[corecoder]

I do score quite high (total 44, inattentive scale 19, hyperactivity/impulsivity scale 25), yet I'm not convinced: at work I almost always manage to get things done well and in time, and I'm generally considered accomplished by my peers and managers, though maybe strange and over the top.

[LeonB]

Yeh. That’s a significant finding. Honestly.

People with ADHD can most definitely be productive and generally considered accomplished. They just tend to have put a lot of effort in, their whole lives, in order to get there, and may have developed a lot of cool techniques to get there. Treatment itself is about improving these techniques (and finding helpful medications, the two parts work together.)

[corecoder]

Thank you very much.

I'm quite scared of medications, tbh, but I'd very much like to explore improving techniques.

[LeonB]

The stimulant caffeine is a popular alternative (provided you’re not overly sensitive to it [it can cause heart palpitations and anxiety], and don’t take it too late in the day) — lots of people use it to self-medicate ;)

[corecoder]

Yes, I used to go really heavy on it. Had to quit it almost entirely, for both heart palpitations and anxiety.

[LeonB]

Not to harp on about medications, but there are “non-stimulant” medications used to successfully treat ADHD as well, such as Strattera.

On the non-medicine side, techniques like bullet journaling are useful, also having “accountability partners” — friends or groups you report in with each week to check on each other’s progress; things like that.

[LeonB]

Exercise and mindfulness also worth mentioning. Good sleep also a biggie.