Reply To: Have you ever been experienced?

[sdwa]

I had major recurring episodes of moderate-to-severe clinical depression for a long time. But that was before the ADHD diagnosis, which made sense of my struggles and the intensity of my moods. I’m not sure what “mood stabilizing” would mean. I was on anti-depressants for a long time. Now I just take the methylphenidate, which works well for me.

I have read and others have confirmed that people with ADHD often have relentless moods. You know how you get into a head space and it’s really hard to get out? One book that talks about this problem is the green one on…dang it, what is it…the one on Dialectical Behavior Therapy? Search DBT on Amazon and you’ll find it. The whole thing  is about mood management rather than thought management. What shifts your mood. A scent, maybe. A place. An experience. Something tactile or sensual. It’s helpful to me, because I feel like my thoughts are what get me into trouble,  so that trouble is not going to be fixed by thinking more or better thoughts, but by bypassing them altogether.

FWIW, not talking about religion, but let’s call it a spiritual practice or orientation….That has made a huge difference for me, in that it brings positive results when I am consistent about putting my attention into it. For me it’s a real anchor. There are so few anchors in a world that feels constantly in chaotic motion. So I get it.

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