ADHD ADHD & PTSD: impulsive avoidance?

[Justmehere]

For anyone who also has ADHD/ADD in addition to PTSD:

Anyone find that meds help reduce impulsive avoidance or otherwise help overcome avoidance? I have. I’m now wondering what else will help.

Just now learning how to get a handle on my ADHD symptoms outside of using meds.

 

[Ronin]

I got the opposite to be true, overwhelmingly.

For on meds, usually some level of numbed out, & if I am not numbed out chemically, I have hell lot of motivation to actually work on it, because it interferes with functioning... where meds just take care of it for me, so I have no reason to look at it when voila, there is seemingly no problem.

& Taking away stimulants as a coping mech, I get adrenaline junkie on / risky as f*ck with no regard for me, worse case, too depressed & suicidal to ponder anything constructively, better case. On them it is just functioning / more depending on other factors, no change in avoidance itself.

So the opposite issue / slowing myself down & backing myself down or getting the energy somewhere constructive, figuring one does not have to throw themselves at the thing they were avoiding to deal with it.

 

[Justmehere]

When I’m off meds, I want to run towards the dangerous and struggle with the more ordinary and mundane and yet get avoidantly anxious about things like sending the resume I spend hours on... or giving the workshop I was asked to give... things I like doing, but somehow I’m terrified about doing.

But off meds and bungee jumping? Urges to run back to abusers? Sigh me up. Ugh. :( What the heck? I think it’s all just another flavor of avoidant. The familiar hell of abuse vs the unknown land of terrifying safe.

When I’m on the meds, I’m on task with ordinary life and not so anxious about ordinary things, and the super dangerous things seem uninteresting. I shrug them off.

It’s a mind twist. I don’t get it.

 

[Innordinate]

Makes sense to me. Stimulants calm adhd brains which would make mundane boring shit easier to get through and not feel the need to live dangerously.

I just re-started taking meds (today actually) for adhd after like 20 years so i don't really know yet if it will reduce avoidance.
I have avoidance personality disorder also so..... *shrugs*

A couple people have said I'm more 'talkative' today than before so maybe thats the med.

What to do to avoid avoidance? :laugh: yup can't help there either- except CBT.

My p-doc did refer a book though, called " the Smart but scattered guide to success" which helps identify which executive functioning skills are your weakest and strongest, how to use your strengths and learn how to strengthen your weaknesses.
Finding it really insightful for how to manage adhd symptoms in regards to work, home and relationships.

 

[Recovery4Me]

sense to me. Stimulants calm adhd brains which would make mundane boring shit easier to get through and not feel the need to live dangerously.

Concur from my own experience. I am fortunate to have been able to swap the meds out for coffee however which is finally recognized as a central nervous system and behavior drug by our government. I moderate my Impulse control choice of behavior with the breathing exercises that you taught me @Justmehere.

I found I can not stop the initial urge, but if I can slow down through various stop gap methods...it becomes damage control.? Also, at my age as a senior, I found my body becomes more tired and all that extra energy that once got me in trouble now helps me get things done. *Silver lining lol*

 

[Fadeaway]

Whats is impulsive avoidance? It sounds like an oxymoron to me, so very confused but curious.

Stimulants calm adhd brains which would make mundane boring shit easier to get through

Seriously? There is something that calms over active minds you can do mundane stuff? Does it help with keeping your mind from wandering over trauma while doing dishes? Mundane tasks kill me. At the same time I can't handle stimulants well. I think it is so cool you have something that can help with that.

 

[Innordinate]

mind from wandering over trauma while doing dishes? Mundane tasks kill me. At the same time I can't handle stimulants well. I think it is so cool you have something that can help with that.

Umm, yeah.
i've found since starting this med that trauma stuff doesn't stick in my head as much. I don't ruminate nearly as much as I used to and my thoughts don't wander around erratically or bombard me all at once (most of the time).

I haven't been taking it very long but so far so good. Still expecting it to fail at some point and not sure if placebo effect plays a roll etc but yeh, im finding it really cool actually.

and there are non-stimulant versions that can do the same thing for some people -like strattera.

doesnt help starting tasks tho- i still look at dishes and go 'screw that shit' but when i actually do start the job its a lot quieter and easier.
i think they call it "focus" :laugh:

 

[Fadeaway]

That is just fascinating. I don't have ADHD, as evidence to my reactions to ritalin as a kid and adderal once as an adult, holy anxiety! I struggle with tasks that don't engage the brain allowing for major intrusive thoughts when doing housework. I can't clean without music. I will ask my psych about stratera, something like that, without making me tired or increasing energy would be a godsend.