohol has been linked to SO many issues, not just with ADHD, and avoiding it entirely is so much easier over time when you don’t make it a priority. find a replacement for the dopamine that your brain needs. it’s worth it!
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u/I_like_the_word_MUFF 1d ago
I have never really been a drinker due to how weird it makes me... Like my hyper focus goes sideways into paranoia
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u/Fey_Rye 1d ago
That's what happens for me with weed
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u/abg33 1d ago
The one time I tried an edible (though, I probably took too much because "It's not working!"), I ended up pacing back and forth the entire time and had to write myself a note to say "THIS WON'T BE HAPPENING FOREVER." Womp womp.
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u/anangelnora 20h ago
Omg. So I got some edibles because I had been dealing with mental health issues for so long and I wanted to try at least. I didn’t really use them for a while, but I had a weekend to myself, so I decided to give it a go again.
I took a 5/5 gummy and didn’t feel much. So, I took another one. Waited a bit, still nothing, so I took another one. So I was in for 15mg thc at this point… and wow… was it a fucking big mistake. That’s what I get for not really understanding how edibles work.
At first it was kinda nice. I was at the beach and everything just seemed more vivid and I was pretty chill. But then… well when my dad drove us home (I was visiting him) I kept kinda… loosing consciousness or awareness while he was talking to me?
When we got back home, I decided to take a walk to the clubhouse to see if I could get it out of my system. It was about 1.5 miles and I kept thinking I was getting lost and not knowing where I was. Then I got super paranoid that this couple with a dog was looking at me and following me.
When I got home, I was listening to music, and it kept slowing down and picking back up. It definitely brought out some synesthesia too. I didn’t feel like I was, me? Like when I was talking with my dad at dinner I felt like my voice wasn’t mine.
I was so glad to go to sleep that night, hoping that I would feel normal by the morning. It was terrifying honestly. 😅
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u/anangelnora 20h ago
Same. Weed is awful for me. The only time I ever enjoyed it is when it was paired with alcohol lol, and that just made me feel extra drunk.
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u/Sarah_Bowie27 1d ago
I haven’t drank in 10 years or so ..I was never very good at control with drinking (I don’t like the taste that much & only went out/drank when something not great was happening in my life so I associate it with being sad) it was always all or nothing with me so I stopped completely & I don’t miss it. I do feel left out a lot though sometimes because so much is centred around getting drunk.
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u/Butttttwhyy 1d ago
Hey I’m 43 days!!!
And I think my meds work better, too. I’m only on 20mg of Vyvanse, but I can tell the difference on days I don’t take it.
Honestly, I thought I’d feel a lot better after quitting, like more energy and all of that, but I’d say all of that has certainly improved.
I absolutely drank due to my undiagnosed ADHD, and it still took me roughly two years post diagnosis to quit, but I did! Proud of us, keep it up!
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u/Physical-Fishing1055 1d ago
I’m 6 years alcohol free and there was an extremely dramatic change in my life for the better. 📉📈
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u/kashlessk 1d ago
Actually, yes. I just learned that I’m pregnant so have been alcohol/weed/adderall free for two weeks. I was worried not taking my meds would mess me up. Nope! I feel more focused which may be a result from better quality sleep (I do miss the pick me up in the afternoon tho). I’m also eating healthier foods (and more frequently).
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u/Acrobatic-Aioli9768 1d ago
I don’t drink because it makes me feel absolutely awful. I tried to pretend like I enjoyed it, but the toll it took on my health was way too much and I’ve never even gotten blackout drunk or drank until I threw up. The dehydration and headaches afterwards, feeling drunk doesn’t feel good at all.
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u/pea_mcgee 1d ago
I’ve been AF for 97 days. It’s definitely improved my sleep and initially my anxiety. My anxiety is a little worse now but that’s therapy related more than anything else.
I will never get to the point that I don’t need my Concerta (or any stimulant really) but I don’t know how many times my doctor told me my meds will work better if I don’t drink.
Overall I feel so much better now that I’m AF. And congrats on being AF too!
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u/nug-pups 1d ago
After quitting drinking? A little bit, I was less sluggish in the morning and able to get my day started easier. After quitting weed? OMG I can remember things now! Plot lines to shows and movies, lot numbers at work, conversations I had, etc. More motivated in general. Not sure if this applies to you, OP, but worth mentioning! I thought cannabis helped my ADHD and anxiety but it was making it so much worse.
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u/missmicans 1d ago
Im not sure if my adhd is better but my depression like symptoms are severely reduced. Even drinking in moderation (1 or 2 beers once a week or so) I'd feel sluggish and sad. It was harder to get motived. Procrastination was much worse due to the lack of energy. I decreased my consumption to like once every 4-6 weeks before fully quitting and those weeks between drinks I noticed how happy I was without it. Then the next 3 days or so after drinking I was sluggish again even if it was just 1 beer.
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u/kabochia 1d ago
My everything is better after quitting alcohol. I used to think I had an anxiety disorder, but it was just the booze. 9 years sober this month!
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u/LydiaIsntVeryCool 1d ago
I have to try this. On the weekends alcohol Whispers to me like the green goblin mask. How do you deal with the urge of wanting to be in a different mindset? I find that very hard to beat
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u/Fey_Rye 1d ago
It was like this for me too, and I never ever thought I'd be telling you I'm about to celebrate a whole year sober! I'd recommend checking out r/stopdrinking just to dip your toes and see what resonates.
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u/anangelnora 20h ago
Exercise has helped me a lot. I actually had never experienced that euphoria from it before recently. I try to swim an hour every couple of days. It also makes my body tired which helps tire out my brain so I don’t feel so wired.
I also take naps when I feel really fatigued and need to reset my brain. Like it’s 6:30pm but I’m still gonna rest for an hour.
Having things to do/look forward to helps as well. I try to find a show to obsess over, I’m setting up a mini garden on my patio, getting outside more.
My drinking was more of a habit than a “need.” Sometimes I wouldn’t particularly feel like drinking, but I’d do it cause… that’s what I do. Probably how you feel on the weekends. Once you stop having it be a habit, it’s easier to just stop doing it.
I tried to bribe myself with dopamine by buying a bunch of Pokemon packs and opening one a day haha. I also order food a lot, or have a nice milk tea or something. What I mean is, replace the habit of drinking with something you love but isn’t destructive like that.
Vyvanse helped me a lot too. And then I just ended up so sick (like physically) from the alcohol that I just couldn’t do it anymore. I had to come to that on my own though. Sadly that’s how it works.
Good luck!
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u/nmiller53 1d ago
Yesss. I’ve been sober over a year. When I was prescribed to vyvanse in my teens, I ultimately developed a problem with drinking and used vyvanse to continue partying and stay up. Now that I’m sober, I find medication helps me so much and makes me not want to escape. This isn’t to say that vyvanse would ever be a cause of someone drinking, but I believe I already had an alcoholic disposition and was young and wanted to have fun and used it wrong. It’s so helpful to me now.
Tips on vyvanse : be careful with caffeine and make sure you’re eating, or else the vyvanse can affect you in a way that makes you feel snippy or in a bad mood. Also, I always carry water, lip balm, and gum with me because it dries out my mouth! I’m always paranoid I’ll get those dry white rings on my lips if I’m not keeping everything hydrated! Lmao
I also hear to give it about a half hour before and after when it comes to vitamin c or acidic things. So that includes coffee
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u/Far_Recognition2123 1d ago
Yes. Fourty Days!! Whoot!! Four years give or take for me. It was hard at first for me, but I was self medicating with alcohol. I have a book recommendation but I just read it this year, I don't know if I could have read it when I first quit drinking. It's called "Quit Like A Woman." It actually kind of echoes what is said in this sub a bit. Just support, grace, sleep, etc. I do wish there was a local in person group that was like this sub, because quoting drinking did really make my social anxiety spike and I am much less social AF. But it's something I am willing to trade right now.
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u/miniatureaurochs 1d ago
I was never a huge drinker to begin with tbh so I haven’t seen any major change.
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u/iamnutella91 1d ago
51 days weed and AF and feel SO much better. Currently I take 30mg vyvanse and it was a game changer for me. I also find that Vyvanse helps me with alcohol and sugar cravings, as well emotional regulation. I was going down a rabbit hole with weed vape pens and it exasperated my symptoms of ADHD. I joined a fellowship program and that was what finally got me to a place of sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection!
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u/Accomplished_Ebb4531 1d ago
Yes alcohol free for 3 years. Lots of therapy as well. Works like a charm.
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u/unknown_rayz 1d ago
Hi! I’ve been a year and a half sober off alcohol and I thank my Vyvanse for it! Protien in the morning with your medicine will help maintain the energy, lots of water because Vyvanse can be a bit dehydrating. My impulses to drink stopped after I started Vyvanse! Goodluck:)
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u/Fey_Rye 1d ago
Thank you for asking this question! I've truly enjoyed reading all of the responses. I'm celebrating my one-year sober anniversary this weekend, and in a reflective mood. This past year has been such a gift. One quote I keep thinking about lately is, "Drinking is giving up everything for one thing. Sobriety is giving up one thing for everything." 💜
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u/intergalactic-poyo 1d ago
I'm so happy and excited for you!! I also just started Vyvanse and I do notice that after it wears off (around 5 pm depending on when I take it in the morning) my adhd is a little worse, so I leave notes for myself in my phone, set alarms, and leave sticky notes on things. Good luck!!
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u/Extreme_Cod_7009 10h ago
After my doctor diagnosed me at 51, he retired. I gave up the hastle of dealing with doctors that say they will prescribe then meds never being in stock. But since quitting drinking it’s better. Alcohol is poison so glad I stopped.
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u/Keniaishere 1d ago
Never noticed it. I was 12 years completely sober and since 3 years I started consume it sometimes.
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u/cheoldyke 1d ago
i haven’t cut out alcohol completely but i will say i used to drink way more than i do now and i def feel like cutting back has overall improved how i feel day to day
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u/Narwhals4Lyf 1d ago
Yes. I don’t drink that often, but the last month I’ve had a few events where I drank for. Nothing crazy but 5/6 drinks for my bday, and like 4/5 drinks at my sisters wedding. I was off kilter for days after each event.
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u/Certain_Ad_5488 1d ago
I never had so much alcohol during that time I was drinking it, max three drinks on a night. But yes I think it worsened my adhd symptoms but also my mental health got worse. I haven’t been drinking in 3 years, and I don’t miss it. Alcohol isn’t good for you anyway, so I don’t regret quitting! I also limit my sugar intake.
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u/purplefennec 1d ago
It actually made it worse and made me realise I have ADHD. I thought all my problems with not focussing were due to me binge drinking too much during the weekend and being tired during the week.
Turns out having more energy during the week just made the hyperactivity worse 😅
But I still wouldn’t go back, because the hangxiety was awful and it ruined me in so many ways.
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u/Tomaquetona 1d ago
Sobriety is just great. I did notice improvements to EVERYTHING when I quit drinking, including my ADHD meds.
Annoying side effect for me was that, after a while, I realized that yes, this is me. I could blame a lot on a night out. Actually, it’s my ADHD brain and now I know that. It’s like meeting myself after a long break.
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u/krissie14 1d ago
Yes- I was really using it to self medicate adhd and various other things, but in the end it really just made me feel worse and exacerbated other conditions. Vyvanse helps but I did have to titrate up to 50mg pretty slowly before I found a “good” dose. Marijuana helps too especially in the late afternoon/evening when Vyvanse is wearing off and I’m overstimulated. But I also feel this combo makes drinking way less appealing. Not sure if it’s because I realize how shitty it made me or not but yeah lol
Keep up the good work. It’s so hard to quit something and stay away.
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u/asianstyleicecream 1d ago
Alcohol inevitably makes me depressed the next day. I also struggle staying well hydrated due to OAB. Mary Jane is the one for me
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u/eag12345 1d ago
16 years sober for a second time. My adhd is so bad my first thought was no. But that’s the insanity of addiction. How quickly I forget that alcohol makes everything worse. Congratulations.
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u/condemned02 1d ago
Nope doesn't make any difference. Infact my most heavily drinking years was when I was most efficient. Able to hold down a full time job and able to keep my house clean. This was like drinking everyday. Maybe about half a btl of wine everyday.
These days, I maybe have a drink once or twice a month and I am really worst than I ever was. Just perpetually burnt out.
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u/annaoze94 1d ago
Yeah I should probably stop but sometimes it helps with the executive dysfunction.
Just learned that my doctor had taken me off of an extended release almost 3 years ago which is when things started to get really bad with my ADHD. Without telling me. I never paid attention because I just always took the same meds. I'm so mad.
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u/aggieaggielady ADHD-C 1d ago
Yeahhhhhhhhh my whole life is better and im happier and also i spend less money
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u/arfarfdeadringer 1d ago
I don't know if I necessarily see a decrease in my ADHD symptoms but it pretty much eradicated my anxiety. Which was insane because my anxiety was pretty much debilitating. Once I cut back majorly on drinking, I stopped feeling panicked every single moment of the day. It's remarkable how many people are caught in that cycle and aren't aware of it.
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u/ushouldgetacat 1d ago
I don’t drink anymore and I’m happy to be sober because even a single drink will cloud my mind. My head is already full of cotton so adding more confusion to that is obviously not a benefit to me. If it’s not a net positive then it’s not worth indulging in.
Same thing with smoking. Quitting smokes has changed my life. I’m no longer beholden to nicotine and I can work on stuff without taking a smoke break every hour. My mind is clearer than ever. My adhd brain needs all the help it can get lol.
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u/Fun_Mistake4299 1d ago
Well, I havent had medication yet but I was an alcoholic amd am 2 years sober.
And I feel better in general, though I still have issues.
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u/Amazing-Essay7028 1d ago
I personally believe all alcohol is poison and I can never understand how people can drink it so casually. It shuts down parts of your brain section by section. I used to heavily rely on alcohol but now I just stick to plants that don't make me feel like shit or do harmful things. I have a specific nutrition plan and anytime I drank I would throw that all out the window, which would end up making me feel even worse.
I can't tell if my ADHD symptoms improved because autism emerged more strongly when I started meds and went sober, so now I'm getting an autism assessment
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u/haleynoir_ 1d ago
I feel better, am happier, healthier etc.
My life on paper is worse.
Alcohol did a lot of bad things for me, but it also allowed me to tolerate things at a level I can't do sober. I could make phone calls when I was drinking, for example. I was able to tolerate mind numbing office work and the people that I hated there. That's on top of it acting as an active distraction for a lot of my other symptoms.
Now, sober for the last couple years, I was making way less money as a part time barista and then lost my job because I stood up to myself to the creepy new owner.
So I'm sober, but I'm unemployed and stressed versus drunk every day but otherwise successful.
I wouldn't trade it back, it's just frustrating. Especially because my peers or family will compare this time in my life to that time, and think I'm just not working as hard now.
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u/BluehairedBiochemist 1d ago
Best decision I've ever made, and I highly recommend ditching the booze 🖤
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u/Entire-Discipline-49 1d ago
Been dx'd since my mid 20s I quit drinking for personal reasons once and didn't notice a difference. That said, I've never been a heavy drinker even when I am drinking.
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u/tigerribs 1d ago
My parents were both alcoholics, especially my dad. Growing up watching what that does to you has been a massive lifelong motivator to not drink.
Congrats on your sobriety, OP!! 💜
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u/FortuneTellingBoobs 1d ago
Jealous!
I want to quit drinking, but I'm not sure how. Right now it's my ADHD dopamine addiction every day after work. 5 o'clock rolls around and the wine gets poured.
I gotta find something else to give me a rush. But I just don't know what yet.
Advice and tips welcome!
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u/Tyty__90 1d ago
Vyvanse specifically has made me crave alcohol less. It's strange. I also don't really enjoy drinking when I'm on it.
I used Vyvanse in the past but due to some insurance issues, I went back to Adderall (generic). After starting to experience horrible mood swings after crashing on Adderall, I was able to switch to generic Vyvanse and I've noticed a huge difference in my mood and my interest in alcohol. I've looked for similar experiences online or if it's a common side effect and haven't found much.
I wouldn't say I had a horrible relationship with alcohol before Vyvanse, although I did drink too much in my 20s (I'm in my mid 30s now). But I would always crave a cocktail when making dinner and I would have to be very conscious of not over indulging when I was drinking socially.
Now I don't crave alcohol that much and I don't particularly like drinking. I can't tell if this is an age thing or Vyvanse but it was something I definitely noticed when I made the change.
Edit to add: congrats on 40 days!!!
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u/scipio79 ADHD-C 1d ago
Nope. I am almost completely alcohol free due to other medical issues (I have one 8 oz drink on my birthday), and my ADHD is still fucking up. I just started the adderall a couple of days ago though so maybe things will get better
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u/Spiritual_Hand_3324 1d ago
Drinking was another mask for me that I was more than happy to shed once I figured that out. Which was a number of years before I was diagnosed. Even before that, the clarity and physical health benefits not only set the table for my mental health to become better balanced.
I haven't had a drink in 7 plus years. I went to a bar last night with my partner and their birthday friend. Got a non-alcoholic Shirly Temple(I didn't know they had alcohol in them, as I'd never had one as an adult)and felt like a dick for leaving only 1 buck(only cash on me)
I am kinda proud of my sobriety. I lost a bunch of gut, and my face and jaw slimmed down. Hella cool bonus to the dissapated brain fog and constant feeling of illness. Also, de-masked to reveal the ADHD hiding beneath.
I am glad to hear you haven't been drink while you are taking the new journey. It feels incredible, and you may even find your flow state again lol
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u/Emotional_Tadpole674 1d ago
7 months sober here. I feel SO much more able to deal with things for sure. 8 months vape free. I am also 7 months into my yoga practice which I think helps definitely. I still have my daily struggles but I think, as well as the mental and physical benefits of no alcohol - I've almost overcome - to a certain extent - huge self limiting beliefs. I have got willpower. I am capable. I have a strong body and strong mind !!! Well done on your 40 days!
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u/SnooObjections1915 1d ago
I gave it up 15 years ago, some things were better, some worse until I learned to live with the things I was avoiding about myself, or change them. I’m less social now because I can’t dull the edge in crowded multi conversation spaces. But overall it’s way better now that I have learned and changed. We’re lucky to live in a time with gazillions of good N/A beers, mock tails, etc— it does make it easier to fit in when I do go out. I’ve had professional and personal success so I say stick with it.
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u/suedaloodolphin 1d ago
It doesn't help my ADHD but it has helped my anxiety and depression for sure.
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u/LandMermaid 1d ago
Been alcohol free for two years and I've never felt better.
Now if I could just kick the weed habit!
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u/Important-Button-430 1d ago
Everything in my life is better without alcohol. I wasn’t an alcoholic, just a binge drinker with an attitude and self destructive phase. It was bad enough.
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u/Vast_Perspective9368 1d ago
So let me preface this by saying I suspect I have ADHD and so did a therapist in college so...
Although I'm undiagnosed and have never been on ADHD meds, I can say that I think cutting out alcohol is good for overall health and mental health.
Nearly 6 years ago I quit "cold turkey" and I think it was one of the best things I've ever done
Check out the app I Am Sober (which I used at the beginning of my journey) and r/stopdrinking if you're interested in support, it is a nice community
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u/NinnyNoodles 1d ago
I don’t drink as much, and definitely try not to on the days I take my medication. Definitely more 💨 tbh.
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u/ins3arch0f 1d ago
Congratulations on your sobriety! 🎉
For me, after quitting alcohol, I felt the effects of Vyvanse much stronger than I did when I was still drinking. It took me two months of no alcohol before I noticed.
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u/FirstAd5921 1d ago
I LOVE how many sober, encouraging women are here. I definitely have a problem with alcohol and love who I am and the way I feel, way more when I’m sober. It’s hard to remember sometimes when I just want to get trashed and forget the struggles but usually (almost always) drinking multiplies the issues (I don’t think it’s ever fixed a single one).
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u/Slayerofdrums 1d ago
I post all interest in alcohol once I started taking methylphenidate. Once I stopped drinking, my blood pressure improved dramatically. Within the normal range, I went from the high end to the low end.
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u/KillerQueen2608 ADHD 1d ago
Yep. 5 months in, unmedicated, but giving up alcohol is the best thing I've done so far for my ADHD.
Highly recommend
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u/shamsquatch 1d ago
Congrats on the positive changes!
It’s interesting to think about the relationship between these factors — from what I’ve heard, substance use correlates high among folks with untreated ADHD.
Heads up on the vyvanse use though: be aware that stimulants at the wrong dosage or if not taken with good nutrition and hydration can come with a “crash” of fatigue and a rebound wave anxiety and restlessness as the med wears off. I’ve known some people who end up self medicating with alcohol to “take the edge off.” So just be aware of that while you’re on that med. And if you do experience those unpleasant side effects, know that there are other ways of mitigating them besides alcohol, and that alcohol just makes it all worse in the mid- and long-term management.
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u/Knitforyourlife 1d ago
Just want to put a word in there for the "nope, not at all" folks! My health is light-years better though.
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u/corey_ell 23h ago
i feel so much better without alcohol! it's just not worth the mood and energy swings
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u/corey_ell 23h ago
i would say go slow with vyvanse. if you're shitting your brains out every day you're at too high of a dose (barring the first week when you're adjusting)
I didn't love vyvanse in college. the first few months were amazing, then i grew a tolerance quickly. nobody told me you weren't supposed to take it every day. make sure you plan your off day as a rest day because you'll feel VERY adhd and sluggish that day. i struggle with executive functioning, and at times the meds didn't help because i still struggled with planning out my tasks and procrastination. i would just be scrolling apps super efficiently lol. it lasts all day so i would have that anxious, 'i should be doing something' feeling well into the evening. again, that may have been because i had a trigger-happy psychiatrist and i was on too high a dose.
since it's extended release it's a level boost of focus throughout the day, which is nice. however, if you have big tasks that require a lot of mental energy, you may need something more than that which is why i switched to quick release adderall. but any meds will have a net pos on your functioning. just proceed with caution and take at least 1 off day a week.
also if you smoke weed, don't while you take vyvanse. anxiety hell for me lol
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u/StarWars_Girl_ ADHD-C 22h ago
I never was a big drinker. I'd have only one drink and at night. But now since I've been on Vyvanse, drinking makes me dizzy, so I can only have a drink on skip days.
Most days, I'd rather just have the Vyvanse.
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u/Scared-Negotiation81 22h ago
ADHD bipolar 2 here also 8 months sober from drugs and alcohol- just started VYVANSE in March- my bipolar symptoms are way more dormant now but my adhd was still pretty wild - less anxiety though for sure- vyvanse has made a ton of difference tho!
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u/Reasonable_Beach1087 ADHD 22h ago
I drink so much less on vyvanse, i still don't mind drinking ... i am also on Semiglutide which also has kind of put me off alcohol.
Idk if my adhd is better or worse sans alcohol, but its definitely curbed my drinking
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u/Nervous_Principle_67 22h ago
Quitting alcohol has changed my life with adhd!! It’s the best, even if I am addicted to shirley temples + THC 🤪
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u/litttlejoker 20h ago
Nope.
But it is better when I drink in moderation and don’t overdo it.
By moderation, 3-5 small glasses of wine a week with dinner.
More if I’m on vacation.
But never binge drinking.
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u/theologyofagirl 20h ago
so i stopped drinking after experimenting for like 1.5 years out of social pressure. had one bad experience aside from the usual symptoms and i was like, nope, im out, im good. its been almost two years and i honestly dont miss it at all. the only “downside” is just going to parties and being in my head, but i try to really feel the music as a sensory experience and then it gets a bit better. it definitely helped to not experience racing thoughts the day after, constantly worry if i was being too loud or impolite or overstepping, because my adhd brain always does that normally so since, yk, you get out of touch with stuff i felt like i had no baseline of how i was supposed to act or what was acceptable. also i feel like everyone w adhd has some form of digestive issue too, and eliminating it helped with not making symptoms worse.
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u/CheeseTruckCheetos 20h ago
After diagnosis of ADHD and started on meds, had no desire for alcohol daily anymore. Used to be 4 drinks/ night
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u/WhichAddition862 19h ago
Yes to the yes. I am 8.5 years sober give or take a week and also started meds right when I got sober. Formally diagnosed in 1994 but pushed off the idea of medication since apparently I was smarter and could just drink it away 🙄. But the meds will help big time. Lean in on a sober community as well especially at the beginning. Also, and should have said this first, F yeah to giving yourself the gift of sobriety 🙌🏻❤️
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u/ChonkyBoss 17h ago
No. The opposite, sadly…
In the 12-24 hour period after heavy drinking, I’m “cured” of my ADHD symptoms. When most people would be hungover, I’m my best self. Focused, energetic, with a fast processing speed. Then it slowly fades away, and I’m back to my normal dull, scatterbrained, exhausted self. It feels like I’m the recipient of some kind of quasi-useless monkeys paw wish, lmao.
There’s a community for it at r/hangovereffect.
We’ve many theories as to what’s going on, but nothing we’ve been able to pin down or replicate on our own. Clearly we have some kind of deficiency that’s temporarily solved by metabolizing alcohol. But sadly, doctors won’t study us because nobody believes us…
¯_(ツ)_/¯ Life’s a rich tapestry!
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u/jennye951 12h ago
I used to have this, but sadly age and probably hormone changes have ruined my happy drinking days
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u/stephaniej83096 17h ago
As much as I could do a Ted talk on how vyvanse changed my life, this post made me realize I could probably also do one about how you don’t have to have a problem w drinking to quit alcohol. Drinking was not doing me any good, and almost a year and a half of not drinking has shown me how much better my life is without it. Although there are days I would love a glass of wine, after 3 months, the time I had behind me was worth more than the moment of temptation. I think in relation to my ADHD, the best part of not drinking is not having 24 hours post alcohol of hyperfixating on what I said or hoping I didn’t do anything stupid the night before. And now I realize if people think anything of it, that says more in terms of their discomfort than my own. It’s worth it, I promise.
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u/UnbelievableRose 17h ago
No, alcohol was never an issue for me. Quitting weed on the other hand made a huge difference.
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