Get tested for ADHD, even if you believe you might not have it. I'm in my mid-30s and been somewhat successful at work but my pattern has always been that I could hyperfocus on some projects for days on end and suddenly I would be bored out of my mind and not able to focus for more than 20 minutes at a time. I've blamed and shamed myself for years, thinking I was being lazy, that my work ethic sometimes was poor/lack…
That’s about the time I found out too.
> I don't want to be medicated, I know some terrible stories from close friends who have been medicated for more than a decade and even though it helped them somewhat the side-effects were no joke after so long.
So, not saying you need to go and try medication—if you’ve found a way to live a happy and healthy life keep at it.
But, it’s good to know that some ADHD meds aren’t right for some people. There’s about 5/6 different options whose effects and mechanism of action vary. Most of the frontline meds are stimulants, but a couple are not.
What works well for someone, could be horrible for someone else. Finding the right one can be really easy, or difficult and take months.
A decade ago I suspected I may have it, but severely misunderstood what it actually was and ignored it. If someone had of told me then what I know now I would have jumped on it. Meds changed my life for the better, and I wish I had the opportunity a decade ago.
Until you’ve had chance to try them, I’d caution writing them off.
For everyone else reading this, meds help. But they’re not a cure. They’re often likened to glasses. Imagine having permanently blurred vision. There’s a lot you could still do, but damn if it isn’t easier with a pair of glasses.