3 ms·

My anecdata on ADHD: I know someone who was diagnosed around age 8. Her parents declined to give her the speed that was recommended. When she was 12, she went

My anecdata on ADHD: I know someone who was diagnosed around age 8. Her parents declined to give her the speed that was recommended. When she was 12, she went for a run one morning and found that it made a huge difference in her ability to focus and maintain emotional equilibrium. She ran as many days as possible since that first run and runs ~12 miles a day (in addition to doing multiple team sports and weightlifting). She is doing great in life - about to finish college and is generally happy. She's quite dependent on her exercise though and if she misses a day for some reason, she is pretty miserable. I'm not a doctor and have no idea if this would work for anyone else, but I have to think that there are better solutions than giving people speed.

bobleeswagger 4y ago
It's not speed. How in the world is this myth still around?
- wintermutestwin 4y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall Isn't amphetamine = speed?
  - bobleeswagger 4y ago
    METHamphetamine is speed. Adderall is adderall. Why be this way?
    - wintermutestwin 4y ago
      I am being quite sincere. It was an honest question. When I was in HS, long before Breaking Bad and Meth, party kids took "speed," which was amphetamines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_(disambiguation) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_(disambiguation) To reiterate from elsewhere in the thread: My point is that if there is a chance that a reasonably healthy habit like running could possibly alleviate ADHD symptoms, wouldn't it be clearly better to try that before giving kids drugs of any sort? I am stating that as an opinion - not a fact.
      - bobleeswagger 4y ago
        You're being pedantic. In that elsewhere you also called Ritalin speed. No. Stop it. I don't care what experience you had that you believe justifies spreading myths and misinformation, but here we are. > long before Breaking Bad and Meth Your world seems a bit one-dimensional. Running helped one kid. So, we tell every kid to run? What do we do for kids that don't want to run? Force them? What happens when you run out of things to try? You're perpetuating a world in which humans can't get the right help for their issues because "they should just try X!" It's incredibly tone-deaf. By the way, Methamphetamine existed long before BB. It was used by Nazis to keep them in fighting shape.
throwaway_51122 4y ago
FWIW, at least in some parts of Europe methylphenidate is the 1st medicine considered, not amphetamine derivatives. (Also suggesting that a medically prescribed and oft beneficial medicine is akin to "giving a kid street drugs" is an un-nuanced way of looking at (stimulant) medications. Not to mention all the "amphetamines are just like meth" folks who probably haven't studied biochemistry.)
- wintermutestwin 4y ago
  FWIW, I was using "speed" as shorthand to summarize stimulants. In the US, methylphenidate is known as Ritalin and, while it is not "meth," it is an addictive stimulant with nasty side effects and withdrawal symptoms* My point is that if there is a chance that a reasonably healthy habit like running could possibly alleviate ADHD symptoms, wouldn't it be clearly better to try that before giving kids drugs of any sort? *Common adverse reactions of methylphenidate include: tachycardia, palpitations, headache, insomnia, anxiety, hyperhidrosis, weight loss, decreased appetite, dry mouth, nausea, and abdominal pain.[5] Withdrawal symptoms may include: chills, depression, drowsiness, dysphoria, exhaustion, headaches, irritability, lethargy, nightmares, restlessness, suicidal thoughts, and weakness.[1]
  - throwaway_51122 4y ago
    You’ve got a pretty valid point about “why not exercise instead of meds” - the answer to which I do not know, though my guess is meds are more “reliable” of a solution. The side effects, yes, they’re not great but (with the caveat of having a proper doctor) should be very little/manageable. Disclaimer, I am on (prescribed) methylphenidate for my ADHD, and the side effects can be annoying but I’m generally better off with the medical + side effects than otherwise. Exercise does help pretty well for me too, though unfortunately now in 2 degree C weather it’s not convenient.

bobleeswagger 4y ago

It's not speed. How in the world is this myth still around?

wintermutestwin 4y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall Isn't amphetamine = speed?
- bobleeswagger 4y ago
  METHamphetamine is speed. Adderall is adderall. Why be this way?
  - wintermutestwin 4y ago
    I am being quite sincere. It was an honest question. When I was in HS, long before Breaking Bad and Meth, party kids took "speed," which was amphetamines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_(disambiguation) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_(disambiguation) To reiterate from elsewhere in the thread: My point is that if there is a chance that a reasonably healthy habit like running could possibly alleviate ADHD symptoms, wouldn't it be clearly better to try that before giving kids drugs of any sort? I am stating that as an opinion - not a fact.
    - bobleeswagger 4y ago
      You're being pedantic. In that elsewhere you also called Ritalin speed. No. Stop it. I don't care what experience you had that you believe justifies spreading myths and misinformation, but here we are. > long before Breaking Bad and Meth Your world seems a bit one-dimensional. Running helped one kid. So, we tell every kid to run? What do we do for kids that don't want to run? Force them? What happens when you run out of things to try? You're perpetuating a world in which humans can't get the right help for their issues because "they should just try X!" It's incredibly tone-deaf. By the way, Methamphetamine existed long before BB. It was used by Nazis to keep them in fighting shape.

throwaway_51122 4y ago

FWIW, at least in some parts of Europe methylphenidate is the 1st medicine considered, not amphetamine derivatives. (Also suggesting that a medically prescribed and oft beneficial medicine is akin to "giving a kid street drugs" is an un-nuanced way of looking at (stimulant) medications. Not to mention all the "amphetamines are just like meth" folks who probably haven't studied biochemistry.)

wintermutestwin 4y ago
FWIW, I was using "speed" as shorthand to summarize stimulants. In the US, methylphenidate is known as Ritalin and, while it is not "meth," it is an addictive stimulant with nasty side effects and withdrawal symptoms* My point is that if there is a chance that a reasonably healthy habit like running could possibly alleviate ADHD symptoms, wouldn't it be clearly better to try that before giving kids drugs of any sort? *Common adverse reactions of methylphenidate include: tachycardia, palpitations, headache, insomnia, anxiety, hyperhidrosis, weight loss, decreased appetite, dry mouth, nausea, and abdominal pain.[5] Withdrawal symptoms may include: chills, depression, drowsiness, dysphoria, exhaustion, headaches, irritability, lethargy, nightmares, restlessness, suicidal thoughts, and weakness.[1]
- throwaway_51122 4y ago
  You’ve got a pretty valid point about “why not exercise instead of meds” - the answer to which I do not know, though my guess is meds are more “reliable” of a solution. The side effects, yes, they’re not great but (with the caveat of having a proper doctor) should be very little/manageable. Disclaimer, I am on (prescribed) methylphenidate for my ADHD, and the side effects can be annoying but I’m generally better off with the medical + side effects than otherwise. Exercise does help pretty well for me too, though unfortunately now in 2 degree C weather it’s not convenient.