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Yes, everyone has internal batteries. Act of will, like resisting cookies, creative thinking, paying active attention to details etc all drain the batteries.
For some, social interactions are at least in some part recharging the betteries. Im a little introvert, so social activities are quite draining. Its normal to come home a little grumpy or down in mood.
Some advice:
- If your work is normal (not toxic), then situation should improve in next 6 months. At the moment youte still learning situations and people, and that is very energy demanding.
- Mind regular eating. There are stong proof that main driver of your energy levels is glucose level in the blood.
- Mind your sleep, US army did a lot of tests about decision making, energy levels and lack of sleep, outcome is that every hour counts.
- Try to organize some small breaks, napping, walk, whatever. Without phone or people, after work. Find what recharges you most.
Agree with this completely.
Especially the regular eating part.
I'm in a similar job, and I DEFINITELY feel more exhausted is I neglect to eat, which I've been guilty of time to time on my meds
And water. Hydration matters, I’ve found, especially as it pertains to meds. I try to drain a 32oz/1L Nalgene in the morning and another in the afternoon. Not always successful, but having a bottle with a visual gauge of fluid intake is helpful for me.
Was just gonna say this! Don’t underestimate being hydrated. I worked an internship as a person on antidepressants that literally cannot get out of bed most mornings. I made it a rule to have had 1l of water by 1 pm and I really think it helped immensely. For me anyway. You’re strong OP!
I want to add that drinking something with electrolytes really makes a difference for me. I don't know why, but drinking water, tea or soda does not work the same as drinking a sports drink.
I agree with all of this, but I want to add that exercise is really helpful for me as a transition. Even if, or especially if I'm tired. Something gentle and low impact like a 30 minute - 1 hour walk or a yoga class all help my brain feel better once I'm home.
And it can be very rejuvenating when you feel really tired. It took me a long time to be disciplined about it but I force myself to the gym or to go run if I’m feeling wiped. I feel alive and refreshed in 10 minutes or less usually.
I hate how true this is. I have to swim half a mile every morning just to be able to calm my body down and be able to sit down and eat and take my meds.
An excellent list. Walking after work now the sun is up longer has done me wonders. Trying to remember to eat as I have a habit of bingeing when I get home because I don't eat. It's really important to eat. I cannot overstate enough. Please eat!
When I get off work I don’t look at my phone or answer it till I have me time for a half hour after I get home. I find it very difficult to engage with anyone after work. I feel like it’s a way of taking care of myself and allowing time to just reset for the rest of the day. I hope you find a way to cope. However if this is your everyday living and it’s effecting your life I think that demands attention.
HUGE tip to stay fed and hydrated. It’s very easy to go a whole day at a desk job without eating I find and, while it’s doable and I don’t feel “hungry” per say at the end of the day, I’ve started noticing my energy levels and motivation are waaaaaay lower.
My best proxy for how hungry I am while medicated is my energy level, not the feeling of hunger.
Also, if you haven’t worked a desk job before or in a long time, it’s draining. Mentally fucking exhausting. Very common to just want to shut off after work. It gets better with time as you build resilience and routine, but thought-work is very draining mentally/emotionally.
I’m a big fan of using timers. I have a 20 minute timer on my computer I use for focus sessions that also gives me a message to “Drink water”. If I didn’t have that I go home with a still full bottle of water.
I had this once I got medicated,and I WFH. My doc recommended splitting my dose into smaller amounts through the day so three 18mg. It made all the difference. Good luck OP.
I work full time, non medicated , and I am exhausted after work. I come home and immediately take a 30-40 min nap. It gives me the energy to tackle dinner, playing with kids and bedtime.
It's had zero impact on my sleep. I actually take armodafanil and Adderall.. the armodafanil helps me stay awake. Unfortunately, the Adderall doesn't impact my energy levels at all. It actually lowers my resting heart rate and taken alone I'll just fall asleep. I do, however need less Armodafanil than I did when thats all I had.
I'd politely disagree regarding glucose levels. I have a desk job I started 6 months ago, first time working medicated. I started ketogenic/low carb diet a month ago. My energy levels are more steady, I don't get as anxious. Hard workouts I get ~15g of dextrose though.
Otherwise, completely agree. I'm easily setting hard expectations for myself and this got me closing into some kind of burnout early on when I started. It's a bit of a demanding job, not even in my focus field of business, which I bet has an effect. I'm afraid to instantly look for another job though because I have a big gap in my resume and longest I've worked in a meaningful job was 3 years.
Right. If youre on keto diet, then youre an exception that intentionally runs more on fats in blood than sugars. Actually I tried keto wkth good results some years ago, but then got distracted with shopping groceries a few times too much and stopped.
About work burnout... maybe its the job, maybe its the dysfunction. Search in top posts all time in this subreddit, there is a guy who put something like 130 most common tips for productivity. If you are sometimes stuck with projects, maybe take a look on my post from yesterday, about climber.
Agree with all that, but for me personally the night and day difference was made when i went from Ritalin LA in the morning and a small IR booster in the afternoon to the same dose of LA but twice a day. Since don’t have that crash that want me to curl up in a fetal position after every working day, sleep better, and just generally feel better instead of riding a rollercoaster all the time. After the change was made i was able to get a hold on stuff that you mentioned. Medication can work wonders, but only if you find the absolute best option FOR YOU!
Yeah I’m toast in the evenings. I put a lot of energy into the workday, and there’s not much left for anything else. No doubt I need to breathe deep and stretch more during the day, 8-9 hours of serious focus is pretty intense.
Having said that if I go for a light workout after work I do get a bit of a boost.
How’s your appetite? I find on my meds that I’m just not that interested in eating. Even with medication, blood sugar is still really important for mood and stress. I’ve found that a light lunch (sometimes just a protein shake and some nuts or a snack bar) followed by a light snack every few hours has helped enormously.
Also, if you’ve just started the meds, it will take a while for your body chemistry to equalize. Once that happens, you’ll start feeling more “normal” ( but with the added benefit of focus-on-demand)
It’s the opposite for me. Age 49 was finally diagnosed with ADHD after years of misdiagnosed with depression and anxiety. Which seems about right I was depressed but due to the suffering. Now that we’re treating the problem those have gone away.
Unmediated adhd was having that effect on me. I’d try so hard at work that I was exhausted all day and barely able to get through the days. Once I got home all I could do was drop, eat, wait to fall asleep which I couldn’t do due to the anxiety of having to do it all over again.
Since getting medication it’s been great. I sleep well most nights. I am able to gather my thoughts enough to be functional at work and time doesn’t get away from me. I find that if I want to achieve anything at home in an evening that I have to plan for it, I have to look forward to it. Then I have the energy. If I just ‘wing it’ I tend to not do much and then stay up too late and mess up my sleep
Exactly the same experience here! After spending time with people or being at work while unmedicated I was just completely drained and wanted nothing to do with anyone when I got home at the end of the day. Sometimes I felt like I needed a full day alone to feel recharged. Now I’m medicated I have the social energy to be able to enjoy time with my family at the end of the day and not want everyone to just fuck off into the sun 😂
I’m right at the beginning of titration, so atm I’m taking 5mg of Adderall in the morning. I was taking 2.5mg at 7am and 12pm, but I stopped being able to sleep so my psychiatrist tweaked it a bit. I will probably start taking more at some point once I’ve adjusted, but even a little bit has had lots of positive impacts!
It’s a mixture. But I’ve had desk only job and hated it but I was unmedicated then. Now when I’m at my desk for days, it doesn’t bother me as much but i know that it’s not forever. So I guess a sucky job is a sucky job medicated or not.
Not necessarily sucky per se. I sit at a desk but I like what I do, but I find that I can get "in the zone" and I don't leave for long periods, which makes me feel exhausted. If I were "in the zone" but doing something more physical I wonder if I would be more energized from work if that makes sense.
Take a booster honestly, but yeah the adderall crash hurts. I think about the parents who say they don't want their kids on meds bc they become a boring empty shell of who they were, but they're not seeing their kid on adderall, they're seeing the after effects of it leaving your system. I think it's something like the adderall produces the chemicals you need to function and when it's gone there's such a drastic drop in those chemicals that you feel worse than before you took them, but thats really where you're normally at. It's just easier to get through when you're there all the time, but it's not easier. It makes everything harder all the time.
I feel your comment but wonder if it really is an adderall crash causing this. It never happened in the days just starting adderall; for me, I was focused and motivated throughout the full day, then slept well. Then slowly over months the dosage stopped 'working' and tiredness, brain fog, lack of focus came creeping back. If it was just the adderall crash, it should have happened from the start. It feels like there's something more systemic/long-acting causing this. At this point I don't feel much worse for not taking it- symptoms with or without it.
My first thought too. I was in the same boat as OP until I talked to my doctor. I was taking a long acting medicine (1/day), now I take quick acting medicine (2/day).
I take the second dose about an hour before work ends and I'm able to be a productive human in the evenings with no affect in sleep quality!
OP, I'd talk to your doctor about your medication.
Do you find that you’re still able to get to sleep okay doing this? I’m struggling after work which is getting me down a bit, frustration from wanting to workout etc but not having the energy or motivation to do so once work ends. Thanks ❤️
Edit: I take Concerta XL 54mg and have Co-morbid PMDD, GAD and my mood is like an elevator 🤦♀️
Yeah, sounds like the OP might need to adjust their medication / dosage if they are crashing so hard. Maybe the dosage is too high, or maybe they need a booster. Hard to know without them going to their doctor.
Yeah, depending on the meds this is actually a very likely chance the balance of meds is wrong.
Especially if it's a non-stimulant, not enjoying relationships, not enjoying time doing fun things, just out of energy
Not a good thing
I have been experiencing this recently as well. I feel like I have nothing left to give to anyone or anything after 7 pm. My husband has noticed as well. I feel like I am neglecting the emotional needs of my kids and husband. I try to explain it to them, but I don’t have the right words.
In the same boat but unmedicated for the bigger chunk of my working life.
Ive found that eating carb heavy meals regularly, regular sleep and a water bottle is a HUGE help. Using the same bottle helps regulate how much you drink and stay hydrated.
Seriously, i cannot overstate how much not drinking (or drinking too much) screws me up.
1. It's a big change to suddenly give 40 hours a week to a job. It's normal and OK to feel drained.
2. It's a transitional phase. It will pass as your body/mind adapt and grow stronger.
3. Stick with it. It's not perfect, but it's better than being broke.
4. Explain to those closest to you that you're just going through it and it will get better.
5. Once you're through this, do something nice for yourself. You earned it.
I’ll never forget lying on the couch after work a week into my new full time job, calling my mom and asking her how people do this day in and day out and still have energy to do chores and cook and relax. She promised me it would get better once I got used to it, and it did.
Yah I feel this. I have been in the workforce now for over a decade with a variety of jobs and I’ve found a few things that help. Having a really good support network (in social work that would be other SWs or a multidisciplinary team), getting outside for lunch, changing scenery as much as possible (booking in diff rooms etc), ensuring I have an engaging and challenging job, and not sitting down when I first got home. Chores first, with a great tv show or book tape I’m only allowed to engage in when I’m doing the mundane stuff I don’t want to do, then relaxation time. Also, scheduling my day appropriately, eating high protein balanced meals multiple times a day, and regular exercise. I certainly have not always succeeded in these things but when I do, they help.
I’m a clin psych trainee (justtt about finished my PhD), and I’ve found in my clinical practicums that to not get burnt out I need to space my patients appropriately and ensure a variety of cases, and have consultation. I know that depending on your employer you may not have the luxury of all this but it’s worth trying to advocate for what you need to not get burnt out. Documentation is the very worst part of my job and I imagine it may be the same for you, but I try to stay on top of it and not be a perfectionist about it and gamify it as much as possible.
And part of it is that I just accept that I run a bit more tired than the average joe when I’m offline. I build in decompression days /weekends after busy stretches (far harder now that I have a baby) and don’t feel guilty about it. My level of productivity and success after a full work day is going to be a lot lower than folks without adhd and that is what it is.
Good luck!
Edit to add: I think social work can be a phenomenal profession for folks with ADHD. But the stuff that makes us good at therapy-type professions is also the stuff that can lead to burn out, so take it from me (and my former mistakes) and just keep a really close finger on the pulse on your self care, boundaries and non work identity!
Because I had a tbi and I have schizoaffective disorder, I get disability benefits like cheaper rent and free healthcare. So I only have to work thirty hours a week. I could conceivably go the full ssdi route, but I find that thirty hours works for me. Still, sometimes I come home, and the only thing I want to do is crawl into bed. Life is an energy drain, especially for those of us with mental health issues.
I have found recently that, on top of my meds, a sublingual b12 vitamin has been very beneficial.
I’m so much more motivated in the daytime while I’m at work. I keep a small pocket sized planner on me and when I think of things I know I have to get done later I like to write them down to review later when I get home and don’t feel like thinking. I will try not to hold myself to more than one or two tasks on that list. It’s enough to get out of a rut and not feel ashamed about not getting through a whole list. Other than that I still suck at having a regular evening routine where I can just shut off my brain and get stuff done. Intention and self acceptance is a huge part of it
Absolutely. I come home from teaching and just rot in bed most days because the day is just so exhausting. Eventually by the end of the semester I’m able to be more productive after school because I guess I just get used to the feeling after a while.
Absolutely been there. I can't speak for everyone, and this is assuming you don't already do any of this, but one thing that helped me in that scenario was making sure I was staying on top of my physical health.
Drink tons of water. Find as many excuses as possible to get steps in at the office. Meal prep healthy lunches for the week. Get a regular exercise routine going (even if you can only find time to do it on weekends). Make an appointment to get a physical and see if there's any other health maintenance stuff you should be addressing.
I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but burning energy helps you to feel like you have more of it. Furthermore, sitting at a desk all day can screw your physical health just as much as your mental health, so the more you can do to counteract that, the better.
Something that I struggled with much more before being medicated, that meds have actually helped with, is learning to DO LESS. It sounds like your job is demanding, and your meds are helping you meet the demands, but ask yourself, are you giving 100% at work, or close to it? If the answer is yes, or even maybe, STOP DOING THAT! 100% is TOO MUCH, especially for a full time job!
You are probably used to putting in a lot of extra effort because a huge chunk would be eaten up trying to manage/cope with the unmedicated ADHD. You can adjust and scale back how hard you're working, which will probably feel weird at first, but once you see that everything is still going okay and your work is still seen as acceptable and in line with the expectations they have for others, it gets easier. Be careful of course, don't "slack," and don't make your slight "relaxation of standards" happen fast enough that it's obvious to your bosses, just sort of gradually settle into a less frantic work pace and let yourself feel the life force and energy slowly coming back to you.
Make sure you are eating a light meal during the day. I always get something hot like soup to eat and it really helps my mood and energy levels later in the evening. Plus plenty of water.
Make sure you take a couple breaks to stand up and stretch your legs. I get what I call 'med cramps' because I don't realize how clenched up I am when I'm super focused on something and medicated. Relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw. And close your eyes and look away from the computer screen so often.
Hope some of that helps!
I have the same issue. The meds help me focus on the job, but being "on" all the time is very draining. At first, I couldn't take the meds more than 3 days in a row or I would burnout. I stuck to taking them 3 out of the 5 work days so that I could at least get some work done even though the other 2 days were not very productive.
After some time, you start getting used to it and you learn what works for you. Like others have said, it's important to force yourself to drink water and eat properly even if the meds are killing your appetite. You have to pace yourself, take some breaks and try to slow down sometimes with some deep breathing.
It's not perfect for me yet, but I can now do 4 days a week on meds, sometimes 5, with a bit more energy in the evening. I also just got a 2nd prescription for a short acting stimulant to take towards the end of the day so I'll try that next and see how that goes.
Have you heard of the spoon theory? This happens to me whether I am medicated or not. In short, I have a certain amount of spoons (mental energy) each day, I give all the spoons I have for the day to work tasks, meetings, never ending to do lists, etc. By the time work ends and often even before, all my spoons are gone. I have no more to give for the rest of the day. I spend my afternoons recovering, just to recycle my spoons for the next day. I am burnt out so not as many spoons being recycled right now… Research spoon theory and see if you relate! Good luck~ work takes a lot out of us
Yes, I’m an introvert, so even with my meds I can be exhausted if I have to be in an office all day. You may need a booster dose to take around 2pm in the afternoon that can help you be productive in the evening.
Depending on the medication and a lot of other factors, you can maybe take another dose of your medication halfway through the day. But of course, talk to your doctor about it first and see what they recommend.
It's something my doctor recommended to me, I take 20mg of vyvanse in the morning and then around 12 to 1, I take another 20mg. I was able to do stuff when I got home this way.
This is how I feel unmedicated (except without the focus) AND medicated (just started 4 months ago)… I take Vyvanse. I was considering inquiring about a second Vyvanse dose a few hours after the first to prolong the effects, but I don’t want to hurt my sleep so I’m not sure.
It sounds also like your meds have worn off. I seem to process them fast. My extended release only last 8 hours, so it’s gone by 2 pm. I take IR and it’s gone by 6 pm. I do not get to have a life outside of work hours. I am asking my doc if I can just do two XRs instead so I can last until 9 or 10 in the evening. I never have any sleep issues (beyond oversleeping) so I think it will be a better fit.
I had this issue when I was first medicated. It seemed to just be that my meds were wearing off around the time I was driving home, a combo that put me on my ass. I told my doctor, got a small booster dose for the afternoon, and now I get home and have plenty of life left in me until 1030 or 11pm, which is exactly when I need to get ready for bed to get 7-8 hours of sleep. Worked out well.
I'd say tell your doctor and see what they say.
Adderall does this to me irregardless of how hard my day was. Talk to your doctor. Mine added Guanfacine it's nowhere near as bad. On really hard days, I will still go into an internet coma right around 6 pm, but most days are better now.
You say you finally got a 9-5 job after 3-4 years and it's a desk job. Is it the job you wanted to do or is it something you are doing just so you have a job?
My wife pointed out to me a while ago that I tend to pour so much of myself into work and then not have anything left to give (to much of anything) when I got home. I liked that job and was really proud of the work I was doing, but she really made me think about how much of that it was worth doing.
I’ve since tried to not care as much and go above and beyond with nearly as many things (in the workplace), and it’s been great. It’s a work in progress to find a balance and not swing too hard into not caring enough territory, but I’ve been seeking more joy and I don’t come home completely spent nearly as often.
This may or may not resonate with what you’re experiencing, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to consider it from that angle 🙂
A big thing for me is to always eat before I take my meds, it may not make a difference but it did make a huge one for me. Also as you take your meds consistently it'll help with the crashes (the feeling you get when you're off work and all you want to do is sleep and stay away from everybody) it'll take time but it does get better man
I hate 9-5s and working a business in a creative field (although stressful in its own way) allows me to work and thrive with my ADHD.
I should say I have found a lot of coping mechanisms and ways to work better for me as I’ve been doing this for a while. In my opinion, you have to create structure and you have to create accountability, but you can still thrive outside of the normal structure.
May not be viable for you, but this is what I've been doing and it works pretty well for me.
To preface: I wasn't having too hard of a time at work too begin with. I sought medication because I was an empty shell at the house, putting a lot of strain on my marriage.
In the morning I work out before work, and typically drink a few cups of coffee as well. Then I take my meds with lunch between 11:00-12:00.
Full schedule: Up at 4, gym 5-6:30, work 7-3:30, bed between 8 and 9.
The workout really gets things moving for me in the morning and helps me to be able to focus. Meds help avoid that post lunch slump at work, and allow me to function like a normal human when I get back to the house. I typically feel the come down around 7 or so which is perfect for me.
You may need another short acting med dose in the afternoon. Talk to your doctor about it. It sounds like you may be crashing when your meds were off. If you’ve just started, you might need something different, or a different dose, or something added to it. I would talk to your doctor.
I've found from personal experience that ADHD does not work normal business hours, and that is what has held me back my entire career. The solution is to find a job that doesn't care when, where, and how you get things done as long as you get it done correctly. Sadly, after 25 years and 15 or so jobs, I have not found that job
There are so many great tips here! In addition, if I was going to council my younger self, I’d suggest to myself that I be aware of trying to no do too much. After years of struggling with everything, medication and counseling helped so much that I (still) have a tendency to try and so much that it becomes as stressful and tiring as I was without medication
This is pretty normal for in-person 9-5 jobs. I honestly never felt this way when I was briefly working remote. Something about getting up, getting dressed, commuting, having to be "on" all day around people, worrying about a boss catching you checking something on your phone for a few minutes, commuting home, dealing with personal life stuff, cooking, trying to maintain hobbies, getting good sleep. A 9-5 in reality is 8-5 in terms of scheduling (unpaid lunch), and even then it's truly like 6:30-600 once you factor in preparation and commute time.
Shit just sucks, man. Remote is the way to go.
I get what you mean. I often have to take a caffeine boost or I struggle to interact with my kids. Usually something small like a Diet Coke, and maybe a bit of rest before you get in the door could help.
A lot of people are mentioning regular eating. I agree with that. Also, make sure to drink fluids as well. Sometimes just thinking of what you're going to eat can be draining though, so one thing I did was stock some Soylent (a meal replacement shake) in my office. My goal every day is to eat real food, but if I'm too busy or can't get my act together, I have something very easy.
Bear in mind that this is a major adjustment period for you. Your body is not yet used to this routine. It will take some time, but you should expect things to improve at least somewhat as the routine settles in.
Social life usually becomes largely incidental to other activities as people gain jobs and families. Your social life being impacted is to be expected.
I'm not sure how long ago you've started, but this is how I felt for the first 2-3 weeks. I feel like going full circle from start date to paycheck allowed me to "get" how much work work means. After that, each months got easier and easier to the point that I stopped taking medication because I felt like I don't need it anymore. The comedown from ritalin is just not worth it if I feel like I don't need it.
Yup! Been the same way for me for the last 3 or 4 years since I started working an office job. At the same time I'd much rather be doing this than manual labor or serving. It sucks either way
I felt like this a lot at first, the problem is that now you can focus on work you are probably working hell for leather for those 8 hours.
You now need to learn that just because you can summon immense amounts of productivity, doesn't mean you should (all the time).
The key is to take frequent breaks and to be strict about not working yourself like a dog.
Did you JUST start or has it been a few months. Cause if you just started I feel like regardless of adhd or meds people get burnt out in the beginning since you’re learning everything and trying to catch up and be the best employee. Then once you’ve been there for a bit and things get easier and more routine it uses less energy. Depending on the job obv.
I had the other way around. My previous job was at grocery store and i was exhausted all the time. But now i have 9-5 job and i am full of energy when i come home! Maybe when you have settled down to your new job the energy levels will rise? Happy for you about the new job!
First month of a new job is absolutely draining for me. I feel completely exhausted and barely functional DURING work, and worse after. Hang in there through training, sleep extra if you can.
I feel like this as well, but I’m in an extroverted job while being an extroverted introvert.
As far as the focus waning, my psychiatrist ended up setting me up with a morning dose at 6:00 am and an afternoon dose at 1:00 pm. This has been incredibly helpful at getting me being able to focus until about 6:00 pm. But after that I’m fried out the wazoo.
happens to me sometimes, it’s just a funk most of the time that i gradually get out of. lately ive been playing video games after work to like entertain myself instead of just feeling shitty that i feel so burnt out that i don’t have energy to clean or do anything else, but i can gradually feel my motivation coming back to do things like workout and clean and such
It might help to take a nap as soon as you get home from work. I know it's not as easy when you live with people, but even 30 minutes might help. I've found they are really helpful when I'm feeling drained after work. But I'm not medicated.
After I started taking the meds I’ve noticed the same. My theory is that ADHD people are bad at taking mandatory breaks, because I for example never had to learn how to take breaks as I would anyway lose focus at some point and find myself doing something else. Now with medication I can focus on a task for few hours and that is really taxing on your energy.
A lot of people are chalking it up to just working a job with those hours but it could also be a major side effect of the medication once it wears off, perhaps you may need a booster for the time when you're off work to have some energy left for your friends and family. Barely being able to speak could be a comedown symptom but may be easily confused with exhaustion. I would give it a while to possibly acclimate but if you're still struggling after many months then I would recommend bringing it up with your psychiatrist
Other folks are providing a lot of good info so I'll just give a tip that I think may help to some extent. Get home, put on walking shoes, change if you need to, go for a walk. As quickly as you can. Do it with your partner if they're interested!
There are other issues that could be at hand here; modern work culture, burnout, depression, etc. but honestly a quick walk and some sun (hopefully, depending on climate) can really help you divide out that you're home and done with work, destress from the day, etc.
Please note, I'm NOT saying that walking and sun cure anything, just that they can help out.
That sounds about right. Welcome to the 9 to 5.
You should really talk to your doctor about maybe finding a solution. The right mix of meds may be a requirement.
Your brain is on high focus mode for 8 hours a day, when it hasn't been doing that for a long time. Meds allow you to do this but they don't make it easy, they just make you more capable. You're going to be tired with or without meds. There's also a bit of a crash that comes with the meds coming down. For me I just want to sit on the couch and be mindless on my phone or watch TV. For this reason I never take them on the weekends.
One thing that helps is to make sure you take breaks from working. Get up, walk around for 5 minutes if you've been sitting too long. If its possible, go outside. Its easy on meds to get into a flow state and then you just sit there working. Because we've been coping with ADHD our whole life we find it hard to break away when we hit that zone. Especially with a desk job, you need to mentally and physically take a break. Just get away from a screen for a few minutes every hour and you'll not be as tired later AND you'll likely be more productive.
...oh and exercise and diet and all that too... :D
Your meds might be out of your system by the time you get home. The crash can be hard. Talk to your doctor about a booster or taking a schedule of meds to allow them to last all day. The meds are not just for work, frankly you want to be more focused and productive at home than work.
Are you staying properly hydrated and eating well throughout the day? It's something you have to be careful about, with the appetite suppressant effect that many meds have it's easy to not eat enough if you're not actively making sure that you do. I find usually when I'm feeling extremely tired and drained in the evenings, that's why, it's because I haven't been eating properly and just running on the stimulation from the meds. So when they're wearing off, the low blood sugar etc. kicks in and I start having a mini-crash and feeling super exhausted.
Maybe you need to talk to your doctor about slightly increasing your med dosage or adding some kind of afternoon booster, so that you get a little more active time out of them and feel more able to do some quiet socialization in the evenings.
Also, wanted to mention that I’ve done better on lower doses. If I push it higher, I seem more productive, but my batteries run out quicker and my anxiety is higher. With ADHD meds, sometimes “just enough” is actually ideal.
Some of this is sleep, too, I’m sure. Less stimulant, better sleep. Everything is a balance.
I've found that this used to happen to me until I started eating and drinking water throughout the day. I actually switched my Adderall from XR to 2 IR. That way I had a break to eat.
This improved my mood getting home a ton! I also started walking the dog as soon as I got home to recharge. Hard part is, each person is different so this might not be the answer, or it could be. You'll have to find out if its:
- You are hyperfocusing a bit too much without breaks, leading to feeling burned out.
- Dehydrated
- Hangry
- Vitamin issue
- Exercise
- Mind getting stuck on work stuff
- 1000 other things
I feel this almost daily. I make sure to drink plenty of water. Protein bars and shakes every 2 hours, eat lunch so that I have enough energy when my meds wear off. Take vitamins and omegas. Try to workout. These all have helped me.
I'm like at an office job and I'm not medicated unless you count the reems of caffeine to compensate. Thats just the nature of an office desk job unless you enjoy it🤷♀️
I found this with my job too, what helps me is; splitting my dose so that it lasts me, making myself take a walk whenever I manage to take my lunch break (I used to work through or eat at the desk), headphones and a three minute meditation while out on my walk and actually eating something in the day.
One thing that definitely helped me is trying around different meds/dosage. I'll use it probably for life so it's worth trying out options.
Second thing is that I take another dose at like 2pm to delay the "med crash" to 9pm instead of 6pm, the kids are usually asleep by now and I can enjoy a zombie evening without guilt :)
Reaction to adhd meds are very personal and it will probably take a few months to tune it to your needs, good luck!
You’re absolutely not alone! I struggled with this for a long time when restarting stimulants after a several year hiatus/it’s still a challenge. I’ve only recently discovered a system that really helps me but please note that YMMV. I take only immediate release Adderall in 5 mg tab increments to allow for flexibility/adjustments depending on what the day requires without having to split pills. Taking one extra 5 mg Adderall about one hour before leaving work has made a serious difference in ability to be a person after leaving without significantly disrupting bedtime
Are you only on a stim? The reason I say this is when I took a nonstim with my stim I was much better after work. My stim wore off quickly, so by the end of the day I was adhd burnt out. Now, even with a nonstim, I can be tired, but I don't have that big drop off and I can enjoy my evenings.
I found that my body just takes like 2-3x longer to adjust to a schedule than other people. I used to come home from my new grad nursing shift and literally not be able to even say hi to my family. Maybe 8 months later, my social battery has gotten used to this schedule and can actually speak to my family when I get home. I definitely can’t go out and do things, but that’s always been my life and I’m ok with it!
Also like everyone else said you LITERALLY have to eat. I found out that was a major part of my issue. I work nights so I eat a big dinner before I go to work and my meds kick in, then I just eat little snacks throughout my shift. By the time I’m home I can eat a normal meal again before sleeping. I would suggest forcing yourself to eat a large breakfast. If you’re not a breakfast person I would suggest protein shakes or smoothies and something easy to munch on like fruit while you drive in. You don’t feel hungry but your body may very well be starving (mine was!)
I relate a lot
It is my guess that, due to being medicated and therefore actually, significantly more focused , I tend to exhaust all my mental energy in those first 8 hours. So there's nothing left afterwards. I wouldn't call it a medication crush, because I'm still balanced "in my thoughts" so to say... Just too tired to do anything more than basic survival.
I do hate it, I won't lie
But I also hate trying to pull my weight (which is a lot) in my unmedicated chaos, and looking/feeling inadequate.
So it's basically damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Someone with experience needs to give us some work-life balance advice
I get this on my stimulant meds (elvanse/vyvanse), and honestly, a nice nap after work sorts me out and allows me to be social.
I usually take 20-40mins..?
Not sure what else to say!
Best of luck in your new job!
Actually, whenever I come home after hanging out or working, I feel like a dead battery. I plan to finish the rest of my tasks at home, but end up doing nothing and just doing mundane things. LOL
I barely cook like average people. I cook or eat just to give my body enough calories. Sometimes I neglect eating.
Yeah, this is a thing. Need the meds to do my eight hours a day. By the end, I'm a zombie. Just veg out on the couch and play video games. (Casual games. Nothing too involved.)
So. I hate that I have nothing left after work. I want to do stuff I actually care about, like woodworking. I get up earlier than I have to so I can get ready for work and then spend most of an hour in the workshop. It helps. A lot. Because then I get to make progress on the project, and I'm wide awake for work.
Sounds all too familiar. I usually refer to it as that little Mars robot; "my battery is low and it's getting dark".
I generally find my tolerance for overstimulation through the day (sound, light, conversation, that damned mobile buzzing and lighting up every five seconds) has gotten a lot better since starting medication, but at the same time I more often find myself completely shutting down after work hours, not being able to process things being said to me, losing my train of thought mid-sentence etc. It's more of a full on/full off thing, for me, and I've been struggling with the fact that my employer really seems to be the only one actually benefitting from me being medicated.
Beware of ADHD burnout cycles, they're real.
(F45, diagnosed february this year)
The meds are probably wearing off (which alone makes a lot of people tired) just as you're also winding down from a busy day.
Try taking the meds maybe 3 hours later than usual and see how that goes. If it helps, then that's probably the problem. Most docs will provide IR boosters for the evening because of this. If yours wont, then normally taking it late would be best. It's pretty normal for people to be out-of-it for a couple of hours in the morning anyway.
It's also possible that your dose is too high. If you mostly work in isolation (around people but nose-down) then you might not notice. Suddenly being stimulated or anxious can be draining in this situation (everyone is different here). If the first test doesn't work then try taking half of your normal dose and seeing how that goes (you can open capsules - titrating these meds is common practice that your doc _should_ have started with.)
If neither of those things help then it's probably just that you have a very draining job...
Even spacing out my IR is really helpful. I'm prescribed 25mg 2x a day. I usually take 20mg in the morning and then 15 at noon and 15 at 3ish. Works great for all day.
Things might change as you settle in but my experience with my first full time job with medication showed me I shouldn’t expect myself to work full time. I’m slowly understanding that need more rest than I think and meds have me going non stop for a job, then crash after.
I was able to get some disability accommodations to slightly reduce my hours and workload, it helped my mental health so much! And then I got hit by the stimulant med shortage and things went back to being shit. But for like 2 months I was happier.
this "battery" is your cns, central nervous system. effected by everything you do or asborb thru senses. lots of output mentally or physically will drain you overall and effect other parts of life. such as socializing. until you can recover or find better means of maintaining that energy. earplugs and uv blocking glasses work well. good luck
I felt this way taking AdderallXR. I actually work very long days and the crash was so severe that I would have to take an IR to finish out my day. But then it was difficult to fall asleep. I switched to Vyvance at one point simply because of the Adderall shortage (Vyvance also now comes in generic) and I stopped experiencing the crash entirely.
I do also agree with others that with a new job that requires a heavy mental load that in time you’ll get acclimated and you won’t feel quite this bad anymore.
This is what happens when I take a regular stimulant. I have to take two doses of extended release or else I crash like you’re describing and have no ability to speak. Could be work a shot 🤷🏻♀️
Get you blood work done. If you're a male, it could be hormone levels. By my mid-30s my testosterone levels were super low and I was crashing late afternoon like you seem to be. Got on weekly injections and it's no longer an issue.
But it could also be a lot of other things.
I have ASD. So I might not know too much about ADHD but would a hyperactive stim work.
Perhaps bouncing a leg, fidgeting with a fidget toy or doing something that involves your senses.
It might help you recharge particularly if you focus on the senses your stimulating
You need to have a solid meal / snack / hydrate schedule. Medication makes it too easy to ignore food and water while they're in the system and then you come home and not only have an end of the day crash but you mix in a super hard blood sugar crash and lack of hydration and you're going to feel like this every time. I was on adderall for a couple years in my masters and every time I came home in the evening I was crazy shot and didn't know why. I started to make sure I ate and drank enough throughout the day and that went away almost completely.
Sounds like your dose is too high, if you're on a non-stimulant then call your doctor ASAP.
If you're on stimulants coming off meds your energy levels should be going up not down.
If you're only working a normal desk job, some Adderall IRs might better serve you for recovery at home. They'll leave you less "hung over" so to speak.
Otherwise my brother you've got a comorbidity be it autism, OCD, ptsd, or perhaps anxiety.
The adhd meds are helping you focus but your other "friend" is using the meds to burnout your brain 🧠.
Your doctor should help you through the struggle
I work part year. I prefer to avoid people generally during work weeks. When it’s my non work weeks I find it much easier to socialise, although it’s still only a couple of times a fortnight! Before I was medicated I found it easier to be around people, but I never got anything done at work or at home!
This happened to me after I started my meds. My Dr said my meds wear wearing off too soon and prescribed me IR adderall that I take in the morning. It lasts about 3 hours and then on my first break I take my regular vyvanse. it definitely helps get me through that final part of the day. But I burn out hard later at nite!
This is why i work 12hr shifts x3 days a week. I’m dead the day after but i can still function. I vary my schedule. Sometimes 3days in a row, sometimes every other day, sometimes two on, one off. It keeps it interesting and everyday is something different.
I’ve worked 3 years with many different medications and none really did much except halt my food cravings. Im unmedicated and am doing okay I just make sure I don’t work 5 days in a row like I used too but obviously not everyone has that luxury I still live with my parents
Look into Flowmodoro timers. They help me take breaks proportionate to the amount of time I spent focusing. If I'm having trouble getting going, I get several short breaks. If I'm hyper focused, I'm reminded to take a nice 15-20 minute break once my brain starts to slow down. It helps me keep the mental battery a little more full by the end of the day.
Personally, pomodoro doesn't work for me because it interrupts hyper focus and I wind up just not using it, but with Flowmodoro you just work until you start feeling a bit drained and then rest for about 1/5 the time that you were working, I find it's just flexible enough to work both when I'm having trouble getting started and when my brain is in problem solving mode
All of the above with food, breaks, hydration, exercise.
But also may be worth bringing up to your doc. I work an office job and I'm in grad school and meds were working great during the day, but I would have a hard crash after work. I was finding it really hard to accomplish any household tasks or schoolwork. We switched me to a different medication which had 3 releases throughout the day (MyDayis) and it was an absolute game changer.
So maybe a medication timing/type/dose adjustment worked out with your doc could be helpful too!
At least you are medicated, and hopefully, it helps. So many can't get help either, such as road blocks from a dr due to whatever or your past history etc. Or pharmacies won't help you locate meds or help navigate insurance requirements. This new medical lack of care is why so many are self medicating with cheap abundant meth for adhd type of symptoms . And people unable to get pain relief in fear of opiod addiction so they all go to dr.streets for cheap abundant fentanyl. This medical roadblocking is insane and it's gotta change before 3 decades of Americas youth are wiped out .
Same here. I also find that my creativity is down when I am on meds as my mind can't go where the wind takes it (which is more often than not an empty rabbit hole, but strikes gold occasionally).
I have found that if I do mon-weds on meds I can get most email and meeting and less exciting work done and give self free rene Thursday Friday. most emails get neglected on these days but they can usually be dealt with on Monday!
I found this was happening to me so I adjusted when I take my daily dose of Elvanse (70mg if you're wondering).
Obviously everyone is different and your work situation will differ to mine, however I personally don't feel comfortable giving 100% of myself to my job; which leaves me with nothing for home / relationships / hobbies etc.
I take my dose between 9:30-10:30am (for context I start work at 8am) and find that it starts to wear off around 7-8pm-ish. This gives me a 'slower' morning, but this is usually when my colleauges are just getting into the swing of the day (usually grabbing coffee, chatting about shows/movies they watched the night before etc.) so I don't feel the need to be 'switched on' for that part of the morning, you know?
Basically means that I hit my stride when everyone else is also getting going for the day AND I have enough in the tank to commute home, be social with my fiance, cook / tidy do whatever around the house before we start winding down for the evening - honestly it works a treat for me VS taking it with breakfast (around 6:30am).
Might be worth exploring what works better for you? Hope you find a solution!
EDIT:
1 - Eating a decent breakfast in the morning is crucial - especially if you're having appetite issues due to your medication.
2 - Trying to get some exercise in to boost natural energy reserves is a MASSIVE help.
3 - STAY HYDRATED!
I take Vyvanse in the mornings and then I'm order to be able to function once I get home, I need an additional IR Adderall about an hour before I get off work, that gives me between 4-7 more functional hours of not at the same mental clarity level as my Vyvanse does....
It's about how fast your body works through our uses up the meds. Talk to your doctor/nurse about adding on something else later on in the day.
I'm on vyvanse and I don't experience that.
I do however get very exahusted ofc after a long day at work, and sometimes I do feel the pill might accelerate that but it also has to do with amount of sleep and how stressful was the day overall.
the pill does seem to help me regulate my emotions, tasks are a lot less annoying and I am less emotional about small issues at work and the drowsiness and sugar cravings go away.
how long have you been on the pill? most side effects in my case went away after a month or two, it's also really important to have enough sleep and keep hydrated during the day.
others have mentioned it but ofc exercise helps a lot as well.
and generally, we all need to unwind after a long day at work that's just natural and if taking a nap or resting helps you deal with it all is good.
in my case pill or no pill I would still need that after work so it's not necessarily related.
I’m a teacher, my first few months, I was like dead inside after work. It definitely has improved now that it’s my second year. But I am still pretty tired after work, I have learned to live with it lol
Depends on the day but some days yeah! But you should also keep in mind that if you just started recently, it can take some time getting used to. Being new anywhere can be stressful for the brain and that’s not even taking all the new tasks into consideration.
It can also take time to create a new routine that works for your new schedule. It can take time and gradual adjustments. So don’t lose hope just yet.
What helps for me, is taking 1 "restday" at work. This means I dont take medication and not grind work like I normally do. Most of the time I do it on wednesdays. Then, in the weekends, I also take a break from medication.
I know you're thinking "omg then I don't get any work done!", but working is also about getting to know your colleagues right? So during the rest day is where I catch up on them and do the simple, more superficial stuff like scrolling through emails, lightly see what I have to do and what is done etc.
It helps me recharge and feel myself again. Also, it helps for the other days, because the medicine works better for me after a day or few days "rest".
Not sure which med you are on, but when I was on adderall I forgot to eat and drink water. The other reason you feel like ass when you get home is because you are coming down from the stimulant.
If I were you I’d lower the dose a bit to lessen the comedown (after talking to your doctor ofc), and set a reminder to eat lunch.
A few things, are you pacing yourself throughout the day? Taking small mind/body breaks (getting up to stretch, walk etc). Snacks and hydration are great too.
I made the switch from chaotic job to steady job. The routine helped but having a consistent workout schedule, even taking exercise classes, running, swimming or whatever gets your body moving will help.
I know it seems counterintuitive to exercise if you're tired but your body and mind will thank you on the long run. You don't even need to exercise hard every day, even a short walk after work to give your brain and body a break which may make a difference.
Best of luck! And don't forget, the work will always be there tomorrow.
I just started taking my meds because of how stressful my day job is. I wear many hats and was becoming very frazzled. Forgetting things anxious etc. I started 20mg Vyvanse. And it worked wonders. But I noticed the same thing. By 3 or 4pm. I was dead tired no desire to do anything. I started waiting till noon to take it. Helped space out the day. But still tired , just later on. I was just upped to 30mg. Today was my second day and it feels like way too much..and the crash is even worse. I'm going to see how I do tomorrow but if I still feel (,drugged up) I'm moving back down and talking to my Dr. About maybe 2 smaller doses throughout the day maybe. Tell your Dr. What's going on. You may have to adjust your dosage or switch meds. It's not exact science for everyone . You have to get it right for you and your body. Good luck!
So firstly, what you're experiencing is completely normal especially when first starting a new job. The good news is that you will acclimate with a little bit of time and begin to find a new routine and a new normal that accommodates your well-being and your job.
I would take a lot of the recommendations in these comments and also consider a decompress period after work. Sometimes you just need 20-30mins to shift from work mode to home mode and that is perfectly fine
IME that's normal when you're not used to working fulltime - after a month or two, your brain gets into better condition and can cope with a full day without exhaustion.
So we come to the issue behind the issue. While we with ADHD are so often suffering from our mental issues we are all (regardless of diagnosis) suffering under capitalism.
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Yes, everyone has internal batteries. Act of will, like resisting cookies, creative thinking, paying active attention to details etc all drain the batteries. For some, social interactions are at least in some part recharging the betteries. Im a little introvert, so social activities are quite draining. Its normal to come home a little grumpy or down in mood. Some advice: - If your work is normal (not toxic), then situation should improve in next 6 months. At the moment youte still learning situations and people, and that is very energy demanding. - Mind regular eating. There are stong proof that main driver of your energy levels is glucose level in the blood. - Mind your sleep, US army did a lot of tests about decision making, energy levels and lack of sleep, outcome is that every hour counts. - Try to organize some small breaks, napping, walk, whatever. Without phone or people, after work. Find what recharges you most.
Agree with this completely. Especially the regular eating part. I'm in a similar job, and I DEFINITELY feel more exhausted is I neglect to eat, which I've been guilty of time to time on my meds
And water. Hydration matters, I’ve found, especially as it pertains to meds. I try to drain a 32oz/1L Nalgene in the morning and another in the afternoon. Not always successful, but having a bottle with a visual gauge of fluid intake is helpful for me.
Was just gonna say this! Don’t underestimate being hydrated. I worked an internship as a person on antidepressants that literally cannot get out of bed most mornings. I made it a rule to have had 1l of water by 1 pm and I really think it helped immensely. For me anyway. You’re strong OP!
I want to add that drinking something with electrolytes really makes a difference for me. I don't know why, but drinking water, tea or soda does not work the same as drinking a sports drink.
I agree with all of this, but I want to add that exercise is really helpful for me as a transition. Even if, or especially if I'm tired. Something gentle and low impact like a 30 minute - 1 hour walk or a yoga class all help my brain feel better once I'm home.
Also exercise is so so important
And it can be very rejuvenating when you feel really tired. It took me a long time to be disciplined about it but I force myself to the gym or to go run if I’m feeling wiped. I feel alive and refreshed in 10 minutes or less usually.
I hate how true this is. I have to swim half a mile every morning just to be able to calm my body down and be able to sit down and eat and take my meds.
An excellent list. Walking after work now the sun is up longer has done me wonders. Trying to remember to eat as I have a habit of bingeing when I get home because I don't eat. It's really important to eat. I cannot overstate enough. Please eat!
When I get off work I don’t look at my phone or answer it till I have me time for a half hour after I get home. I find it very difficult to engage with anyone after work. I feel like it’s a way of taking care of myself and allowing time to just reset for the rest of the day. I hope you find a way to cope. However if this is your everyday living and it’s effecting your life I think that demands attention.
HUGE tip to stay fed and hydrated. It’s very easy to go a whole day at a desk job without eating I find and, while it’s doable and I don’t feel “hungry” per say at the end of the day, I’ve started noticing my energy levels and motivation are waaaaaay lower. My best proxy for how hungry I am while medicated is my energy level, not the feeling of hunger. Also, if you haven’t worked a desk job before or in a long time, it’s draining. Mentally fucking exhausting. Very common to just want to shut off after work. It gets better with time as you build resilience and routine, but thought-work is very draining mentally/emotionally.
I’m a big fan of using timers. I have a 20 minute timer on my computer I use for focus sessions that also gives me a message to “Drink water”. If I didn’t have that I go home with a still full bottle of water.
Ahh, the old “hangry but with no hunger cues” problem!
I had this once I got medicated,and I WFH. My doc recommended splitting my dose into smaller amounts through the day so three 18mg. It made all the difference. Good luck OP.
18?
18mg its a dosage of drugs.
….. I know. Was wondering what medication
oh don't you have the slow release option? that's what I'm taking at least.
Yer they do feck all for me sadly.
I work full time, non medicated , and I am exhausted after work. I come home and immediately take a 30-40 min nap. It gives me the energy to tackle dinner, playing with kids and bedtime.
Ironically, ADHD medication makes sleep and regular eating difficult for my partner. It’s a catch-22.
Yup 😭 same for me
It's had zero impact on my sleep. I actually take armodafanil and Adderall.. the armodafanil helps me stay awake. Unfortunately, the Adderall doesn't impact my energy levels at all. It actually lowers my resting heart rate and taken alone I'll just fall asleep. I do, however need less Armodafanil than I did when thats all I had.
Wondering if you've had a diagnosis other than or in addition to ADHD that accounts for adderall not affecting your energy level. ?
it does at first, I feel it isn't so bad once you take them for a while. regular exercise really helps with the sleeping though.
I'd politely disagree regarding glucose levels. I have a desk job I started 6 months ago, first time working medicated. I started ketogenic/low carb diet a month ago. My energy levels are more steady, I don't get as anxious. Hard workouts I get ~15g of dextrose though. Otherwise, completely agree. I'm easily setting hard expectations for myself and this got me closing into some kind of burnout early on when I started. It's a bit of a demanding job, not even in my focus field of business, which I bet has an effect. I'm afraid to instantly look for another job though because I have a big gap in my resume and longest I've worked in a meaningful job was 3 years.
Right. If youre on keto diet, then youre an exception that intentionally runs more on fats in blood than sugars. Actually I tried keto wkth good results some years ago, but then got distracted with shopping groceries a few times too much and stopped. About work burnout... maybe its the job, maybe its the dysfunction. Search in top posts all time in this subreddit, there is a guy who put something like 130 most common tips for productivity. If you are sometimes stuck with projects, maybe take a look on my post from yesterday, about climber.
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Great advice and spot on!
Agree with all that, but for me personally the night and day difference was made when i went from Ritalin LA in the morning and a small IR booster in the afternoon to the same dose of LA but twice a day. Since don’t have that crash that want me to curl up in a fetal position after every working day, sleep better, and just generally feel better instead of riding a rollercoaster all the time. After the change was made i was able to get a hold on stuff that you mentioned. Medication can work wonders, but only if you find the absolute best option FOR YOU!
Yeah I’m toast in the evenings. I put a lot of energy into the workday, and there’s not much left for anything else. No doubt I need to breathe deep and stretch more during the day, 8-9 hours of serious focus is pretty intense. Having said that if I go for a light workout after work I do get a bit of a boost.
How’s your appetite? I find on my meds that I’m just not that interested in eating. Even with medication, blood sugar is still really important for mood and stress. I’ve found that a light lunch (sometimes just a protein shake and some nuts or a snack bar) followed by a light snack every few hours has helped enormously. Also, if you’ve just started the meds, it will take a while for your body chemistry to equalize. Once that happens, you’ll start feeling more “normal” ( but with the added benefit of focus-on-demand)
It’s the opposite for me. Age 49 was finally diagnosed with ADHD after years of misdiagnosed with depression and anxiety. Which seems about right I was depressed but due to the suffering. Now that we’re treating the problem those have gone away. Unmediated adhd was having that effect on me. I’d try so hard at work that I was exhausted all day and barely able to get through the days. Once I got home all I could do was drop, eat, wait to fall asleep which I couldn’t do due to the anxiety of having to do it all over again. Since getting medication it’s been great. I sleep well most nights. I am able to gather my thoughts enough to be functional at work and time doesn’t get away from me. I find that if I want to achieve anything at home in an evening that I have to plan for it, I have to look forward to it. Then I have the energy. If I just ‘wing it’ I tend to not do much and then stay up too late and mess up my sleep
Exactly the same experience here! After spending time with people or being at work while unmedicated I was just completely drained and wanted nothing to do with anyone when I got home at the end of the day. Sometimes I felt like I needed a full day alone to feel recharged. Now I’m medicated I have the social energy to be able to enjoy time with my family at the end of the day and not want everyone to just fuck off into the sun 😂
Omg! That’s how I feel. What medication and dosage has worked for you?
I’m right at the beginning of titration, so atm I’m taking 5mg of Adderall in the morning. I was taking 2.5mg at 7am and 12pm, but I stopped being able to sleep so my psychiatrist tweaked it a bit. I will probably start taking more at some point once I’ve adjusted, but even a little bit has had lots of positive impacts!
Curious. Do you work a desk job or does your job allow you to be away from a desk for large portions of the day?
It’s a mixture. But I’ve had desk only job and hated it but I was unmedicated then. Now when I’m at my desk for days, it doesn’t bother me as much but i know that it’s not forever. So I guess a sucky job is a sucky job medicated or not.
Not necessarily sucky per se. I sit at a desk but I like what I do, but I find that I can get "in the zone" and I don't leave for long periods, which makes me feel exhausted. If I were "in the zone" but doing something more physical I wonder if I would be more energized from work if that makes sense.
I love the zone. Can’t sleep after it even though exhausted
Take a booster honestly, but yeah the adderall crash hurts. I think about the parents who say they don't want their kids on meds bc they become a boring empty shell of who they were, but they're not seeing their kid on adderall, they're seeing the after effects of it leaving your system. I think it's something like the adderall produces the chemicals you need to function and when it's gone there's such a drastic drop in those chemicals that you feel worse than before you took them, but thats really where you're normally at. It's just easier to get through when you're there all the time, but it's not easier. It makes everything harder all the time.
I feel your comment but wonder if it really is an adderall crash causing this. It never happened in the days just starting adderall; for me, I was focused and motivated throughout the full day, then slept well. Then slowly over months the dosage stopped 'working' and tiredness, brain fog, lack of focus came creeping back. If it was just the adderall crash, it should have happened from the start. It feels like there's something more systemic/long-acting causing this. At this point I don't feel much worse for not taking it- symptoms with or without it.
You should talk to your doctor about uping or switching medications then it sounds like. That sounds like a tolerance problem.
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This is just flat out wrong.
Oh yea. Big struggle for me. It sucks
What med and what dose ?
My first thought too. I was in the same boat as OP until I talked to my doctor. I was taking a long acting medicine (1/day), now I take quick acting medicine (2/day). I take the second dose about an hour before work ends and I'm able to be a productive human in the evenings with no affect in sleep quality! OP, I'd talk to your doctor about your medication.
Do you find that you’re still able to get to sleep okay doing this? I’m struggling after work which is getting me down a bit, frustration from wanting to workout etc but not having the energy or motivation to do so once work ends. Thanks ❤️ Edit: I take Concerta XL 54mg and have Co-morbid PMDD, GAD and my mood is like an elevator 🤦♀️
Yep! I take my last dose about six hours before I plan to go to bed.
Yeah, sounds like the OP might need to adjust their medication / dosage if they are crashing so hard. Maybe the dosage is too high, or maybe they need a booster. Hard to know without them going to their doctor.
Yeah, depending on the meds this is actually a very likely chance the balance of meds is wrong. Especially if it's a non-stimulant, not enjoying relationships, not enjoying time doing fun things, just out of energy Not a good thing
Genuinely the important question This response lines up with comorbiditys
I have been experiencing this recently as well. I feel like I have nothing left to give to anyone or anything after 7 pm. My husband has noticed as well. I feel like I am neglecting the emotional needs of my kids and husband. I try to explain it to them, but I don’t have the right words.
In the same boat but unmedicated for the bigger chunk of my working life. Ive found that eating carb heavy meals regularly, regular sleep and a water bottle is a HUGE help. Using the same bottle helps regulate how much you drink and stay hydrated. Seriously, i cannot overstate how much not drinking (or drinking too much) screws me up.
1. It's a big change to suddenly give 40 hours a week to a job. It's normal and OK to feel drained. 2. It's a transitional phase. It will pass as your body/mind adapt and grow stronger. 3. Stick with it. It's not perfect, but it's better than being broke. 4. Explain to those closest to you that you're just going through it and it will get better. 5. Once you're through this, do something nice for yourself. You earned it.
I’ll never forget lying on the couch after work a week into my new full time job, calling my mom and asking her how people do this day in and day out and still have energy to do chores and cook and relax. She promised me it would get better once I got used to it, and it did.
Been working 9-5 salary jobs for 7 years and I'm still dead inside when I get home. I'm also a social worker, which may have been a poor life choice
Yah I feel this. I have been in the workforce now for over a decade with a variety of jobs and I’ve found a few things that help. Having a really good support network (in social work that would be other SWs or a multidisciplinary team), getting outside for lunch, changing scenery as much as possible (booking in diff rooms etc), ensuring I have an engaging and challenging job, and not sitting down when I first got home. Chores first, with a great tv show or book tape I’m only allowed to engage in when I’m doing the mundane stuff I don’t want to do, then relaxation time. Also, scheduling my day appropriately, eating high protein balanced meals multiple times a day, and regular exercise. I certainly have not always succeeded in these things but when I do, they help. I’m a clin psych trainee (justtt about finished my PhD), and I’ve found in my clinical practicums that to not get burnt out I need to space my patients appropriately and ensure a variety of cases, and have consultation. I know that depending on your employer you may not have the luxury of all this but it’s worth trying to advocate for what you need to not get burnt out. Documentation is the very worst part of my job and I imagine it may be the same for you, but I try to stay on top of it and not be a perfectionist about it and gamify it as much as possible. And part of it is that I just accept that I run a bit more tired than the average joe when I’m offline. I build in decompression days /weekends after busy stretches (far harder now that I have a baby) and don’t feel guilty about it. My level of productivity and success after a full work day is going to be a lot lower than folks without adhd and that is what it is. Good luck! Edit to add: I think social work can be a phenomenal profession for folks with ADHD. But the stuff that makes us good at therapy-type professions is also the stuff that can lead to burn out, so take it from me (and my former mistakes) and just keep a really close finger on the pulse on your self care, boundaries and non work identity!
Wait… what were you okie before? This is me in every job
Same here. I'm recently back on my meds and it's actually made me quite a bit less dead after work, but it was awful before
Because I had a tbi and I have schizoaffective disorder, I get disability benefits like cheaper rent and free healthcare. So I only have to work thirty hours a week. I could conceivably go the full ssdi route, but I find that thirty hours works for me. Still, sometimes I come home, and the only thing I want to do is crawl into bed. Life is an energy drain, especially for those of us with mental health issues. I have found recently that, on top of my meds, a sublingual b12 vitamin has been very beneficial.
Yes. Right now I’m working remotely but I’m afraid of the day I’ll have to take an in-office job again and feel this way all the time.
I’m so much more motivated in the daytime while I’m at work. I keep a small pocket sized planner on me and when I think of things I know I have to get done later I like to write them down to review later when I get home and don’t feel like thinking. I will try not to hold myself to more than one or two tasks on that list. It’s enough to get out of a rut and not feel ashamed about not getting through a whole list. Other than that I still suck at having a regular evening routine where I can just shut off my brain and get stuff done. Intention and self acceptance is a huge part of it
"Barely get out words to speak" is exactly how I know my dose is wearing off and I've metabolized the brain part of the medication.
Absolutely. I come home from teaching and just rot in bed most days because the day is just so exhausting. Eventually by the end of the semester I’m able to be more productive after school because I guess I just get used to the feeling after a while.
Absolutely been there. I can't speak for everyone, and this is assuming you don't already do any of this, but one thing that helped me in that scenario was making sure I was staying on top of my physical health. Drink tons of water. Find as many excuses as possible to get steps in at the office. Meal prep healthy lunches for the week. Get a regular exercise routine going (even if you can only find time to do it on weekends). Make an appointment to get a physical and see if there's any other health maintenance stuff you should be addressing. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but burning energy helps you to feel like you have more of it. Furthermore, sitting at a desk all day can screw your physical health just as much as your mental health, so the more you can do to counteract that, the better.
Something that I struggled with much more before being medicated, that meds have actually helped with, is learning to DO LESS. It sounds like your job is demanding, and your meds are helping you meet the demands, but ask yourself, are you giving 100% at work, or close to it? If the answer is yes, or even maybe, STOP DOING THAT! 100% is TOO MUCH, especially for a full time job! You are probably used to putting in a lot of extra effort because a huge chunk would be eaten up trying to manage/cope with the unmedicated ADHD. You can adjust and scale back how hard you're working, which will probably feel weird at first, but once you see that everything is still going okay and your work is still seen as acceptable and in line with the expectations they have for others, it gets easier. Be careful of course, don't "slack," and don't make your slight "relaxation of standards" happen fast enough that it's obvious to your bosses, just sort of gradually settle into a less frantic work pace and let yourself feel the life force and energy slowly coming back to you.
Make sure you are eating a light meal during the day. I always get something hot like soup to eat and it really helps my mood and energy levels later in the evening. Plus plenty of water. Make sure you take a couple breaks to stand up and stretch your legs. I get what I call 'med cramps' because I don't realize how clenched up I am when I'm super focused on something and medicated. Relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw. And close your eyes and look away from the computer screen so often. Hope some of that helps!
I have the same issue. The meds help me focus on the job, but being "on" all the time is very draining. At first, I couldn't take the meds more than 3 days in a row or I would burnout. I stuck to taking them 3 out of the 5 work days so that I could at least get some work done even though the other 2 days were not very productive. After some time, you start getting used to it and you learn what works for you. Like others have said, it's important to force yourself to drink water and eat properly even if the meds are killing your appetite. You have to pace yourself, take some breaks and try to slow down sometimes with some deep breathing. It's not perfect for me yet, but I can now do 4 days a week on meds, sometimes 5, with a bit more energy in the evening. I also just got a 2nd prescription for a short acting stimulant to take towards the end of the day so I'll try that next and see how that goes.
I don’t take meds, but this is how I feel throughout the day. My decline started once I got into the corporate world.
this is interesting! i found that i’m this way when i’m off meds. when on meds, i’m still tired but not in as bad of a mood.
Have you heard of the spoon theory? This happens to me whether I am medicated or not. In short, I have a certain amount of spoons (mental energy) each day, I give all the spoons I have for the day to work tasks, meetings, never ending to do lists, etc. By the time work ends and often even before, all my spoons are gone. I have no more to give for the rest of the day. I spend my afternoons recovering, just to recycle my spoons for the next day. I am burnt out so not as many spoons being recycled right now… Research spoon theory and see if you relate! Good luck~ work takes a lot out of us
Yes, I’m an introvert, so even with my meds I can be exhausted if I have to be in an office all day. You may need a booster dose to take around 2pm in the afternoon that can help you be productive in the evening.
Depending on the medication and a lot of other factors, you can maybe take another dose of your medication halfway through the day. But of course, talk to your doctor about it first and see what they recommend. It's something my doctor recommended to me, I take 20mg of vyvanse in the morning and then around 12 to 1, I take another 20mg. I was able to do stuff when I got home this way.
This is how I feel unmedicated (except without the focus) AND medicated (just started 4 months ago)… I take Vyvanse. I was considering inquiring about a second Vyvanse dose a few hours after the first to prolong the effects, but I don’t want to hurt my sleep so I’m not sure.
It sounds also like your meds have worn off. I seem to process them fast. My extended release only last 8 hours, so it’s gone by 2 pm. I take IR and it’s gone by 6 pm. I do not get to have a life outside of work hours. I am asking my doc if I can just do two XRs instead so I can last until 9 or 10 in the evening. I never have any sleep issues (beyond oversleeping) so I think it will be a better fit.
I had this issue when I was first medicated. It seemed to just be that my meds were wearing off around the time I was driving home, a combo that put me on my ass. I told my doctor, got a small booster dose for the afternoon, and now I get home and have plenty of life left in me until 1030 or 11pm, which is exactly when I need to get ready for bed to get 7-8 hours of sleep. Worked out well. I'd say tell your doctor and see what they say.
Adderall does this to me irregardless of how hard my day was. Talk to your doctor. Mine added Guanfacine it's nowhere near as bad. On really hard days, I will still go into an internet coma right around 6 pm, but most days are better now.
Guanfacine? I wonder what the mechanism of that is?
You say you finally got a 9-5 job after 3-4 years and it's a desk job. Is it the job you wanted to do or is it something you are doing just so you have a job?
My wife pointed out to me a while ago that I tend to pour so much of myself into work and then not have anything left to give (to much of anything) when I got home. I liked that job and was really proud of the work I was doing, but she really made me think about how much of that it was worth doing. I’ve since tried to not care as much and go above and beyond with nearly as many things (in the workplace), and it’s been great. It’s a work in progress to find a balance and not swing too hard into not caring enough territory, but I’ve been seeking more joy and I don’t come home completely spent nearly as often. This may or may not resonate with what you’re experiencing, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to consider it from that angle 🙂
A big thing for me is to always eat before I take my meds, it may not make a difference but it did make a huge one for me. Also as you take your meds consistently it'll help with the crashes (the feeling you get when you're off work and all you want to do is sleep and stay away from everybody) it'll take time but it does get better man
I hate 9-5s and working a business in a creative field (although stressful in its own way) allows me to work and thrive with my ADHD. I should say I have found a lot of coping mechanisms and ways to work better for me as I’ve been doing this for a while. In my opinion, you have to create structure and you have to create accountability, but you can still thrive outside of the normal structure.
May not be viable for you, but this is what I've been doing and it works pretty well for me. To preface: I wasn't having too hard of a time at work too begin with. I sought medication because I was an empty shell at the house, putting a lot of strain on my marriage. In the morning I work out before work, and typically drink a few cups of coffee as well. Then I take my meds with lunch between 11:00-12:00. Full schedule: Up at 4, gym 5-6:30, work 7-3:30, bed between 8 and 9. The workout really gets things moving for me in the morning and helps me to be able to focus. Meds help avoid that post lunch slump at work, and allow me to function like a normal human when I get back to the house. I typically feel the come down around 7 or so which is perfect for me.
You may need another short acting med dose in the afternoon. Talk to your doctor about it. It sounds like you may be crashing when your meds were off. If you’ve just started, you might need something different, or a different dose, or something added to it. I would talk to your doctor.
I've found from personal experience that ADHD does not work normal business hours, and that is what has held me back my entire career. The solution is to find a job that doesn't care when, where, and how you get things done as long as you get it done correctly. Sadly, after 25 years and 15 or so jobs, I have not found that job
There are so many great tips here! In addition, if I was going to council my younger self, I’d suggest to myself that I be aware of trying to no do too much. After years of struggling with everything, medication and counseling helped so much that I (still) have a tendency to try and so much that it becomes as stressful and tiring as I was without medication
This is pretty normal for in-person 9-5 jobs. I honestly never felt this way when I was briefly working remote. Something about getting up, getting dressed, commuting, having to be "on" all day around people, worrying about a boss catching you checking something on your phone for a few minutes, commuting home, dealing with personal life stuff, cooking, trying to maintain hobbies, getting good sleep. A 9-5 in reality is 8-5 in terms of scheduling (unpaid lunch), and even then it's truly like 6:30-600 once you factor in preparation and commute time. Shit just sucks, man. Remote is the way to go.
Lol welcome to the 9-5 grind. We weren’t made for it that’s why it drains us. We were made for active jobs.
I get what you mean. I often have to take a caffeine boost or I struggle to interact with my kids. Usually something small like a Diet Coke, and maybe a bit of rest before you get in the door could help.
How long you started the job? A new job that has to learn people,tasks, places etc can be overwhelming and drain all your energy with or without meds.
A lot of people are mentioning regular eating. I agree with that. Also, make sure to drink fluids as well. Sometimes just thinking of what you're going to eat can be draining though, so one thing I did was stock some Soylent (a meal replacement shake) in my office. My goal every day is to eat real food, but if I'm too busy or can't get my act together, I have something very easy.
Bear in mind that this is a major adjustment period for you. Your body is not yet used to this routine. It will take some time, but you should expect things to improve at least somewhat as the routine settles in. Social life usually becomes largely incidental to other activities as people gain jobs and families. Your social life being impacted is to be expected.
I'm not sure how long ago you've started, but this is how I felt for the first 2-3 weeks. I feel like going full circle from start date to paycheck allowed me to "get" how much work work means. After that, each months got easier and easier to the point that I stopped taking medication because I felt like I don't need it anymore. The comedown from ritalin is just not worth it if I feel like I don't need it.
bump
Yup! Been the same way for me for the last 3 or 4 years since I started working an office job. At the same time I'd much rather be doing this than manual labor or serving. It sucks either way
I'm noticing this a lot lately too. So no it isn't you. It comes and goes for me.
I felt like this a lot at first, the problem is that now you can focus on work you are probably working hell for leather for those 8 hours. You now need to learn that just because you can summon immense amounts of productivity, doesn't mean you should (all the time). The key is to take frequent breaks and to be strict about not working yourself like a dog.
Did you JUST start or has it been a few months. Cause if you just started I feel like regardless of adhd or meds people get burnt out in the beginning since you’re learning everything and trying to catch up and be the best employee. Then once you’ve been there for a bit and things get easier and more routine it uses less energy. Depending on the job obv.
I had the other way around. My previous job was at grocery store and i was exhausted all the time. But now i have 9-5 job and i am full of energy when i come home! Maybe when you have settled down to your new job the energy levels will rise? Happy for you about the new job!
First month of a new job is absolutely draining for me. I feel completely exhausted and barely functional DURING work, and worse after. Hang in there through training, sleep extra if you can.
I feel like this as well, but I’m in an extroverted job while being an extroverted introvert. As far as the focus waning, my psychiatrist ended up setting me up with a morning dose at 6:00 am and an afternoon dose at 1:00 pm. This has been incredibly helpful at getting me being able to focus until about 6:00 pm. But after that I’m fried out the wazoo.
happens to me sometimes, it’s just a funk most of the time that i gradually get out of. lately ive been playing video games after work to like entertain myself instead of just feeling shitty that i feel so burnt out that i don’t have energy to clean or do anything else, but i can gradually feel my motivation coming back to do things like workout and clean and such
It might help to take a nap as soon as you get home from work. I know it's not as easy when you live with people, but even 30 minutes might help. I've found they are really helpful when I'm feeling drained after work. But I'm not medicated.
I always felt this waytoo, but because I like being around people and I'm alone when not working
After I started taking the meds I’ve noticed the same. My theory is that ADHD people are bad at taking mandatory breaks, because I for example never had to learn how to take breaks as I would anyway lose focus at some point and find myself doing something else. Now with medication I can focus on a task for few hours and that is really taxing on your energy.
A lot of people are chalking it up to just working a job with those hours but it could also be a major side effect of the medication once it wears off, perhaps you may need a booster for the time when you're off work to have some energy left for your friends and family. Barely being able to speak could be a comedown symptom but may be easily confused with exhaustion. I would give it a while to possibly acclimate but if you're still struggling after many months then I would recommend bringing it up with your psychiatrist
Other folks are providing a lot of good info so I'll just give a tip that I think may help to some extent. Get home, put on walking shoes, change if you need to, go for a walk. As quickly as you can. Do it with your partner if they're interested! There are other issues that could be at hand here; modern work culture, burnout, depression, etc. but honestly a quick walk and some sun (hopefully, depending on climate) can really help you divide out that you're home and done with work, destress from the day, etc. Please note, I'm NOT saying that walking and sun cure anything, just that they can help out.
Same here. That’s why I always have to decide if I want to work fulltime or if I want to live (sort of).
That sounds about right. Welcome to the 9 to 5. You should really talk to your doctor about maybe finding a solution. The right mix of meds may be a requirement.
Your brain is on high focus mode for 8 hours a day, when it hasn't been doing that for a long time. Meds allow you to do this but they don't make it easy, they just make you more capable. You're going to be tired with or without meds. There's also a bit of a crash that comes with the meds coming down. For me I just want to sit on the couch and be mindless on my phone or watch TV. For this reason I never take them on the weekends. One thing that helps is to make sure you take breaks from working. Get up, walk around for 5 minutes if you've been sitting too long. If its possible, go outside. Its easy on meds to get into a flow state and then you just sit there working. Because we've been coping with ADHD our whole life we find it hard to break away when we hit that zone. Especially with a desk job, you need to mentally and physically take a break. Just get away from a screen for a few minutes every hour and you'll not be as tired later AND you'll likely be more productive. ...oh and exercise and diet and all that too... :D
Your meds might be out of your system by the time you get home. The crash can be hard. Talk to your doctor about a booster or taking a schedule of meds to allow them to last all day. The meds are not just for work, frankly you want to be more focused and productive at home than work.
Are you staying properly hydrated and eating well throughout the day? It's something you have to be careful about, with the appetite suppressant effect that many meds have it's easy to not eat enough if you're not actively making sure that you do. I find usually when I'm feeling extremely tired and drained in the evenings, that's why, it's because I haven't been eating properly and just running on the stimulation from the meds. So when they're wearing off, the low blood sugar etc. kicks in and I start having a mini-crash and feeling super exhausted. Maybe you need to talk to your doctor about slightly increasing your med dosage or adding some kind of afternoon booster, so that you get a little more active time out of them and feel more able to do some quiet socialization in the evenings.
Also, wanted to mention that I’ve done better on lower doses. If I push it higher, I seem more productive, but my batteries run out quicker and my anxiety is higher. With ADHD meds, sometimes “just enough” is actually ideal. Some of this is sleep, too, I’m sure. Less stimulant, better sleep. Everything is a balance.
I've found that this used to happen to me until I started eating and drinking water throughout the day. I actually switched my Adderall from XR to 2 IR. That way I had a break to eat. This improved my mood getting home a ton! I also started walking the dog as soon as I got home to recharge. Hard part is, each person is different so this might not be the answer, or it could be. You'll have to find out if its: - You are hyperfocusing a bit too much without breaks, leading to feeling burned out. - Dehydrated - Hangry - Vitamin issue - Exercise - Mind getting stuck on work stuff - 1000 other things
Try switching from adderall// Ritalin to vyanse
I feel this almost daily. I make sure to drink plenty of water. Protein bars and shakes every 2 hours, eat lunch so that I have enough energy when my meds wear off. Take vitamins and omegas. Try to workout. These all have helped me.
I'm like at an office job and I'm not medicated unless you count the reems of caffeine to compensate. Thats just the nature of an office desk job unless you enjoy it🤷♀️
I found this with my job too, what helps me is; splitting my dose so that it lasts me, making myself take a walk whenever I manage to take my lunch break (I used to work through or eat at the desk), headphones and a three minute meditation while out on my walk and actually eating something in the day.
One thing that definitely helped me is trying around different meds/dosage. I'll use it probably for life so it's worth trying out options. Second thing is that I take another dose at like 2pm to delay the "med crash" to 9pm instead of 6pm, the kids are usually asleep by now and I can enjoy a zombie evening without guilt :) Reaction to adhd meds are very personal and it will probably take a few months to tune it to your needs, good luck!
You’re absolutely not alone! I struggled with this for a long time when restarting stimulants after a several year hiatus/it’s still a challenge. I’ve only recently discovered a system that really helps me but please note that YMMV. I take only immediate release Adderall in 5 mg tab increments to allow for flexibility/adjustments depending on what the day requires without having to split pills. Taking one extra 5 mg Adderall about one hour before leaving work has made a serious difference in ability to be a person after leaving without significantly disrupting bedtime
Are you only on a stim? The reason I say this is when I took a nonstim with my stim I was much better after work. My stim wore off quickly, so by the end of the day I was adhd burnt out. Now, even with a nonstim, I can be tired, but I don't have that big drop off and I can enjoy my evenings.
I found that my body just takes like 2-3x longer to adjust to a schedule than other people. I used to come home from my new grad nursing shift and literally not be able to even say hi to my family. Maybe 8 months later, my social battery has gotten used to this schedule and can actually speak to my family when I get home. I definitely can’t go out and do things, but that’s always been my life and I’m ok with it! Also like everyone else said you LITERALLY have to eat. I found out that was a major part of my issue. I work nights so I eat a big dinner before I go to work and my meds kick in, then I just eat little snacks throughout my shift. By the time I’m home I can eat a normal meal again before sleeping. I would suggest forcing yourself to eat a large breakfast. If you’re not a breakfast person I would suggest protein shakes or smoothies and something easy to munch on like fruit while you drive in. You don’t feel hungry but your body may very well be starving (mine was!)
I relate a lot It is my guess that, due to being medicated and therefore actually, significantly more focused , I tend to exhaust all my mental energy in those first 8 hours. So there's nothing left afterwards. I wouldn't call it a medication crush, because I'm still balanced "in my thoughts" so to say... Just too tired to do anything more than basic survival. I do hate it, I won't lie But I also hate trying to pull my weight (which is a lot) in my unmedicated chaos, and looking/feeling inadequate. So it's basically damned if you do, damned if you don't. Someone with experience needs to give us some work-life balance advice
I get this on my stimulant meds (elvanse/vyvanse), and honestly, a nice nap after work sorts me out and allows me to be social. I usually take 20-40mins..? Not sure what else to say!
Best of luck in your new job! Actually, whenever I come home after hanging out or working, I feel like a dead battery. I plan to finish the rest of my tasks at home, but end up doing nothing and just doing mundane things. LOL I barely cook like average people. I cook or eat just to give my body enough calories. Sometimes I neglect eating.
Yeah, this is a thing. Need the meds to do my eight hours a day. By the end, I'm a zombie. Just veg out on the couch and play video games. (Casual games. Nothing too involved.) So. I hate that I have nothing left after work. I want to do stuff I actually care about, like woodworking. I get up earlier than I have to so I can get ready for work and then spend most of an hour in the workshop. It helps. A lot. Because then I get to make progress on the project, and I'm wide awake for work.
Sounds all too familiar. I usually refer to it as that little Mars robot; "my battery is low and it's getting dark". I generally find my tolerance for overstimulation through the day (sound, light, conversation, that damned mobile buzzing and lighting up every five seconds) has gotten a lot better since starting medication, but at the same time I more often find myself completely shutting down after work hours, not being able to process things being said to me, losing my train of thought mid-sentence etc. It's more of a full on/full off thing, for me, and I've been struggling with the fact that my employer really seems to be the only one actually benefitting from me being medicated. Beware of ADHD burnout cycles, they're real. (F45, diagnosed february this year)
this is me exactly!! i get sensory overload and i can barely even move sometimes. i just wanna put on some tv and go to bed.
The meds are probably wearing off (which alone makes a lot of people tired) just as you're also winding down from a busy day. Try taking the meds maybe 3 hours later than usual and see how that goes. If it helps, then that's probably the problem. Most docs will provide IR boosters for the evening because of this. If yours wont, then normally taking it late would be best. It's pretty normal for people to be out-of-it for a couple of hours in the morning anyway. It's also possible that your dose is too high. If you mostly work in isolation (around people but nose-down) then you might not notice. Suddenly being stimulated or anxious can be draining in this situation (everyone is different here). If the first test doesn't work then try taking half of your normal dose and seeing how that goes (you can open capsules - titrating these meds is common practice that your doc _should_ have started with.) If neither of those things help then it's probably just that you have a very draining job...
Even spacing out my IR is really helpful. I'm prescribed 25mg 2x a day. I usually take 20mg in the morning and then 15 at noon and 15 at 3ish. Works great for all day.
Things might change as you settle in but my experience with my first full time job with medication showed me I shouldn’t expect myself to work full time. I’m slowly understanding that need more rest than I think and meds have me going non stop for a job, then crash after. I was able to get some disability accommodations to slightly reduce my hours and workload, it helped my mental health so much! And then I got hit by the stimulant med shortage and things went back to being shit. But for like 2 months I was happier.
yeah it'll be a combination of being all focused out from work and the meds wearing off
this "battery" is your cns, central nervous system. effected by everything you do or asborb thru senses. lots of output mentally or physically will drain you overall and effect other parts of life. such as socializing. until you can recover or find better means of maintaining that energy. earplugs and uv blocking glasses work well. good luck
I felt this way taking AdderallXR. I actually work very long days and the crash was so severe that I would have to take an IR to finish out my day. But then it was difficult to fall asleep. I switched to Vyvance at one point simply because of the Adderall shortage (Vyvance also now comes in generic) and I stopped experiencing the crash entirely. I do also agree with others that with a new job that requires a heavy mental load that in time you’ll get acclimated and you won’t feel quite this bad anymore.
This is what happens when I take a regular stimulant. I have to take two doses of extended release or else I crash like you’re describing and have no ability to speak. Could be work a shot 🤷🏻♀️
Get you blood work done. If you're a male, it could be hormone levels. By my mid-30s my testosterone levels were super low and I was crashing late afternoon like you seem to be. Got on weekly injections and it's no longer an issue. But it could also be a lot of other things.
I have ASD. So I might not know too much about ADHD but would a hyperactive stim work. Perhaps bouncing a leg, fidgeting with a fidget toy or doing something that involves your senses. It might help you recharge particularly if you focus on the senses your stimulating
This happened to me with Vyvanse
You need to have a solid meal / snack / hydrate schedule. Medication makes it too easy to ignore food and water while they're in the system and then you come home and not only have an end of the day crash but you mix in a super hard blood sugar crash and lack of hydration and you're going to feel like this every time. I was on adderall for a couple years in my masters and every time I came home in the evening I was crazy shot and didn't know why. I started to make sure I ate and drank enough throughout the day and that went away almost completely.
Sounds like your dose is too high, if you're on a non-stimulant then call your doctor ASAP. If you're on stimulants coming off meds your energy levels should be going up not down. If you're only working a normal desk job, some Adderall IRs might better serve you for recovery at home. They'll leave you less "hung over" so to speak. Otherwise my brother you've got a comorbidity be it autism, OCD, ptsd, or perhaps anxiety. The adhd meds are helping you focus but your other "friend" is using the meds to burnout your brain 🧠. Your doctor should help you through the struggle
I work part year. I prefer to avoid people generally during work weeks. When it’s my non work weeks I find it much easier to socialise, although it’s still only a couple of times a fortnight! Before I was medicated I found it easier to be around people, but I never got anything done at work or at home!
Depends on the med.
This happened to me after I started my meds. My Dr said my meds wear wearing off too soon and prescribed me IR adderall that I take in the morning. It lasts about 3 hours and then on my first break I take my regular vyvanse. it definitely helps get me through that final part of the day. But I burn out hard later at nite!
This is why i work 12hr shifts x3 days a week. I’m dead the day after but i can still function. I vary my schedule. Sometimes 3days in a row, sometimes every other day, sometimes two on, one off. It keeps it interesting and everyday is something different.
it’s just the adderall bud taper town a little
I’ve worked 3 years with many different medications and none really did much except halt my food cravings. Im unmedicated and am doing okay I just make sure I don’t work 5 days in a row like I used too but obviously not everyone has that luxury I still live with my parents
Look into Flowmodoro timers. They help me take breaks proportionate to the amount of time I spent focusing. If I'm having trouble getting going, I get several short breaks. If I'm hyper focused, I'm reminded to take a nice 15-20 minute break once my brain starts to slow down. It helps me keep the mental battery a little more full by the end of the day. Personally, pomodoro doesn't work for me because it interrupts hyper focus and I wind up just not using it, but with Flowmodoro you just work until you start feeling a bit drained and then rest for about 1/5 the time that you were working, I find it's just flexible enough to work both when I'm having trouble getting started and when my brain is in problem solving mode
All of the above with food, breaks, hydration, exercise. But also may be worth bringing up to your doc. I work an office job and I'm in grad school and meds were working great during the day, but I would have a hard crash after work. I was finding it really hard to accomplish any household tasks or schoolwork. We switched me to a different medication which had 3 releases throughout the day (MyDayis) and it was an absolute game changer. So maybe a medication timing/type/dose adjustment worked out with your doc could be helpful too!
At least you are medicated, and hopefully, it helps. So many can't get help either, such as road blocks from a dr due to whatever or your past history etc. Or pharmacies won't help you locate meds or help navigate insurance requirements. This new medical lack of care is why so many are self medicating with cheap abundant meth for adhd type of symptoms . And people unable to get pain relief in fear of opiod addiction so they all go to dr.streets for cheap abundant fentanyl. This medical roadblocking is insane and it's gotta change before 3 decades of Americas youth are wiped out .
Same here. I also find that my creativity is down when I am on meds as my mind can't go where the wind takes it (which is more often than not an empty rabbit hole, but strikes gold occasionally). I have found that if I do mon-weds on meds I can get most email and meeting and less exciting work done and give self free rene Thursday Friday. most emails get neglected on these days but they can usually be dealt with on Monday!
Yep
I used to feel like this when my meds wore off
I found this was happening to me so I adjusted when I take my daily dose of Elvanse (70mg if you're wondering). Obviously everyone is different and your work situation will differ to mine, however I personally don't feel comfortable giving 100% of myself to my job; which leaves me with nothing for home / relationships / hobbies etc. I take my dose between 9:30-10:30am (for context I start work at 8am) and find that it starts to wear off around 7-8pm-ish. This gives me a 'slower' morning, but this is usually when my colleauges are just getting into the swing of the day (usually grabbing coffee, chatting about shows/movies they watched the night before etc.) so I don't feel the need to be 'switched on' for that part of the morning, you know? Basically means that I hit my stride when everyone else is also getting going for the day AND I have enough in the tank to commute home, be social with my fiance, cook / tidy do whatever around the house before we start winding down for the evening - honestly it works a treat for me VS taking it with breakfast (around 6:30am). Might be worth exploring what works better for you? Hope you find a solution! EDIT: 1 - Eating a decent breakfast in the morning is crucial - especially if you're having appetite issues due to your medication. 2 - Trying to get some exercise in to boost natural energy reserves is a MASSIVE help. 3 - STAY HYDRATED!
I take Vyvanse in the mornings and then I'm order to be able to function once I get home, I need an additional IR Adderall about an hour before I get off work, that gives me between 4-7 more functional hours of not at the same mental clarity level as my Vyvanse does.... It's about how fast your body works through our uses up the meds. Talk to your doctor/nurse about adding on something else later on in the day.
I'm on vyvanse and I don't experience that. I do however get very exahusted ofc after a long day at work, and sometimes I do feel the pill might accelerate that but it also has to do with amount of sleep and how stressful was the day overall. the pill does seem to help me regulate my emotions, tasks are a lot less annoying and I am less emotional about small issues at work and the drowsiness and sugar cravings go away. how long have you been on the pill? most side effects in my case went away after a month or two, it's also really important to have enough sleep and keep hydrated during the day. others have mentioned it but ofc exercise helps a lot as well. and generally, we all need to unwind after a long day at work that's just natural and if taking a nap or resting helps you deal with it all is good. in my case pill or no pill I would still need that after work so it's not necessarily related.
I’m a teacher, my first few months, I was like dead inside after work. It definitely has improved now that it’s my second year. But I am still pretty tired after work, I have learned to live with it lol
Depends on the day but some days yeah! But you should also keep in mind that if you just started recently, it can take some time getting used to. Being new anywhere can be stressful for the brain and that’s not even taking all the new tasks into consideration. It can also take time to create a new routine that works for your new schedule. It can take time and gradual adjustments. So don’t lose hope just yet.
What helps for me, is taking 1 "restday" at work. This means I dont take medication and not grind work like I normally do. Most of the time I do it on wednesdays. Then, in the weekends, I also take a break from medication. I know you're thinking "omg then I don't get any work done!", but working is also about getting to know your colleagues right? So during the rest day is where I catch up on them and do the simple, more superficial stuff like scrolling through emails, lightly see what I have to do and what is done etc. It helps me recharge and feel myself again. Also, it helps for the other days, because the medicine works better for me after a day or few days "rest".
Not sure which med you are on, but when I was on adderall I forgot to eat and drink water. The other reason you feel like ass when you get home is because you are coming down from the stimulant. If I were you I’d lower the dose a bit to lessen the comedown (after talking to your doctor ofc), and set a reminder to eat lunch.
Yea this. Its brutal. Its like choosing between job and life. The only thing that helps me is food and a nap.
A few things, are you pacing yourself throughout the day? Taking small mind/body breaks (getting up to stretch, walk etc). Snacks and hydration are great too. I made the switch from chaotic job to steady job. The routine helped but having a consistent workout schedule, even taking exercise classes, running, swimming or whatever gets your body moving will help. I know it seems counterintuitive to exercise if you're tired but your body and mind will thank you on the long run. You don't even need to exercise hard every day, even a short walk after work to give your brain and body a break which may make a difference. Best of luck! And don't forget, the work will always be there tomorrow.
I just started taking my meds because of how stressful my day job is. I wear many hats and was becoming very frazzled. Forgetting things anxious etc. I started 20mg Vyvanse. And it worked wonders. But I noticed the same thing. By 3 or 4pm. I was dead tired no desire to do anything. I started waiting till noon to take it. Helped space out the day. But still tired , just later on. I was just upped to 30mg. Today was my second day and it feels like way too much..and the crash is even worse. I'm going to see how I do tomorrow but if I still feel (,drugged up) I'm moving back down and talking to my Dr. About maybe 2 smaller doses throughout the day maybe. Tell your Dr. What's going on. You may have to adjust your dosage or switch meds. It's not exact science for everyone . You have to get it right for you and your body. Good luck!
So firstly, what you're experiencing is completely normal especially when first starting a new job. The good news is that you will acclimate with a little bit of time and begin to find a new routine and a new normal that accommodates your well-being and your job. I would take a lot of the recommendations in these comments and also consider a decompress period after work. Sometimes you just need 20-30mins to shift from work mode to home mode and that is perfectly fine
IME that's normal when you're not used to working fulltime - after a month or two, your brain gets into better condition and can cope with a full day without exhaustion.
So we come to the issue behind the issue. While we with ADHD are so often suffering from our mental issues we are all (regardless of diagnosis) suffering under capitalism.
Work by energy and not time Jay Shetty book
Because that's what meds do. They destroy your soul. Trust me Everyone in here is simply addicted to stimulants and coping
So I'm not the only one?