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AuDHD types - how do you switch off?

Deleted user

I have diagnosed ASD + ADHD and find it incredibly difficult to switch off/decompress. I really am interested to find out how other people switch off and recharge (and if they really manage to). Here are the things that 'normal' people do and suggest to me and how my brain behaves when doing them:

Read a book

I struggle to get past the first chapter, usually getting lost trying to remember who all the people and names are when the scene is being set. Frustration sets in by chapter 2 as more names are introduced. I'd rather have bird flu.

Go for a walk

Mind racing with all the weeks worries and stressors. Sometimes even change route part way through, then decide I preferred the other walking route, end up going nowhere fast and feeling annoyed. 

Watch a movie

Mind drifts to work, family worries, thoughts about dinner, or check my phone ... oh, honey, look, Domino's has a large pizza deal for only £175

Meditate

Constant stream of thoughts ... im aware this is not 'bad' but just end up thinking about lots of negative things and getting swept up in thought .... how can Domino's charge so much for pizza?

Listen to music 

OK, this one usually works ... when I can find a song to match my mood, still looking

Play video games

sold my PS5 months ago, felt totally unproductive and that I should be doing something more meaningful with my time (im still searching for that thing too...)

Journal

Write down all the negative stuff that's going on, realise it's just a book dating back 15 years now ... all negative .... feel worse ... have visions of throwing it away in the sea, maybe I should

Cook

The mess, the dishes piling up, the timing of all the items cooking, then finding out the curry tastes no better than jar store bought curry ... I'm now annoyed at having full jars of spices sitting around I'll never use again

The struggle is real ... 

Parents

  • For the last 40 years it was alcohol, in moderation, mostly. When younger and my brain was a lot faster, it was in bigger doses, but it slowed it down enough to talk, relax, and sleep (although it was compromised, but no more than not drinking).

    But this is not a recommended approach and can cause other issues.

    I've never found anything else that does quite the same to my brain, expect maybe hours of moderate to stressful exercise, which you can't do every day.

    I find writing or stupid puzzles helpful. Card games on the hardest settings and things like wordle with 8 words at a time. Something that distracts but is not too optically simulating.

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  • For the last 40 years it was alcohol, in moderation, mostly. When younger and my brain was a lot faster, it was in bigger doses, but it slowed it down enough to talk, relax, and sleep (although it was compromised, but no more than not drinking).

    But this is not a recommended approach and can cause other issues.

    I've never found anything else that does quite the same to my brain, expect maybe hours of moderate to stressful exercise, which you can't do every day.

    I find writing or stupid puzzles helpful. Card games on the hardest settings and things like wordle with 8 words at a time. Something that distracts but is not too optically simulating.

Children
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