Shopping & Diet

"Ignorance is bliss"

Never has a ubiquitous phrase been so appropriate.  I suppose I wanted to start with this phrase because in a sense feel it is a good starting point for all my posts.  Pre-diagnosis of my ADHD in October 2025 on a consultation with one of my GPs before my first appointment in this current spell with community mental health services, there was further realisation I might have had the condition.  Whilst I had been carrying out my own research into ADHD, one thing had been slightly overlooked by myself, but was reiterated during that consultation: research further into diet.

In fairness I had come away thinking that this was a one-size fits all comment that would come from any health professional for most (for want of a better word) ailments requiring regular medications, but also how it might apply to a lifelong neurological disorder?  It doesn't take too much delving to see how much it does play importance, and further delving you can see how big an area diet can be devoted to ADHD.

Sidenote: Last week I had to attend appointment with my employer's medical officer/staff who advised that a normal healthy diet was all that was needed and not to be, "Overthought."

Anyone that has self-identified or had the condition long enough knows the diet plays an extremely more important role than living healthily, but to those that are unmedicated trying to manage their symptoms, but also to aid the effectiveness of any medications prescribed - if any of us are luckily to be prescribed what is needed and effective.

A big reason why I decided to write this blog relates to the opening quote, and of course, my personal experiences.  As I am only currently in the 5th week of medication with Tyvense®/Tyvanase/Lisdexamfetamine [dimesylate] (sorry, Pharmacology degree coming out there), it is only coming more greater to my attention how hard managing a diet can be with ADHD, and something which is really starting to annoy me, and perhaps more understanding may be be required.  Perhaps there may be be an underlying element of ASD that is yet to be diagnosed with myself?

Shopping in itself isn't the most easiest of tasks to do with ADHD especially in the larger chain supermarkets in Ireland, and I guess wherever you may be in the western world, but this I feel is made harder when there isn't a regular constant supply of a food/product that you like, or works best for you.  This is exacerbated by supermarkets pushing products on promotion where your usual product is no longer stocked or supplied at least on a temporary basis, or there are no shelves filled. 

This means you have to go without and limited in your shop because the item that isn't there has to be bought somewhere else - if you remember or can be bothered.  This makes it harder for someone like myself (at least currently on a low income to be buying extra products at different places), but also with my low culinary skills and confidence - that extends beyond a pan of scouse.  

I don't feel to be the only person to be in this predicament of arranging a reasonably varied but stable diet, especially when starting out with the management of their condition, and more needs do be done to address supply and accessibility issues when it comes to the weekly shop.