14. Alpha Brain for ADHD (Review)
Photo by Karolina Grabowksa
Bill Romanowski was kind of a lunatic during his football days. He injured one of his own teammates for getting in his way, broke the jaw of a quarterback in a preseason game, and even ruined another fellow teammate's career after sucker-punching him in the eye. All of this erratic behavior could be linked to concussions. Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury that can affect a person's cognitive and emotional functioning. Depending on the severity of the injury, a person with a concussion may experience symptoms such as confusion, irritability, mood swings, and impulsive or unpredictable behavior.
What does this have to do with ADHD? Brain chemistry. Though concussions and ADHD are different, they both are neurological impairments that alter your neurochemistry. What if I were to tell you that nootropics like the one I mentioned in the last episode can help soothe symptoms brought about by cognitive disruptions like ADHD and concussions? Not only that, I will give my review of my favorite nootropic Alpha Brain, which I use to ease inattention. Stay tuned!
Nootropic Drugs
If you've listened to Joe Rogan's podcast, you may have heard about Bill Romanowski and his promotion of nootropics. Bill Romanowski sustained 20 documented concussions during his 16-year NFL career as a linebacker. I only bring it up because he helped fund research to develop a nootropic that he uses to aid cognitive function.
A nootropic is also called a brain booster or "smart drug." It's any drug, natural or synthetic, that enhances cognitive function. It's only because of Bill's story that I even heard of supplements like Alpha Brain. Alpha Brain was developed in 2011, and I began taking it in 2014.
My Problem
I have suffered from ADHD since the second grade. It wasn't as noticeable to me as a child, but at 35, it's given me real grief. You get used to getting bad grades in school, but it's not like you can be fired for being bad at being a student. Adulthood is obviously different.
You can't ignore your symptoms when you're an adult with responsibilities like bills. Showing up to work late and making careless mistakes create stress in your life that you can't leave in your locker to "deal with tomorrow." It follows you home and weighs you down 24/7.
I spent years in art school learning to be a graphic designer, so I was excited to enter the workforce. I had jobs as a kid. I was a paperboy and worked at KFC for about two days. I did night security on a Catholic College campus right before college started. I was not too fond of those jobs and quit the old-fashioned way; no call, no show. At the time, I didn't attribute the onset of my fight or flight response, which I experienced before every shift, to having ADHD.
TRY IT!
I would feel different about being employed full-time now that I was doing something I enjoyed, or so I thought. School was much easier for me as an artist, to be. Why wouldn't work be less stressful now, too? I was excited about starting my first "real" job. Spoiler alert, I still hated working all day!
I could stay around for six months at a job, much longer than usual. The only reason I didn't quit was that I was laid off. From then on, I began to notice a pattern. I would be enthusiastic about applying for work, but dread would creep in once I was hired and given a start date.
I tried very hard to stay interested in the job. Still, I wouldn't say I liked it once I became familiar with my regular duties. Into my late 20s and early 30s, I became fully aware of the pattern. Instead of quitting jobs, I promised myself that I would force myself to stay no matter what. I wanted to get used to it and eventually stop making mistakes and not checking my emails. Nope, it only worsened the longer I forced myself to stay.
I felt ashamed and guilty because people tend to be drawn to my personality. I'm very charismatic, and on the outside, I'm desperately trying to be a team player but innocently missing the mark. That's a lie. In fact, out of all the years I've spent trudging through tasks that "normal" people do with their eyes closed, desperately trying to be a typical person, I've only mostly gotten better at faking it.
It's a game, really. The name of the game is "adulthood." Find a way to keep yourself fed and housed. When hiring managers ask, "where do you see yourself in the next four years?" I've become skilled and convincing them it's true when I reply, "contributing to the benefit of a team of other creatives who find fulfillment in devising innovative ways to solve visual problems." After a while, though, I got burned out.
I was sick and tired of playing a game and wanted to sit down for more than five minutes without spacing out and finish things with the same enthusiasm as when I started them. That was when I began my quest for a way to manage my inattention naturally and less expensively.
Alpha Brain Review
I was only ever attracted to Alpha Brain because I could not afford the expensive stimulant drugs to treat my inattention. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sleep were helpful, but I still needed help concentrating on my job. As a podcast fan, I stumbled across Alpha Brain by Onnit and tried it out. Here is my general experience with the clinically studied, plant-based brain vitamin.
First Impression: I missed being high
When I first took the drug, I had been used to the noticeable feeling you get from stimulants when it's working. You can feel it kick in less than 30 minutes after ingesting a stimulant. You become alert and may even experience euphoria. You don't get that from Alpha Brain. When I didn't feel that feeling, I was disappointed. When I sat down to work, though, I was suddenly able to focus. I would be at my mundane job and, in the middle of being productive, realizing I had been focusing for more extended periods.
Long-Term Use of Alpha Brain
After taking Alpha Brain for some time, I weaned off of Adderall even when it was available to me. Alpha Brain didn't give me that stimulant rush. Still, I felt capable of managing myself without subjecting my body to the inevitable withdrawal of amphetamines. At the end of the day, I wasn't still obsessing about work, and I could actually eat and sleep usually.
Not only that, but my creativity flowed more freely. I am a graphic designer by trade, so I have to find visual solutions to problems quickly. Take this for what it's worth, my score in Call of Duty was noticeably higher on the days I took Alpha Brain. At night my dreams were vivid, and I remembered them much easier in the morning. I even felt more relaxed and less anxious because I could tell I was performing better.
At this point, I would like to compare stimulants and supplements for inattention: Stimulants are like riding up a steep hill on the back of your friends' bike pegs. You don't have to do any of the work to get up the mountain, which is nice, but ultimately, you're not in control of the ride down the hill.
The ride down is the most exciting, but always trusting your friend not to crash into a ditch every time you ride together takes away from the experience.
Alpha brain is like riding your own bike up the hill. It's less immediately exciting, and you have to do the work, but by the time you get to the top of the mountain, you can fully experience the best part. You have a fast, fun ride and decrease speed naturally to a safe stop. Then do it again the next day.
In conclusion
It's been about 8 years since I first tried Alpha Brain, and I'll never stop taking it.
Alpha Brain should not be presented as an alternative to treat ANY medically diagnosed condition. Still, I will say this in 100% honest truth: If stimulants disappeared today, I would use Alpha Brain instead of ANY other medication typically used for ADHD, such as non-stimulants and antidepressants.
I really hope you found that helpful. If you want to try Alpha Brain, click here. If you're taking medication, it's essential to check with your doctor first. Much love, DC out!