Bikram Yoga helps me with my ADHD

Actually, I had felt that I was ‘different’ all my life. I was not able to concentrate well at school, I made more mistakes at work than others and I also reacted too impulsively and directly in conversations. Yet I did not think much about it: it was just like that and I lived with it as well and as bad as it went. Until at one point I got stuck in my life, although I did not suspect at the time how much this crisis was related to my ‘idiosyncrasies’.

I came to the doctor about a year ago with complaints. In a tumultuous period I had remembered and re-lived traumatic experiences from my childhood. This had a deep impact with me. I was sometimes overwhelmed by emotions several times a day and was always happy when my workday was over. At home I could at least let my tears run free. When my doctor heard this story, he took it very seriously.

In their place

Soon the suspicion of ADHD arose. Studies at PsyQ confirmed this and then I had a diagnosis. I found it very confronting: something was wrong with me. I had become a patient, something I had never seen myself as… But because of the diagnosis many things fell into place. Now I understood why when at school during reading exercises I was lost because I would end up many pages ahead of the group and forget my whole environment of what was currently happening around me. Sometimes I lashed out at people with my impulsive comments during a serious conversation; within me it was such a jumble of thoughts, images and associations, and difficult to find my way out of the confusion.

Medication

Under the supervision of my therapist, I tried medicine for six months to bring the symptoms of my ADHD to an acceptable level: methylphenidate, dexamphetamines, Wellbutrin and Strattera. It was quite a puzzle, because I suffered heavily from the side effects of the drugs. Eventually we ended up with a 50 mg dose of dexamphetamines, which at the time showed the best results for me when I took the Qb test. This is a test that measures your concentration, movement and impulsivity. The improvement over my first test without medication was the greatest at this dose of dexamphetamines.

Side effects

I used this medicine for a while, but I did not think the positive effects outweighed the side effects. What I mostly missed was peace in my head. Structured thinking still did not work, while I had a lot of side effects. In September 2016, I therefore stopped using medicines. At that moment I had come in contact with two people in a short time, who recommended Bikram Yoga. One of them also had ADHD. I was curious about the benefits of Bikram Yoga for me and besides: PsyQ and the doctor offered no alternatives for the medication. During my vacation, at the end of August 2016, I made the introductory offer and since then I come five or six times a week.

Strong improvement

Now, six months later, the results do not lie. The result of my Qb test in February 2017 was much better than my test with medication less than a year before. My concentration has increased a lot, I make far fewer unconscious movements with my body and my impulsiveness has decreased. My doctor at PsyQ even said that she had never seen such minimal movements. She takes my results to the doctor’s discussion to see if anything can be done with it in the treatment of people with AD (H) D.

But I do not only notice the test. For example, my supervisor told me that he had noticed for a while that I am making fewer mistakes in my work. And personally I see that I can better control my impulses. Of course I sometimes interrupt somebody, but I do it less often.

Happy with Bikram Yoga

I’m glad I started doing Bikram Yoga.The people at Bikram Yoga Den Haag know what they are doing. They are sweet and caring and keep a close eye on you. I feel safe there. Bikram Yoga has helped me tremendously with ADHD, but also with my depression and high blood pressure. I am already off my antidepressants and who knows, I can also leave the medication for my high blood pressure at a given moment. Anyone with ADHD who is curious about alternatives to, or supplements to, their medications I sincerely invite you to try this yoga. Who knows, you might be as surprised by the results as I am!

 

Naam: Paul
Leeftijd: 52 jaar
School: Bikram Yoga Den Haag
Geboren in: Schipluiden
Beroep: Calibratietechnicus
Bikram Yoga sinds: Oktober 2016
Reden: ADHD-klachten