3 ms·

If that's right, then it follows that giving medication to suppress it is a bad idea for humanity as a whole. Although it may help an individual cope better wit

If that's right, then it follows that giving medication to suppress it is a bad idea for humanity as a whole. Although it may help an individual cope better with a local situation, it would be better to have more situations in which an individual with ADHD can thrive.

andybak 3y ago
You can choose when to take meds and when not to. I was actively encouraged by my doctor to be selective and I have a prescription for both the timed release and the normal forms. I am fully capable of recognising situations where the meds help and where they hinder.
- JohnBooty 3y ago
  I am fully capable of recognising situations where the meds help and where they hinder. How does this work for you in practice? I take mine selectively as well, to an extent. But in practice I am limited by the fact that there's a certain physical dependency - if I'm accustomed to N mg daily, I can't take less than about 50% of that dose without feeling some withdrawal symptoms such as brainfog and physical lethargy. (For whatever it's worth: I don't have much trouble cycling off completely. I can go from 100% to 0% in a few days if I taper the dosage.)
  - andybak 3y ago
    I've never noticed any withdrawal effects.
    - JohnBooty 3y ago
      That's awesome. Withdrawal is certainly not unheard-of. https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adderall-withdrawal https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adderall-withdrawal Based on anecdotal experience I kind of want to say mild withdrawal is the norm but that might well be selection bias at work: people are more likely to talk about withdrawal than they are to talk about the lack of withdrawal. In my personal experience, just to put things in perspective: I would describe my adderall withdrawal as approximately half as bad as caffeine withdrawal. I don't have any other forms of withdrawal with which to compare it.
      - andybak 3y ago
        I don't take Adderall. I'm in the UK and I think it's fairly uncommon here. The first choice meds on the NHS is usually methylphenidate. I also briefly tried lisdexamfetamine but it didn't suit me as well.
        JohnBooty 3y ago
        Yes. They all have possible withdrawal symptoms. I'm glad you don't experience them! However, I think we can all agree that it's beneficial if everybody knows they exist. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/methylphenidate-oral-route/precautions/drg-20068297 https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/methylphenidate...
        andybak 3y ago
        > it's beneficial if everybody knows they exist. Oh, I certainly wasn't intending to give the impression I doubted that they did. (But I also wouldn't want people to have exaggerated fears about withdrawal - it's hard to know which is more need of correction)
- trilbyglens 3y ago
  Not true for children
emayljames 3y ago
I'd imagine berry picking is not as appealling for ADHD folks in the modern era.
- blowski 3y ago
  Is berry-picking the only job where ADHD actively helps?
  - rbn3 3y ago
    From my own experience and that of many peers I've talked to it really seems to benefit DJing as a skill. It's an activity where you get to be hyperfocused and freely associating/improvising at the same time. Not really a career-path I'd recommend to anyone though.
    - trilbyglens 3y ago
      You're also describing essentially all forms of music making, as well as many other creative disciplines.

andybak 3y ago

You can choose when to take meds and when not to. I was actively encouraged by my doctor to be selective and I have a prescription for both the timed release and the normal forms. I am fully capable of recognising situations where the meds help and where they hinder.

JohnBooty 3y ago
I am fully capable of recognising situations where the meds help and where they hinder. How does this work for you in practice? I take mine selectively as well, to an extent. But in practice I am limited by the fact that there's a certain physical dependency - if I'm accustomed to N mg daily, I can't take less than about 50% of that dose without feeling some withdrawal symptoms such as brainfog and physical lethargy. (For whatever it's worth: I don't have much trouble cycling off completely. I can go from 100% to 0% in a few days if I taper the dosage.)
- andybak 3y ago
  I've never noticed any withdrawal effects.
  - JohnBooty 3y ago
    That's awesome. Withdrawal is certainly not unheard-of. https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adderall-withdrawal https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adderall-withdrawal Based on anecdotal experience I kind of want to say mild withdrawal is the norm but that might well be selection bias at work: people are more likely to talk about withdrawal than they are to talk about the lack of withdrawal. In my personal experience, just to put things in perspective: I would describe my adderall withdrawal as approximately half as bad as caffeine withdrawal. I don't have any other forms of withdrawal with which to compare it.
    - andybak 3y ago
      I don't take Adderall. I'm in the UK and I think it's fairly uncommon here. The first choice meds on the NHS is usually methylphenidate. I also briefly tried lisdexamfetamine but it didn't suit me as well.
      - JohnBooty 3y ago
        Yes. They all have possible withdrawal symptoms. I'm glad you don't experience them! However, I think we can all agree that it's beneficial if everybody knows they exist. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/methylphenidate-oral-route/precautions/drg-20068297 https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/methylphenidate...
        andybak 3y ago
        > it's beneficial if everybody knows they exist. Oh, I certainly wasn't intending to give the impression I doubted that they did. (But I also wouldn't want people to have exaggerated fears about withdrawal - it's hard to know which is more need of correction)
trilbyglens 3y ago
Not true for children

emayljames 3y ago

I'd imagine berry picking is not as appealling for ADHD folks in the modern era.

blowski 3y ago
Is berry-picking the only job where ADHD actively helps?
- rbn3 3y ago
  From my own experience and that of many peers I've talked to it really seems to benefit DJing as a skill. It's an activity where you get to be hyperfocused and freely associating/improvising at the same time. Not really a career-path I'd recommend to anyone though.
  - trilbyglens 3y ago
    You're also describing essentially all forms of music making, as well as many other creative disciplines.