ADHD and DMT

[vawksel]

I believe I have ADHD (inattentive type, and im a heavy introvert) and might be getting treated for it in some way soon.

My trips into DMT realms do nothing short of destroying my focus completely. Even my last 46mg dose, entities trying to get my attention. My attention is about 0.5 seconds long, like im looking at butterflies, then getting distracted by something else, then something else, to no end... then into my own head thinking of my own awareness, then thinking that I am thinking about my awareness then that disappears 0.5 seconds later. Then I realize how all over my thoughts are, but 0.5 seconds later that concept is gone as well.

Once in a while I realize how frustrated I am because I have no focus, but then that flies out the window in 0.5 seconds.

It's like on DMT, my ADHD is just on hyperdrive and my focus in the length of a grain of rice.


Does anyone know anything or have any personal experiences with ADD/ADHD on or off meds in regards to their trips?

 

[endlessness]

First thing that comes to my mind when reading this is 'why do you categorize yourself as having ADHD'? Our society bombards us with a multitude of artificial and shallow stimulus, and then those who cant 'concentrate' are very conveniently labelled as having one or another disease for which big pharma has just the right pill....

Is it possible maybe you are just a normal introvert like me and loads of other people? Is it possible things just dont interest you and thats why you dont keep your attention for long ? Is it possible if you are bothered by not concentrating on things, that you can work on yourself through self-observation, self-criticism, personal effort?

The other thing I want to say is, I doubt anybody can concentrate too much on anything in hyperspace.. Way too much action, I can tell you its normal to be completely amazed at a billion things

 

[Capt_Bones]

good stuff endlessness,

and i agree. you should work with focusing your massive amounts of energy on things that interest you.

check out the book the gift of add, its a whole new perspective on you "problem"

 

[Yengu]

I believe I have ADHD (inattentive type, and im a heavy introvert) and might be getting treated for it in some way soon.

My trips into DMT realms do nothing short of destroying my focus completely. Even my last 46mg dose, entities trying to get my attention. My attention is about 0.5 seconds long, like im looking at butterflies, then getting distracted by something else, then something else, to no end... then into my own head thinking of my own awareness, then thinking that I am thinking about my awareness then that disappears 0.5 seconds later. Then I realize how all over my thoughts are, but 0.5 seconds later that concept is gone as well.

Once in a while I realize how frustrated I am because I have no focus, but then that flies out the window in 0.5 seconds.

It's like on DMT, my ADHD is just on hyperdrive and my focus in the length of a grain of rice.


Does anyone know anything or have any personal experiences with ADD/ADHD on or off meds in regards to their trips?

Agreeing with Endlessness, how did you write such a long post in 0.5 seconds

But I imagine it is something serious enough for you to mention it. Maybe relax? Listen to relaxing music, yoga, mediation? Just some things which popped into my head.

 

[Samadhi-Sukha-Upekkha]

DMT seems to screw with concentration in many (perhaps most or all) individuals. The peaceful afterglow from DMT would make it great for meditation if concentration were not so impaired!

Those who already have problems paying attention are affected by this just as much as any other person. However, having started with pre-existing difficulties in sustaining concentration, such a person could appear to be unduly affected by the normal decrease in attention regulating capabilities from DMT. This applies to anything that impairs concentration, whether it's DMT, sleep deprivation, or post-cannabis brain fog in those who experience it.

Reports from friends who do DMT indicate that attention-improving psychostimulants appear to work fine alongside DMT. They may increase or decrease the effective dose needed, so a person who will have such a drug in their system during a DMT experience should start with lower than usual doses and work up to whatever dose is needed to reach the desired level of DMT activity.

LSD and other more strongly stimulating psychedelics may present some issues when combining with psychostimulants such as ADHD medication. Combining stimulants tends to cause anxiety if the dosage of each stimulant is high enough, and this applies to caffeine + ADHD medicine just as well as it does to LSD + ADHD medication or LSD + caffeine. Proceed as above -- start with low doses and work up to higher doses as necessary.

Piracetam or other nootropics may also be helpful for increasing attention regulating capabilities. They seem to have no negative effects when used in conjunction with ADHD medicines, as they aren't really stimulants. They also often work fine alongside psychedelics, but some people have reported unpleasant experiences with combinations of nootropics and racetams. Others report absolutely no problem at all, or even a positive effect on the trip. Again, the advice is the same. Start with low doses and work up to the desired level.

Combinations of psychostimulants with MAOI medicines is a tricky subject. Stimulants are definitely out of the equation for irreversible MAOIs like most pharmaceuticals prescribed today, but they may be okay with RIMAs like harmala alkaloids from Rue or Caapi, and potentially even moclobemide.

One last suggestion -- meditation is training in concentration. This is helpful for individuals with attention problems, and this fact isn't generally disputed whether or not you believe in the concept validity of ADHD (a debate I find utterly pointless for answering the question of whether or not a particular individual or subset of individuals can be helped by various interventions such as Ritalin or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy).

 

[WillieG]

hello vawksel, welcome! IMHO i would stay away from ADD meds such as adderall and ritalin, they have alot of bad side effects. i cannot say about the other brands, but these i know are not good for you, yes they will help you focus, but they are VERY ADDICTIVE. adderall (commonly prescribed to adults for adhd) is a amphetamine, this isnt a good thing to be putting in your body. especially on a regular basis! at least look up the side effects if you are considering medication. anyway best wishes, peace.

 

[Samadhi-Sukha-Upekkha]

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, Daytrana, and related brands) is not addictive when taken according to the doctor's directions, unlike opiates or Desoxyn (formerly available prescription methamphetamine). If you crush one of the instant-release formulations up and snort it or inject it, then it can be addictive. But people who use it for the purpose of enhancing their attention- and behavior-self-regulating abilities and not for the purpose of getting high, or smoothing out the comedown from speed or cocaine, aren't going to get addicted because the only thing pleasurable about it is the ability to get work done. Which is the only thing most people want to do on Ritalin or Adderall.

It's more common for Adderall and related amphetamine formulations to be abused because it's easier to get high from them by taking higher-than-recommended doses by mouth, snorting, or injecting. Again, following the doctor's directions stops this from happening. Also, the Vyvanse new form of extended release has a pretty low abuse potential because its release rate is controlled so that no method of ingestion can make an addictive spike of blood amphetamine levels occur. The drug, lisdexamphetamine, is inactive. It gets converted into the active form, dextroamphetamine, by having lysine (the "lis" part of lisdexamphetamine) removed by the liver. That doesn't happen fast enough, even with injection, for the addictive spike to occur.

At least, that's my understanding of the pharmacological information present. And my personal (prescribed) use of Concerta and Ritalin currently, and Adderall in the past. I couldn't even IMAGINE becoming addicted to that stuff! I wouldn't take it if psychotherapeutic approaches to enhancing attention regulation had worked for me.

A person and a doctor they trust (meaning one who's in medicine because they love to heal people and doesn't reach for the prescription pad instantly to solve all problems) should make an informed decision on use of ADD/ADHD medicine based on an honest appraisal of the risks and benefits. At least, that's my opinion and advice. Others are free to disagree and recommend different approaches.