ADHD and fidgeting. How to control it?

I'm not on meds for my ADHD because the side effects were a bit much for me (I was on Ritalin and then Adderall). I am always in trouble for fidgeting (tapping my feet, tapping my pencil/pen, cracking my knuckles, bouncing my legs, playing with my fingers, etc.) I don't even notice I'm doing it until I get in trouble from my teachers/friends (I'm in the 11th grade and an independent student, ie I don't live with my parents). I do have an IEP, but apparently it's distracting for others. I'm a vegan (to animals or animal by products) and I cut out refined sugar from my diet. I don't know what else to do. Any one have any suggestions?

Please be polite. This is a serious question. Thanks

I don't eat eggs or drink milkbecause I'm allergic. I don't eat animals because I beleive in animal rights. I do however get my iron/protein/calcium/vitamen D and B checked regularily, as reomended by my doctor, but thanks for your concern

There are other medicines that can help, and although you could not tolerate Ritalin or Adderall, I found that Concerta helped my son the best.

Those symptoms may not be easily controlled, seriously. Your diet should have very little to do with it. It's good that you have a healthy diet but it has been shown that often diet does not affect ADHD.

If you take caffeine, drop it..although judging from your strict diet you do not.

Also, shaking legs, etc could be caused (seriously) by a protein deficiency. Or even a calcium deficiency. You are still a growing, menstruating girl and you cannot lack in these areas.

If you don't want to try another ADD med, get some bloodwork and see if you lack in protein, iron and calcium, etc. Or even vitamin B's.

But continue to work....a medicine could help you and be careful on such a strict diet. It's ok to cut out sugar and refine food but think carefully about cutting out all animal protein and at least eggs and milk. They can affect it.

Try using some magnesium supplements (be careful, too much and you'll be running to the potty all day) and a very wonderful thing called G.A.B.A. I gave it to my son and it works great! Valerian Root and extra B vitamins can help calm you down as well. Just research this some more on your own time and you can decide what's best for you. Call a local herb/health food store and pick their brains about specialty supplements like Focus Factor.

try getting a small thing to manipulate with your hands.
a ball of silly putty or one of those tangle toys.
If you have a IEP try talking to them about getting a special seat. You probably know what those exercise balls look like, they make chairs now that that have one of those balls as a seat. It helps with ADHD kids sometimes.

https://www.schoolspecialtyonline.net/se...

of course the silly putty will be less conspicuous

that problem is because of your ADHD
no sugar doesn't do anything for your
problem.......that's cool youre a vegan,
but a diet doesn't do anything to prevent ADHD.

i take adderall XR 20mg....i've been taking it for a year
and i've had no side effects, and well....i'm 17 and i've been
taking meds for 10 years now....and the only time i had
side effects was if i had the wrong dosage.
that's probably what was wrong with you....but whatever
just drink energy drinks or coffee.
a can of monster or red bull are great subs for a pill though.

why don't you live with your parents?
you are causing too much stress by having too many things
you are dealing with since you're so 'independent'
cause if you're not recovering, you're putting too much on your brain and your ADHD acts up....

oh about the girl who said no caffeine
she obviously doesn't know much about adhd
cause caffeine has a reverse effect on ADHD.
it calms your nerves down.

iron and magnesium is what people with ADHD lacks.

how is your sister?

Although you probably do not realize it, it is in-fact very distracting to others, and at times, can be extremely annoying, especially when you are sitting within close range of somebody that is trying to do something, but it is part of you. You have ADHD and people need to be understanding of that. If you are that much of a distraction, then perhaps you could sit on your own, at the back of the class where no-one will be able to see you. I bet you do not like the constant reminders of sitting still. Making adjustments to your diet was a good step. I suggest that you talk to your teachers about this and see what they can suggest. I am sure you are not the only student with ADHD that they have dealt with. Is it just the fidgeting that you can not control or do you have behavioral problems ? My little sister has ADHD. Due to her constant hyperactivity and behavioral problems, she attends a referral unit. I know it sounds bad, but it is not. They are much more understanding then a mainstream school and since starting there she has done really well. I think one of the techniques they use is letting her have breaks during the lesson.

You need to talk to your special ed teacher,couns, school social worker about you difficulties and how you would like some help. Recognizing that you have a problem and wanting to make the situation better is a good begining. I also would suggest that you talk to a med doctor that may know some other meds that might help. The other thing that i would suggest is to get some exercise daily . Use some of that energy by moving at arranged times of the day. And remember that energy you have can be used very purposely but it takes alot of practice. Think Thomas Edison the inventer of the lite bulb,phonograph and many other valuable things. He probably was ADHD.

i have adhd and i am on adderall. i have been on it for 2 yrs now and it is the best thing i have ever done. in the beginning it was rough, it really made me feel crazier. it slows down after a matter of being on it for months, things look normal, feel normal. people get on meds and expect them to work right away, most usually do not until you take them for a while. its just like the pill, when women say, ' i just could take it, it made me gain weight and it made my body feel out of whack' the weight gain is a myth and the out of whack part tapers off after your body gets use to it. so, with all meds, they need a chance to work. you need to talk more to your mental health doc about this and find something that will help you, sometimes we have to go through two or three meds before finding one that works for our body. good luck.