Living Addy Free (Adderall): Real Stories, Tools, and Support for Thriving Beyond Stimulants

On this episode, I interview Dr. Arthur Lavin, MD, my former pediatrician with 40 years of experience, Co-Chair of Doctors Organized for HealthCare Solutions, and Immediate Past Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on the Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. We explore why he chose not to diagnose me with ADHD as a child, even though I displayed many of the commonly re...

Happy first day of spring! A season of new beginnings… and a new season in my Addy Free journey, too. Addy Free began as the resource I wish I had when I was struggling with Adderall and Vyvanse addiction —and while that mission hasn’t changed, this next chapter is bringing me back to the podcast In this short episode, I share the evolution of Addy Free, my personal journey in ADHD medication reco...

In this episode of the Addy Free Podcast, we sit down with Gavin, our first male coed community member, to share his powerful story of growing up on ADHD stimulant medication and the long-term impact it had on his identity. Prescribed medication at just 10 years old in the early 2000s, what began as treatment slowly turned into addiction and self-medication over the next two decades. Gavin reflect...

After 4.5 years living free from Adderall and Vyvanse dependency, I share the single most powerful tool that has kept me—and so many others—Addy Free. You’ll also hear powerful answers from former Adderall users who once believed they couldn’t function without it.

In this special holiday episode, I’m joined by former guest, thriving community member, mom of four, therapist, and ADHD stimulant addiction thought leader Chelsea —who will also be stepping in as a co-host in the new year for short, powerful mini-episodes filled with tools, honesty, hope… and even some fun. On Christmas Eve 2023, Chelsea quit Adderall for good. If you’re a parent—or anyone naviga...

On this month’s episode of the Addy Free Podcast, we’re welcoming community member Abby —our first active college student and our first international member , joining us all the way from New Zealand . Proof that Adderall and stimulant medication dependency is a global issue . In this episode, Abby shares how the ADHD medication prescribed to help her focus at university—including stimulant drugs l...

You might know Jay Mohr from Saturday Night Live, Jerry Maguire, Picture Perfect, or his hit podcast Mohr Stories — but what you might not know is that Jay, like so many of us, was living a secret life behind the success… and the main character was Adderall. In this episode, Jay opens up with honesty and humor about his Addy Free journey — sharing how he found purpose, freedom, and peace beyond th...

Happy Friday, Addy Free community! This month on the Addy Free Living podcast, we’re featuring another incredible community member — Chelsea Yule — who’s bravely sharing her story of Adderall addiction and how she came out on the other side, now thriving Addy Free. What I love about having community members on the podcast is that their stories are always so relatable yet completely unique in their...

In this episode of the Addy Free Podcast , a brave Addy Free community member shares her personal story of Vyvanse addiction and recovery — and how it all began with a prescription meant to help her in her struggle with binge eating. Meet Maria — a career woman, wife, mom, and friend, and the first Addy Free community member to share her experience with Vyvanse, not prescribed for ADHD but for ED....

Welcome to another episode featuring a professional whose perspective aligns perfectly with Addy Free’s mission—you don’t need medication to thrive. And this time, that message comes from a psychiatrist herself. This conversation may shift how you think about medication—not just our once-faithful (and now retired) friend Addy, but also SSRIs, which many of us are told will help ease the transition...

In this episode of the Addy Free Podcast, I share a short but powerful message with the community as I celebrate 4 years sober from Adderall and stimulant medication . This episode isn’t about everything I’ve learned in recovery—there’s far too much for one conversation—but about one foundational truth in Adderall addiction recovery : the power of keeping a promise to yourself. Whether you’re 4 ye...

This month on the Addy Free Podcast, I’m joined by Jesse , a moderator of Stop Speeding , one of the largest online communities focused on stimulant addiction recovery , with over 42,000 members navigating life beyond Adderall, Vyvanse, and other stimulant drugs. Stop Speeding is a recovery-centered, judgment-free space for anyone impacted by stimulant use—regardless of the type of drug, how it wa...

In this powerful episode of the Addy Free Podcast , we sit down with Vitale Buford , author of Addicted to Perfect , to explore her 10-year struggle with Adderall addiction , perfectionism, and the path to lasting recovery. Vitale shares how ADHD stimulant medication—often labeled a “study drug”—slowly became a source of dependency, burnout, and emotional disconnection. What began as a tool for pr...

We've got a lot going on in the Addy Free world... listen if you want to find out!

Here is the instagram post for your reel! when I get the opportunity to interview an Addy Free community member, I prioritize that more than any specialized doctor—because we’ve lived it, and we know what it’s like. That’s why I’m SO excited to have on Hayley Carver, who is officially 11 months Addy Free (we recorded this a month ago). WELCOME 🩵 When I first realized I had a problem with Addy, al...

If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling Amazon at 2am with a cart full of impulse buys—whether it’s washi tape, fitness equipment, or something truly unhinged—this episode is for you. In today’s episode of the Addy Free Podcast, I unpack a habit that was intensified by Adderall use and that I continue to work through in my Adderall addiction recovery : impulsive shopping and impulse control issues...

In this month's episode, I sit down with R.L. Kramer, author of Hocus Focus , to explore his raw, eye-opening journey of being prescribed Adderall and Dexedrine from age seven —and how what began as treatment for ADD turned into a decades-long struggle with stimulant addiction, identity loss, and mental health challenges. Kramer opens up about: The real benefits and long-term risks of ADHD sti...

In this solo episode, I dive deep into the moment I truly realized Adderall no longer worked for me—and how that revelation became the key to my recovery. I share how shifting my identity from someone who needed Adderall to someone who simply doesn’t take it rewired my mindset and freed me from the cycle of dependency. This concept, known as identity-based habits , is backed by neuroscience and ps...

In this episode, we explore how chiropractic care can support Adderall and Vyvanse recovery by helping regulate the nervous system after stimulant use . Dr. Liv and Dr. Devin explain how nervous system imbalance contributes to anxiety, depression, brain fog, focus issues, digestion problems, and chronic stress —common symptoms during stimulant withdrawal and long-term ADHD medication recovery . If...

In this parent-focused episode of the Addy Free Podcast , I speak with Dr. Kimberly Bell , child psychologist and Director of the Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development , about why so many parents feel pressured to medicate their children when school becomes challenging. Dr. Bell explains how today’s education system often turns to ADHD medication and behavioral labels before fully understandi...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Cari Williamson , founder of Motherboard Press , a community and business dedicated to supporting moms’ mental health, confidence, and well-being . Cari shares her personal Addy Free journey and opens up about the belief so many mothers carry—that they need ADHD stimulants like Vyvanse to juggle motherhood, entrepreneurship, and everyday life. After stepping awa...

In this episode, Janet opens up for the first time about her journey to becoming Addy Free, as she sits down with her brother and one of her biggest supporters, Jay Oliva. Janet gets vulnerable, sharing how her addiction began and what led her to hit "rock bottom." Join Janet and Jay for an honest and open conversation on a topic that’s rarely discussed: Adderall and Vyvanse addiction.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Schmidt , co-founder of Best 365 Labs , and Dr. Steven E. Warren, M.D., Ph. D. , to explore natural, science-backed alternatives to ADHD medication, anxiety treatment, and modern quick-fix health culture. We discuss how fast-paced lifestyles, chronic stress, and misdiagnosis are contributing to anxiety, burnout, and stimulant dependency—and how targeted supplemen...

In this episode, we discuss: Laney's journey with disordered eating after gaining weight from stopping Vyvanse, and why she decided to make a change. The importance of reframing our mindset around food. Why weight gain shouldn't deter you from discontinuing stimulants. Actionable tools to maintain a healthy mindset during your body's recovery phase after stopping stimulants.

In this episode with Sara, In this episode of the Addy Free Podcast , we sit down with a stand-up comedian and viral Instagram and TikTok creator to talk openly about her experience with Adderall use, dependency, and quitting stimulant medication . After going viral for joking about her former Adderall use and why she quit, Sara shares the deeper story behind her decision to get off the drug—and h...