5 ms·

I've had a bit of personal experience with Ritalin. I focus very well on things which interest me, but I have a much harder time focusing on anything less inter

by Adlai 17y ago

I've had a bit of personal experience with Ritalin. I focus very well on things which interest me, but I have a much harder time focusing on anything less interesting. I tried Ritalin very briefly (for a few weeks). As far as I could tell, it just made everything equally "interesting", and I could focus on whatever I chose to. Definitely consult with a doctor, preferably one who specializes in this type of medication. Keep in mind that everything has a side-effect, and that mixing various drugs (illegal or not) can have unexpected results. In other words, learn as much as you can about anything you might use, and decide whether to use it based on that. I'm also about whether AD(H)D is a real condition in the sense that some people have it, and others don't. However, I definitely agree with the sentiment in one of the other replies below, of how it's like vision -- everybody has a different preciseness of vision. If your vision is bad enough, you get glasses. If you believe that your attention problems are bad enough (they seem to be, from your post), then consult with a doctor. I hope you find a good treatment.

rntz 17y ago
As an ADHD-affected person myself, the above resonates strongly with me as a description of its symptoms, and indeed of my thoughts regarding ADHD itself. I have been on ADHD medication (first Ritalin, then Concerta; both use methylphenidate as their active ingredient, as opposed to Adderall) for over a decade now, and have suffered negligible ill effects. One thing in particular I'd like to note is that my dosage has steadily decreased over the years, not just because my symptoms have become less severe, but because I have noticed there is a certain "threshold" dosage - not just of methylphenidate, but of stimulants in general - beyond which the effects of further medication or stimulants on me change. This change is not a complete reversal; a stimulant is still a stimulant. But up to this threshold, stimulants aid my ability to resist impulses and concentrate on things I may not be interested in, while beyond it, they make me hyperactive and give me the jitters without significantly aiding my concentration. Furthering the vision analogy, this threshold seems to me the logical equivalent of 20/20 vision. This threshold dosage has itself been steadily decreasing. (My actual vision, on the other hand, has been steadily getting worse.)
Adlai 17y ago
I meant to say, in the last paragraph, that I'm also not sure about AD(H)D being a real medical condition. Doesn't really change the sentiment of my post, though.

by Adlai 17y ago

rntz 17y ago

As an ADHD-affected person myself, the above resonates strongly with me as a description of its symptoms, and indeed of my thoughts regarding ADHD itself. I have been on ADHD medication (first Ritalin, then Concerta; both use methylphenidate as their active ingredient, as opposed to Adderall) for over a decade now, and have suffered negligible ill effects. One thing in particular I'd like to note is that my dosage has steadily decreased over the years, not just because my symptoms have become less severe, but because I have noticed there is a certain "threshold" dosage - not just of methylphenidate, but of stimulants in general - beyond which the effects of further medication or stimulants on me change. This change is not a complete reversal; a stimulant is still a stimulant. But up to this threshold, stimulants aid my ability to resist impulses and concentrate on things I may not be interested in, while beyond it, they make me hyperactive and give me the jitters without significantly aiding my concentration. Furthering the vision analogy, this threshold seems to me the logical equivalent of 20/20 vision. This threshold dosage has itself been steadily decreasing. (My actual vision, on the other hand, has been steadily getting worse.)

Adlai 17y ago

I meant to say, in the last paragraph, that I'm also not sure about AD(H)D being a real medical condition. Doesn't really change the sentiment of my post, though.