Subs with ADD/ADHD

I am getting ready to write a blog post about dealing with subs that have ADD/ADHD. If you have this condition I don't need to explain, but they can be a challenge to deal with in session. They have a hard time shutting down and letting go, so they tend to talk a lot, ask bizarre questions, and generally mess with a Dommes headspace. To the uninitiated it can come across as topping from the bottom - but usually it is unintentional.

In the post I will share my own experiences and techniques for dealing with the ADD brain, but I would like to hear your thoughts if you are ADD/ADHD or have dealt with this condition in session.

I find that being tied up and gagged prevents any bizarre questions or other issues.

Simple answer for a complex situation. That doesn't always help with their headspace - even though it might help Mine ;-)

ADD/ADHD is one of those general spectrum disorders where doctors classify people into box A or box B based on some rigorous set of questions and behaviors. But to me, since I have been diagnosed with it, it is really a spectrum of behaviors associated with very high energy and lack of direction/focus usually exacerbated by a poor support structure (like family support or educational support). By the time adulthood is reached, these individuals are very much like you specified above. Some have learned to overcome it themselves or are better able to adapt to the real world, others not so much. But there are techniques I have learned from my mistress on how to deal with it. Meditation (which is a challenge at first) and Yoga are incredibly effective ways of dealing with learning to let go and shut down. It has worked wonders for me. I am being re-trained to deal with misdirected energies and it is definitely a difficult process, but it is working!!

I agree about ADD/ADHD becoming one of the overdiagnosed spectrum disorders. I was diagnosed once by a psychologist as has having a "mild" version of it. If true I do not see it impacting my sessions. Indeed I tend to be a relatively quiet sub.

There is a domme I have been doing sessions with the last few years and we have gotten to know each pretty well. She claims that she suffers from ADD/ADHD and that it causes her problems with her vanilla job but not with her domme work.

i think in many ways i have been the problem poster child of a sub with ADHD /ADD. It has taken me quite a lot of effort and work to better manage my condition in real life. The problem for individuals with ADHD /ADD is that when in session the combination of excitement, nervousness and the more intense mental and physical stimulation can supercharge the cage of squirrels running around in one's head.

Sub's with ADHD shouldn't drink at any time and especially before a session. ADHD can be managed with medication but it can takes years to get the type of drug needed as well as the dosage.

Familiarity with the Domme and the trust that is built up after multiple sessions helps better control the sub's ADHD and makes easier things for everyone.

Things that can help the ADHD sub in both general living and in session - being well rested, eating a no sugar diet, and as mentioned the correct type and level of medication.

Rumour has it, that on occasion, the use of a ball gag has been extremely successful in helping ADHD subs shut down and let go, quelling their desire to need to talk all the time , eliminate bizarre questions, and allow the Mistress to enjoy the session and perhaps even enter Dommespace .

Training with Hypno Tapes has also been quite helpful.

When I first thought of writing the blog article, I thought it would be relatively straight forward. I had two subs in mind that I had recently dealt with and they are very similar in demeanor. Then all your threads started coming in hit me how diverse the ADD/ADHD problem can be. First, I agree that it is over diagnosed, which might be part of the problem. Some subs are perfectly calm because their medication is doing what it is supposed to do and others are bouncing off the walls - not on medication, on the wrong medication, misdiagnosed, whatever. Some have erectile issues due to the medication.

There is no one size fits all answer but I have found that sensory deprivation, hypnosis, breath exercises and giving the sub something specific to "manage" during a scene helps.

Thank you all for your input.