I used to inwardly roll my eyes when I heard a friend say she'd been diagnosed with ADHD, as I wasn't a fan of 'labels'. I saw how, more often than not, they were used to push prescriptions rather than look at the root cause of symptoms. But... As my friend described in detail how ADHD showed up for her, a penny dropped and with a dawning realisation, I shared: 'I think I have it too.'
I would have left it there, but as my life turned upside down in the lockdowns and my exceedingly busy, diverse and active life was reduced to mainly screen time and my own company, I became acutely aware that something inside me was not able to function in the way my more neurotypical friends could. It was getting in the way of what I wanted to do, all the time. I began to research tentatively and then dismissed it, as nearly all routes pointed to a pharmaceutical conclusion. Having been badly burned by a previous diagnosis and medical subscription, I knew that was not the route I wanted to pursue.
Years later, I have had so many ah-ha moments and the ability to better understand myself by researching and then reflecting on my behaviour. Consequently, I have been able to modify how I show up and share, run my business and relationships, and have better self-esteem and deeper connections. I manage this via an array of tools, supplements and lifestyle choices that allow me to flourish with ADHD, and sometimes despite it.
Either way, I can speak from first-hand experience of myself and the participants of all the ADHD retreats I have run and neurodiverse clients I support, which enable people to reach a space of clarity, presence and focus without pills. So whether you choose to medicate or not, I would love to share what works for me:
The Mushrooms: Lions Mane Tincture: The powder didn't affect me, but taking 2ml of the tincture under the tongue every morning made a real difference to my ability to sit still and focus. I took it every day for a month before noticing the changes; now, I take it every day. There is a lot to say. ALL sorts of mushrooms can help with how our brains function, and I recommend you explore and work out which ones help you the most; Lion’s Mane is my daily staple, but there is a time and place for other relatives to make a microdose appearance. In my opinion their tinctures are the best, which is why I use and support them.
The Crunch: Apples, carrots and celery sticks and big crisp lettuce leaves. I often desire to eat crunchy foods. I didn't realise that the large quantity of apples I consumed in a day was related to my neurodiverse desire for crunching. If you are always after crisps, try having other crunchy whole foods around as a healthier replacement.
The Pause: Time-restricted eating. I always desire to snack, and it disrupts focus when it is sensation-based rather than hunger-based. On days when I limit my food intake to a window of 8/10/12 hours, my sleep and attention improve.
The Sweat and Stretch: Regular exercise and movement every day so I can expel excess energy and naturally release the mood-enhancing chemicals.
The Release: Breathwork and Meditation. I advocate holding ceremonial space for breathwork and do that at least once a week. It helps me get out of my head and release emotion somatically. Being aware of the power of the breath, I consciously focus on elongating and deepening it whenever I find myself stressed at my desk.
Ceremonial Grade cacao: I held cacao ceremonies for years before I realized I had ADHD and promoted its benefits to the neurodiverse. I love micro-dosing with it instead of coffee, as it works well with the mushroom tinctures to keep me present, focused, and clear without the jitters, crash or craving of coffee.
Barefoot in nature: We are electrical beings, and rubber-soled shoes prevent us from discharging the static our bodies build up during the day. Getting earthed by having bare feet on the ground, particularly when in the wilds of nature, a beach, forest, or the mountain, is wonderful for returning to the body and finding your calm. If you don't have easy access to nature, feel the cold and spend a lot of time online, I recommend getting grounding mats or other products which naturally remove the static from your body. I use Groundology.
Coaching: Working with a professional who is/understands ADHD can help you gain insights, advice and tools to enhance your self-esteem, productivity, relationships and overall quality of life.
I'd love to know what works well for you in the comments below.
