April 2023 | How Hearts Can Help Brains Through Med Shortages (Patreon)

Hello Brains & Hearts! 

I received an incredible and heartwarming email from a community member who, together with their spouse, created a list of how Hearts can help support their Brains during the med shortages [with a couple tips for Brains too! They've given me permission to share it so... of course I going to share it!   

(And for the United States-specific tips, if you're not part of the US feel free to look passed those!)

For Hearts

1. Be patient and present with us. Add withdrawal symptoms over top of an already existing prefrontal deficit and there’s going to be some mood swings, some slowness, some poor impulsive decisions. We’re not at our best and even though it may be frustrating to everyone else, it’s probably most frustrating to us.

2. Help with phone calls. Even if it is not a phone call you can technically make for a person. If they are nearby and agreeable, being the one to dial the auto response numbers and sit on hold until the human being takes the phone can be the difference between that call happening and us getting our appointments and/or meds or not.

3. Call your senator/congressperson and tell them to put pressure on the fda to act. This should have been addressed months ago. That’s really all I have to say about that; just do it.

4. If you’re in a place to do so, financial help is huge. Because a lot of people can’t get a hold of their regular medications, they are having to change brands/dosages or even the entire type of medication just to have something. Oftentimes, this can mean paying way, way more. We’re not known for being great with a budget to start, and while this is a big ask, it could be really helpful.

5. Check in and see how we’re doing. This is extremely stressful for us, just the executive function alone to get regular meds is stressful. Having to navigate this is nothing short of a personal crisis for so so many people with adhd.

6. Do NOT judge the coffee/energy drink consumption. It is one thing to self medicate when meds are somewhat accessible (let’s be honest, even during normal times they’re not readily accessible). It’s another thing when they are virtually nonexistent. Self medication is just the best option some people have right now. Coffee and energy drinks help hold off the withdrawal symptoms. Don’t judge.

7. Support our existing routines and habits. If we are lucky and have had access to meds for a while, they have probably helped us to develop some kind of routines and habits. Are they as robust as neurotypical routines, probably not, but it’s something and it’s probably something that we really struggled over a long time to build. I’m guessing a lot of us are scared that without meds those will fall apart. I know I am. Please do not tempt us away from them but reinforce them for us.

For Brains

1. Be kind to your local pharmacist and psychiatrist. This is not their fault. They’ve been dealing with unmedicated withdrawing people for months now. Despite being yelled at daily on the phone, many of them are still spending way more extra time out of their day to help people navigate the system and at least find SOMETHING. Show them some love, they deserve it!!!

2. Please, please, please!!! Show extra love and support to newly diagnosed people who are new to medication and the adhd process. Navigating this system is stressful under normal circumstances, I can’t imagine doing it with all this going on.

3. Consider seeing a therapist if you don’t already. See above personal crisis, withdrawal, lots of fears. This whole situation is not okay and it is normal if you are not okay being a person stuck within it.

Hope this helps during the tough times shortages cause! 

🧡 Jessica & The How to ADHD Team