351–360 of 401 posts
I was 30 (8 years ago) when I was diagnosed with it, but my teachers and friends had joked about my “ADD” since I was a kid. A coworker was talking about their kid’s diagnosis and mentioned a bunch of the things they checked for and a little light bulb went off like “maybe I really do have it?” I did well in school, tested extremely high in everything, and the few times my IQ was tested it was quite high. I also spen…
Anyone reading this should be extremely skeptical of internet strangers recommending drugs that gave them "superpowers", changed their life, etc. Taking these drugs will make anyone feel more focused, motivated, etc because these drugs are strong stimulants that cause euphoria, focus, and bursts of energy. Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format "how an ADHD diagnosis changed my life" on Reddit, T…
At my last company engineers openly bragged about strategies to get prescriptions and increase dosages. I find this behavior reprehensible. If they were my reports I would have fired them.
People use all kinds of substances: caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, modafinil, a myriad of sleeping pills, antidepressants, and painkillers. At different points in time some of them have been banned or regulated, at others available to everyone. As things stand some of them require a prescription from a doctor.
In the vast majority of cases there's little danger to at least trying out stimulants like Adderall or methylphenidate, or substances like modafinil. If people want to try them I think they should be free to do so. If they have to jump through some hoops I see no reason to frown upon it.
Their body, their choice.
Anyone reading this should be extremely skeptical of internet strangers recommending drugs that gave them "superpowers", changed their life, etc. Taking these drugs will make anyone feel more focused, motivated, etc because these drugs are strong stimulants that cause euphoria, focus, and bursts of energy. Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format "how an ADHD diagnosis changed my life" on Reddit, T…
Also don't forget that drugs have changed the life to the better for so many on the ADHD spectrum. Though drugs are only part of the solution for most people with ADHD, it's almost always what enables other kinds of intervention to be effective. For me, medication doesn't work too well. I tolerate it just fine, but it just isn't as effective as for most people. It has still changed my life completely. I can accrue li…
Anecdote: I'm one of those who tried behavioral approaches for years before agreeing to try medication. I bounced back and forth between different types and doses and ended up on small, regular doses of adderall because I could have some control over when it tapers off. I'm disheartened by the smugness of commentary here from people who see nothing but stimulant abuse.
To give a solid example of why it can sometimes be seen as giving you superpowers, consider my experience: I have three degrees. I was in graduate school for...far too long. Anthropology isn't a quick in and out. I could wrap my head around anything, but sitting and writing multiple drafts of 50-100 page papers regularly was unimaginably difficult. I loved writing, and I wasn't sure why it was so challenging for me. Several years ago, I had the "opportunity" to write an NSF grant with (read: for) a pretty famous researcher. The downside is that when I was asked to write it, I was told the deadline was in four days. I spent some time setting up a perfect writing environment with no distractions, comfortable lighting, and everything I could think of, but when I was working, I could almost physically feel my brain constantly switching to some other track. It was deeply upsetting. The following year, I finally gave in to my doctor's medication recommendation. When I first sat down to read an article in a journal while medicated, the only thing I could hear in my head while reading was my own voice reading the words on the page. It actually brought me to tears because I realized that was probably what everyone else was able to experience normally. The glasses analogy everyone is using? Yeah, it's a bit like that, but imagine being in your 30s not even knowing that you can't see properly until someone put glasses on you. It changes your entire perception of the world and your place in it. It makes small things seem like superpowers. Like you finally have the ability to do all the things you're expected to do as a productive member of society. It's liberating. At the same time, all I can think about is how much more I might have been able to achieve if people had considered putting me in some sort of treatment as a kid rather than telling me that I wasn't working hard enough and making fun of other kids with ADHD.
Anyone reading this should be extremely skeptical of internet strangers recommending drugs that gave them "superpowers", changed their life, etc. Taking these drugs will make anyone feel more focused, motivated, etc because these drugs are strong stimulants that cause euphoria, focus, and bursts of energy. Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format "how an ADHD diagnosis changed my life" on Reddit, T…
I have ADHD diagnosed by a neuropsychiatrist and I've tried a handful of medications now. Currently I have Concerta, methylphenidate, and only on the largest dosage allowed do I even see any effects. The effects were underwhelming to say the least. I literally could procrastinate with more focus, but my thoughts were just as scattered and I noticed myself veering off topic faster than I'd normally do. I guess I, like…
For what it's worth, I started by trying ritalin and didn't like it. Like you, small doses of methylphenidate did the trick, but affected my mood too much. Once I learned some other coping strategies, I tried adderall again and find it to be extremely effective now. After you level up those other skills, talk to your neuro again if you feel the medication isn't actually helping.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
At my last company engineers openly bragged about strategies to get prescriptions and increase dosages. I find this behavior reprehensible. If they were my reports I would have fired them.
Why? People use all kinds of substances: caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, modafinil, a myriad of sleeping pills, antidepressants, and painkillers. At different points in time some of them have been banned or regulated, at others available to everyone. As things stand some of them require a prescription from a doctor. In the vast majority of cases there's little danger to at least trying out stimulants like Add…
It stops being "Their body, their choice." when tangible harm is being caused to people who actually need the medication to treat a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Anyone reading this should be extremely skeptical of internet strangers recommending drugs that gave them "superpowers", changed their life, etc. Taking these drugs will make anyone feel more focused, motivated, etc because these drugs are strong stimulants that cause euphoria, focus, and bursts of energy. Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format "how an ADHD diagnosis changed my life" on Reddit, T…
This is incorrect. If anything I'm more calm, definitely nowhere near what you describe. I'm happy, but just that. I've been happy before, I've been high as balls before. This is the former.
I'm (with my doc) finding the lowest dose that works. I'm sure if I took 4 or 5 of these in the one I'd be bouncing off the walls, but that's not the plan.
Just like someone lacking insulin needs an insulin shot, someone lacking in stimulation needs stimulant medication.
> Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format
Ya being in mostly-isolated lockdown for over a year fucks with you mentally, wherever your starting point is.
Anecdotally back it just takes one person in a community to figure it out and get a diagnosis for everyone else who exhibit similar behaviours to start thinking "wait that is a symptom too??" and get checked out. New relationship energy then fuels the desire to spread the word to anyone else who might be suffering.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Except, ya know, the lived experiences of ADHD sufferers like myself. I get zero euphoria from my meds. The idea that you think people with ADHD are just normal people who have trouble focusing are missing it by a mile. Caffine makes me sleepy.
Thankfully this living experiences is not how we conduct science. Some people get euphoria and done don't, there is no relationship between someone diagnosed.
I've been on medication for about a week now and I've not thought about offing myself once since starting. That seems dramatic but honestly that used to be the default go-to answer for any problem that couldn't be resolved within a day or so. Seems a bit excessive of a response to problems now.. It really looks like my depression might be rooted in undiagnosed ADHD. I can also if not properly focus on tasks at least…
I'm not sure which med you are on, but I've been on adderall for about 12 years. Started during 1st year of a phd program. In my experience with adderall... everything initially good about this particular Rx eventually fades away. Amphetamine makes you feel great. At the beginning really, really, great. It certainly helped me focus on whatever was in front of me, whether it was math homework or an iphone game. It bec…
I'm on the one the US would call Ritalin. If indeed a tolerance does appear then that will be disappointing and I'll have to figure it out from there. Unfortunately I don't tend to get anything other than "I'm physically tired now" from exercise
I've been on medication for about a week now and I've not thought about offing myself once since starting. That seems dramatic but honestly that used to be the default go-to answer for any problem that couldn't be resolved within a day or so. Seems a bit excessive of a response to problems now.. It really looks like my depression might be rooted in undiagnosed ADHD. I can also if not properly focus on tasks at least…
Definitely try some of the alternate first-line medicines. For me, methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta in US) works wonders. Many people seem very happy with Strattera or Adderall. My first few weeks were a rollercoaster, but the negative effects reduced significantly over time as I got used to the medicine and stabilised my dosage. And the positive effects are life-changing.
I've been on medication for about a week now and I've not thought about offing myself once since starting. That seems dramatic but honestly that used to be the default go-to answer for any problem that couldn't be resolved within a day or so. Seems a bit excessive of a response to problems now.. It really looks like my depression might be rooted in undiagnosed ADHD. I can also if not properly focus on tasks at least…
ADHD meds (psychostimulants) are fast-acting anti depressants. I hope the regiment works out regardless of the underlying condition they're helping you manage, but just another perspective.