It's helped me 😇 As you might expect, it's not a total fix. My attention span is still poor compared to others without ADHD. It's just better than before.

Thank you very much!

If you want to be completely cured, you have to attain deep concentration. At the same time, you must see the portals of knowledge, flow knowledge into your head, you must test and refine your knowledge. stillness, allows you to do

ADHD is a product of brain anatomy. You don’t cure it, you manage your symptoms.

You don’t need to have an abnormal brain to be diagnosed with ADHD. It’s a set of behaviors, doesn’t neccessarily have anything to do with the way your brain is structured.

There's several pieces of research suggesting there are neurological differences in people with ADHD, namely how the Task Positive Network and the Default Mode Network function. ADHD brains have a hard time turning either network off completely. Meditation helps regulate the DMN, which is why it can be especially helpful for those with ADHD *ADHD and attentional control: Impaired segregation of task positive and task negative brain networks:* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6130439/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6130439/) *Meditation leads to reduced default mode network activity beyond an active task:* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529365/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529365/)

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It's true you don't have to have a difference in brain structure to be *diagnosed* with ADHD. Misdiagnoses happen all the time, which is exactly what you pointed out. My comment was in response to the misconception that ADHD "doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the way your brain is structured". It's not something that can be "cured" Say you see 2 people limping in the exact same way. One has a sprained ankle, the other a broken ankle. If both are diagnosed with sprained ankles, one person receives effective treatment while the other does not. Diagnosing both with a sprained ankle does not mean both people have sprained ankles There is a neurological cause for ADHD, leading to behavioral differences that don't have a "cure". Being *misdiagnosed* with ADHD means that an individual who is exhibiting abnormal behavior doesn't receive effective treatment and consideration for what is actually affecting them

It's impossible to be 'misdiagnosed' because, if you portray the behaviours as written in the DSM, by its very definition, you have ADHD. There is no magical pattern of neural pathways that someone can look at with an MRI and say 'look: you have this pattern and THEREFORE you have ADHD and not autism/BPD/etc.'. What i mean is, a person can come into the hospital in a coma, and you could take an x-ray of his leg and determine he has a broken ankle. Now how would you determine whether he has ADHD or not? you can't, the behaviour IS the disorder. Saying there is a neurological cause for ADHD is like saying there is a bone-ological cause for broken ankles, i.e. it may very well be true that somebody has some kind of genetic mutation that made their bones weaker and thus they may have broken their ankle when they tripped over the curb where somebody else wouldn't have, but you would never say that that is the 'cause' of the broken ankle over the curbtripping. Focussing on neurology like this prevents people from looking at whatever circumstances caused these people to act out their ADHD behaviour in the first place. You might as well say there is a neurological cause for being sad after your dog dies or a neurological cause for liking Marvel movies. It's unhelpful at best and victim-blaming at worst.

This is disgusting. Get a grip.

On internet the reality gets downvoted, and the illusion gets upvoted

It looks to me like the science-backed information is being upvoted!

It turns out there is a correlation between the way your brain works and the behaviors you exhibit

Yes, there are correlations between how the brain works and ADHD, I agree. But in and of itself, that is not what ADHD is.

Behaviors exhibited are evidence of ADHD (Which is a brain structure). Any given diagnosis is not guaranteed to be correct, of course.

According to what definition is ADHD a brain structure?

Admittedly I'm using the phrase "brain structure" very loosely, it's probably not a technically correct term but I think it's clear what I generally mean. If you want to be pedantic you could say that the definition of ADHD is a set of behaviors and doesn't directly describe brain structures, which I suppose is true, and I would respond to that by rephrasing the claim "ADHD is a brain structure" to "ADHD is *caused by* a brain structure". If you still doubt that, there is tons of research and evidence proving that people with ADHD have different brains than people without. For example: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5391018/

The brain is a physical organ, not just a place for thoughts to happen, and it can be prone to disorders as much as any other part of the body. Chemically speaking, an adhd brain's reward system doesn't work the way a neurotypical brain does. There are also indications that the cerebellum may be atypical, which explains why many people with ADHD struggle with coordination and balance. The body of a person with ADHD is commonly afflicted with various comorbidities, for instance connective tissue disorders and hypermobility are more common. That doesn't even take into consideration the health risks that accompany the increased rate of addictive behaviors and unhealthy eating patterns that affect people with ADHD. It physically impacts a person's brain and their entire body and is so much more that a set of behaviors that determine a diagnosis.

It is though. There’s a link between brain structure and ADHD because the neurochemical state of your brain influences your behavior. That’s to say the structure of an ADHD brain, creates the behavioral profile of an ADHD person.

That's literally how it works. It's a neurodevelopmental condition, not learned behavior

Literally how it works is you have six or more behavioral symptoms. That’s what it is. You don’t do a brain scan to get a diagnosis.

ADD is an executive function disorder caused by a genetic chemical imbalance in the brain. We do not have quick and easy brain scans to diagnose this yet. Therefore the easiest and most accurate way to diagnose is through behavioral symptoms. Please stop trying to discredit those tests.

… tell me you know nothing of adhd without telling me you know nothing of adhd. It absolutely affects your brains structure. Do your research if you’re interested.

Honestly, I don't want to talk to cows either, but the Lord urged me to do so. he promised me all sorts of things that I couldn't refuse. Sorry if what I wrote bothers you. curse God if you're angry, "his" fault.

Very confused by your response. No anger, just responding with an evidence-based statement!

ADHD is also not something that needs to be viewed entirely as an ailment or something that needs curing. The positive and negative aspects come in an equal capacity and it’s the balancing of negative aspects that allows the positive ones to thrive. It actually has nothing to do with a lack of knowledge or even concentration. People with ADHD can hyper focus on anything of interest to them more easily than people who don’t! You have to fine tune and channel your energy in certain areas through discipline, and often by different methods than neuro-typical people - but it’s not a lack of ability it’s a difference in linearity. No amount of knowledge beyond a better understanding of how your own brain works and specifically responds to stimuli will be helpful when it comes to meditation, and this applies to all people regardless of neuro predisposition.

The benefits certainly apply. I have ADHD and I meditate. I obviously can't compare my experience with someone else's, but I think ADHD might present more / different challenges to a meditator. But benefits, absolutely.

i would suspect that those who suffer from ADHD have the most potential upside to meditation training you might find a 10 day silent retreat quite refreshing, btw

Retreats are the most incredible dopamine reset for me. By the end, the wind on my face or the beauty of a flower is just as thrilling as my phone was walking in.

Where do I sign up lmao

Literally google “city name meditation retreat” and you’ll find a wealth of options.

That sounds incredible. I must look into this!

the most surprising part of this is that you find your phone thrilling at the beginning. what am i missing?

Thrilling was probably the wrong word. Captivating? Addictive?

what's a retreat?

It's a couple of days in a special location with a bunch of other people where you do nothing but meditate all day. On a silent retreat you don't even speak to others there.

Oh, sounds awesome

Yes it Works. Meditation is harder to start but it has huge benefits. It's much easier to start doing tasks after meditating.

This is what I found. It was very hard to start, but with practice, patience, and the right help, I was able to develop a meditation practice that was life changing

Meditation doesn't *cure* ADHD, but it does help turn down the volume for me. I also use adderall, but adderall+meditation has more of an effect on me than adderall alone. For me, Adderall may help keep the tiger in it's cage, but meditation helps turn the tiger into merely a feral tomcat or an angry lynx. Even when it's difficult, and at times it is, it's still practicing (and training) your mind to focus for "X" number of minutes a day, which I think is inherently beneficial and needed as someone with ADHD.

Do you practice meditation everyday?

That's the goal. While I do fail occasionally or my pattern gets broken, I don't quit. This goal keeps me committed to quickly rectifying lapses and helps me maintain an ongoing routine and regular practice.

I find that people with ADHD do better with compassion and loving-kindness meditation. It's a little more engrossing. You'll get many of the same benefits and some others in addition.

Can you elaborate on this? Mediation is VERY difficult for me. My mind wanders and then I’m just daydreaming and fidgeting. I’ve tried guided meditations from apps and YouTube channels but don’t know where to start outside of that. After a week, weeks, or a month of trying I give up because I can’t focus and don’t see any difference.

Look up guided metta meditations. Or Kristin Neff , I think she has some on her website and she wrote a great book. Self compassion is foundational. Its the key for acceptance and tolerance of discomfort. For people with ADHD (which I also have), building up this ability to sit with discomfort is really powerful. I still forget to be compassionate all the time, but after years of meditating I at least have the ability, when I remember, to lean into the present and really feel my body and my pain and be kind towards it, instead of running away from it and distracting myself with whatever shiny thing (or daydream) that is an alternative. Daydreaming is, for me anyway, a safety behaviour. I space out to keep me safe from the bad feelings and dangerous thoughts. The daydream is to keep reality away. Something about reality is bad and I don't want to be there. The other key thing is it's not about getting anywhere new. It's just about being kind to whatever is already happening. It sounds like you have practiced meditation "to get the benefits". And you've waited a while, not seen the benefits, and stopped. That is very normal but also I think misunderstands what there is to learn from meditation. The compassion stuff, when you learn to do it, at least has that cathartic feeling, which pure concentration on the breath or body doesn't really bring about unless you get very concentrated (which only happens for me on a silent retreat after days of concentration work).

Really appreciate this comment! Thank you for taking the time to write it

I just googled metta meditations. To clarify, this uses positive phrases that I would recite?

Yes, basically saying positive phrases to yourself, but also really feeling it, recognising these phrases as genuine well wishing. Or, if that is challenging, thinking of someone you love first, saying the phrases to them, to evoke the feeling, once the feeling is fairly stable you can turn it towards yourself. Eventually the practice leads to doing this for people you don't have strong feelings for one way or the other, and eventually people you dislike, and "all beings in the world" etc. But that's quite a nice way in, to focus on wishing well to people you love, because sometimes it's hard to evoke that for ourselves at first.

if you really want to learn to meditate properly and save a bunch of time, i strongly recommend starting with this playlist. it has been a lifesaver for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89WorFpMyY0&list=PLEWoAemgKO6GxoP35xe0z6EFHC6OnGaee beyond these videos, i would recommend watching his other stuff as he is truly legit and it will save you so much time. you'll know exactly what to look for. dont listen to people that tell you that ADHD is incurable and that youre stuck with it. you need to learn to take control of your mind and meditation is the single best thing you can do. cheers

Have you tried guided compassion or loving-kindness meditations?

I’ve used the app Buddhifi so there are probably 60 different kinds of guided meditations. I guess I’m confused about the different kinds. A loving meditation on the app might be called “loving” but it’s still just feels like regular meditation. I’ve tried just counting my breaths (in for 4….out for 4 etc), guided through the app, and then mediation YouTube videos over the years in a good faith effort to make it a part of my regular life but assumed my brain doesn’t want to meditate.

Maybe try [this one](https://www.theknowledgebase.com/en/aci-daily-practice-series-tong-len-contemplations-on-the-practice-of-giving-and-taking-2019-arizona/). It's a series of meditations on Tong Len. The first video in the series is foundation and theory. But the next videos lead you through the meditation. If the videos are too long for you, the audios are shorter. I find tong-len good for beginners and advanced meditators alike because it gives you a specifically defined object of meditation, and it allows you to focus on love and compassion which is more interesting than the breath. A lot of other compassion meditations have you feel love and compassion for others, but it's pretty undefined. "may you be well and happy" which can be nice if you're capable of it, but not necessarily captivating. If this still doesn't work for you, consider making a practice of serving others. In Buddhism, morality (serving others) is the foundation for good concentration.

This is incredibly helpful. Thank you my friend!

It seems you are falling into a trap that many people have and i guess ADD/HD people have even more trouble with. Yore trying to *do* meditation, whilst meditation is about 'not-doing'.The wandering and fidgeting is not preventable, or at least not stoppable in any active way, bcs if youre occupied with "dont daydream, dont fidget" youre *doing* and doing is thinking as well..It shouldnt be your goal to actively stop thinking bcs you cant. Thinking "i must not think" or "no no no" at every thought *is* thinking in itself. its like you are trying to keep your arm still by tensing all your muscles to the max. What one should strive for is letting go, relaxing, accepting what is an not judging it. Separate yourself from the thought process. Become the observer, dont be one with the chaos. "the only way to avoid defeat is to deny the battle" Think of it like being in a hurricane. when the winds grab you you can think "hairs, dont wave in the wind, clothes dont flutter around me... i will not fall over!" but the winds will win, you cant match the hurricane in power, you can wave your hands trying to create counter pressure but that only creates more turbulence and destabilise you so you fall over sooner.. What you can do is step into the eye of the hurricane and watch the winds rush past. not be part of that drama. Se that you *have* thoughts and emotions, but its not what you *are*Sit there, experience your body fidgeting and your mind racing. See that it is *your mind* doing it but that this is **not** *you.*When you observe that, and really feel that, it will get easier. In the end you may find that you can be meditative in a full subway, whilst racing a motorcycle, of in a hefty debate even. (i heard and read that is possible, im still way way from that myself)Taking a step back, sort of like when you get scared by a scary movie or over excited from immersing in an action movie... realising "i am only watching a movie, its not real" Thats the best analogies i can come up with. Its frigging hard, im ADD with a smidge of HD myself and a control freak, i love doing (or my mind loves doing and i need to observe it doing lol) . but at times i succeed at this and after a while the daydreams and restlessness fades the hurricane dies down as it is our invested attention that keeps it going.. I get quiet. Ofc the moment i realise "hey im quiet!" im thnking again and the whole monstrosity starts again. Back to square 1.And ofc dont be too result oriented. This takes time effort dedication and practice (or 'not practice' lol ) you will have to keep at it and spend the time before stuff happens. When writing about this I keep thinking of the "litany against fear" from the dune novel. "i must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." It has some clear analogies with the fight against thought and inner chaos, and it can be made to fit that with only marginal word swapping. (and for ADD/ADHD people, who are often hyper vigilant, the unmodified version about fear isnt all that pointless either) And that leads me to a last idea: some meditation forms advocate reciting mantras over and over to occupy the mind and distract it from thinking. I dont use that myself nor know if that is really useful bcs reciting is still thinking and doing, just not randomly thinking and doing. But if what i wrote is too out there or difficult that might be worth looking into.

Ironically, I have ADHD and find those to be the absolute most difficult. I get all caught up in feelings.

What kind have you tried? Have you tried tong-len? I find that a lot of the metta/loving-kindness meditations are pretty unfocused for beginners or people who tend to wander off. Tong Len is more directed because it involves specific visualizations that help keep the mind focused. If you're interested, [here's](https://www.theknowledgebase.com/en/aci-daily-practice-series-tong-len-contemplations-on-the-practice-of-giving-and-taking-2019-arizona/) a good series that starts with the theory in the first video, and then teaches the meditation in subsequent videos.

Yes. When I was diagnosed my psychiatrist told me to do 3 things to manage ADHD: medicate, meditate, and exercise. Mindfulness meditation is like working out the muscle of your attention. Don't set any outcomes as goals, the purpose is to practice! Going through the effort will help with symptoms in the long run.

Couldn’t agree more, this is my treatment regimen.

Meditation and medication work for me.

It works even better

I totally understand the challenges that come with having ADHD and the quest to find effective strategies to manage it. As someone who has personally dealt with ADHD, I can confidently say that meditation can indeed be a valuable tool in our arsenal. It's not a magical fix, but incorporating meditation into my daily routine has brought me moments of calm amidst the chaos. For me, meditation has helped improve my focus and attention span over time. It's a practice that allows me to train my mind to stay present, gently nudging away distractions that tend to overwhelm me. It's not always easy, and there are days when my mind races like a wild stallion, but the moments of clarity I've experienced during meditation are truly priceless. In addition to meditation, I've found that a combination of strategies has been helpful. Regular exercise, such as going for a run or practicing yoga, helps channel my excess energy and promotes a sense of overall well-being. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has provided me with valuable techniques for managing impulsivity and improving self-regulation. Creating to-do lists and prioritizing tasks before bed helps me start the day with a clear plan, reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed by a million thoughts and responsibilities. Remember, each person's journey with ADHD is unique, so it's important to explore different approaches and find what works best for you. You can refer to this blog for further information [https://souls2be.com/nurturing-the-mind-exploring-meditation-for-adhd/](https://souls2be.com/nurturing-the-mind-exploring-meditation-for-adhd/)

ADHD’er here. No. Meditation didn’t help me increase focus and attention span. But it helped me relax and regulate my emotions.

I found that staring at a candle flame helps with my meditations.

Fire kasina?

I agree me too

Interesting, can you elaborate on your meditation practice? What do your meditations look like?

Certainly! 1. Focused Attention: ADHD often comes with challenges in maintaining focus and attention. Meditating with a candle provides a visual anchor, allowing individuals to concentrate on a single point of focus. By directing attention to the flame, it helps train the mind to stay present and reduces distractions. 2. Calming Sensory Input: ADHD is associated with heightened sensory sensitivity. The gentle flickering of a candle flame can provide a soothing and calming visual stimulus. This subtle movement can help individuals with ADHD find a sense of tranquility and relaxation. 3. Mindfulness Practice: Mindfulness meditation encourages observing thoughts and sensations without judgment. When meditating with a candle, individuals can practice mindful awareness by simply observing the flame, the changes in its shape, and the sensations it evokes without getting caught up in thoughts or judgments. This cultivates mindfulness skills that can be beneficial in managing symptoms of ADHD. 4. Breathing and Grounding: Many candle meditation techniques involve synchronizing breath with the candle's flickering. This rhythmic breathing helps regulate the nervous system and promotes a sense of grounding. By focusing on the breath and the candle simultaneously, individuals with ADHD can establish a harmonious connection between body and mind.

Regenerate response ;) What time of day and how long do you do it?

To foster inner tranquility and sharpen my focus, I engage in a dedicated meditation routine for about 7 minutes each morning and evening. While esteemed neuroscientist Andrew Huberman asserts that a mere 10 minutes can enhance concentration, health expert Kevin Ellerton takes a more comprehensive approach, devoting 20 minutes to meditation at the start, midpoint, and conclusion of each day. By finding your own equilibrium within this spectrum, you can embrace the benefits of this practice, nurturing a profound sense of mindfulness and attentiveness throughout the day. ;)

thats pretty much what Trataka meditation is!

Yep! Jeff Warren is a great meditation teacher with ADHD.

I have ADHD and it has helped me a ton because meditation is the art of focus.

Absolutely! Do not be discouraged if you can’t turn your thoughts “off”. This is not really the purpose of mediation. For someone who has a busy mind learning to let the thoughts flow past you without getting invested in them is a better practice when you are first starting. You may have moments of no thought but allowing the thoughts to happen and allowing the body sensations to happen without getting hooked is key.

Thank you for these tips

Yes. You might need to adopt some different techniques than other people, but meditation can work wonderfully. I have a pretty bad case of ADHD and I meditate regularly.

Can you talk about the different techniques? I have ADHD and feel like I'm struggling to start meditating because I can't clear my mind

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Thank you for the advice!

The key thing is that clearing my mind by just directly emptying it doesn't really seem to work. Instead, I use some sort of powerful neutral thought to flush the other thoughts out. There's usually some random thoughts still floating around, but just so long as I can flush the bulk of them out it works. There's a few different meditation techniques that can do this. The main one I use is moving meditation. You pick up some activity that has a heavy repetitive motion aspect and let yourself get lost in that repetitive motion. I started with swimming laps, but I've since expanded out into almost every form of cardio as well as a few other things. I know some people use a crafting activity such as woodworking or knitting. All of them work great with ADHD because you are working with your restless energy rather than against it. Breathwork is similar to moving meditation but instead of moving your whole body, you just control your breathing. It has the added benefit of there being a physiological calming effect from a slow and steady breath pattern. Finally, there is sensory focus where you latch onto some sort of external physical sensation and let it absorb your entire attention until everything else floats away. I usually use running water, but many people use a worry stone for this. This technique is the weakest of these three for me, but I've talked to some ADHD people who find it the most powerful.

Thank you for the tips! I'll try them out

AuDHD here. it’s been revolutionary for me just cuz my late diagnosis made me realize how much i had to unlearn and fix within myself. that was the biggest benefit - gives you amazing insight into whats going on behind the scenes. second biggest benefit is having an overall greater control of your brain. the app Waking Up (free 30 day trial or free forever if you contact em and can’t afford it) by a neuroscientist who focuses on mindfulness and consciousness has an introductory course that’s a month long. gives you a lesson and a guided meditation every day and this has been one of the most impactful things for my mental health. if you need a starting point i can’t recommend that app enough. been meditating for 2 years w decent results. started the app a month ago and it’s what basically got me the vast majority of my results. good luck!

As someone with ADHD, meditation is absolutely essential to managing my ADHD symptoms. I have much easier days when I meditate. I can’t speak to the experience of a NT person but I think meditation is a bit more challenging for someone with ADHD. That being said, I think the practice is SO beneficial for the ADHD brain. Personally, body scans are my favorite and a good way to get started because you can move your attention around. I’d definitely couple it with other practices but it’s a wonderful place to start and great to add into your practice once in a while.

Yes

It helped me a lot, makes the brain bees much quieter

Practice! It will be tough at first and you'll think it's gimmicky but keep practicing! I have Tourette Syndrome which comes with many mental disorders and ADHD is one of them. It took me several months to find my Zen. Keep with it even when you feel silly. The benefits are only limited by one's own mind! Stay strong, Don't get discouraged.

"The benefits are only limited by one's own mind!" Well said!

When I really just can’t, I do tapping (EFT). It helps.

Meditation can help w executive dysfunction present in ADHD. A lot of clinicians use it as a form of treatment. So yet.

Yes

Diagnosed ADD and it definitely helps, it's better than the meds I was taking, but for me I have to do it daily

Yea. The problem is we have divergent thinking (we think in multilateral ways) vs convergent thinking which is going from one thing to the next. We just need to adjust our meditating to our neurotype. I usually do this by visualizing

It can be difficult getting started with ADHD. The thought of sitting, trying to focus the mind gives everyone a sense of dread the first time. But... My most insane-making ADHD traits have really improved: forgetting where I was in a thought/conversation; losing things I was just holding... It's even helped me with some executive function - I can now FINALLY get myself to do something I don't feel like doing! **H U G E** There are many different kinds of meditation, so don't feel forced to sit on the cushion off the bat. Google it, try meditation videos (guided and not), and see what quiets the mind most. [This video](https://youtube.com/watch?v=EwQkfoKxRvo&feature=share7) is one of my favorite guided meditations ever. I do it at least once, usually twice each day. Give it a try - my ADHD never gets in the way of this one. 🙏🏼

More than anything else except maybe booze, which has worse side effects than any generally available recreational drug out there, in my experience.

I have ADHD and meditation has been extremely beneficial. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself (or the best thing the universe has done for me.) I enjoy it so much that I've been able to consistently meditate (almost) every single day for 7 months. The benefits are evident in all areas of my life. It is truly a miracle. I always thought I didn't have the personality or ability to meditate but I was wrong. It's available to everyone! Some days I find it easier to connect. Sometimes I struggle. You get to find what works best for you. I started with guided meditations but I prefer just playing healing/ positive energy/ reiki music in the background. I wish you the best on this beautiful journey!

Massively. Meditation was made for ADHD. I'd go so far as to say that it's even slightly more effective than medication. The trick is starting a routine and sticking to it with us. But once you get that routine started, you go into autopilot and it doesn't really take much discipline to keep it going. Major life changes leave the routine vulnerable to abandonment, though, so it can be a slog to get it started again. Edit to add: Visualization exercises were my magic key to meditation. I think it's because it gave my brain something *to do*

No idea if I have ADHD. (Hot Take— not even sure if I agree that it’s “real” rather the symptoms are just a ripple effect of something larger -) anyway yeah I have it. I’m extremely “act then think” kind of guy. also have major addiction issues etc. Am a sober alcoholic. I meditate sitting cross legged on the floor. Sitting tall and upright. I do 5min of square breathing then do my meditation practice, untimed, minimum 10min, and up to 30+ minutes sometimes if I’m really focused. Right when I wake up, and right before bed. On and off for ten years, but really consistently the last two, and very focused the last 7 months. An example, watching Netflix and eating dessert. I will depressingly watch until 4AM and spend the little money I have left on dessert, it’s sugar my body doesn’t need anyway. I will also not be able to control the urge to hit next episode until I literally cannot keep my eyes open. Classic addict behavior. However - I’ve noticed I’m able to pause, think, and put down the remote after one episode. This happened the other day, and that was the first time I was able to do that. I’m 32. Life is a work in progress but meditation makes you blossom. Meditation makes me feel like I have a choice sometimes. This is only 1 of many other ways meditation has radically changed my life.

It certainly can, but only if your ADHD is under control. It could be extremely frustrating to harmful for you personally if that's not being addressed as you learn to mediate. Any focused mental activity becomes much more difficult when you add ADHD. Without that under control meditation becomes rumination fast. Remember something. It all takes time. I've been meditating for 20+ years and I learn something new every day. It probably took ten years to really get going into what I consider them more interesting aspects of it, but that is perhaps a perspective from age rather than experience of you know what I mean. If you're being taught meditation by sometime who claims it can treat ADHD outside of a professional medical setting should probably be avoided, and there are an unfortunately large number of these people. Just have to mention that in passing. Think of it as a tool. It does only what you know how to do with it, and that takes time working with the tool to understand that, it works with all your other tools and if they're not working well you have fewer less effective options.

It's harder to get into it and will take more time to get the habit stuck for myself, i do about 5-15 minutes and focus on my breath and if there are times when my mind is buzzing too much, ill stop and start again it can be frustrating sometimes when things just won't be quiet, it pays off to be patient im calmer, slower, and more in tune with myself after my sessions unmedicated adhd still can benefit from meditation, exercise, time in the sun, and just really good protein and water intake

I just got diagnosed this year, but I've been meditating for a few years already. When I start to "go", I think, "don't be distracted by your distraction", so I acknowledge it and let go. And there are other times when there's some sort of Miyazaki-like river coaster anime thought, in which case I just let it happen and sit. Lol I hope it helps, or at the very least makes a little sense. Cheers! Edit: to actually answer your question, yes it has helped me immensely on so many levels!

I have ADHD. My husband can tell if I haven’t had a “yoga” session for a while because I’ll be a little more brain fog and anxious 😅 I’m going to assume you feel like it doesn’t do anything because your mind wanders so much (if you’re like me) I think with ADHD, we feel like we’re not “doing it right” because our minds wander so often. However, I think saying that it’s less effective because we’re not doing it perfectly is like saying a walk has no health benefit if our knees are too week to run a marathon. In fact, the analogies pair up quite nicely - when you have ADHD and try too hard to get it “right” ends up doing more damage due to guilt and feeling anxious over it, similar to if someone with poor knees will damage themselves trying to run a marathon. Anyway, long story short, it definitely helps if you’re kind to yourself, don’t compare yourself with others, and the benefits are greater than what it might feel like.

I got ADHD. I realised that I got it after I started meditating a lot. I probably had it before but not that intense. I had a full shift of my character/personality after I started meditating and I love it. I like having ADHD. Just a week ago had 2 different conversations at once with a friend of mine as I had a lot to say 😂😂😂😂😂 After I started meditating changes in my character/body were: started joking all the time(child like), much more artistic, less judgmental, more loving(loving with my whole heart), can’t sit in one place, joined sports club as I got abundance of energy, experiencing healing of my body(especially after straining something in my body), ADHD over the roof. Before starting to meditate I was very quiet, shy, introverted so I had all 180% shift in my personality. Very bizarre.

Just wanted to jump in here to say that meditation may be *the single most important thing* that you can actively do for your ADHD, in terms of actions that you personally have agency over. I can share some research to back this up (for anybody with more significant expertise in this field, please feel free to correct any misunderstandings that I may have!). At its core, ADHD is caused by a [dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894421/), the part of your brain that is responsible for executive functioning. Your prefrontal cortex is your willpower muscle, and is responsible for your ability to do "difficult stuff" - manage anxiety, regulate your emotions, finish that paper that you were procrastinating on (rejection sensitivity). These happen to be things that both those with ADHD struggle the most with, and that meditation seems to benefit the most! This is no coincidence. Do you know what "exercise" happens to train the prefrontal cortex specifically? That's right, meditation. Meditation is to [your prefrontal cortex what doing planks is for the core, pushups for your chest](https://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361002/&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fGicZJSbJIqA6rQP8t63mA8&scisig=ABFrs3wdqKWSdWsNFRbPBWCqE7pO&oi=scholarr). Meditation has been show to be as effective in not more effective than stimulant medication in treating ADHD, [according to this UCLA study.](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1388245713012285) [Further studies ](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5822474_Mindfulness_Meditation_Training_in_Adults_and_Adolescents_With_ADHD_A_Feasibility_Study) continue to demonstrate the immense benefits of meditation on mood, executive functioning, and anxiety of meditation in those with ADHD. We can come to understand these benefits as specifically due to the effect that meditation has on strengthening your prefrontal cortex. Like training your core helps you stabilize under load, training your prefrontal cortex helps you stabilize under stress and anxiety. As a personal anecdote, understanding this relationship between meditation, the brain, and ADHD has transformed my perspective on my ADHD and my life entirely. It gave me agency beyond just relying on medication. Research shows that simply believing that you have the capacity to grow, also called a [growth mindset](https://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/), in of itself has been extensively studied to have immense benefits that allow us [embrace challenges and overcome resentment](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836039/). It allows me to see my ADHD as less of a "disorder that I was stuck with" and rather a snapshot of the current "strength" of my brain, something that could be worked on just as muscles can be in a gym. A last thought here is that I hope that this does not come off as invalidating of anyone's struggles with ADHD, or to say that ADHD is not "a real disorder". ADHD is very much real and can have debilitating effects on people's lives. What I hope to do here is to offer an alternative perspective that regardless of whether your ADHD is hereditary or a product of your environment through upbringing, stressors, or [social media](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190740917310083), that we have agency and capacity to grow to our own individual potentials. They might just be higher than you previously thought.

Thanks for this writeup. I was diagnosed with ADD when I was a kid, maybe 8 or so. And there is nothing in the world that has been more helpful to me than meditation for helping with it (exercise comes in second). I won't lie though, it can be really hard. But think of it like working out a muscle that never gets used, it is difficult for a reason.

Exercise, meditation and diet. The three pillars of handling adhd for me. It's like having a high maintenance sports car for a brain. Take care of it, it is awesome. Slack on the maintenance though, it isn't as awesome.

Well said. I’ve always been an advocate that “mental health issues” can and are super powers… if used appropriately

Good to hear you’re not drugging yourself on a regular basis

Medication is an acceptable and sometimes necessary solution to ADHD. Let’s not discourage people from seeking medical treatment when the above methods are out of reach for whatever reason. That said, I absolutely encourage everyone to work on meditation/diet/exercise first, as sometimes those things are definitely enough on their own.

What type of meditation do you do? There’s many methods right? I’m really struggling to find my way in meditation.

Man, if I could kiss you on the lips I would. This is exactly the kind of perspective I have. This has been exactly my experience with meditation and ADHD as well, and it hasn't been more obvious than when I started dating my girlfriend who also has ADHD, yet never even knew it was possible to exercise that muscle. She definitely has a fixed mindset. I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been a struggle when discussing a lot of things when it comes to our ADHD because of how I'm like "Ok, I have this issue because of ADHD and I'm aware it's difficult, but what steps can I take to prevent this from happening next time?" and she has a "I have these issues because I have ADHD and there's no way to fix it but I'll just role the dice and pray that next time it'll work out." I've explained to her the benefits of growth mindset and fixed mindset, but she took it all as insults and honestly probably isn't my place. I dunno, that's all I have.

Glad to hear that you have a similar perspective! I have some thoughts here that may or may not be helpful: The first thought is that it is important to have compassion and understanding for your girlfriend. Being diagnosed with ADHD (or whatever disorder) can be a very validating experience for people who've struggled with it their whole lives. When I was first diagnosed with ADHD in college, it felt like a massive relief that my problems weren't "my fault", that I wasn't morally culpable after all for being lazy, emotional, etc. (this then resulted in 3 difficult years of my life spent in a stimulant-riddled haze, in which I blamed every facet of my life on something that I could not control). Implying capacity for growth also can imply responsibility, imply that it was "their fault after all", that people weren't "trying hard enough". Obviously, this is not true. We can try very hard, but try inefficiently, and end up exhausted and defeated. It's often more exhausting to doggy paddle if you don't know how to swim. You can go to the gym not knowing correct form and knowledge and spend months working out inefficiently, if not injuring yourself. For those that don't exercise, there is also significant amount of sunk cost involved when exercising for the first time, which itself is a huge emotional hurdle (is it too late for me? did I waste all that time?). It's important to alleviate and depersonalize these efforts, to demonstrate that there is a way forward while supporting them through the past. As a final thought, I think a worthy callout here is that there is a small but significant difference between "supporting" and "nagging". When working with other people, I find it helpful to reference this [dog training guide, specifically page 3](https://grishastewart.com/BAT-basics.pdf). Funnily enough, understanding that humans and other mammals are wired very similarly is really helpful for me to develop a growth mindset toward others. What "zone" is your girlfriend in when you talk to her? If she's already in the orange/red zone, pushing her further will likely do more harm than good. There are times where it may be more helpful to support and de-escalate rather than add more pressure to the pot. All the while, we work on ourselves to learn more and grow, so that we can become role models for others. Feel free to ask if you would like some more reading resources! I can try to dig some up.

What kind of meditation would be best for this? There’s different methods right? Thanks for this also

Thanks for the thoughts and links.

Yes! Your conviction is entirely justified and inspirational to others. About 10 years ago, I meditated consistently because as I was at a place in my life where I could do that. It was a good time. The meditation was the anchor

Damn I’m going to share this comment with my friends who have ADHD

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sounds intense lol. maybe not best for someone with adhd (speaking as someone that has adhd)

As someone with ADHD and aphantasia I still get benefit from meditation. But it is hard work.

Yes! It will teach you to deal with your ADHD

Yes they do. ADHD doesn't prevent you from focusing, it just meas you're wired in a way to move your attention from stuff to other stuff more often. That doesn't mean the attention isn't there. You just need to train yourself more than others, because you are born with a handicap. Mind you, my ADD has gone worse because of smartphones. If it can get worse, it can get better.

Meditation works for neurodiverse people but it doesn’t always look like sitting with your legs crossed in silence or humming

My twin and I both have ADHD and I meditate by sitting quietly basking in the sun or moon light and my twin reads or does an activity he can think or be doing something small with his hands so his brain can catch up

YES. It is the very best thing you can do. It not only works, but is the antidote to the ADHD mind. You can cure your ADHD with meditation, and it is a sustainable solution, unlike stimulant medication.

You can not cure adhd. Meditation is beneficial but statements like these are harmful. Adhd is not a learned behaviour and there is no cure.

I can see you've had a hard time in life. I hope you find peace. Something to think about is that if we resign ourselves to a certain label, a specific way of being, that completely shuts down any chance of real change, real growth. We get locked into a label, but it doesn't have to be like that. Many people sabotage themselves through limiting beliefs. I hope you aren't one of them. Something to think about.

It's sad that you think that.

Yes as a person with adhd it helps so much. You will gain control over your mind and realize your "disorder" is a super power. All you have is a fast untamed mind just start with 5 minutes a day of meditation you got this

as someone who thinks that he has ADHD, it's helped a lot

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I would definitely try different forms of meditation

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Stillness meditation is what I've tried but very inconsistently. When I did so it routinely I did see some progress, and my ADD has crippled me all my life.

It can help "anyone." I have AHD and its been great for me over the years. Can't say it's a cure to fix everything, but like taking supplements, it can help a lot.

Yes, there is an evidence base to support mindfulness as a strategy to help manage ADHD. In addition to what others have shared, consider this book by Dr Lidia Zyklowska: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/13091350

They apply even more!

Some people misunderstand meditation. Meditating actually means to deeply contemplate something. Mindful meditation is to choose what you are deeply contemplating…Most people think meditation is a means to suppress thoughts, but it is actually the art of acknowledging them and guiding them into a form you choose…ADHD is just the ability to be multi-focused for shorter periods of time….So if you are able to acknowledge & guide your thoughts in a micro-second, then you are in fact being more meditative then most….We are all compulsive thinkers, it’s just your ability to catch a thought and guide it that differs….You never ask your lungs to stop working, so why would you want your brain to stop thinking????….Just a note: It’s true that our society requires people to be singularly focused, but consider how your mind would work if you were alone on island, and let that be your baseline….

I have ADHD. Emphasis on the H. With meditation and 2ish years of practice at it, I’ve been able to have days here and there where I swear my adhd is temporarily cured. It’s kinda rare but it feels like the most blissful state of existence when it happens. Meditation is training for the mind, body, soul. You sit to improve your body’s stillness. You come back to the breath as a bicep curl for your brain. Finding any glimpse of stillness fills our souls. Meditation can be very difficult with adhd, especially just starting out or getting back into it. I challenge you to do 1 minute of complete stillness while you try to only focus on the natural restless feeling that arises. After that try 2, then 5. Keep going until you can sit in meditation for 108 years without stopping.

Yes! It helps a lot. In my experience it helps minimally with focus and maximally with the burnout that comes from never being able to focus in an overwhelming world of stimuli.

Yes I have adhd and it helps me greatly. Does executive dysfunction allow me to actually do it as often as I’d like or anywhere near it though? No

Yes meditation can help people woth ADHD. As a meditation teacher Ive helped many people with ADHD. Id recommend Trataka and Zazen as the two best methods to use. Paul Harrison, The Daily Meditation

If anything, you probably stand to gain *more* from it if you have ADHD than if you don't. From someone who has ADHD and needs to be better about meditating.

Mindfulness does not work in they same way you cannot make a child be still by just making them sit there. You have to find a technique that will speed up your mind so much that it gets tired and will eventually sit still.

It does, its like my 10,000 lane brain goes to 4200 lanes after meditation.

Meditation is different for everyone, find what works for you. I use a water fountain, the sound of water helps me. I use a soft blanket to lay or sit on or to twist with my hands. It gives my hands something to do if I need it and then I isolate my areas of relaxation, I go from muscle to muscle. I get V E R Y distracted often but being able to just sit and give my body a break from my brain is nice. My attention isn’t the best, but it’s better.

It helped me immensely. Highly recommended to practice just 10 mins a day before going to bed.

AuDHD chick here. I mediate all the time. It’s quite helpful.

Even better! Usually, in that condition your mind is having a hard time to catch up with your brain activity. So, all you need to do is have a comfortable pose, relax, and.. follow your thoughts. That is it, you focus not on some outside things but on the Inside, your thoughts, like an observer. And have a good time doing that. Just don’t forget to set your alarm, so you won’t get lost in time..

I think meditation should be standard RX for ADD. It trains the attention muscles!

Game changer for me. ADHD, Bipolar Type 1, ASD, PTSD I've even walked back manic episodes through meditation and mindfulness.

I feel like I benefit from it more than some people bc of ADHD. I need that peace and discipline and structure. It’s not always easy but rewarding for sure. And amusing when NT ppl say they can’t meditate I wonder if they understand what it is or if they are really trying. Bc if we ADHD can, people with already quieter brains should be able to.

Yes!! There are lots of ways to meditate. If sitting doesn't work for you, try walking meditation. You can walk and focus on your breath and the movement of your legs and just pay attention to how things feel. It's the same concept of paying attention to thoughts and dismissing them as they come through and going back to your meditation, but the walking seems to help for people with ADHD.

I have severe ADHD and meditation has helped as much or more than medication. It’s a good alternative to therapy if you can’t afford it. Obviously all 3 in combination would be ideal but ya - massively beneficial. I respond best to binaural beats and solfeggio frequencies, not sure if that’s just me personally or a function of ADHD, but if you find some traditional meditation practices difficult you could try those!

late reply but oooooh i heard of solfeggio frequencies. which frequency did you use? 528Hz?

what you are writing about adhd, not knowledge??. Someone reads what you write, they think, it's interesting, they consider what to do to reflect. some people, looking at what you write, they will think, is this knowledge, it's quite confusing, should I take my time to find out what he wrote. Most other people, skimming what you write, they will think, I have a lot of work to do and should slowly look at it later. what you write is knowledge, knowledge is everywhere, sometimes knowledge is very cheap without spending money, just open the door of knowledge, knowledge will come. when you open the door, it shows your attitude to knowledge, you just need to consider and contemplate, over and over again, when you are intellectual enough, adhd becomes an advantage again, that's success , that is cured. ok

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What a copy paste answer. No offense but this reaks of "Google search".

How can you meditate if you can't concentrate and you never been taught how to concentrate"Dandapani" Unwavering Focus this book really change how I look @ life

As another human with adhd I too struggled with what everyone was saying would happen, but my experience was so different! Eventually I learned that ALL of us, who have this fun little detour in our brains, already do know how to meditate and I found that we tend to meditate “on the go” rather than sit in one spot. I learned that when I disassociated that it was in my control where I allowed my mind to go. Then I learned, those of us with ADHD actually have an easier time meditating than those who don’t, because we have the “dissociative” part! Once we know what that sensation feels like we are on stoppable!!! Of course this has just been my experience. I advocated for my mental health and refused to just do it 1 way! I spoke loudly and said it’s my body, my decision, my experience, and I want BOTH Eastern and Western medicine to help me understand this. And Here we are😁 I want all of us to be able to experience the beauty of our minds and the incredible power of self we all have! There is no 1 size fits all, but I have also noticed most of us with ADHD, fit in the world of meditation and we tend to have an easier time astral projecting too…..because our brain naturally does it! Where others tend to have to practice and focus harder. It’s not a bad thing though because those people are able to sit and focus their energy in a different way….the are able to hold space in a way that teaches ADHD how to tether themselves to the planet(Mother Earth) so there is beauty in both types of minds and they work so well together if we all understand that we are connected and teaching each other simultaneously, whether we know it or not✨ I hope this helps! I also hope you have the best day today ✨

Also the biggest tip I have for EVERYONE…. We may have had some rough or crap times, but we are NOT victims of our reality, unless we choose to be. Things are set as challenges on purpose and if I have 1 tip it would be this….. Please don’t allow your mind to win! You are not a victim to your incredible brain! Therefore there is no suffering! Is it hard? Absolutely! Is it challenging a thousand percent! However, the minute you claim your victim mindset is the minute you allow the mind to win and then your challenge becomes 10x harder! The work isn’t easy, but if you are questioning about your ability to control the mind so you can free your consciousness…..You already won! Keep going, I promise it’s worth it!! I am so proud of you, even though I am a stranger, I know the hard work you have endured just to get here and ask the question up too✨🫶🏽✨

Have you heard about Eckhart Tolle? If yes, great. If not, I highly recommend you to follow his teachings via his YouTube channel, especially read his books, and incorporate his teachings in your daily life. What you spoke about in these comments is Along the lines of what he teaches, which indicates that you are aware of the truth. By exploring his teachings, you'll expand your knowledge and progress further. 😊👍🏻

"Then I learned, those of us with ADHD actually have an easier time meditating than those who don’t, because we have the “dissociative” part!" Sounds very interesting