Comradeship // Freechat

As someone who has been medicated for years now, just try it. For most people it's not habit forming. Also getting diagnosed doesn't mean you get medicated. It does help you understand why you are the way you are. Medication doesn't undo the lifetime of trauma you've endured and all the bad habits that stem from that. There is a lot of shame attached to ADHD that is external to the condition. You solve that shame and anxiety through therapy. The medication makes it less emotionally taxing to change tasks. It also helps suppress rejection sensitive.

It doesn't change you. You won't be less creative. It won't even stop you from hyper focusing. It will let you stop hyper focusing though. Having better priorities is still on you, but it's easier to stick to them with meds and therapy.

I have ADHD and do not take drugs. What has helped me the most is exercise. Exercise everyday in the morning (Do NOT try to do boring exercise. Do something fun or you wont do it. Find something you enjoy to get exercise. I like to play music, and dance around.) It will help you focus and do things by releasing natural hormones ADHD people are low on generally. The same ones that medications try to replace.

Don't feel bad about taking breaks either. If you feel yourself getting bored get up and exercise some more. Afterwards youll feel much more focused.

Methylphenidate is amazing. For me at least it gave me the ability to do things I wanted to do for years but could never find the drive.

There's a few different release mechanisms so don't give up out the gate, even if it's the same molecule they are not all created equal. Work with your prescriber until you find the right fit. It is worth it.

Your brain has a dopamine hole and you are bound to be doing something to fill it, probably undesirable. I used to spend so much time on my phone, years wasted. A shame, really. Go get your meds and take care of it the right way.

I had similar anxieties/worries when I got my diagnosis. I was determined that I wouldn’t get medication after a diagnosis. But part of the diagnosis process was taking aderall and measuring how it affects me. I felt so calm for the first time ever, and realised that it’s not like caffeine/alcohol/weed at all. It significantly improves my life and I just can’t ignore that and live a much more difficult one when there’s an easy fix with almost no side effects (in my case).

After getting medicated my uni results went up, my sleep problems got manageable and I finally got myself to clean my room regularly. It’s different for everyone though, some people don’t find any benefits from medication.

In the end it’s your choice and if you don’t want to try it that’s totally fine. I thought I’d share my perspective.

1. Get diagnosed first before fretting about options.
2. Knowing you have ADHD doesn’t mean you have to take drugs. There are other options instead of / in addition to.
3. Honestly yeah it’s a hang-up you’re having. I’m familiar with it because I had a little anxiety about it, too. Psychiatrists & therapists are also familiar with it.
4. Maybe this helps a little: To the best of my knowledge, none of the ADHD medications have long-term effects, so even they were to “change you” in some way you don’t like, it’s not permanent, and will be gone in hours, days, or weeks, depending on the drug (hours, for most).
5. A book on ADHD may relieve your anxiety, because it’s so common that they usually address it. You might try Driven to Distraction.

I just started concerta and it’s pretty nice. All it changed is that there’s less miserable time in between tasks where I’m trying to transition or stuck on my phone. Haters and losers say ADHD meds turn you into a mindless drone but that is not true. Most of my extra focus has gone towards “unproductive” hyperfixations (although I’ll try to get more work done, it just didn’t seem as important for a bit). There’s the expectation in this capitalist society that if you’re using drugs to focus better all that extra ability to do things belongs to the exploiters, but you can certainly use it only occasionally when you need it for work and otherwise to empower yourself to do what you like more in free time.

OP you described me to a T and I don't like it. I have been avoiding engaging with it.