I was high school dropout turned Yale PhD. I was prescribed for either Adderall or Ritalin for about 20 years starting in my second year of University. The two

I was high school dropout turned Yale PhD. I was prescribed for either Adderall or Ritalin for about 20 years starting in my second year of University. The two main side effects I had from Adderall were appetite suppression (which has the bonus side effect of intermitent fasting) and hyper focus. With hyper focus I could work like a machine for 14-16 hours, and would have to remind myself to stop and eat, but I couldn’t turn it off. When it came time to socialize I was still chewing away at my work. I was not present. To break myself from the work loop I would usually have to watch TV or go drinking with friends. The problem with the later is that you start to wake up with the dreads quite frequently, increasing your anxiety level. It also tires you out. I rarely (1-2/month) take Adderall now and when I do I take 5mg (down from 3x 20mg what I was originally prescribed for). Ritalin was a different story. Where Adderall was smooth and almost unnoticeable Ritalin would give you a rush, with effects lasting about four hours. I could take Adderall for my most boating early morning class and sitting in the front row I was excited as seeing a talk by novel prize winners. The problem with Ritalin was the anxiety and crash at the end of the day. Prescribing stimulants to people with ADHD seems artificial. In most cases the risks are low and unless there’s abuse or the potential for abuse I think people should have the right to decide for themeselves what they want to take and how they want to live.