ADHD Adults: Staying Healthy When Recovering from Alcohol Addiction

Depending upon the research study, between 21% and 53% of adults with ADHD will experience alcohol dependence or abuse at some point in their lifetime. And, turning it around, it’s been estimated that 25 percent of adults receiving treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse have also been diagnosed with ADHD, which leads experts to believe that there’s an important link between ADHD symptoms, ADHD treatment, and substance abuse.

Because the healing that comes with recovery often clears your mind and gives you a new perspective on life, it’s possible that you hadn’t even noticed you suffer the signs of ADHD until now. It’s common for the effects of substance abuse to mask the symptoms of ADHD and other disorders, but a late diagnosis is better than none at all.

Whether you’re new to overcoming ADHD or have been living with it long before your recovery journey, there’s a few things you should keep in mind for staying healthy and happy when you’re dealing with recovery and ADHD at the same time.

Get Proper Treatment

You must be honest with your doctor or therapist about your past with substance abuse so they’ll be able to help you the best they can. Your past with addiction can affect what type of ADHD medication is safe for you to use, so be prepared to lay it all out on the table.

Not only should you be honest when answering your doctor’s questions, but you should be prepared to ask them questions as well. Knowing what to ask your doctor and what you’re looking for in the treatment process will help you figure out whether or not you’re a good match for each other.

Focus on the Good

Immersing yourself in your career and your hobbies will keep you focused on what’s meaningful in your life. Setting aside time to explore your interests is one of the best things you can do for yourself during recovery. Consider alternative methods for relieving stress and finding a calm and quiet focus.

Spending time with friends and family is another top priority for those in recovery. Surrounding yourself with those you love and spending time doing what you love most are the two best ways to ensure you’re focusing on what’s good in your life.

Find Compassion Within Yourself

Remember to be patient with yourself on your road to recovery. It won’t always be easy, but knowing that you’re only doing your best will bring you peace.

Not only can you exercise compassion for yourself, but you can also benefit from having compassion for others. It may be hard for your loved ones to understand what you’re going through, so try to be patient with them if they’re ever difficult or unhelpful.

If you’re in recovery and also have ADHD, your journey may be completely different from someone who doesn’t suffer from the disorder. Being mindful of your unique situation and staying positive on your journey will keep you looking forward to a healthier tomorrow.

This guest post was contributed by Kathleen Carter, a teen who has been living with Asperger’s Syndrome for as long as she can remember. She strives to educate her peers and others about AS. Recently, she began focusing her efforts on writing proudly about how her experiences differ from other people her age. She is so grateful to have the opportunity to write for EducatorLabs.

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It was found that I was self meding the ADHD w alcohol

this finding was key to my cure of seriously high level alcoholism. 24/7 alcoholic nice guy for the most part until serum levels (bac) got too high. Then I was invisible and everybody loved me and wanted me to date their wives. I found myself jobless,wifeless ,friendless, homeless, etc. then after a bad motorcycle accident and a month in the hospital drying out with fract c7 crushed lower r leg and foot, I got started on a path to a cure. A few months later I met my present wife and went back to drinking. We admitted myself to another 30 day in pt where I finally got a good doc who saw the whole picture. I had ADHD, bi-polar w major depression emphasis. And was in pain from arthritis so bad I could hardly walk. We addressed all these problems one at a time and wham!

i no longer had the need or desire to drink after addressing the ADHD etc and treating these diags clinically.

Thanks for for pointing that out! Many, many people are/do self medicating. Alcohol is a great drug for giving you self pride and esteem. It will help hide all the negative feelings......but only temporary and with far too many bad bad side affects and extremely high addiction properties.

DON'T DO IT! Seek professional help

i am 7years sober or rather after 3 years of total cessation do have an occasional beer out at dinner or while boating /fishing. That was my goal, to feel normal.....be like others. I would not suggest that be a goal for every recovering alcoholic but it has worked for me against all clinical advice (so far)(( it is a dangerous flirt)).

Good luck to all who deal with what others don't understand. It seems to be th hardest part sometimes.

It's a possibility!

ADHD, depression bi-P,

Good luck to all those fellows afflicted with something that is difficult or impossible to get others to understand.

Todd.....Asking a Question of You

Me being ADHD...but not having any real problems with alcohol consumption. I've pretty much just drank when ever I felt like it....and didn't drink the rest of the time. As I've gotten older....I hardly drink at all any more except of rare occasions. As people have commented about me....even when I'm drunk (real drunk even) people could barely tell the difference. In fact...everyone was always trying to elect me a driver even though...I was as drunk or even more than the person asking me for that reason alone.

Which.... even in past, sometimes I would get drunk...other times...I might have a beer and that was it. I never had a need to feel like I had to monitor or control my drinking since....it pretty much monitored itself or I just drank as appropriate to the occasion even if I drank myself into a stupor occasionally. All just saying....pretty parr for the course for someone who didn't have any restrictions...self imposed or otherwise. Not to say there were a few times that weren't problems with behaviors when I was younger (teens and early twenties) but even then....I was not alone by any means compared to others at the time. Parr for the course.

But having said that....I've seen a lot of people who do/did have problems with alcohol and a couple of things really stood out to me as I heard what you said. If you don't mind...I'd like to ask you a couple of questions to see if this lines up with what I've seen? I'll ask...you can decline if your not comfortable?

Those who had severe problems as I've seen...would have A beer...or A drink...and suddenly change personalities almost in front of my eyes. This is just the opposite of what I said about myself.

Those same people couldn't stop once they started. Not in the long term but right then that day. No such thing as ONE beer. One beer meant....drinking non stop until your face down on the ground.

And the part about change in personalities came with a few very distinct ones as I would see them. Either....they would become very aggressive and kind of belligerent...getting into fights and picking them for no reason. Kind of mean and nasty and pissing everyone else off around them.

Life of the party...happy go lucky....being the center of attention and being on stage for the group and being funny, telling jokes, doing magic tricks or anything that was amusing.

As I'm saying this....this was not how they normally would be otherwise. It only came out...after drinking and drinking a lot non stop once they start.

Suddenly becoming depressed and "crying in the beer" type who did nothing but carry on about how bad everything in their life.... and being really negative and a downer for everyone around them.

Again....as I see myself and as it has been reported back to me....I was what ever I was before I got drunk...but just the drunk version of it...if you can imagine?

Does this sound familiar to you and if so....was this the same as it was for you?

Alcoholism. ADHD

very interesting comment.

I would call you the "normal" drinker that I wanted to be and was for years. But then came a point where it got the best of me. I would Jekyll and Hyde but only after many drinks as reported by friends.... One way one minute then one more sip and wham! Different person. I was always a nice guy and not a trouble maker but that invisible term comes up again. I just thought it was ok to walk up to any and everyone and start a conversation usually stumbling over my words and other things.

I was sometimes the life of the party but then would get too friendly. Esp w the ladies. This is still a problem I face with the ADHD so maybe it was that all along the alcohol just eliminated the inhibitions as its good at doing.

I could not stop once started. That was the major problem toward the end. My body had gotten so dependent on the alcohol there almost never too much physically. No sickness, vomiting, hangover as long as I maintained a certain bac. I was mostly healthy looking (till very end living on streets) and carried myself well but was mentally DRUNK!

i was a professional in medical field so I always was dressed and looked nice, hung out at nice places with nice people so it was easily hidden. Friends and family offered help and advice for years but I didn't see it. Ignoring their help unfortunately burned those bridges. When I finally admitted ...sincerely admitted I was an alcoholic, I had no one to turn to. They had all long given up. But once I got myself admitted into state run in-patient rehab and luckily got a good Dr we started the journey to wellness. However, that's when the severity of the ADHD was declared. Which was a good thing because that can be dealt with when you know it is present. I've been on many different Meds then I'll get off for a while but it seems after this last bout w depression I will need to stay on at least an anti depressant. They just started me on Trentelix and I think it's starting to work after about 15 days now.

Again, I would say you are what I wanted to be when it comes to drinking. Just the normal social drinker. I now consider myself the same and don't even have the slightest urge to have more than a few beers and rarely ever any hard liquor. The drunk ruined my life, not the alcohol!