4 ms·

I have ADHD and I have always performed better in school during sports seasons. I was undiagnosed through college and used a variety of techniques including exe

I have ADHD and I have always performed better in school during sports seasons. I was undiagnosed through college and used a variety of techniques including exercise to focus on school work. I prefer tactile sports such as football and rugby. Running is very boring, as are repetitive sports like throwing (I threw hammer and disc). Softball was always too slow paced for me. I'd be caught staring into space in the outfield. I think ADHD was not as big an issue when jobs/daily life involved more physical labor and tactile experiences. Nowadays most "important" jobs consist of sitting in front of a computer for eight hours. That doesn't do any favors for us ADHD folks. I know medication has made a world of difference for me. I don't think I'd be able to handle a 9-to-5 programming job without it.

aidenn0 12y ago
How long have you been on medication? I've considered going back on medication, but my understanding is that many people build up tolerance to it very quickly.
- mattlutze 12y ago
  My doctor has insisted that dextroamphetamine is not a resistance-inducing or habit-forming. I've found the later more true, though I've heard of folks who'll take "vacations" from it to try and reset what they feel like a tolerance. I moved to a different country a few months after I was diagnosed (and since it's rightly a highly controlled medication in the US, couldn't take a long-term supply with me), so I've been able to observe myself both with and without the medication. If I can find a doctor with good enough English, I'd like to reestablish the prescription. Having that support from the dextro was like night and day, eventual tolerance or not.
  - exDM69 12y ago
    > My doctor has insisted that dextroamphetamine is not a resistance-inducing or habit-forming. I find this very hard to believe, given that amphetamine is known to be quite addictive and tolerance builds quite quickly. Albeit medical doses are small compared to recreational use/abuse, so it may be a manageable issue.
- kendallpark 12y ago
  Only a couple of years. I had dextro but I'm trying out Vyvanse. I'm pretty paranoid about dependency on drugs (I don't even drink caffeine on a regular basis for that reason) so I understand your concern. I take the minimum dose necessary to achieve the desired effect and only on days that I need it (when I'm particularly restless and fidgety). I don't take it on the weekend, generally.
  - robwilliams 12y ago
    I was on Vyvanse for 3 years and I never had any dependence or tolerance issues. Quitting was equally as easy. I think the long-lasting pills help separate the euphoric feelings from the actual action of taking the pill, opposite of Adderall which you take 2 or 3 times a day.
- TrevorJ 12y ago
  One thing I've realized is that there are multiple things that can help concentration for me: When the project is new and shiny, when the deadline is close at hand, caffein. If you can recognize similar patterns, then there's a number of days each month when you can predict ahead of time that you won't need medication.

aidenn0 12y ago

How long have you been on medication? I've considered going back on medication, but my understanding is that many people build up tolerance to it very quickly.

mattlutze 12y ago
My doctor has insisted that dextroamphetamine is not a resistance-inducing or habit-forming. I've found the later more true, though I've heard of folks who'll take "vacations" from it to try and reset what they feel like a tolerance. I moved to a different country a few months after I was diagnosed (and since it's rightly a highly controlled medication in the US, couldn't take a long-term supply with me), so I've been able to observe myself both with and without the medication. If I can find a doctor with good enough English, I'd like to reestablish the prescription. Having that support from the dextro was like night and day, eventual tolerance or not.
- exDM69 12y ago
  > My doctor has insisted that dextroamphetamine is not a resistance-inducing or habit-forming. I find this very hard to believe, given that amphetamine is known to be quite addictive and tolerance builds quite quickly. Albeit medical doses are small compared to recreational use/abuse, so it may be a manageable issue.
kendallpark 12y ago
Only a couple of years. I had dextro but I'm trying out Vyvanse. I'm pretty paranoid about dependency on drugs (I don't even drink caffeine on a regular basis for that reason) so I understand your concern. I take the minimum dose necessary to achieve the desired effect and only on days that I need it (when I'm particularly restless and fidgety). I don't take it on the weekend, generally.
- robwilliams 12y ago
  I was on Vyvanse for 3 years and I never had any dependence or tolerance issues. Quitting was equally as easy. I think the long-lasting pills help separate the euphoric feelings from the actual action of taking the pill, opposite of Adderall which you take 2 or 3 times a day.
TrevorJ 12y ago
One thing I've realized is that there are multiple things that can help concentration for me: When the project is new and shiny, when the deadline is close at hand, caffein. If you can recognize similar patterns, then there's a number of days each month when you can predict ahead of time that you won't need medication.