Caffeine is a strange one when you have ADHD.
You often hear people say it will make you go crazy. But honestly, at this point in my life, it does not feel like that at all. If anything, it makes me feel calmer.
Recently, I have developed a habit of having a Red Bull whenever I study. I cannot say with complete certainty that it works, but I think I feel more focused when I have it. When Red Bull is combined with my ADHD medication, I can end up working for hours without losing concentration. That said, this is not something which I recommend in the slightest, especially when it becomes more than one can a day.
I want to be honest with you, though. Today alone I have had a large latte, a flat white, and a large Red Bull, all on top of my own medication. Writing that down makes it sound even more excessive than it felt at the time.
Normally when I write these blogs, I talk about things I have already gone through. Lessons I have learned, and advice for how I went through them. But this time is different. Instead of writing from the other side of the problem, I am writing from the inside of it.
My goal is to reduce my caffeine intake.
My plan going forward is to keep a mental count of how much caffeine I have in a day. It sounds small, but in the past awareness alone of what I am doing has made a huge difference. When I know I have already had two coffees, I am likely to pause before having a third.
I am still figuring out the balance between caffeine, medication, and productivity. Maybe there is not a perfect answer, but for now I am trying to be more conscious about my reliance on it. Because while caffeine might help me in the moment, I know that long-term focus should not depend on a constant stream of coffee and energy drinks.
