24 ms·

I was diagnosed when I was six, and, like you, I dropped all meds at 17. Recently (as in, this year) through a combination of therapy and introspection, I reali

I was diagnosed when I was six, and, like you, I dropped all meds at 17. Recently (as in, this year) through a combination of therapy and introspection, I realized that while indeed I was able to have a successful life, career, relationships without the medication, and that, yes, my coping mechanisms were satisfactory, I was punching myself in the face for no reason Last month I saw a psychiatrist and got a prescription for stimulant medication for the first time in 20 years. After a week I had to sit down and just cry: stuff which was difficult or stressful was just simple, and at the end of the day I have so much more energy to do things, to be present, to live my life. The medication is an aid, a crutch, sure, and I don't need it, but it makes my life better, easier, less stressful and less tiring. Why are you punching yourself in the face for no reason?

hacknewslogin 4y ago
I'm right there with you, getting medication that worked for me made a huge difference. I can now just get up and do a thing without feeling like I have to tear down a wall to do it. It doesn't hurt my brain to have my focus interrupted, and I can get back to what I was doing right away. The best explanation I've seen is this comic: https://teddit.net/r/ADHDmemes/comments/pmrh5d/quite_possibly_the_best_explanation_of_adhd_ive/ https://teddit.net/r/ADHDmemes/comments/pmrh5d/quite_possibl...
jethro_tell 4y ago
This is me, too. I grew up in a "Kids just don't want to learn any more, they all just take meds to fix behavior problems" household. I quit my meds when I was about 16/17 failed out of my last year of highschool, went on to become a construction foreman for huge projects managing crews of 30-40. During a layoff in 2009 because there was no construction, I installed linux on a laptop because I borked my OS and didn't have a key. Ended up getting a job as an ISP call center tech at a small ISP/hosting company a few months later, taught myself systems and networking administration and was running the whole place a few years later including the BGP peering, system automation, monitoring, and building. I went to work for a FANNG for a decade, Built some cool shit, have a few patents. When the pandemic hit, I really stopped for the first time and looked at what being able to perform at a high level was costing me and my family. 1. I was drinking too much, a small buzz would slow my mind down and let me focus on a single thing, It kinda works but at what cost? 2. I always knew what I needed to do, I understood how to build what I needed to build but there would be times, whole weeks, when I'd be unable to bring myself to read the docs I needed too or do what ever I needed to do, that would make me uneasy and lead to a lot of self-loathing. Not a great person for my family to be around during those times. 3. Always feeling like I needed to work but never working, so everything was an inconvenience because I should be getting something done at work but I wasn't, then things like dinner with my family felt like it might be taking away from some work I wasn't going to do anyways. 4. The lightning would strike, I'd find a deadline or whatever and I'd work, almost unbroken for days straight, online before my kids got up, get them to school, work, pick them up and make dinner/put to bed, work through the night or late into the night. 5. I'd build the thing I needed to and then I'd crash and be tired, and then I'd have a day or two to be the father and partner and person I wanted to be, but there's always the nagging feeling that next time, I'll be too late or won't pull it off . . .. I spent 2 years in therapy (starting before the pandemic) addressing the symptoms and working on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to address a chemical imbalance in my brain. Working on being kind to myself, working on stress management, working on time management. Part way into the pandemic, I ended up quitting, realizing I just needed a break and I was working so much harder than any of my peers for a similar or worse output. Them mental overhead of keeping up was excessive. Eventually, I went back and got properly medicated. It was like a switch flipped. It took me a month or so, to get into it, but I found myself feeling like I could stop and be available for my kids whenever, because I started to realize, I could just turn my focus on and off whenever I wanted and I didn't have to wait for lightning to strike. The thing that's most beneficial is a bit unseen, I'm not carrying a burden of self-loathing, fear, anxiety on my back, all stressors that were a result of my inability to entirely control my focus and do the thing that I wanted to do when I wanted to. That invisible weight that I carried everywhere vanished. I've seen a marked improvement in my life over the last year or so. I'm a better father, partner, employee. I like myself for the first time in decades. This is long winded, but I wanted to put this out there because there are a lot of us in tech. having ADHD is actually a great way to get into tech, we find something we don't understand or a blocker and dig deep. I was just trying to find a way around a license key and ended up learning internet routing . . .. I have a very broad skill set because I'll dig deep on anything that walks by. I see many like myself. But if you find yourself in a cycle like this, go get help. Life doesn't have to be that hard.
- RHSman2 4y ago
  Fist bump! So I'm like this just not as 'successful' AND I haven't gone medicated as I'm on the cusp. Although, I've been putting something off for a while....;) 'The thing that's most beneficial is a bit unseen, I'm not carrying a burden of self-loathing, fear, anxiety on my back, all stressors that were a result of my inability to entirely control my focus and do the thing that I wanted to do when I wanted to. That invisible weight that I carried everywhere vanished.' I am currently in the mindset that I don't get to choose what I do. I either do it, or I don't and that has forced me down a route to where I find myself. Which has really worked out. But only because I caught myself and that those knife edge moments went the right way.
  - jethro_tell 4y ago
    > I am currently in the mindset that I don't get to choose what I do. I either do it, or I don't and that has forced me down a route to where I find myself. Which has really worked out. But only because I caught myself and that those knife edge moments went the right way. The problem that I found as I got older is there's substantially less room for just going with the flow. It worked great for years. Now I have people that I'm responsible to and do it or don't do it doesn't work. I can't just leave it to chance if I sit down and read with my kids daily or cook them healthy foods. Their lives will pass by while I'm wondering around waiting for the inspiration to be a good parent. So a heads up, that works great when no one depends on you much. It works a lot less great when you owe people things that you really care about.
    - RHSman2 4y ago
      I’m 46 and a fully fledged animal
      - RHSman2 4y ago
        And ‘parenting’ and the other things I’ve manage to choose. However, jobs I can’t stand I leave (eventually) One of the concerns over meds is that it would enable you to do those jobs you just don’t (and maybe shouldn’t) do.
its_hertz 4y ago
What meds are you taking? I avoided this path for as much, but I’m looking to get my doctor prescribe me something.
terribleperson 4y ago
While meds can definitely help, one month in is way too early to know if the change is long-term positive. This is especially true with stimulant medications.
- PragmaticPulp 4y ago
  > one month in is way too early to know if the change is long-term positive. This is especially true with stimulant medications. Agree. It's important to remind people that the effects of the first few weeks aren't like the effects for the next 10-50 years. It's especially concerning when people say the meds give them "more energy to do things" because that's more of a side effect that goes away after a while. The focus-enhancing effect is separate from the energizing/euphoric side effect that people experience in the first few weeks.
  - eyelidlessness 4y ago
    I’ve never experienced more energy to do things nor euphoria from my stimulant meds. They make me less anxious and allow me to muster executive function that I struggle with otherwise. Not because I’m more focused or productive or whatever else people ascribe to the drug, because I’m less overwhelmed by the world that’s loud and fast and bright and complicated and dangerous. My brain and the world around me are quieter and more reasonable.
    - FollowingTheDao 4y ago
      > They make me less anxious High-dose pyridoxine as an 'anti-stress' strategy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10859691/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10859691/ Anxiolytic-like effect of pyridoxine in mice by elevated plus maze and light and dark box: Evidence for the involvement of GABAergic and NO-sGC-cGMP pathway https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305718301011 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00913...
    - thenaturalist 4y ago
      Same here. Your description perfectly matches my experience.
idontwantthis 4y ago
I think your question is pretty rude. Different people are different.
- TeMPOraL 4y ago
  GP has a good point in that there's an overall stigma against medication, particularly psychiatric medication, in our society. People say, medication is an aid, a crutch. Well guess what, when your leg is broken, you kind of need that crutch to move around. There's no shame in using a crutch. And if you lost your leg, or happened to be born without one, then guess what, using crutch for the rest of your life is not anything to be ashamed of, and it's rude to suggest it is.
  - idontwantthis 4y ago
    And OP is stigmatizing not taking it, with violent imagery. Do what you need to do, don’t make other people feel bad for not doing what you do.
  - mxkopy 4y ago
    ADHD is much more complicated than a broken leg. This analogy is very liable to fall apart. If, for example, you've been taught to walk without your leg (or if you have three legs, all left feet, whatever), using a crutch doesn't make much sense. We can't safely poke someone's head and test their dopamine levels. So we aren't good at differentiating what could potentially be learned cognitive behaviors | brain structure | genetics from hormonal neurology. Hell, these could all be the same thing on so many levels, but it takes only one to mark a meaningful difference. Point is, different people are different. And it's rude to think you know someone's experience well enough to liken it to "punching yourself in the face".
throwawaaarrgh 4y ago
I'm glad the meds have helped you, and I hope other people try them too if they think they need help.
- P_I_Staker 4y ago
  In many cases you just can't get them. My psych basically told me to just give up my career.
sn41 4y ago
I think you are a bit premature in your assessment. The first month usually works for most people. Later on, you may find that it has no effect, worse, you start developing a dependency. People don't give up medication due to ideals or laziness, many find that the disease is often manageable using less addictive approaches like CBT. That said, if medications cure you altogether, there's nothing better. But ADHD, unlike other conditions, seems to relapse a lot.
- mtsr 4y ago
  Do you wear glasses? Would you say you have a dependency on them? I know my wife does. So what? Again with the stigma. There’s little medical reason to expect stimulant effectiveness to change after the first couple of weeks, the “honeymoon period”, during which the mood lifting effects are most pronounced. It’s also that same effect that is the main attraction for abusers because it can give euphoria in high enough doses. And yes, that mostly goes away. But other than a possible slight increase in dopamine re-uptake due to a long term increase in dopamine (over what’s initially a dopamine deficiency as far as we know), there’s no long term habituation (as far as we know). If you feel better without medication, that’s fine, but please don’t guilt others into throwing away their metaphorical glasses.
  - benibela 4y ago
    I have been wearing glasses against nearsightedness/astigmatism since I am an adult. I already needed them as teenagers, but my mother was against it, because I should not grow too dependent on them. Because she says if you wear glasses, the eye adjust to the glasses, so you see as bad with the glasses, as you did without glasses. Then you need stronger glasses, and every time you get stronger glasses, they make the eyes worse, until they make you almost blind. The opticians are destroying your eyes on purpose, so they can sell more glasses I only got glasses as adult because it was mandatory to get a driving license. I actually got an anxiety attack in the driving exam and failed the exam, when I had to put my glasses on because I was still convince they make you blind. I wonder if I have ADHD, too. I am completely unable to participate in classes, but my grades in exams were good enough that no teacher suggested testing. It is like I have zero attention on anything said in class, but then hyperfocus on reading/writing/programming stuff. Anyways my mother would not have allowed me to go to a psychiatrist, because she think that psychiatry is a scam. The psychiatrists are only trying to get you addicted to drugs and destroy your health on purpose, so they can sell more drugs. Or it might be because I could not see anything in class. Then I had to stare at something and try to recognize something in the blur, and that was taking away all my attention. But reading things in close range worked fine without glasses. Perhaps degraded sensory input is actually a cause for ADHD. The brain diverts too much processing power on processing sensations, and there is not enough processing power left for the actual task, and it makes any sensation (distraction) appear much more important. I still cannot participate in classes even with glasses
resonious 4y ago
One interesting point about stimulant meds: they also help people who don't have the ADHD diagnosis. The black market for stimulants is pretty sizeable, not to mention the legit market for things like coffee.
- herbst 4y ago
  Some people who do black market stimulants are essentially just self medicating. Both is not black and white. My partner always had a thing for amphetamines, and was more functional under influence. It just took a doctor to confirm and subscribe them to suddenly make it legal. I could not say the same about myself, amphetamines just make me more awake but not more functional.
- sph 4y ago
  Coffee brightens the person that has had 8 hours sleep too. But indubitably, the person on 2 hours needs it much more.
- Cthulhu_ 4y ago
  I've tried my GF's meds once to see what it was (and using medication is one of the diagnosis tools they use); I found myself focusing and intetionally task switching for about two hours (that and palpitations), but I wouldn't say they "help"ed me. If you feel like you need stimulants to perform well in a job, you need to reconsider your career choices. It shouldn't be a rat race.
  - malfist 4y ago
    >If you feel like you need stimulants to perform well in a job, you need to reconsider your career choices. It shouldn't be a rat race. Would you say the same thing to someone with a physical handicap? I.e., "If you feel like you need a wheelchair to get around, you need to reconsider going outside the house" I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, not saying you'd say something like that, but consider it from the medical perspective. Someone shouldn't have to struggle with a handicap just because it's mental instead of physical.
  - ojkelly 4y ago
mtsr 4y ago
No need to feel so bad (edited from: be so negative) about meds. They’re a crutch, sure, or maybe a wheelchair. But you wouldn’t begrudge a disabled person their wheelchair, would you? Or if you dislike thinking of it as a disability (even if there’s nothing morally wrong with being disabled): a pair of glasses. Do we really think less of people (or in this case likely ourselves) for using a wheelchair or wearing glasses?
- cercatrova 4y ago
  I think you're arguing the exact opposite point of the parent (and agreeing with them), they never said they look down or think less of people who use meds, they themselves use meds.
  - mtsr 4y ago
    Sure, I agree with them, but I also know there are a lot of mixed feelings around stimulant medication due to the attached stigma. And it bears repeating that using ones prescribed medication is not a moral failing. Especially in people who have stopped using it before and for those who might still be on the fence. But I've changed my phrasing, just to be clear.
- emptyfile 4y ago
  I don't care about stigma, but comparing a drug to a wheel chair is just ridiculous. I don't want to get addicted to another thing in my life, here in Europe we're quite familiar with (ab)using speed (amphetamine paste) and the idea of being on speed every single day seems pretty bad. I don't feel "more like myself" on speed and I seriously doubt most positive effect would persist after a year of using and rising tolerance.
  - ojkelly 4y ago
    > comparing a drug to a wheel chair is just ridiculous. Not every disability is visible. By definition they have a significant impact on someones life, as such there isn’t use for competition. A wheelchair is a great comparison. Both enable someone to do something they previously couldn’t. Both are temporary, and stop being useful when removed. Both have a very different effect on someone who does not need them. > I don't want to get addicted to another thing in my life FWIW, among those I know with ADHD taking stimulant meds, addiction is not a concern but remembering to take them is. > I don't feel "more like myself" on speed Do you have a deficit of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine? If not you’re experience will be very different from someone who does. Even then, some stimulants work better for certain people, and for other only non-stimulants work. Our brains are complex, and our experiences are not universal. Speed is also a pretty catch all term, and the ratios of salts have a huge impact on the effect. It may not be very comparable to pharmaceuticals. > I seriously doubt most positive effect would persist after a year of using and rising tolerance. People have been taking stimulants for ADHD for decades, but I think its effect is not what you think to an ADHD brain. It’s more akin to reading glasses.
Skgqie1 4y ago
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was about 27-28. I've been on medication since then, and the impact has been amazing. It makes me wish my condition was diagnosed much earlier. So much unnecessary difficulty (Especially in school) that could potentially have been avoided.
pmarreck 4y ago
You're proposing a false dichotomy. It's quite possible that it works for some people and it doesn't work for others and only being in the persons' shoes will let you truly evaluate the benefits vs. the tradeoffs. For example, stim meds increase my focus but also seem to reduce my creativity and injure my sleep (to the point that I have occasional short-term memory loss). So every day I individually evaluate whether it will be worth it or not, and I make sure to take at least a couple days off a week to catch up on REM sleep.
pacija 4y ago
Ok, that is the assessment after one month. I would be interested to hear your opinion after a year and after a decade of using.
sph 4y ago
Without meds, the constant feeling was that life was moving a little faster than me. I had to put a lot of effort just to stay apace, and taking a day off means having a day and a half of stuff to do tomorrow. I don't need meds to live. I need meds not to feel hollow in my soul. If I think about doing something that is meaningful, I need my meds to up and do it. Otherwise it's living the life of someone with really great plans that are unable to leave their head. It is hellish. Now I have 35 unmedicated years to catch up to.
isolli 4y ago
I know exactly how you feel, but I there is a bigger question: how well do these medications do in the medium term (counted in months)? I have read people testify how the initial boost evaporates, and when things come back to normal, they have to either continue the drug for not much benefit or face withdrawal. Edit: to clarify, I'm not telling anyone not to try medication. Everyone's response will be different. Just beware of the initial euphoria.
- BirdieNZ 4y ago
  I take methylphenidate slow release, and have for several years now. If I take an extended holiday, the first ~week back definitely feels like there is a stronger effect, but days when I take it vs don't are very noticeable in how difficult my day is. People in my personal life can call it out when I am unmedicated, my sleep is worse, chores don't get done, I waste more time at work, I go more crazy at social events and so on. I really hope it keeps working in the longer term because it's been life changing so far.
- sph 4y ago
  No idea, but habituation is a much bigger deal than people give it credit for. I did the titration regimen after my diagnosis with a licensed psychiatrist and ADHD specialist, so you start very low and test a dosage for a month at a time. You increase it slightly until side effects are noticeable, then you scale back. This was my timeline: Euphoria lasts perhaps two days, and you're on the lowest dose so it's pretty mild. You're just doing something and feeling happy about yourself. Good, it's a side-effect, and needs to go ASAP. Many people start on too high a dosage, so euphoria lasts maybe weeks, and when it stops they think it stopped working. This opens the doors to abuse, especially in teenagers. Adaptation, during which other negative side effects start to lessen, lasts about 10 days. Then there's peak productivity with little side effects for 6 months or so. Then you start to question if it is still doing anything. There are days that you just don't feel like doing much. Take a couple days off, and it's obvious it was working all along. Without it you're still unproductive and scatter-brained as you've always been without. Also, you've started getting good at using this new powerful tool, but still don't know what to do with it. This is where I'm at at the moment. -- When you're used to having good days, good days become normal days and it is very hard to remain objective in your assessment.

hacknewslogin 4y ago

I'm right there with you, getting medication that worked for me made a huge difference. I can now just get up and do a thing without feeling like I have to tear down a wall to do it. It doesn't hurt my brain to have my focus interrupted, and I can get back to what I was doing right away. The best explanation I've seen is this comic: https://teddit.net/r/ADHDmemes/comments/pmrh5d/quite_possibly_the_best_explanation_of_adhd_ive/ https://teddit.net/r/ADHDmemes/comments/pmrh5d/quite_possibl...

jethro_tell 4y ago

This is me, too. I grew up in a "Kids just don't want to learn any more, they all just take meds to fix behavior problems" household. I quit my meds when I was about 16/17 failed out of my last year of highschool, went on to become a construction foreman for huge projects managing crews of 30-40. During a layoff in 2009 because there was no construction, I installed linux on a laptop because I borked my OS and didn't have a key. Ended up getting a job as an ISP call center tech at a small ISP/hosting company a few months later, taught myself systems and networking administration and was running the whole place a few years later including the BGP peering, system automation, monitoring, and building. I went to work for a FANNG for a decade, Built some cool shit, have a few patents. When the pandemic hit, I really stopped for the first time and looked at what being able to perform at a high level was costing me and my family. 1. I was drinking too much, a small buzz would slow my mind down and let me focus on a single thing, It kinda works but at what cost? 2. I always knew what I needed to do, I understood how to build what I needed to build but there would be times, whole weeks, when I'd be unable to bring myself to read the docs I needed too or do what ever I needed to do, that would make me uneasy and lead to a lot of self-loathing. Not a great person for my family to be around during those times. 3. Always feeling like I needed to work but never working, so everything was an inconvenience because I should be getting something done at work but I wasn't, then things like dinner with my family felt like it might be taking away from some work I wasn't going to do anyways. 4. The lightning would strike, I'd find a deadline or whatever and I'd work, almost unbroken for days straight, online before my kids got up, get them to school, work, pick them up and make dinner/put to bed, work through the night or late into the night. 5. I'd build the thing I needed to and then I'd crash and be tired, and then I'd have a day or two to be the father and partner and person I wanted to be, but there's always the nagging feeling that next time, I'll be too late or won't pull it off . . .. I spent 2 years in therapy (starting before the pandemic) addressing the symptoms and working on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to address a chemical imbalance in my brain. Working on being kind to myself, working on stress management, working on time management. Part way into the pandemic, I ended up quitting, realizing I just needed a break and I was working so much harder than any of my peers for a similar or worse output. Them mental overhead of keeping up was excessive. Eventually, I went back and got properly medicated. It was like a switch flipped. It took me a month or so, to get into it, but I found myself feeling like I could stop and be available for my kids whenever, because I started to realize, I could just turn my focus on and off whenever I wanted and I didn't have to wait for lightning to strike. The thing that's most beneficial is a bit unseen, I'm not carrying a burden of self-loathing, fear, anxiety on my back, all stressors that were a result of my inability to entirely control my focus and do the thing that I wanted to do when I wanted to. That invisible weight that I carried everywhere vanished. I've seen a marked improvement in my life over the last year or so. I'm a better father, partner, employee. I like myself for the first time in decades. This is long winded, but I wanted to put this out there because there are a lot of us in tech. having ADHD is actually a great way to get into tech, we find something we don't understand or a blocker and dig deep. I was just trying to find a way around a license key and ended up learning internet routing . . .. I have a very broad skill set because I'll dig deep on anything that walks by. I see many like myself. But if you find yourself in a cycle like this, go get help. Life doesn't have to be that hard.

RHSman2 4y ago
Fist bump! So I'm like this just not as 'successful' AND I haven't gone medicated as I'm on the cusp. Although, I've been putting something off for a while....;) 'The thing that's most beneficial is a bit unseen, I'm not carrying a burden of self-loathing, fear, anxiety on my back, all stressors that were a result of my inability to entirely control my focus and do the thing that I wanted to do when I wanted to. That invisible weight that I carried everywhere vanished.' I am currently in the mindset that I don't get to choose what I do. I either do it, or I don't and that has forced me down a route to where I find myself. Which has really worked out. But only because I caught myself and that those knife edge moments went the right way.
- jethro_tell 4y ago
  > I am currently in the mindset that I don't get to choose what I do. I either do it, or I don't and that has forced me down a route to where I find myself. Which has really worked out. But only because I caught myself and that those knife edge moments went the right way. The problem that I found as I got older is there's substantially less room for just going with the flow. It worked great for years. Now I have people that I'm responsible to and do it or don't do it doesn't work. I can't just leave it to chance if I sit down and read with my kids daily or cook them healthy foods. Their lives will pass by while I'm wondering around waiting for the inspiration to be a good parent. So a heads up, that works great when no one depends on you much. It works a lot less great when you owe people things that you really care about.
  - RHSman2 4y ago
    I’m 46 and a fully fledged animal
    - RHSman2 4y ago
      And ‘parenting’ and the other things I’ve manage to choose. However, jobs I can’t stand I leave (eventually) One of the concerns over meds is that it would enable you to do those jobs you just don’t (and maybe shouldn’t) do.

its_hertz 4y ago

What meds are you taking? I avoided this path for as much, but I’m looking to get my doctor prescribe me something.

terribleperson 4y ago

While meds can definitely help, one month in is way too early to know if the change is long-term positive. This is especially true with stimulant medications.

PragmaticPulp 4y ago
> one month in is way too early to know if the change is long-term positive. This is especially true with stimulant medications. Agree. It's important to remind people that the effects of the first few weeks aren't like the effects for the next 10-50 years. It's especially concerning when people say the meds give them "more energy to do things" because that's more of a side effect that goes away after a while. The focus-enhancing effect is separate from the energizing/euphoric side effect that people experience in the first few weeks.
- eyelidlessness 4y ago
  I’ve never experienced more energy to do things nor euphoria from my stimulant meds. They make me less anxious and allow me to muster executive function that I struggle with otherwise. Not because I’m more focused or productive or whatever else people ascribe to the drug, because I’m less overwhelmed by the world that’s loud and fast and bright and complicated and dangerous. My brain and the world around me are quieter and more reasonable.
  - FollowingTheDao 4y ago
    > They make me less anxious High-dose pyridoxine as an 'anti-stress' strategy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10859691/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10859691/ Anxiolytic-like effect of pyridoxine in mice by elevated plus maze and light and dark box: Evidence for the involvement of GABAergic and NO-sGC-cGMP pathway https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305718301011 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00913...
  - thenaturalist 4y ago
    Same here. Your description perfectly matches my experience.

idontwantthis 4y ago

I think your question is pretty rude. Different people are different.

TeMPOraL 4y ago
GP has a good point in that there's an overall stigma against medication, particularly psychiatric medication, in our society. People say, medication is an aid, a crutch. Well guess what, when your leg is broken, you kind of need that crutch to move around. There's no shame in using a crutch. And if you lost your leg, or happened to be born without one, then guess what, using crutch for the rest of your life is not anything to be ashamed of, and it's rude to suggest it is.
- idontwantthis 4y ago
  And OP is stigmatizing not taking it, with violent imagery. Do what you need to do, don’t make other people feel bad for not doing what you do.
- mxkopy 4y ago
  ADHD is much more complicated than a broken leg. This analogy is very liable to fall apart. If, for example, you've been taught to walk without your leg (or if you have three legs, all left feet, whatever), using a crutch doesn't make much sense. We can't safely poke someone's head and test their dopamine levels. So we aren't good at differentiating what could potentially be learned cognitive behaviors | brain structure | genetics from hormonal neurology. Hell, these could all be the same thing on so many levels, but it takes only one to mark a meaningful difference. Point is, different people are different. And it's rude to think you know someone's experience well enough to liken it to "punching yourself in the face".

throwawaaarrgh 4y ago

I'm glad the meds have helped you, and I hope other people try them too if they think they need help.

P_I_Staker 4y ago
In many cases you just can't get them. My psych basically told me to just give up my career.

sn41 4y ago

I think you are a bit premature in your assessment. The first month usually works for most people. Later on, you may find that it has no effect, worse, you start developing a dependency. People don't give up medication due to ideals or laziness, many find that the disease is often manageable using less addictive approaches like CBT. That said, if medications cure you altogether, there's nothing better. But ADHD, unlike other conditions, seems to relapse a lot.

mtsr 4y ago
Do you wear glasses? Would you say you have a dependency on them? I know my wife does. So what? Again with the stigma. There’s little medical reason to expect stimulant effectiveness to change after the first couple of weeks, the “honeymoon period”, during which the mood lifting effects are most pronounced. It’s also that same effect that is the main attraction for abusers because it can give euphoria in high enough doses. And yes, that mostly goes away. But other than a possible slight increase in dopamine re-uptake due to a long term increase in dopamine (over what’s initially a dopamine deficiency as far as we know), there’s no long term habituation (as far as we know). If you feel better without medication, that’s fine, but please don’t guilt others into throwing away their metaphorical glasses.
- benibela 4y ago
  I have been wearing glasses against nearsightedness/astigmatism since I am an adult. I already needed them as teenagers, but my mother was against it, because I should not grow too dependent on them. Because she says if you wear glasses, the eye adjust to the glasses, so you see as bad with the glasses, as you did without glasses. Then you need stronger glasses, and every time you get stronger glasses, they make the eyes worse, until they make you almost blind. The opticians are destroying your eyes on purpose, so they can sell more glasses I only got glasses as adult because it was mandatory to get a driving license. I actually got an anxiety attack in the driving exam and failed the exam, when I had to put my glasses on because I was still convince they make you blind. I wonder if I have ADHD, too. I am completely unable to participate in classes, but my grades in exams were good enough that no teacher suggested testing. It is like I have zero attention on anything said in class, but then hyperfocus on reading/writing/programming stuff. Anyways my mother would not have allowed me to go to a psychiatrist, because she think that psychiatry is a scam. The psychiatrists are only trying to get you addicted to drugs and destroy your health on purpose, so they can sell more drugs. Or it might be because I could not see anything in class. Then I had to stare at something and try to recognize something in the blur, and that was taking away all my attention. But reading things in close range worked fine without glasses. Perhaps degraded sensory input is actually a cause for ADHD. The brain diverts too much processing power on processing sensations, and there is not enough processing power left for the actual task, and it makes any sensation (distraction) appear much more important. I still cannot participate in classes even with glasses

resonious 4y ago

One interesting point about stimulant meds: they also help people who don't have the ADHD diagnosis. The black market for stimulants is pretty sizeable, not to mention the legit market for things like coffee.

herbst 4y ago
Some people who do black market stimulants are essentially just self medicating. Both is not black and white. My partner always had a thing for amphetamines, and was more functional under influence. It just took a doctor to confirm and subscribe them to suddenly make it legal. I could not say the same about myself, amphetamines just make me more awake but not more functional.
sph 4y ago
Coffee brightens the person that has had 8 hours sleep too. But indubitably, the person on 2 hours needs it much more.
Cthulhu_ 4y ago
I've tried my GF's meds once to see what it was (and using medication is one of the diagnosis tools they use); I found myself focusing and intetionally task switching for about two hours (that and palpitations), but I wouldn't say they "help"ed me. If you feel like you need stimulants to perform well in a job, you need to reconsider your career choices. It shouldn't be a rat race.
- malfist 4y ago
  >If you feel like you need stimulants to perform well in a job, you need to reconsider your career choices. It shouldn't be a rat race. Would you say the same thing to someone with a physical handicap? I.e., "If you feel like you need a wheelchair to get around, you need to reconsider going outside the house" I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, not saying you'd say something like that, but consider it from the medical perspective. Someone shouldn't have to struggle with a handicap just because it's mental instead of physical.
- ojkelly 4y ago

mtsr 4y ago

No need to feel so bad (edited from: be so negative) about meds. They’re a crutch, sure, or maybe a wheelchair. But you wouldn’t begrudge a disabled person their wheelchair, would you? Or if you dislike thinking of it as a disability (even if there’s nothing morally wrong with being disabled): a pair of glasses. Do we really think less of people (or in this case likely ourselves) for using a wheelchair or wearing glasses?

cercatrova 4y ago
I think you're arguing the exact opposite point of the parent (and agreeing with them), they never said they look down or think less of people who use meds, they themselves use meds.
- mtsr 4y ago
  Sure, I agree with them, but I also know there are a lot of mixed feelings around stimulant medication due to the attached stigma. And it bears repeating that using ones prescribed medication is not a moral failing. Especially in people who have stopped using it before and for those who might still be on the fence. But I've changed my phrasing, just to be clear.
emptyfile 4y ago
I don't care about stigma, but comparing a drug to a wheel chair is just ridiculous. I don't want to get addicted to another thing in my life, here in Europe we're quite familiar with (ab)using speed (amphetamine paste) and the idea of being on speed every single day seems pretty bad. I don't feel "more like myself" on speed and I seriously doubt most positive effect would persist after a year of using and rising tolerance.
- ojkelly 4y ago
  > comparing a drug to a wheel chair is just ridiculous. Not every disability is visible. By definition they have a significant impact on someones life, as such there isn’t use for competition. A wheelchair is a great comparison. Both enable someone to do something they previously couldn’t. Both are temporary, and stop being useful when removed. Both have a very different effect on someone who does not need them. > I don't want to get addicted to another thing in my life FWIW, among those I know with ADHD taking stimulant meds, addiction is not a concern but remembering to take them is. > I don't feel "more like myself" on speed Do you have a deficit of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine? If not you’re experience will be very different from someone who does. Even then, some stimulants work better for certain people, and for other only non-stimulants work. Our brains are complex, and our experiences are not universal. Speed is also a pretty catch all term, and the ratios of salts have a huge impact on the effect. It may not be very comparable to pharmaceuticals. > I seriously doubt most positive effect would persist after a year of using and rising tolerance. People have been taking stimulants for ADHD for decades, but I think its effect is not what you think to an ADHD brain. It’s more akin to reading glasses.

Skgqie1 4y ago

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was about 27-28. I've been on medication since then, and the impact has been amazing. It makes me wish my condition was diagnosed much earlier. So much unnecessary difficulty (Especially in school) that could potentially have been avoided.

pmarreck 4y ago

You're proposing a false dichotomy. It's quite possible that it works for some people and it doesn't work for others and only being in the persons' shoes will let you truly evaluate the benefits vs. the tradeoffs. For example, stim meds increase my focus but also seem to reduce my creativity and injure my sleep (to the point that I have occasional short-term memory loss). So every day I individually evaluate whether it will be worth it or not, and I make sure to take at least a couple days off a week to catch up on REM sleep.

pacija 4y ago

Ok, that is the assessment after one month. I would be interested to hear your opinion after a year and after a decade of using.

sph 4y ago

Without meds, the constant feeling was that life was moving a little faster than me. I had to put a lot of effort just to stay apace, and taking a day off means having a day and a half of stuff to do tomorrow. I don't need meds to live. I need meds not to feel hollow in my soul. If I think about doing something that is meaningful, I need my meds to up and do it. Otherwise it's living the life of someone with really great plans that are unable to leave their head. It is hellish. Now I have 35 unmedicated years to catch up to.

isolli 4y ago

I know exactly how you feel, but I there is a bigger question: how well do these medications do in the medium term (counted in months)? I have read people testify how the initial boost evaporates, and when things come back to normal, they have to either continue the drug for not much benefit or face withdrawal. Edit: to clarify, I'm not telling anyone not to try medication. Everyone's response will be different. Just beware of the initial euphoria.

BirdieNZ 4y ago
I take methylphenidate slow release, and have for several years now. If I take an extended holiday, the first ~week back definitely feels like there is a stronger effect, but days when I take it vs don't are very noticeable in how difficult my day is. People in my personal life can call it out when I am unmedicated, my sleep is worse, chores don't get done, I waste more time at work, I go more crazy at social events and so on. I really hope it keeps working in the longer term because it's been life changing so far.
sph 4y ago
No idea, but habituation is a much bigger deal than people give it credit for. I did the titration regimen after my diagnosis with a licensed psychiatrist and ADHD specialist, so you start very low and test a dosage for a month at a time. You increase it slightly until side effects are noticeable, then you scale back. This was my timeline: Euphoria lasts perhaps two days, and you're on the lowest dose so it's pretty mild. You're just doing something and feeling happy about yourself. Good, it's a side-effect, and needs to go ASAP. Many people start on too high a dosage, so euphoria lasts maybe weeks, and when it stops they think it stopped working. This opens the doors to abuse, especially in teenagers. Adaptation, during which other negative side effects start to lessen, lasts about 10 days. Then there's peak productivity with little side effects for 6 months or so. Then you start to question if it is still doing anything. There are days that you just don't feel like doing much. Take a couple days off, and it's obvious it was working all along. Without it you're still unproductive and scatter-brained as you've always been without. Also, you've started getting good at using this new powerful tool, but still don't know what to do with it. This is where I'm at at the moment. -- When you're used to having good days, good days become normal days and it is very hard to remain objective in your assessment.