Mindfulness-based therapy - how the hell are you supposed to practice that with ADHD?

Mindfulness-based psychotherapy seems to be all the rage these days. And I get it, it is extremely helpful. But I also feel like it may be harder to complete when you have ADHD... I mean.. sitting still? meditating? having one thought only? I feel like you need a pre-course to mindfulness-based therapy on how to how to get mindful.

I know the books have suggestions and everything.. but that's likely tailored to the majority of the population who don't have ADHD. I have read some of Jon Kabat-Zinns books... and while I find they offer great advice, I find it really, really difficult to follow.

Does anyone have helpful tips or suggestions to follow through with this? Or any opinions on good psychotherapy for ADHD?

I'm already reading Driven to Distraction and I have Delivered from Distraction by Hallowell and Ratey. I haven't gotten yet to the part in the books where they actually give you like a step-by-step guide as to how to manage ADHD (I know you take medication, I have some, 18s of Concerta.. but I don't actually think they're working - if you wonder if a medication is working or not, I'm guessing that means it's not working.)

I have an asssignment due.. and would really just like to learn some strategies so that I can actually get this stupid honours thesis finally done and handed in by the deadline. Help??

Good luck on your assignment buddy, I practice mindfulness when I can. But the whole sitting still part has got to be the most challenging for anybody with ADHD. I was diagnosed in my tween years and haven't taken meds for it since then, I only can pay attention to stuff I enjoy doing. Just try your hardest to force yourself to sit still... You don't have to only think one thought, I usually think many thoughts while I'm doing it, what I do is I talk to myself in my head by describing things I see happening around me, even if its something just as simple as "the carpet is red" "there's a voice in my head" or "I'm sitting in a chair, there is a bug over there" these allow me to stay focused on the present, it helps reduce my anxiety and makes the racing thoughts slow down a bit. Start off small, do it for as long as you can and work your way up to 20 minutes.

I'm new to this forum and have seen little mention of neurofeedback brain training for ADHD. It will help you reach that mindful state you're seeking without the effort, meditation is difficult even for people without ADHD. It's been a successful intervention for decades, last Fall The American Academy of Pediatrics gave it its highest recommendation for pediatric ADHD. Kids find meditating hard to do.

I don't even like mindfulness. When I say so, people think I'm an idiot for not liking this new religion.

I'm on 45mg of adderall and I still can't meditate. The meds help me TREMENDOUSLY, but they don't make me less fidgety. Plus the level of concentration required is so high that I doubt any drug could make me have no issue doing it.

Start small. Even 20 seconds is a good start. Build it up.