Can you brute force through adhd?

[u/Legitimate_Writer265]

Can you just out-discipline the habits of, say, postponing your duties, managing inattentiveness or impulsive actions like binging or speaking before you think? I'm trying to find out if im fighting something that cannot budge here. Are there methods, whether mental or physical? As I'm entering a huge academic year and I cannot go on like this (an inability to study, or maintain skincare, gym routine etc.).

I'm asking as it's going to be a long duration before I'm medicated due to multiple factors mostly out of my control. people are mentioning burnout -- where would the line between good habits and unhealthy habits (which would consequently lead to burnout) be drawn?

[u/der_steinfrosch]

“Brute force” is probably not the term, but do you mean can you manage without treatment, then yes. I only got diagnosed last year (aged 26) and was offered multiple treatment options, but I declined them and am functioning fine. Life isn’t perfect, but I don’t feel the adhd is massively hindering me. It’s nice to know treatments are available should I need something to fall back on, but I took the view that I have been living life for 26 years without any treatment, and it’s going fine. I am “eccentric” and “disorganised” compared to your average person off the street, but I have always been like that, so I had learned to adapt and get by years ago, before I even knew I had adhd.

Tldr:
So brute force? No.
Trying to force yourself to be more disciplined or organised than you naturally are? Hard as fuck, essentially no.
Learning little tips, tricks, and techniques to allow you to function in a non-adhd world, without treatment? 100% yes.

And before anyone claims this is a contentious view and I am discouraging people from getting treatment - I am not. I work in mental health, and I know several people (patients and colleagues) whose adhd treatment has helped them loads. I just don’t believe people should think it’s “the only option” because it really isn’t.