For many people with ADD, they tend to combat their challenges with substances like alcohol, caffeine, marijuana, prescriptions, pain medication, nicotine, and other drugs. When a person uses these substances to improve or to try and feel better, it is now referred to as self medicating.
I’ve heard this being referred to as “putting out fire with gasoline”. While self medicating seems to do the job at first, it is not a proper or viable long term solution to managing ADD. It can lead to substance abuse and addictions. It can also lead to developing a false sense of self, which obviously will lead to other bigger issues too.
Having said all of this, there is one self medicating process that I found successful in managing ADD…..exercise!! Being active with an exercise plan that best meets your needs and capabilities, increases dopamine in the brain and delivers many other health benefits.
