Sophia, I just told the story. I felt strongly that given that I wasn't the one who made the original suggestion that it was more likely to be true. And one of the things I look back on is how once I finished comps and classwork, i.e., was in a less structured environment - how freaking long it took me to write my thesis. And how when faced with a big project I often feel like I'm staring at a giant wall and cannot think how I should get started on it.

Toddson, I just went and looked up my apple notes (shut up, they're clearly useful), and Pink Lady is definitely a front-running variety. Along with Honeycrisp, so far.

Healthwise, I'm really very good at not consulting Dr. Google, and I hope enough people are paying attention to me above the neck (I will tell my migraine doc tomorrow about the "blind" episodes) that they'll catch anything, but I'm not going to lie--I wonder how the rest of my family got diagnosed with any of the things that bother them, and if I were to have any family illness (so far, I'm good at what they're bad at, and vice versa), how would I actually find out? That colonoscopy never got scheduled, and how would anyone I have fibroids? At least I don't have to worry about high blood pressure.

Anyone know a good source for non-medical ADHD coping mechanisms?

See if there's a CHADD chapter near you (I suspect there is) -- the national website is chadd.org. They have monthly meetings on a variety of relevant topics for adults with ADHD (as well as separate speakers for parents of kids with ADHD). The way the Cincinnati chapter works is that there's the speaker on whatever topic, and then question/answer time, and then after a break there's a support group time, where it's just the members, and they discuss whatever they need to discuss. Tim finds it really helpful.

They have a lending library, although you have to be a member to take out books. The library for the Cincinnati chapter (disclaimer: I am the librarian) is amazing, and it has books that cover everything from the basics of ADHD to things like comorbid disorders (OCD, depression, autism, you name it), as well as really specific books like ADHD in women, kids, etc.

I can ask Tim which books were most helpful to him, and you can get them at your library, I'm sure. One that immediately comes to mind is You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, Or Crazy? Another that seems to be popular is Driven to Distraction.

Thank you - I will look into those.

And I just had a co-worker tell me that he can see that I've lost weight and that I'm walking better: nice to hear. Particularly on a day when I'm not feeling my best (and my knees are killing me.)

Thank you sumi. I hope the items that Steph suggested will help you.

This morning I can see!!!!

That is just cool!

because I don't remember handling stevia well in the past.

Stevia hates me. And products like to stealth it in.

One of the books is at the university library! And I was able to request the other from interlibrary loan.

And products like to stealth it in.

It's natural, donchya know!

I thought when True Citrus talked about that, they meant the cane products, but no, not in what they market as drink.

One of the books is at the university library! And I was able to request the other from interlibrary loan.

Right on! I'll ask Tim for more recommendations. And, like -t said, there are *some* non-stimulant meds for ADD. I have notes somewhere from one of the meetings that was specifically about meds -- I'll look for them after work.

I can only speak for Tim, not all people with ADD, but his experience is that meds are not a magic bullet all by themselves. There are a lot of things he does to help that have nothing to do with meds -- building structure into his day, using timers for tasks, things like that.

The meds help him, definitely, but I think most people with ADD would say that the meds don't make them "normal" (that is, the meds don't make their brains work like the brain of someone without ADD). The meds just help them to focus, and/or organize their thinking.

pot, pot helps some people. just sayin.