Here is my story about consuming cannabis for ADD/ADHD
It was suggested I had ADD in elementary school. I remember going to the administration building at school and sitting down with a specialist. After the lady tested me, she told my mom I had ADD and she could take me to a doctor to get medicine that would help.
My mom didn't like the idea of pills as a daily crutch so she sought therapy for me. I was also dealing with an alcoholic father so the therapy was much more than an aid for ADD. I coasted through grade school and entered high school with out medication for ADD.
I struggled with anxiety on a daily basis as well as trying to focus. On some subjects I would test high and others the test showed I was not paying attention. All of the subjects were interesting to me, I just couldn't focus. This was the beginning of my depression phases. I was depressed because I knew the subjects very well, I just couldn't prove it the way they had instructed.
I asked to see a doctor about my depression and at 17 I was first placed on Zoloft. It was the first time I was given a pill to fix my problems. I was told that this pill would make me less depressed so I was willing to try it. I was genuinely a happy person and didn't like how Zoloft made me feel; sluggish, uninterested in anything, and even more sad. I began weaning myself off the medication and stopped taking it.
I continued therapy after high school. I entered the workforce at 18 and was lucky to have a job with insurance. I worked with a girl that had the same issues I had endured. She suggested I go see a neurologist for my ADD and see what they could offer me. I was still struggling to focus.
I was diagnosed with ADHD by the neurologist (a cap and a lot of cords for the test) and was prescribed Adderall. I began taking Adderall and immediately saw the positive effects but it would make me crash so hard at night. I was able to focus on my job and felt so confident during the day. I would come home and crash like a toddler after a sugar high. It was like my whole day was crammed into that 8am-5pm period, I was extremely productive but the crash was not tolerable. So I began weaning myself off Adderall and stopped taking it.
I started consuming cannabis regularly about 3 years after I stopped Adderall. I noticed I could take a puff off my pipe and be able to focus for hours. It wouldn't leave me with a crash at all. I also noticed that days I did not consume cannabis, I had a difficult time focusing and finishing a task.
It was something that would take my anxiety away. I could be all worked up over something (thanks anxiety) and take a puff and work through my problem. A good analogy is cows on a country road. They will take their time and crowd up the road making it seem impossible to move. They will make eye contact with you while you are in your car, just look back down and continue to graze. If you roll your window down and tell them to move ("Get on!") they usually move and you can continue down the road. Cannabis would allow me to "move the cows" and continue with my day.
It was extremely illegal in Texas. So while it would calm me down, I still disliked that I was breaking the law just to get some relief. My husband and I were so glad that Colorado passed Amendment 64 and started dreaming about living here one day.
We moved here in 2015 and I researched strains to help with anxiety and ADD/ADHD. I quickly found several strains that helped me. I liked Green Crack, Durban Poison, and Blue Dream during the day to help keep me focused. I find that a sativa dominant hybrid is the perfect combination for my anxiety and ADHD.
I gradually moved from smoking/vaping bud to vaping concentrates. I medicate with a sativa dominant hybrid concentrate about 4-6 times a day. If I am having a hard day (dealing with others) I may medicate more. I also medicate with a 30mg sativa edible in the morning. I like to end my day with a indica, it helps relax my mind and body to get ready for sleep.
I love that I don't feel bogged down. I also love that my natural energy is not impeded with a pill. I can approach my day with confidence and a joy for life!
Want to learn more? Check out these links:
Colorado Amendment 64
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Amendment_64
ADD/ADHD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder
Strains to help ADD/ADHD
https://www.leafly.com/explore/conditions-addadhd
It was suggested I had ADD in elementary school. I remember going to the administration building at school and sitting down with a specialist. After the lady tested me, she told my mom I had ADD and she could take me to a doctor to get medicine that would help.
My mom didn't like the idea of pills as a daily crutch so she sought therapy for me. I was also dealing with an alcoholic father so the therapy was much more than an aid for ADD. I coasted through grade school and entered high school with out medication for ADD.
I struggled with anxiety on a daily basis as well as trying to focus. On some subjects I would test high and others the test showed I was not paying attention. All of the subjects were interesting to me, I just couldn't focus. This was the beginning of my depression phases. I was depressed because I knew the subjects very well, I just couldn't prove it the way they had instructed.
I asked to see a doctor about my depression and at 17 I was first placed on Zoloft. It was the first time I was given a pill to fix my problems. I was told that this pill would make me less depressed so I was willing to try it. I was genuinely a happy person and didn't like how Zoloft made me feel; sluggish, uninterested in anything, and even more sad. I began weaning myself off the medication and stopped taking it.
I continued therapy after high school. I entered the workforce at 18 and was lucky to have a job with insurance. I worked with a girl that had the same issues I had endured. She suggested I go see a neurologist for my ADD and see what they could offer me. I was still struggling to focus.
I was diagnosed with ADHD by the neurologist (a cap and a lot of cords for the test) and was prescribed Adderall. I began taking Adderall and immediately saw the positive effects but it would make me crash so hard at night. I was able to focus on my job and felt so confident during the day. I would come home and crash like a toddler after a sugar high. It was like my whole day was crammed into that 8am-5pm period, I was extremely productive but the crash was not tolerable. So I began weaning myself off Adderall and stopped taking it.
I started consuming cannabis regularly about 3 years after I stopped Adderall. I noticed I could take a puff off my pipe and be able to focus for hours. It wouldn't leave me with a crash at all. I also noticed that days I did not consume cannabis, I had a difficult time focusing and finishing a task.
It was something that would take my anxiety away. I could be all worked up over something (thanks anxiety) and take a puff and work through my problem. A good analogy is cows on a country road. They will take their time and crowd up the road making it seem impossible to move. They will make eye contact with you while you are in your car, just look back down and continue to graze. If you roll your window down and tell them to move ("Get on!") they usually move and you can continue down the road. Cannabis would allow me to "move the cows" and continue with my day.
It was extremely illegal in Texas. So while it would calm me down, I still disliked that I was breaking the law just to get some relief. My husband and I were so glad that Colorado passed Amendment 64 and started dreaming about living here one day.
We moved here in 2015 and I researched strains to help with anxiety and ADD/ADHD. I quickly found several strains that helped me. I liked Green Crack, Durban Poison, and Blue Dream during the day to help keep me focused. I find that a sativa dominant hybrid is the perfect combination for my anxiety and ADHD.
I gradually moved from smoking/vaping bud to vaping concentrates. I medicate with a sativa dominant hybrid concentrate about 4-6 times a day. If I am having a hard day (dealing with others) I may medicate more. I also medicate with a 30mg sativa edible in the morning. I like to end my day with a indica, it helps relax my mind and body to get ready for sleep.
I love that I don't feel bogged down. I also love that my natural energy is not impeded with a pill. I can approach my day with confidence and a joy for life!
Want to learn more? Check out these links:
Colorado Amendment 64
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Amendment_64
ADD/ADHD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder
Strains to help ADD/ADHD
https://www.leafly.com/explore/conditions-addadhd
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