ADHD in many ways is both a gift and a curse. When I’m in ultra-creative, hyper-focus mode it feels like a superpower. An example of when I felt like that was a couple of weeks ago– after taking detailed reading notes and wrote a few sentences for one of my MA thesis chapters, started writing this paragraph, and earlier painted something my mom asked me to make for her cabinet. I was also high. We also struggle with mood swings and outbursts that can seem like we’re over-reacting because of how our brains are wired. We can’t help that we have an executive functioning disorder, but we can create a wellness routine that compliments the way we’re wired and manage some of the trouble that can sometimes come with it!
Hyperfocus
To start the day right, I love to “wake and bake” after my morning coffee with a good Sativa not only to boost my mood, but so I can tap into that creativity and natural flow. The first part of doing that is ADHD isn’t so much about attention “deficit” as it is about having your attention on 10 things at once, we have busy brains that struggle to prioritize tasks and manage time! I can’t tell you how much time I’ve wasted before just figuring out what to start, and overwhelmed myself doing so. When I smoke, it helps quiet the noise and still the waters in my mind, so that I can see the gold at the bottom. Instead of overanalyzing, being a little high or buzzed from my favorite strains help me make better and faster decisions about where to start and just dive into it. To be perfectly honest, I get more done when I’m high!
Anger Management
For someone with an ADHD brain, things like not being able to find your keys or spilling a cup of coffee that you JUST poured for yourself can make you feel extremely frazzled and start you off on the wrong foot for the day. Having something to smoke or an edible to nibble on really helps me have a better attitude and not zero in on the negative.
Low Moods
One of the best parts about the ability to hyperfocus is that it feels like a superpower, and when you fly through your task lists or spend the day absorbed in an exciting new project, you feel superhuman! One of the most difficult parts is Part of the negative side of ADHD can include second guessing and obsessing and “freezing” over different tasks – not knowing where to start, what to prioritize, how to organize your notes for a paper and where to begin writing, etc…it’s A LOT. For some of us, this can manifest in panic, mood swings, even depression. Not being able to get into that creative flow and even being burnt out after a particularly long hyper-focused and productive streak can make you. If you are feeling like this, your body is telling you its time to take a break. When taking a break, be FULLY present for it, don’t let your mind try and make you feel guilty about what you “should” or “shouldn’t” be doing…let it recharge, pick a delicious edible or your favorite strain to smoke and watch a movie, binge a TV series, or whatever you love to do to relax and charge. The creative sparks will come back to you when you’re ready.
I included some links below to help you choose some strains. Even if the specific ones listed in these articles aren’t available at your dispensary, an easy way to look for similar ones is to look at the notes written about each strain – maybe they have similar terpene profiles, smell or look similar, or have the same parent strain. There’s a lot of stuff out there for us! I also use therapy, medication prescribed by my psychiatrist, supplements (especially Lion’s Mane mushroom), exercise, and sleep to help me get the best out of my abilities. Good luck with everything!
Links to strain suggestions that could help brains like ours: https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/best-cannabis-strains-for-focus-and-addadhdhttps://www.marijuanadoctors.com/blog/best-strains-for-adhd/https://www.leafly.com/strains/lists/condition/add-adhdhttps://wayofleaf.com/cannabis/ailments/marijuana-strains-adhd
