No one can stay positive all the time. It's important to process negative experiences and allow emotions. For people with ADHD, this is challenging, as they tend to feel emotions more intensely and experience quicker shifts. However, maintaining a positive attitude can help manage challenges and reduce stress responses. In ADHD, dopamine and norepinephrine regulation is disrupted—not only is there a lack of dopamine, but its usage and processing are also inefficient. This dysregulation affects symptom intensity, which can be worsened by stress, sleep deprivation, or overstimulation.

It's no good idea to pressure someone with ADHD, as it often worsens their symptoms. Small positive gestures and respectful communication are typically more stabilizing. When someone explains what affects their performance and what improves it, it is not meant to be amusing, but essential.

This also applies to people taking ADHD medication. These medications alleviate symptoms but don’t fully address the underlying neurobiological causes. The core challenges of ADHD remain.

Like many with ADHD, I responded well to medication accompanied by psychotherapy, but finding the right dosage and timing was a lengthy process, often complicated by side effects such as insomnia which later formed a circular dynamic with depression.

Insomnia → performance problems → stress → depression

I couldn't bring myself to give up so quickly and accepted the difficulties with the medication, since they were also linked to my behavior. My specialists have not issued me any sick notes to oblige me to take personal responsibility.

After some years, I stopped taking medication. During this time, I didn’t have a supportive environment. I faced my difficulties openly and self-reflective, but the strong criticism of side effects and resulting consequences hindered my therapy and professional life. In addition, the lack of sleep impaired the effectiveness of the medication. Many people with ADHD share similar experiences, leading them, like me, to focus more on the holistic approach that includes behavior, emotion regulation, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes.