Coming Off of Adderall

When I came off of my Adderall prescription 5 years ago, I was faced with a demanding, foreign feeling. For the first time in 7 years,( 7 years being the length of my amphetamine relationship), I felt hunger.

Many have heard the side-effects of Adderall, the overnight weight-loss, the dissipation of basic needs such as food and sleep, and a laundry list of other hush-hush oddities. I did not realize how true these were until removing the blinders and hopping into the seat of my own medication-free reality. And let me tell you, it was not the most pleasant awakening.

It was frightening to physically feel the abysmal trench between my mind and my body. Freakishly frightening. Quite often, I found myself thinking, “Dear God. How did I live this way for 7 years?” What I had done nutritionally to my body was starve it, ignore its deeply significant requests, and numb it with what is basically speed.

I went through high-school and college in such a condition, and so when I released this dependency, my biochemistry was outrageously dysfunctional. I was exhausted, depleted, moody and hungry. Not knowing where to begin on my healing journey, but knowing I would not be returning to the traditional medical field, I pivoted inward to befriend the beast within, hunger.

First off, I created a few rules for myself: whatever I ate had to be organic. Rule two: no turning back to the medication at any cost. Rule three: journaling every day and night. And in addition to this, I pulled in the assistance of a naturopath to whom I will eternally be grateful.

After three months of eating whatever I wanted in sight, as long as it was organic, I found myself 50 pounds heavier and still exhausted, moody, and occasionally still hungry. You see, I was having a love affair with any form of organic sugar I could find, (processed organic junk food, dried fruit, desserts, pastries), and though it was organic, it was still sugar! In addition, I was addicted to coffee. No good. Coffee and sugar feed off each other. In my case, I was seeking out their highs, alternating consumptions throughout my day. One addiction had turned into another.

So, I took my self research a notch deeper, I began to identify which foods gave me clean, clear and lasting energy as well as focus. And, I also began to observe which types of relationships, activities, career, exercise, creative outlets and spiritual practices gave me clean, clear and lasting energy. Over the next 4 years I would continue to do this. My research revealed that my body was not the only hungry thing, my heart and mind were hungry as well.

Five years have passed now. I have lost all of the added padding I gained in the beginning of my journey. Liberated from my coffee and sugar prisons, I now drink teas and eat foods that allow me to thrive. Fulfilled with relationships, career, spiritual and creative expression, and physical movement, I feel compelled to reach out to those who may be ready to release their relationship with ADD medications. It is possible, and you are worth it! Life without the blinders on is oh-so more fulfilling!

Here are some of my tips for coming off of ADD medications…

Top 10 Tips For Breaking Adderall Addiction

1. Make sure you have a support team.

Your team can be your family, your friends, your doctor, your therapist. In addition, adding in some other key players such as a naturopath, massage therapist, Reiki master, intuitive, herbalist or health coach could enhance your healing experience by providing you with new insightful information on you and your situation as well as a space to reflect.

2. Drink buckets of water.

Seriously. You will be detoxing for a while, and water, not soda or milk or sugary store-purchased juices or energy drinks, is going to move you along most steadily.

3. Eat for focus.

Eat foods that build you up, not bring you down. Focus on adding in whole foods. For me, I invest in dark, leafy greens, high quality proteins (and I eat meat as a condiment, not at every meal), fruits, bee products, algaes, gluten-free grains (on occasion), vegetables, teas, and raw, homemade desserts. I have created a loving boundary with dairy, sugar, soy and gluten. And of course, I keep in mind to eat 90% of what is best for me and 10% of what I really want. However, what I have found is that once you begin to clear the clutter in your diet, what is best for you and what you want merge entirely.

4. Nix the sugar fix.

If there is anything that has helped me the most it has been this: eliminating refined sugar as well as any form of cane sugar from my system.

5. Be responsible

Keep a strong perspective on why you are coming off of your medication. See the bigger picture. The withdrawal process will only be a blip in time. Your health is your responsibility.

6. Sleep it out.

Your body is going to need rest in the beginning, lots of it. Accommodate your schedule so that you are honoring the amount of sleep you may need in the beginning. This may mean cutting back on evening socializing so that you can hit the hay at 9p, and be prepared for the next day. Eventually, this intense exhaustion fizzles out.

7. Journal till your heart is content.

It is natural that coming off of an ADD medication will stir up some pretty big emotions due to prior suppression. So, carry a journal or iPad or voice recorder with you. It is healthy to release these emotions and then…

8. Exercise.

Yes. Exercise is a must in your shoes. However, from my personal experience, it could not just be my typical schpeel . I remember finding it challenging in the beginning because I was so used to exercising on my medication, and using it for energy.

When I first returned to the elliptical, my motions were slug-like. It bored me to tears. So, I hit the trails. I walked at first, and as slow as I needed, but now, 5 years later, I have become a jogger who pauses for yoga every now and then. Make up what feels right for you.

9. Embrace Nature

Be in nature, be in nature, be in nature. I am not going to say why, just go there and experience it.

10. Trust yourself.

Intrinsically, you know you weren’t born to be medicated. You were born to live out what lights your spirit aflame. Rise up to yourself! What a noble adventure.

Through my process of Adderall withdrawal, I pondered many theories on the motives of overmedication, and more importantly, the voluntary choice of the masses to go on these medications in the first place, to be the guinea pigs. I have come to realize that I was never “ADD.” If fact, and please do pardon me if I offend, but I question if anyone truly is. Now, “NDD,” Nutrition Deficit Disorder, that sounds more like it!

Article written by Jessica McCleskey Hood, Holistic Health Coach, AADP

Founder of Jessica McCleskey Health Coaching – www.jessicamccleskey.com

Co-Founder of Healthy Habits Clubs – www.healthyhabitsclubs.com

P.S. Want to get healthy, fit and lose weight? Not sure what to do or who to trust?



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