I Have ADHD — Here's My Honest Review Of Done Online Services

Adult ADHD diagnoses in the U.S. have seen a massive increase in recent years, particularly when many jobs went remote. And, thanks to this growing demand for ADHD treatment (especially among women), there's a higher prevalence of shortages in both psychiatric care and medication—leaving many ADHDers without the support they deserve.

Founded in 2019, Done. is an online clinic with the mission to make treatment for individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) more accessible and convenient. 

After administering an ADHD screening to see if you're a good fit for Done.'s services, you'll schedule a consultation with a health care provider, then fill out a pre-appointment assessment that covers behavioral questions and your medical history.

Finally, after completing your questionnaire, you're ready to meet with a Done. physician for your initial 25-minute appointment. Mine was with a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). 

After reviewing your pre-appointment assessment answers, your provider will ask additional clarifying questions about your symptoms and overall mental well-being.

Personally, I've tried medication during a few phases of my life and have since determined that daily use doesn't support my long-term health goals. As a psychiatric service, Done.'s treatment plans do involve medication. If you also prefer a more holistic approach, Done. can offer some support but ultimately may direct you elsewhere.

Ultimately, using medication over long periods of time feeds my workaholic tendencies and leads to burnout. I've discovered that medication is just not a sustainable treatment for me, so I lean into holistic habits and nutrition instead to support my easily distracted brain on a daily basis.

For this reason, Done. didn't turn out to be an ideal service for me. When my provider recommended I try a prescription, I explained that I'd like to avoid medications at all costs. 

She was actually very supportive! She said that I'm already taking everything I can from a supplements standpoint (as mindbodygreen's former supplements editor, I know this isn't true, but I also didn't come to Done. for nutrition advice) and recommended I find a therapist—specifically one that does cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) because "talk therapy won't do it for [me]." 

My physician referred me to the Psychology Today directory to find a therapist and recommended I check out CHADD for psychoeducation resources. Next, she suggested I cancel my Done. membership to avoid monthly fees since we wouldn't be needing follow-up appointments to address my treatment plan (hello, integrity!). She even stayed an extra 10 minutes past time to discuss my options.

Each individual with ADHD is unique and will likely require a combination of approaches, whether that means sticking to a consistent exercise and nutrition plan or utilizing both medication and holistic habits to keep symptoms at bay. 

"It is important to say that people should not feel like they have to choose one—prescription medications or holistic health treatments," says Romie Mushtaq, M.D., a neurologist specializing in integrative medicine and bestselling author of The Busy Brain Cure. "In integrative medicine, we treat the whole person and bring Western medicine and global healing traditions to help promote healing and get to the root cause of the illness." 

In my own experience with ADHD, medication can certainly help—but it's the marriage of prescriptions and healthy habits specifically tailored for ADHD that best support my brain in day-to-day tasks and activities.

If you're looking for pharmaceutical support, Done. physicians can help you find the right prescription ADHD treatment for you. Some commonly prescribed ADHD medications include Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, and Strattera.

If you're interested in nonmedicated options to help support your ADHD brain, there are a number of tools and habits you can utilize. According to Lidia Zylowska, M.D., a psychiatrist with the University of Minnesota Medical School and author of Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD, lifestyle habits and self-knowledge are key to managing your ADHD symptoms holistically:

Nutrition: Zylowska recommends maintaining well-balanced meals (such as the Mediterranean diet) and avoiding artificial additives1 and excessive sugar to help promote mental clarity and healthy attention. "Eating foods that are not likely to spike blood sugar, followed by a crash (i.e., low glycemic foods, protein, healthy fats) can help maintain good physical and mental energy and focus," she says.

Supplementation: Nutrient deficiencies are also fairly common in people with ADHD2, so it's a good idea to partner with your primary care provider to do regular blood work so you can optimize your nutrition. Supplements such as B vitamins3, vitamin D4, iron (in cases of insufficiency and deficiency), fish oil5, and nootropics (like caffeine and L-theanine) have all been clinically shown to support individuals with ADHD.*

Mindfulness: Being more present and self-aware can help with stress management, compassion, and even self-acceptance—especially during "ADHD moments," says Zylowska. "Finding other ways to manage stress (nature, acupuncture, yoga, exercise, art, taking breaks)—finding your own way to 'refill the cup'—is important," she expounds.

Mushtaq echoes this important tip: "I bring mindfulness into daily rituals for clients with ADHD and invite them to start with a place of self-compassion rather than self-judgment. The second step is to avoid comparison of others' productivity in their workplace, but own their ability to focus in that moment. Day-to-day, hour-to-hour, this can vary for an individual with ADHD, so I teach mindfulness techniques to bring them back to present-centered awareness and then refocus on one item at a time."

Deep, restful sleep: "Adequate sleep is one of the best ways to support focus and productivity," says Zylowska. "Setting alarms to go to bed, practicing sleep hygiene (e.g., minimizing screen time at bedtime), and having a consistent bedtime and wake-up time is a foundation for good focus and productivity."

Mental health comorbidities (e.g., depression and anxiety) are also common in folks with ADHD, and Mushtaq adds that other issues could be contributing further to your attention deficit—such as multi-digital-device use, undiagnosed thyroid disorders, and methylation disorders. It's important to get to the bottom of which habits or underlying health issues may be aggravating your ADHD symptoms.