What can I do for my ADD on days where for whatever reason I can't take my medication?

I have a rather severe case of ADD, and due to a mix up with my doctor's office I was left without my ADD medication for three days. This has happened before, too, usually due to my ADDing forgetting to call it in.

I guess I was wondering if there is anything I can do when I am without my med to help myself focus and be able to actually do anything worthwhile. Are there any strategies, herbal treatments, anything that I can do?

BTW -- For people who don't believe in ADD, spare me the sermon please. If you had it and had yours treated, I gaurantee you, that you'd know that it is real.

For people who know its real, but don't believe in using the medication, also please spare me the sermon, I can't afford either Dore treatment or orthomolecular treatment, and without my medication I can barely function intelligently at all.

When I'm out of my ADD meds, I find the only way to get any thing done is to write a detailed list of everything I need to accomplish for the day. And I do mean detailed : ie. Wake up, go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, etc. And as I complete each task I mark them off. If someone calls me and asks me to look something up for them and call them back, I write it down. When I take phone msgs I ask everyone to spell their name so I write it down correctly. Document, document, document. If I'm working on a project and I need to leave the room for something, I write down what I'm currently working on and what I'm leaving the room for. That way when I get to the other room and can't remember why I'm there I have something to jog my memory and when I come back to my project, I can pick up where I left without being sidetracked. It is very important that you don't allow yourself to deviate from the task at hand. So, if you must do something for someone else while your working on your list, circle or star the item you are currently working on from your list, do what you have been asked, then go back to your list, starting from where you circled or starred it. I have developed this system over time. It is practically foolproof as long as you write everything down without fail. Good Luck.

Hi pd. I don't have THE answer, but here is a line of thought. If you want to simply be more relaxed and focused, try meditation and/or a relaxing herbal supplement like valerian. You might want to experiment a little with the supplement to see what works for you. Also try engaging in a sport like cycling or running.

Are there other things you want to achieve when you don't have the medication? What are they?