Have you noticed that your ADHD symptoms can change from day to day or even hour to hour? Or maybe you’ve noticed the long term changes; things that used to challenge you don’t anymore, but you have other ones that do.
One of the reasons that medications for ADHD work as well as they do is because they may often be the one constant, unchanging thing that has an affect on your symptoms.
There are so many things that affect your ADHD. The good news is that many of them are within your control and all can be simple to put into practice.
You know, when you have a cold, sometimes it can be a nasty thing that knocks you on your behind and other times, just a case of the sniffles.
Getting plenty of rest and fluids and just taking extra care of yourself often means that you feel better the next day.
ADHD responds to that same kind of self care.
Getting enough sleep is vital. The changes in my ADHD symptoms when I have not slept well or enough is dramatic. Make sure you get as much sleep as you need on a regular basis.
A healthy diet and plenty of water are important too. I personally believe that a diet that emphasizes lean protein and fruits and vegetables is best, with a lesser amount of carbs.
Exercise is so beneficial in so many ways, and that includes ADHD. Studies have shown that exercise, especially aerobic types, can help you focus and think more clearly. What’s more, the benefits can last as long as 24 hours.
Make sure that in each busy day you allow yourself some down time to rest and recuperate. Just make sure that you don’t do what I used to do and stay up extra late just to have some time to yourself.
You need at least 30 minutes a day just for you to sit and be quiet. To meditate or pray, to read or create something, to do something that relaxes you.
If you can’t find 30 minutes for yourself each day, take a look at what you’re doing with your time and make some changes. Serving others instead of yourself all the time is not good for anyone.
Consider vitamins and supplements as an addition to your diet. A good multi-vitamin is a start; then you can check into supplements that can help ADHD specifically.
These are just some of the variables that can affect your ADHD symptoms, either positively or negatively. Because there are so many, it’s easy to see how your ADHD symptoms are in a constant state of flux.
