Author: James Anderson

Can You Improve Adult ADHD Without Medications?

This means not everyone will have the same symptoms or severity of symptoms. In other words, using non-medication therapies and home remedies may work without the need for medication for some people. Limited evidence suggests that discontinuing stimulant medications for ADHD may help some people. Despite the potential, the researchers of a 2021 study noted that more research is needed to determine which groups may most benefit from discontinuing their medication. For others, additional therapies may help enhance the effectiveness of their medication.

It’s also helpful to find someone familiar with natural treatments if you’re hoping to avoid prescription meds. If you’d like to turn to a pro for help (always a smart move when you’re feeling overwhelmed), find a doctor, dietitian, or therapist who’s familiar with ADHD and its symptoms. While it may take some trial and error to find the perfect solution for you or your child, know that everyone reacts slightly differently to every type of treatment. More research is needed, but one study found that people with celiac disease and ADHD saw significant improvement in their ADHD symptoms when sticking to a gluten-free diet. While the research linking probiotics to ADHD treatment is still in early stages, several studies have shown promising effects. Cultivating a healthy gut microbiome can promote a vibrant and high-functioning brain.

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According to recent data from the CDC, almost 13% of men and 5% of women will have clinically significant ADHD at some point in their lives (i.e., ADHD severe enough to require treatment). Of course, the majority of people diagnosed with ADHD are children, but its prevalence in adults is much higher than most people realize. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) involves trouble focusing or inattention, hyperactivity, and impulse control.

Can You Treat ADHD Without Medication?

1. While the research linking probiotics to ADHD treatment is still in early stages, several studies have shown promising effects.
2. A 2022 systematic review states that there is limited evidence that diet can help adults with ADHD.
3. Even better, an open trial of ADHD patients found that bright light therapy in the morning improved participants’ moods and helped reduce their core ADHD symptoms.
4. Some of the thoughts are positive, and some are negative or critical.

Exposing your body to light during the day and darkness at night is essential to keeping your circadian rhythms in check — which, as we know, can help you ward off the negative effects of poor sleep. One way to manage sleep issues naturally is to take melatonin every night before you hit the pillow. It’s a hormone your body naturally produces to regulate your shut-eye, and when your sleep cycle gets messed up, your melatonin levels might also be out of whack.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Find a sport you enjoy or just start with a walk for ten minutes and be open to where this may go. CBT is a goal-directed therapeutic regimen focused on the interaction of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to help patients feel better and flourish. However, many principles have been used in a self-help format to improve time management, productivity, and focus. If you are interested in CBT to address your ADHD, it is best to find a psychiatrist or therapist in your area who specializes in CBT. Also, see my article on Seven Ways to Overcome Procrastination. Technology may have put a person on the moon and brought streaming into your home, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to seek out some distance.

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A person can try these approaches on their own, or with the help of an experienced coach or therapist. Since 1998, millions of parents and adults have trusted ADDitude’s expert guidance and support for living better with ADHD and its related mental health conditions. Our mission is to be your trusted advisor, an unwavering source of understanding and guidance along the path to wellness. Doctors will work closely with you or your loved one to find the right balance between benefits and side effects.

Boston-based Akili Interactive has developed an engaging game that may function as a form of treatment, reducing impulsivity and inattention while the child with ADHD plays. Charles’ administrative assistant became his activity partner at work. Charles met with him for two hours in the morning and created a collaborative atmosphere (previously, it had been a delegation-only relationship). Charles also started using a paper calendar for all of his tasks and deadlines, both work and professional.

Adult ADHD can be challenging and stand in the way of your goals. There are treatments for adult ADHD, and not all require medication. So if you would like to learn more about Adult ADHD and coping strategies, please visit my website at

Kinda-sorta treatments

At each session, we started with a specific agenda that focused on his goals, and he had homework between sessions that we discussed at the following session. As a big part of evidenced-based CBT, we explored his thoughts, anxieties, and fears that led to procrastination and other ADHD symptoms. I taught Charles a variation of traditional CBT that helped him identify and overcome his fears and get the wind back in his sails.

If this sounds like you or someone you love, doesn’t eating more fish and leafy greens and taking supplements seem more than worthwhile? And if they don’t help, maybe a prescription is worth a try, too? There’s also some evidence that riding a bike every day helps improve focus. These recommendations are based on clinical experience, not research. But as the symptoms of ADHD can build up, it may be worth it to try them. Scott Shapiro, M.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York Medical College.

One study found that too much digital time can increase impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention in teens. This is a tough one, since food dyes are in just about everything these days, but a handful of studies have linked consumption of these dyes to increased hyperactivity in children. For young children, whose brains and behaviors are especially malleable, behavioral therapy can help lessen disruptive tendencies. If your zinc levels are normal, this treatment probably won’t do much for you. But if you or your child is zinc deficient (which could be more likely if you’re vegetarian or vegan), taking a zinc supplement could lessen your hyperactivity symptoms. While medications like Adderall can help reduce these symptoms, some people might not like the ways their bodies react to medication.