3 ms·

I'm not a medical professional and don't know you. You could have ADHD. And if you went to a psych they'd probably prescribe stimulants (dexamphetamine), which

I'm not a medical professional and don't know you. You could have ADHD. And if you went to a psych they'd probably prescribe stimulants (dexamphetamine), which are highly effective at boosting focus (being, pretty much, speed). But do think hard about that route. Included in your treatment isn't a pathway to getting off them one day, so you'll be taking these forever basically. They have a high potential for abuse/addiction, especially as they can become less effective over time, just like caffeine. They're illegal in many countries (eg Japan), so you'll have to stop taking them for a bit if you travel there. There's also side-effects, like heart palpitations, anxiety, increase risk of heart attack/stroke. That's not to say you shouldn't take them. Personally I have been diagnosed with ADHD and do take stimulants (though I work hard to keep the dosage very low). However I'd like to point out that there are many lifestyle changes you can and should make before you leap immediately to a ADHD diagnosis. - Sleep. Get enough, but don't get too much. 8 hours. Get up at the same time every single day. - Eat well. A healthy diet has an enormous impact on the brain. - Exercise. You don't need a six pack, just go for a run in the morning or do weights a few times a week. - Look into dopamine detoxing. Smartphones are toxic! - Write down a list of tasks at the start of a work day and tick them off. Trust me, it helps. - Consistent schedules. Eg if you work remotely, stick to 9am-5pm. Schedule lunch time at 12pm-1pm. Of course different times might suit you better, as long as it's consistent. You've already said that the problem started when you began gaming/using social media. You've also said you're better on days when you've had a good sleep, which suggests that many days you aren't getting enough sleep. So there's at least part of your answer right there! If you have bad habits, stimulants are just a bandaid. In fact, they can lead to much worse habits, because suddenly you can sleep less, swallow a bunch of dexamphetamine and code for 12 hours. Of course you'll probably have a heart attack when you're 30.... One additional thing I'd say is consider talking to a therapist, not a psychiatrist. Maybe you have issues with depression, which can lead to a general lack of motivation. But either way a therapist can give you great strategies to help overcome your issues without having to resort to medication. And finally, if you do end up taking stimulants, you should still be doing all the above! Sleep well, eat well, exercise, etc. There's a reason these are cliches! Good luck

thomastjeffery 4y ago
OP absolutely should not wait to get a diagnosis just because you are so afraid of stimulant medication. Even if they share your fears, a diagnosis doesn't mean a doctor will just shove pills down their throat. It means that a doctor will work with them to help! Stimulant medication can be very addictive when abused. On the other hand, when used as directed to treat ADHD, stimulants have been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of new and existing substance abuse disorders. It's incredibly difficult for someone with untreated ADHD to follow the rest of your advice. Why? Because they have executive dysfunction! Getting help with that is foundational to doing the rest, not the other way around like you implied. You won't "probably have a heart attack when you're 30" because you take stimulants. Will you have a higher risk? Yes, but not over 50%! Not even close! If you actually keep reasonably good track of your blood pressure and heart rate, you will probably have a lower risk of cardiac arrest. The same if you start exercising & sleeping more, eating healthier, etc. because you finally have the executive functioning you needed to start doing those things. Stimulant medication is the first line of treatment for ADHD because it has been extensively studied. Numerous peer reviewed trials have shown its safety and usefulness. The risks are well known and obsessively managed.
- tastysandwich 4y ago
  Yes, executive dysfunction makes it more difficult. But it's really not out of the realm of possibility that a person with ADHD can eat a side of salad and go for a jog. Or would you disagree with that? There are extreme cases but we're clearly not dealing with that here. Furthermore, at least we I live (and I hear even more so in the US), it's well known that psychiatrists readily hand out stimulant medication with zero therapy. They give you a questionnaire (which is easy to bluff), and if you answer yes to enough they'll hand you a prescription. They don't ask about your diet, sleep, exercise, etc. I'm not doubting the effectiveness of stimulant medication. As I said, I take them! But let's not pretend there are zero side-effects, and that it's not a big decision to make. Particularly when oftentimes it's lifestyle choices that are the main driver of OP's symptoms. It seems pretty reasonable to me to suggest taking a look at those first, before rushing to stimulants. Is that wrong? I'd also like to reiterate my advice to seek therapy, as if you are struggling they can give excellent, tailored advice for dealing with many of these issues. And once again - I'm not against stimulants. I'm just suggesting a reasonable amount of caution before seeking them out. I'd say that's pretty sensible?

thomastjeffery 4y ago

OP absolutely should not wait to get a diagnosis just because you are so afraid of stimulant medication. Even if they share your fears, a diagnosis doesn't mean a doctor will just shove pills down their throat. It means that a doctor will work with them to help! Stimulant medication can be very addictive when abused. On the other hand, when used as directed to treat ADHD, stimulants have been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of new and existing substance abuse disorders. It's incredibly difficult for someone with untreated ADHD to follow the rest of your advice. Why? Because they have executive dysfunction! Getting help with that is foundational to doing the rest, not the other way around like you implied. You won't "probably have a heart attack when you're 30" because you take stimulants. Will you have a higher risk? Yes, but not over 50%! Not even close! If you actually keep reasonably good track of your blood pressure and heart rate, you will probably have a lower risk of cardiac arrest. The same if you start exercising & sleeping more, eating healthier, etc. because you finally have the executive functioning you needed to start doing those things. Stimulant medication is the first line of treatment for ADHD because it has been extensively studied. Numerous peer reviewed trials have shown its safety and usefulness. The risks are well known and obsessively managed.

tastysandwich 4y ago
Yes, executive dysfunction makes it more difficult. But it's really not out of the realm of possibility that a person with ADHD can eat a side of salad and go for a jog. Or would you disagree with that? There are extreme cases but we're clearly not dealing with that here. Furthermore, at least we I live (and I hear even more so in the US), it's well known that psychiatrists readily hand out stimulant medication with zero therapy. They give you a questionnaire (which is easy to bluff), and if you answer yes to enough they'll hand you a prescription. They don't ask about your diet, sleep, exercise, etc. I'm not doubting the effectiveness of stimulant medication. As I said, I take them! But let's not pretend there are zero side-effects, and that it's not a big decision to make. Particularly when oftentimes it's lifestyle choices that are the main driver of OP's symptoms. It seems pretty reasonable to me to suggest taking a look at those first, before rushing to stimulants. Is that wrong? I'd also like to reiterate my advice to seek therapy, as if you are struggling they can give excellent, tailored advice for dealing with many of these issues. And once again - I'm not against stimulants. I'm just suggesting a reasonable amount of caution before seeking them out. I'd say that's pretty sensible?