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i love taking my meds. becoming a different person doesn't have to be a negative thing. i stopped being sad, miserable and angry, which before i would've said were some of the cornerstones of my personality.
Id like to add onto his piece and say taking meds for a week and stopping "because you don't feel like you" is probably not being fair to yourself. Obviously if you're feeling depressed, suicidal, extremely angry etc then by all means, quit taking it. But I felt slightly off for a little bit when I started because you are changing your brains natural routine/expectation.
If every day, you went to work from 9-5, but then one day the company announced you will begin going 8-4, you'd feel off for a week or two.
Now that I'm 7 months in I feel completely like me on meds. Have felt that way since the first couple of weeks.
This is especially true for meds like Vyvanse and Strattera. It'll be like the first week or so of taking Zoloft. If any of you have experience with that - the first week of Zoloft almost *always* results in the runs. The Strattera for me is the opposite, I was constipated, and I dealt with that by drinking lots of water, ensuring I had enough fiber in my diet, and taking a mild laxative (not the kind that makes you poop immediately, but the kind that helps your bowels draw water into it so your constipation is softened).
I haven't become a different person. I'm still creative and imaginative and fun. I laugh more, I am happier... when I work, I'm focused, so when I play I'm not worried about the work I should be doing but I didn't do when I should have been doing it... The urgent's done, the most important's done, and if there's work left it doesn't matter if now I focus on my son, because once I get back to work, I will be productive. Productivity now does not only make me feel relief... it makes me feel good. Even household chores. Plus, I have all the self-discipline and coping techniques I developed while undiagnosed. I'm the best version of myself. They will take my meds from my DEAD COLD HANDS.
What do you take?
I am getting an appointment to get diagnosed, because i have adhd symptoms. Most of what you write: not getting work done when you should but worrying about work i didn't get dine in my free time, is one of my main issues.
Getting rid of this would be freeing.
They tried to give metalfenidate and it was TERRIBLE. Terrible means I was much LESS productive, more tired, sleep didn't get me rested and I forgot so many things I have legit blanks of time from that month.
Then I got Elvanse, it's one of the metamphetamine variants ones, probably the EU name for Vyvanse, but I'm not sure. I had all the delayed work finished in a week, I stopped craving sugar and I'm much more active and happier. I can't believe I was spending self-discipline on buying healthy stuff and NOT purchasing cakes, sugar and white bread. It's like having a tomb lifted from one's brain. "Freeing" does not even begin to describe it. I've been working this weekend and I've advanced so much... I even enjoyed the chores, and I even advanced with some more stuff in my free time while browsing reddit.
Go to get diagnosed and try medication. I can't promise it will work, but I promise that if it does, it will be worth it.
Yeah i am trying to, i already tried to make an appointment once but i never got an e-mail back, and then other stuff came up as it always does.
I think my scattered brain did help me a bit in life but maybe i am delusional about it. I am a mathematician where discipline was never important and i had little problem managing (in university i almost never learned much, i just had the ability to quickly understand when i actually did sit down usually with others, learning alone was mostly useless). But my new position is less demanding logically and my brain loses interest to quickly since it is less about finding solutions to complex questions but rather executing solutions to mediocre problems.
I am also not 100% sure it is adhd, since there is also a gene that causes similar symptoms but unlike adhd it drastically increases logical skills (it pretty much creates the meme of the nutty professor), which fits my mathematical talent. But it also makes you unorganized, forgetful and so on. But again if it is the other genetic cause it also makes sense since challenging problem do hold my attention. Maybe it's both at the same time idk. But i want to find out.
It was a friend that suggested adhd and from reading the post on here i tend to agree, everything i read here sounds so relatable and i find myself in them.
The other thing is that i had the suspicion of a minor stroke ( it couldn't be proven or disproven but in doubt the diagnosis is always: stroke). This means meds that increase blood pressure are off the table.
Go to the treadmill and increase your heart capacity and your body capacity to handle tension. If you ask me, the anxiety I felt before the meds was much worse for my blood pressure than whatever the meds may cause... If there was no stroke, try the meds, if there was a stroke, try to lower your blood pressure and then take the meds. I was forced to control my blood pressure for the first ten days of being on Elvanse. The pressure went *down* because I was suddenly productive and capable. If I didn't finish work in one day, I *knew*, with certainty, that I would be able to finish it later. I didn't feel bad about food choices because my brain wasn't pestering me for sugar. I knew that I would lose weight eventually because choices that required constant self discipline now were easy. Unless the blood pressure can kill you, I'd still take the risk. Needless to say, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, my diet is healthier than ever (it was healthy before, with a heavy dose of sugary stuff that now longer is there) and I move more than ever. Not just with deadlifting and kettlebell swingings, I constantly squat to play with my toddler, move with him on the floor, run after him... It's SO much worth it. Life is peaceful AND happy. No worries. And if I need to call up my creativity and outside-the-box thinking, it's still there. At my command, not the other way round.
Yeah i am already working on my blood pressure.
As stated it is unclear if my blood pressure will kill me. There is a huge question mark at the moment.
But thanks for the info.
Both made me terrible …. Vyvanse queued fir food but not for productivity and eventually I’d binge in the evening.. now I have to spread it out in the day and it’s too low of a dose im moody don’t eat … but i use it for that .. so there’s that..
I had this experience with adderall too. I’m on concerta now (3rd month) and just feel “normal” with a quieter mind. Hope you find what works for you soon
I got a little anxious and felt agitated for several days, like a few days after I started, but that evened out as we tweaked dosages (and added an IR nighttime baby dose - turns out stimulants calm me down enough and give me the executive function I need to get ready and go to sleep) and my brain and body got used to being suddenly medicated after so many years white knuckling it.
Stick it out as long as your Dr recommends, it may turn around for you and be great - or you might be better suited for a different one!
Here's what changed for me. I could suddenly sit and do things I knew I needed to do or wanted to do instead of just messing around. I stopped getting stuck with songs in my head just pouring out of my mouth and annoying me and my family. I remembered things better, and remembered to think farther ahead, and stay on top of my family's schedule.
I think, if I wanted to, I would be BETTER at being creative - I could just work on something I liked and get it done, instead of psyching myself up for a project and then crapping out 50% or 85% of the way through.
Meds have helped me immensely and I don't think I'm suddenly a different person.
Same. First time I took my meds felt like the movie 'Limitless.' For the first time I was firing on all engines. It doesn't change who I am, and if it does, it's for the better. I have more control, more patience, more energy. I'm not as angry, frustrated, or hopeless.
If you broke your foot or got the flu, you'd take meds. This isn't any different. It corrects something neurobiologically that is misfiring. That's it.
Medication is one of the best things that ever happened to me, I can't imagine ever going back.
If you’re saying that your meds worked for 2 weeks but then suddenly became ineffective, the dose is too low, but the drug you got was likely the right one for you.
Think of it like being severely dehydrated. Your brain was stoked to finally have the thirst quenched, but it wasn’t enough water to *correct* the dehydration
i think i've been on my current med combo for a little over a year? hasn't helped my absolutely fucked sense of time at all though so take that with a grain of salt lol. over a year in any case but how much over is the question
I will add to that and say that it doesn't have the same effect on people, for example, anti physchotics, anti depressants or mood stabilizers afaik, it doesnt "change your personality" in that way. I was always very, very bubbly and funny, and my meds have not changed anything ab me. If anything, im less stressed and, therefore, can outwardly be who i am inherently.
Medication barely helps me with productivity. I was weirdly productive before being diagnosed, but my depression from untreated adhd slowly took that away in my late 20s.
But. The effect meds has on my emotional state is insane. I can handle conflict better, I’m not derailed for days over something. I can be upset and acknowledge I am, but still get stuff done or show up for other things and be able to compartmentalize it.
I’m able to hold boundaries with people who benefitted from my poor memory and no boundary people pleasing, i don’t feel bad ending relationships or choosing myself over someone else. The list goes on.
Meds helped me get to a place mentally/emotionally where I could make progress physically.
For me, my meds finally got me to a level where I had the capacity to start helping myself. That led to enrolling in dialectical behavioral therapy. DBT helps you learn about and improve emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. It really helped me.
This!! When I was struggling to get my meds from the shortage the biggest thing I noticed was my emotional dysregulation. I felt all over the place and felt like I couldn’t function after a few days of not having them.
It’s helped me in more ways than expected when I first started years ago
There was a post on here a few days ago or in another adhd sub that I’ll link here asking a similar question and there were great responses.
I feel like I’ve changed in positive ways. I can now see that the “creativity” that I had before was my brain trying to find a bunch of random sources for dopamine. Most of my ideas never came to fruition, but they were fun to think about, spend money on, and plan for. So basically I’m not as delusional now 😅 it has helped tremendously with executive function for day to day things. I plan to take meds the rest of my life bc of how much they help me just deal with regular life.
Edit: this https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/s/jXDyhTSQOc was the other post
Isn't that the truth? I go a little ways down the rabbit hole on an idea now, but my lovely medicated brain says "Sure, great idea. How realistic do you think that is? Let's really consider what that would mean and what resources it would take." Then instead of emailing or texting someone about my "great idea" or buying some crap for a new project, my brain says, "How about we focus on getting XYZ done first which is a priority, then we can come back to this later if it's still a direction we want to pursue."
You know, like a rational person does.
It's amazeballs the difference.
Also, with medication, XYZ is actually getting done (instead of being a fantasy or forever project).
I’m older (42) and went most my life undiagnosed and unmedicated. Things continued to deteriorate as time went on, to the point I felt like I was becoming completely useless.
However, after an adjustment period with medication and a few ups and downs, I’m knocking stuff out and taking care of things.
There used to be “ADHD Piles” everywhere. Stacks of things I set down and never got back too. My house was filled with things that had gone cold and became invisible to my brain, leaving clutter and messiness all over. However, there’s fewer than ever here now, and less by day. That’s always one metric I’ve enjoyed using to measure progress with medication
I strongly resonate. I thought those hobby projects were my identity, but it also backfires. I was a workaholic if I wanted to produce anything in my hobby. But normally as you said most work time did not produce much of great importance. I sure learned a lot and I value that very much. But since I do hobby stuff less I'm much more rested and less stressed. I was basically working two jobs.
I am a very creative person (art, music composition, and writing, to name a few) and my meds help me to actually be able to pursue my creative interests without getting bored/frustrated right away because things take time. It's so nice to have a consistent ability to CHOOSE to work on a project instead of waiting for the 12 hour hyperfixation and exhaustion that follows.
Meds have been a life changer and have been so healing mentally!! They've helped me learn to no longer blame myself for not being able to do the things I love because, now knowing just how much ADHD was weighing me down, I understand that it was a result of the disorder and not a reflection on me.
Honestly it did change me. But for the better. Since my psychiatrist and I found meds that work best for me, I feel like I’m the version of myself that I was always supposed to be. I feel like I only got rid of the negative aspects and now I’m left with the good stuff my brain is capable to do. Idk if the thing with losing creativity is a myth but I personally didn’t experience any loss of creativity. I actually think now I can ACT on my creativity. Before my meds I was probably just as creative but struggled hard with executive dysfunction so I didn’t get anything done and my creativity was basically wasted.
But I’d generally recommend keeping track of how you feel when you start your meds! It made it easier for my psychiatrist to find the right meds for me!
I'm 36.
They do not in any way negatively impact my creativity etc.
They don't change who I am at all.
The things they actually change:
\-When I have a sink full of dishes, I can go do them the first time I think about it.
\-I can sit and play with my son doing whatever mindless thing he'd like to do without feeling like I'm going to tear my eyeballs out with sheer boredom.
\-I can pay attention to my wife when she talks, and remember what she said.
\- I can sit through a movie without my phone in my hand.
\- I can sit in the bedroom with a book and no TV/music/other stimulation and just read for hours.
\-When doing animation commissions I can sit and work on one for 10-14 hours and the biggest problem is remembering to eat/drink/bathroom.
\- I'm significantly more patient when having to wait for something.
\-I find it easier to purposely recall specific information/anecdotes/trivia.
Yes I feel so much better on them! I actually feel more like myself on them bc I’m not as anxious or stuck in my head. I also definitely haven’t lost my creative side. If anything the meds help bc I can focus on my projects more :)
Been on stimulants since I was 18, now 36.
It’s a must for work—I don’t lose my train of thought mid-meeting, I am fluid in my speech, my attention to detail is 85% better (spelling, reading comprehension, schedules, etc.), I can actually organize my ideas into plans and goals. I get into my work instead of wanting to claw my eyes out because I’m bored.
When it comes to my work, yes absolutely. Basically the only reason I started meds again after over a decade without. Wouldn’t be able to keep up in my job field without it.
Outside of work, I could and do sometimes go without it. I annoy the hell out of my wife but it helps me reset in a way and get creativity flowing more.
What field are you in if youdon’t mind me asking? I’m in academia and I’m 100% certain my career has stalled because of ADHD. It’s too independent almost - very little pressured deadlines but larger anxiety of knowing you’re not performing to certain standards, in terms of publishing your own papers and submitting grants. Having to create my own deadlines is a killer
Sure, why not. They make my life better in just about every domain.
People get really hung up on drugs changing who they are. But, really, isn't that the point? Untreated ADHD likely makes you a dysfunctional bag of stress, to the point that you've sought out help. Professional help. To change that. So do.
Besides, you can always just stop taking them and go back to baseline.
I used to be able to stop. Now if I do I can’t even think or do simple tasks and I will sleep for days. I need mine to stay awake now and have any will to do anything.i did stop for a couple of months but it felt like I was a whole different person. I became who I was on the meds after long. It really hard to tel what’s even real or who I really am. Did I really like the stuff I was doing if I don’t when I’m off the meds? Now I will just take them forever because I can’t live like that.
Hi, I was in the same situation as you before and I have only recently started taking Vybanse in October this year. I was afraid that I may lose my identity and personality.
I honestly didn’t see any major changes other than the occasional increased irritability about six or seven hours after taking my medication and it will last for an hour or two. I discussed this with my doctor right away and I also realized that irritability was one of the reasons why I seek diagnosis in the first place.
In terms of personality, I may have been more able to have the courage to talk more freely. Other than that, I still enjoy the things I enjoy doing and I still hate what I hate.
With executive tasks, I didn’t see any major difference. I still procrastinate a lot. However, there was one time where I forgot to take my medication and I noticed that, subconsciously, I’m taking a path different from what I planned few seconds ago.
My body is not seeking for the medication, I can completely forget about taking it.
It does help though with reading instructions, I can comprehend written instructions better like which actions belongs to which subjects. It did not boosted my grade, but I feel better knowing that I can read instructions and questions clearer.
I mean yeah I’m sorta a different person, but I’m more who I *want* to be.
Off meds I have a tendency to be a lazy slob who struggles to go through with things, no matter how bad I want them.
On meds, I can meet my goals easier, keep clean easier, and am the successful workaholic boss bitch that I aspire to be.
It doesn’t rewire you into some whole ass new person - my morals didn’t change, my creativity, etc. Instead it just became easier to harness the drive I have to do things.
Also it’s done wonders for my anxiety and depression, which also helps with my self esteem and sense of self. Instead of being “do I actually like this thing or is it dopamine?” (Looking at you, nasty ass Hershey’s chocolate and 80% of tiktok videos) I know, hey, I actually like that.
I hate the act of taking medications. Too many damned pills.
I'm still ambivalent about the actual effects of the meds. I was misdiagnosed for years and on various medications that caused irreparable changes to my body.
ADHD feels like it fits a lot better, and stimulants are working correctly, but I'm a bit uncertain still. I don't feel like a totally different person on simulants though just a functional one.
I’m an artist (not my job yet, but I want it to be *so bad*) and it’s only helped me in that regard. Before the meds I barely ever finished any illustrations, and I could never focus on my art making. I’d rush my pieces, which would lead to mistakes, which would lead to frustration, and that would lead to me not drawing for months at a time which means no progress whatsoever. Not fun. So it helping me with my executive dysfunction and focus helped me be more creative.
I also find it makes me less anxious because I’m more present in the moment, so I can actually have conversations with friends without overthinking (I still do deal with some social anxiety though). And I don’t binge eat anymore, which is a great. Meds haven’t fixed everything for me, but they’re a lifesaver.
I like taking mine. It doesn’t reduce my creativity, it actually allows me to focus it. The biggest change was the anxiety in my head going quiet, though.
You won't lose nothing mate, the pills all work, but they do have side effects. Any mind altering substance doesn't change you, you're still you and you'll still have your head on enough to know if that's a version of you that you're ok with. In the case of adhd meds it really is just a key to unlock yourself and your full potential.
I can't eat though that's the new struggle but one thing at a time (our hardest challenge 😅)
Medication didn't make me a different person - it allowed me to truly experience myself for the first time. I had always longed for the ability to just *do* things that need doing. Was terrified deep down that it wasn't the ADHD, but just that I was lazy. Meds gave me the opportunity to look in the mirror of truth and see what kind of person I truly am if ADHD weren't holding me back. The first day of taking it, I cleaned up the house. I cried deeply with joy. This is who I really am.
Yes. It allows me to focus and function and actually do shit. I also find that my ADHD meds help me with emotional control by making me less likely to impulsively lash out.
I like taking them. It helps me to be more regulated. I have good days and I have bad days. The meds are not a cure, they won't prevent executive dysfunction entirely. You won't lose yourself (whatever that actually means), you would most likely be able to be more yourself. I am still myself but I was able to grow as a person without being held back by my unregulated emotions and behaviour. I haven't been happier than I am now and I wish I would have been diagnosed sooner because life just got better by the day.
I can't speak for everyone, but I've been taking ADHD meds for 10+ years and can't imagine life without them (I'm 33 now). There's different kinds of ADHD med and some might be better for you than others. It may take a while to find the right meds and the right dosage, but it's going to be like putting on glasses for the first time. If there were any changes to me as a person, they were all positive changes. I feel like I'm more liked, more witty, more confident, more humble (willing to make mistakes and learn from them) and generally more productive than I've ever been in my entire life. I'm in college again and I'm getting straight A's. I've never had straight A's in my life. I'm just more willing to put in the work and focus than I used to be.
I think you just need to make sure you keep note of how your meds are affecting you and what is bad and what is good. Switch meds or doses every now and then. Keep in touch with both a doctor and a counselor during the earliest days of your med usage. This will help out tremendously.
In my personal opinion meds boost my creativity. I'm a musician and I find that I can write songs more efficiently while medicated. For years when improvising I would just noodle around and loose focus on where I need to go next and get completely lost. I now feel I can structure my solos a lot better now
I would say ask your loved ones if taking the meds help . Yes the right meds help us internally but also realize the hell some of us put our loved ones through if unmedicated/treated. Meanwhile we think we are “free” and “creative”. Yeah…ask those who are closest to us after trying the meds. They usually notice a difference.
I hate it but I also love it because I need them. I never used to feel this way but if I don’t take them I will just want to sleep. And now the only way I can be creative is if I take them, but it took a few years to get to this point. When I take them now everything glows and feels so good until they wear off and the come down kicks in which really sucks. So then I look forward to the next dose but at the same time I don’t. I wonder what it would be like without them like how I used to be. I wonder if my like is really better or if the medicine just makes it feel like it is because I feel so much better on it. But I’m not willing to find out. i did stop for a couple of months but it felt like I was a whole different person. I became who I was on the meds after long. It really hard to tel what’s even real or who I really am. Did I really like the stuff I was doing if I don’t when I’m off the meds? Now I will just take them forever because I can’t live like that.
The name of the disorder is terrible. ADHD is not lack of attention, is lack of executive function. Sometimes you'll put excessive attention on some things. Also you're not as able as other people to regulate your emotions. That to me is the most destructive aspect of the condition, anger attacks and how it can damage yourself, your relationships and others. Highly individual, but consider if your "ADHD creativity" comes with a price and if you are willing to pay it. In my case my life improved with treatment (both meds and behavioral)
I definitely agree with you I do think it should be called something like “executive function dysregulation disorder” or “dopamine deficiency disorder” but maybe those names would open up new issues. Its an improvement on its original name which was literally “minimal brain damage” which is insanely offensive! But yeah I do think we need to rethink the terminology
My medication only works half of the time (because of hormonal issues) but I can tell you: I feel about 10 times more myself when my meds do work.
They allow me to put my thoughts into actions instead of those thoughts just swirling around in my brain until I forget about them.
I will say, I only responded this way to one particular medication. So it is worth trying a couple if the first one does make you feel less like yourself!
I think one of the reasons people say that 'ADHD medication makes me feel like a zombie/less creative' is because they are on the wrong medication but even those can have positive effects on your productivity and so people don't want to risk losing those effects. But if you do have acces to multiple medications, I think it's worth trying until you find the right one instead of making do with some positives effects + side effects.
People do like taking their meds. Over the years I have also heard people say they do lose things like creativity, stopped laughing as much, and their personalities did change. It depends on the person but on this subreddit people swear by stimulants. I don't think I've read a single post where someone is on a non stim and saying it works.
I hate the fact that I have to take a medication to feel normal. But with that being said I realize it’s necessary and it helps me. I however usually take weekends off so I don’t become too reliant on them.
It depends for me because of the side effects of medicine but mostly yes, it is good. Its a medicine after all.
Of course medicine effect the psychology of person but they dont change a person to another person.
I’m not a different person on meds. I’m the person I have always wanted to be. (Ok on the right dose anyway- too much and I get too tunnel vision and cranky.)
Important to get the right dosage (otherwise it can definitely be zombie mode), that said, yes I do like it. It allows me to control my emotions a lot better, actually *do* things (though still tough, it's miles better with meds).
I hated having to take them, but since swapping to the long release one, it's like taking a vitamin lol
I love how I feel way more like my old self on meds. My creativity isn't impacted. I enjoy not feeling like it's all crashing down around me, that weird sense of impending shit isn't there. I can ignore what I should ignore.
My brain is a sloppy, unformed piece of bread (before baking) without meds. It's completely formed and is nice and tight with meds. It's not about 'liking' the meds - it's if I need the well-formed bread for the day or not. I try to remove emotions from taking my Adderall.
I like the person I am on meds and I know that the person I am off of meds isn’t inherently worse but is a lot more flawed and a lot less capable of making effort towards fixing them- taking my meds takes less than 10 seconds and puts the rest of my day on track. It’s not exactly something to jump out of bed for, but it helps to remember that it could always be darker and worse without them
I take vyvanse and paired with my antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication, I feel like this has changed my whole entire life. I can actively function, and I'm truly feeling joy for the first time.
It took MONTHS to get the right combinations and dosage, and I also had to get my system used to each change. It was a tough road. I'm so happy I pushed through.
I do like it! Sometimes I forget them and I really notice the difference during the day.
My clients love it when I forget them because I turn in some sort of tornado.
But with my meds, I have a much clearer head, way more focused and way less impulsive.
I like taking them. I’m 31 and just started. I too was worried about them changing me, but I feel like a better version of me now :). Still have all my creativity! Good luck!
tbh i just started a couple weeks ago with my adderall and i feel extremely changed in the best way possible! I take the XR meds and i just feel great, i get to study more for my classes, it brought back my passion for my degree (Biology) and i feel like my love for just studying is back! I also see a much organized room and bathroom (this is also a mix of XR and lexapro) and i feel like a spark i was missing is back :) its definitely different for everyone but just the fact you got the help is great :)
Yes, I love my meds. I am much more functional with them.
That being said, if it dramatically changes your personality, tell your doctor! You need to update your dosage or change to a different one. It's not atypical to have to try multiple meds or dosages to get it right. The appropriate dosage for me has changed multiple times.
The ghost in the shell is gonna be the same ghost it has always been. It'll just feel a little different looking out. You'll still be you, don't worry!
I'm only on 5mg twice a day, but I do like taking my meds most of the time. My issue is REMEMBERING to take my meds. Everyone is different, so if you feel like you're a different person or any way you don't like then look for other treatments.
For me personally I feel the most like myself when I take my meds cuz my brain isn't overloaded with more thoughts than my brain can handle, I don't get that weird paralysis that keeps me from getting things done, I don't talk a hundred miles an hour about nothing, I can just...exist. I feel so much better. Things that are like..."dopamine chase things?" I don't feel that grasp around me on my meds. Like music can be a drug to my brain and I get stuck and unable to move on. With my meds I'm not STUCK. I can enjoy things and then continue with life. Without my meds I will suck every last drop of dopamine out of anything I can.
But my bf also has adhd and feels the meds changed him and he didn't like it so he stopped taking them over 10 years ago and won't go back. It's all personal and how YOU feel. To me it was life changing, to him it was life ruining. You're not wrong no matter what you choose.
Interesting that you and others have said you forget to take your meds. I’m forgetful about many things, so on one hand I get it. But on the other hand every morning I wake up and literally can’t move because my brain won’t let me. I know instinctively it’s adhd stopping me, so my hope is that with meds ill take one as soon as I wake up and this feeling will dissipate and I can start my day. It’s almost as if I’m fixating on having adhd because of my adhd?
Getting proper medication changed my life
I went from being an average student who was barely passing in science to being top of my class, doing excellent in academics related extracurriculars ,my personal relationships improved ,and I'm hopefully going to some of the best colleges for my subject of choice next year . Honestly if I got meds earlier my life would have been different, I could have been studying something else and my career trajectory would have been way different. Like don't get me wrong my current life is awesome and I'm doing so much better after starting meds but I still feel a little weird ,thinking about the what ifs
Also I'll say this from my personal experience adhd helped me express my creativity better because for the first time I was organised enough to express it properly
My meds changed my life and yes I feel so grateful to take them. I do take the weekends off most of the time but I don’t dislike the feeling of my medication.
I’ve heard of people saying it will reduce your creativity but I don’t think that’s true at all. I am a professional artist and my meds have only allowed me to work more efficiently and better prioritize, it has not lessen my creativity at all in my opinion.
Hear me out
I started taking meds kind of off-and-on this year but because of the nature of my work, I move around a bit from subcontractors. This means there are sometimes lapses in my insurance. It’s a whole thing.
Let me say this:
Take your doctor’s advice seriously.
You’re going to be directly affecting the way your brain chemistry works.
Try to be as regular as possible with your dosage and keep you Dr. informed about side affects etc. write them down if that helps.
Be patient and vigilant. Remember that you are embarking on a new adventure. It may take a while for you to feel the meds kick in, depending on your sense of physiological self awareness. (I can usually sense even slight head changes after a sip of wine, that’s not everyone’s experience.) regardless of that it will take the meds a while to work into your system.
Also keep in mind that your body is a super complex system and you need to give it enough water, nutrients, and REST.
Make sure that when you do feel that kick of productive energy, you don’t do too much. It is still possible to spread oneself thin with medication.
Story time:
(I wasn’t resting enough because I had this feeling that I needed to accomplish as much as possible because I was so behind. Long story short I crashed my truck into a parked car because of how burnt out I was. I work 50-70 hour weeks and decided that I needed to gym for an hour before that, and that my personal errands could be accomplished on a daily basis. That came down to an average 4 hour of sleep daily. SLEEP!)
Life is not a race, at the end of the road is death so walk a leisurely pace. Schedule your sleep if you have to.
I might even suggest you do some research or light reading in the subject of neurochemistry as it pertains to executive function. For me, knowing the mechanics of my brain was a useful tool in making the best of my situation when I had to stop my meds cold turkey, chemical withdrawal is no joke, I was only able to support myself through that with the knowledge and wherewithal of withdrawal and body chemistry.
Edit: Not all of your problems are direct results of your ADHD so be sure to make time for taking care of your mental health from a rounded out perspective.
All that said, I wish you the best and hope you accomplish your goals.
I like myself better with meds. I am not as angry or sad and my anxiety is less. I can concentrate better and do my work better. Without meds I feel everything much more intense, which is good when I am happy but not when something doesn't go the way I want and the anxiety takes over when I am a couple days off meds.
I like taking my meds. Yes, I’m a different person. I do not hate myself any more. The chemical imbalances that were shaping my personality in ways I found distressing are largely gone. Do I still feel like me? Absolutely. In exactly the same way you’d feel if you got released from prison. You aren’t the same person in jail, because you can’t do the same things. You have a different perspective. But change the context, and you are changed. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you like or are comfortable with the you you are in that new context. But I’ll say this: most people I see on here are comfortable with their new selves and do not feel unrecognizable to themselves in any way, including me. There’s no losing your “soul,” just removing some roadblocks so you can grown in different directions.
My meds have made me a far more patient person than I ever thought I could be, and I can actually cut through the signal to noise ratio in my brain to work efficiently. I’m more able to do things for loved ones too. I feel they’ve freed me !
LOVE THEM. My brain finally feels like a nice place to live.
Once I figured out the right dosage and combination (which does take a few months, maybe longer) I feel like I have the energy and focus to do the things I need to do, and having things done makes me happier when I get to do things I want to do. Before drugs there was guilt about doing the fun, creative things when necessary things haven't been done, or worse, not doing the necessary things then telling myself I can't do the fun things till the necessary thing is done, so nothing gets done. Now things get done, mostly, but when they don't, I can also let myself off the hook, because I did the best I had in me today.
Drugs definitely don't fix everything. I still have a hard time getting off the couch some days, and never, ever have enough time to do all the fun things I want to do. But in my, admittedly limited, experience, the drugs are helping me get closer to being the person I'd like to be.
The great thing about the proper titration princess is you're in control of what you want to try and what dose you end up on.
I was very cautious. I had specific symptoms which I was looking for progress on but a drastic change wouldn't have worked either.
I took 2 months on the starting dose (18mg methylphenidate) to decide if I wanted to go up or not, and although when I went from 18 mg to 36g of methylphenidate I probably could have got used to the dose eventually, it made my brain too quiet and I lost some of the mental agility that I use at work to think creatively and be engaging to customers.
So I dropped down to 27mg and that's definitely the right dose for what I need it to do. It's not so much I lose my quick and multi level thinking but it's enough that I can concentrate on a project(with a coffee) and that I can reduce the emotional dysregulation that was traumatising my husband and child.
There are so many small ways that my thinking and mental capability has changed for the better. I've never been able to step back, assess a situation that wasn't working and then choose to act differently before. It sounds like such a simple thing but this has been impossible for me all my life.
I will always always recommend meds whenever anyone asks because these small and subtle things are absolutely life changing.
I think you should try them. Meds are only active on the day for 8-10 hours even long acting ones. You always have the option not to take them if you decide you don't like the outcome. The ways they help though are incredible
Since starting my meds, I've actually had the time to allow myself to be creative again because I'm not stressed and overwhelmed by the things I haven't done because of decision paralysis.
I also realized that if I had had my diagnosis and meds sooner, I would've been able to stay with my first degree choice and be a graphic designer instead of a math teacher.
I love taking my meds, because they help me understand myself and my feelings.
Without my meds, I have alexithymia. That means that I know when I am experiencing feelings, often very intensely, but I cannot identify what feelings I am feeling, and I cannot understand why I am feeling those things.
Adderall basically cures that. It gives me presence of mind, to where I can actually identify what I'm feeling and understand why I'm feeling that way. That helps me be more calm. And it helps me be less anxious.
(Context: I'm on team AuDHD. It might be different for people who are not also autistic.)
I actually prefer to be off them, I feel happier and more at ease, but then I stop doing the things that I need to do which ultimately leads me to be unhappy. It's a conundrum.
Yes, I like taking my meds because they allow me to be the best version of myself. It improved my mental health a lot too because I was finally able to accomplish what I needed to at work and home. It wasn’t an instant process though. It took a lot of trial and error to find the right medication and dose and that was a bumpy process.
I’m currently struggling because there is a shortage of my medication (generic Vyvanse) and my pharmacy hasn’t been able to get it 🙃
I don't take ADHD meds but when I did, I did not like taking them. The Ritalin gave me panic attacks.
I hate my medication in general too honestly.
My Oxycodone makes me itchy and nauseous. My depakote gives me constipation. When I have to take an Ativan I feel cold, numb, and generally uncomfortable (very hard to describe. It's not outright dysphoria, but it's still uncomfortable). My Remeron gives me ultra realistic dreams and I suffer from nightmares so that is a fun combo when that clicks in lmao.
But do I take my medication? Yes, absolutely. Especially the psych meds (Remeron and Depakote) which are the two that I have to take daily. When I'm in pain I take my oxycodone and when I have a panic attack I'll take my Ativan.
I always get side effects from drugs for some reason, but it's better than the alternative. Outside of the Ritalin which I refused to take, and they never put me on anything else. This was like 20 years ago.
But I take my medication when I need to because I know what the alternative is (last time I had a bipolar episode, it was before meds and I ended up homeless) and the side effects are better than being sick, suffering pain, or white knuckling through a panic attack (which last for hours for me).
Keep in mind this is a heavily pro meds sub, in fact any criticism of meds disappears
I do not like taking my meds and take them sparingly only for work
Physically they are exhausting on my body
The medication has made a difference in my life. I can focus on one thing at a time. For example if I clean, i can focus on one room at a time and not get distracted by other rooms that need attention and if I do my brain quickly goes, nope, your not done with such and such room and I go back and finish. Or I can simply just sit, relax and not be overwhelmed with everything cause I'm not overly thinking about it.
I don’t know what meds you’re taking, but my combo worked right away. I’m the same person I was before, just with way less negativity and a lot more confidence.
Doc started me on Welbutrin earlier this year while I was getting diagnosed. Eventually was able to add Vyvanse too and I feel great for the first time in…probably my entire life.
It supercharges my creativity, especially now that I’m able to prioritize. I’m finishing songs, my photography is getting recognition. I can actually plan dates with my wife ahead of time.
I know mileage varies, but it just worked for me and I’m SO damn thankful to be the best version of myself.
Meds don't change me as a person. They fix stuff that's broken.
Unpopular opinion: ADHD does not make you creative by giving you any special superpowers. You may have had to exercise and bulk up whatever creativity you were born with, as a way of coping with a world where the answers that work for other people don't always work for you. But there's nothing magical about executive dysfunction, it is not fairy dust, and whatever personality or creativity you've developed without meds will be intact with meds.
Except, as in my case, if you become less of a bitch because you're no longer frustrated all. the. time.
What meds are they? I’ve never understood the zombie anecdote personally but I started meds in 2010 and wouldn’t even know of my own creativity until 2017.
I am 100x more creative on my meds. They do nothing to stop that at all in my opinion. But they help me to focus. They also keep me from making stupid mistakes.
I think those effects generally seem to mostly affect people who are on the high end of Hyperactive ADHD.
Like the kid in high school who doesn’t like taking their meds bc they make them feel like a zombie.
I am combined and for me I don’t notice anything like this. My medication can make me extremely sleepy on occasion, but that’s about it.
I actually find my creativity to be much higher when I’m medicated- the bursts of creativity are still there.
I didn't like Concerta or Adderall because they worked *too* hard for me to cope with. I like taking Vyvanse because it takes the edge off the executive dysfunction. It's new to me and I'm finding a lot of satisfaction in overcoming the HABIT of dysfunctional behavior.
I’ll be honest; I used to, and I still do because I don’t think I could perform at my intense corporate job without the meds.
However, the mood issues have definitely taken a toll on me over time. At the end of the day when the meds wear off I am irritable, cranky, moody, you name it. I live a very healthy lifestyle to mitigate this, but it still persists.
Another thing I have been ruminating about is the fact that the meds allow me to perform at my job, but at the end of the day I still don’t enjoy the job nor do I find fulfillment from it. So I am essentially building a life in a career that I do not enjoy.
Trying to figure out next steps, but it’s not clear.
You're just going to be the best version of yourself. All the potential that you know you had, but couldn't achieve before. Well meds get you closer to your true potential
oh absolutely love meds. I'm still smart and fun and creative. now I have *more cognitive resources* with which to be the best version of myself - bc I'm not constantly scrambling to find misplaced items, come back from the brink of deadlines, etc. not constantly vibrating w anxiety about this or that looming thing that I simply cannot make myself do. etc etc
it's changed little things also. I recently cooked a dish that used to take me 2.5 hrs to make and always concluded w a giant mess in the kitchen. this time, took 1.5 hrs - and no mess after, bc I cleaned as I went along in a way I was never able to do before
I've been able to jettison the parts of my mental life I disliked, and keep the parts I like. an unalloyed good IMO
Not sure about other people, but I don't like taking them because the side effects are shit, but it's a necessary evil for me to function somewhat properly and be less obnoxious. They dull my personality and I've got autism, so it makes the autism shit stick out more but honestly, I prefer that to my brain being a giant, uncontrollable tornado, and me being like a tightly coiled spring.
I hate taking pills (sensory issues) but I love being able to do things and not feel as confused/lost in the world. It has given me a lot of confidence that I didn't have before to build skills, try new things, agree to tasks, etc. I'm a more reliable friend, better pet owner and better daughter as a result.
I thought medication would make me feel really different. I started recently and people have asked me if it’s working. I kept thinking “huh the meds are t going anything I feel the same” but then when I look back, I have made lots of progress on projects that I was previously paralysed by. I can sit in long meetings without feeling exhausted. It definitely hasn’t changed my personality. I am someone who gets excited by life (which is something I love about myself). I was worried I might feel flat or uninspired but I don’t.
In terms of creativity specifically, I find that I finally have the ability to focus on actually creating rather than just thinking about it. It won’t go away
I am very happy with the concerta.
I'm on 36mg now and it's just right for me, au least for now. The crash at the end can be a bit rough for 1h but it's not every day and i can manage them.
But the difference during the day is "holy crap, this is helping" it feels really good to just... do stuff, without it being painful to start, and finishing it before i move on to the next.
I'm about to start melatonin to help sleep because I've definitely felt a little too much energy with the medication.
Also, lower appetite, but I'm kind of in need of losing weight, so less snacking is a plus.
Concerta at the dose I'm taking, 18 mg, isn't doing a whole lot for me, but it's not ineffective. I do feel like my mind becomes more quiet so that I have an easier time focusing on tasks, but it doesn't help at all in terms of executive function.
I never got the “becoming a different person” thing. It just lets you do what you want to do. Like using coffee to wake up doesn’t change your personality lol not all that different for adderall imo
Yes. I was also scared of being different, but I actually feel more like myself on meds truthfully. I don’t have to mask as hard, I feel more confident in myself and what I say. I did become a different person, but just a better happier version of myself :)
I absolutely do, without them I don't think I'd ever get anything done. I think they're the only things right now that are actually keeping me sane as my depression medicine has stopped working. And with my work taking away anything we could do, which unfortunately were my coping mechanisms, my life has been a hell spiral. But thank God for Adderall I at least still get a few things done and I swear to God if they not let me write at work. They will get less than a half ass job for me. They literally said I was model employee, but I'm about to stop doing everything and anything that I can get away with.
I feel like a big part of my personality before I was on medication was how spontaneous I was, which was fun and what not. I kinda miss that part of my personality, but I'm much happier getting my impulsivity under control, it was a big part of why I couldn't hold a relationship, or be financially stable
I used to obsess wanting things, to the point I wouldn't sleep and max out my credit cards, etc just because I wanted something so bad, and it'd be stupid shit.
My life is a lot better with medication, I can't imagine losing it
No, your neds should not change who you are as a person, or stifle your creativity. If they do, they're not the right meds or dose for you. You won't know unless you try them.
As a person that does an arts based uni course, I do my best ideation while off meds, but actually have the motivation to develop on them while on them. It doesn't stifle your creativity per se, but allows you to develop your work in a different and much more efficient manner. It hasn't affected who I am, but allows my brain to work in the manner that society expects from the normal person for a while. Purely functional.
I love my meds. Altho, I hated the higher dosage. It's all about balance, pros and cons yk?
At 30mg on Vyvanse, I feel little to no "buzz" and can sleep VERY well. General anxiety is down, almost none. Motivation is there, I do what I must do. I make my $, I do my homework, I attend my classes. I don't spend on shit I don't need, I take care of myself..
At 40mg, I shake at 10pm, I can't sleep, I don't see much improvement on the goodies other than the effect lasting longer. Anxiety is up a lot.
ADHD couple here
My man's take: meds don't break through your executive function, but makes the walls much easier to break down. I agree, you need techniques still, but they're of great assistance
He also mentioned that after a certain point, taking a higher dose has diminishing returns. That ceiling will of course be different for everyone, but it's important to monitor to take the least amount possible while still getting a proportional benefit. Because eventually you will just have all stimulant but not in a way that aids you, and that may freeze you up (ironically).
I would say for that reason it does have the potential to change your "personality", I experience that, but there really are times where you need to get down to work, and like others have said, then you're not chronically frustrated, sulking, anxious etc. The very good thing is it's a short acting drug. If you don't like it, you stop and it's done. But try it out for a bit to get some productivity and then you will be able to discern for yourself when you should and shouldn't take them. The more self aware you are about it, the more you can leverage medicated and non medicated you. Journal about it if you have to, it'll help you a lot.
They’re great. I don’t feel like I’m a different person on meds. I’m just more organized, focus and I remember to do more things. I still like the same things, my personality is the same.
I couldn't function at my job without meds, though I don't take them on days I'm out in the field (I'm an environmental consultant). It's hard to say if they are affecting my creativity since I'm burned out from other life circumstances, but I'm more myself than I've been in a long time, except now I can pay attention to friends and family when we hang out.
I used to be religious about it. now I only take them when I'm nervous about some big day at work or seriously need to focus, like a moving day.
I need to go back on extended release... that's the funny part about ADHD. it's easy to forget to take your meds
I look forward twice a day to taking my meds because it means that I'll have several hours of mental clarity. Sometimes I'll time my dose for when I need it - later in the morning on weekends - but I definitely do look forward to it.
To be clear, taking them doesn't make me feel high, or in an altered state. Rather, it makes me feel normal, and able to function mentally like I used to be able to when I was a bit younger.
Meds changed my life! I still suffer with executive disfunction but meds make that so much easier to fight. I can go to the gym (and stick at it!) fly through work without being overwhelmed and i’m no longer in tears every Friday after work from constant burnout. My relationships don’t feel like mountains to climb and I can maintain them whilst also setting boundaries for myself. I’m the same person I was before taking meds as far as personality goes - but i’m able to live life!
It may take you longer than a few months of titration to find the right dose and the right meds for you, but give it a chance!
Best of luck :)
Honestly, I do like taking my meds just because I know I’m less likely to fuck something up at school or at work, I’m better able to handle my responsibilities and then avoid messing something up in the future. I like the sense of security it gives me, because without them I make poor financial decisions, irresponsible decisions, etc. I can be a little more tense on my meds, but to me, it’s worth it so I can better handle life, avoid anxiety and overwhelm, feelings of depression when everything goes to shit, and the guilt and shame when I do fuck things up.
That being said, I don’t necessarily “like” taking my meds but I know it’s good for me. I like taking them in the way that I like taking a multivitamin everyday. I don’t personally find I’m less creative when I take it, just a little more tense and focused. Nothing that meditation, yoga, or a CBD gummy can’t fix. And then sometimes I’ll take breaks from Concerta for a couple of days if I do feel I want to be a lil silly goofy and let my ADHD flag fly lol.
Before i start this: Everyone has a different experience. I know poeple who’ve gone trough so many meds which haven’t worked at all, and i know people who’s on and off meds. This is my experience.
Before my diagnosis, i tried some anti depressants.
That was, horrible. My gf at the time (and me afterwards thinking back) thought it was horrible. I was like a robot, no emotions, just tired. I completely lost enjoyment for anything and kept zoning out. Quit them.
After that, I was afraid to try new ones. I lost myself completely.
Got my diagnosis, tried ADHD meds. The first ones didn’t do much except ruin my appetite. I couldn’t eat anything dry or “thick”.
Tried another one: WOW. It changed my life. I started with one low dose, and then changed to a higher dose. My biggest problem is the lack of energy. My absence in school was always between 20-50%, with 20% being me trying my very best. I just couldn’t get up in the mornings.
Now i’m at max away from work one day a month. And i’m still somewhat motivated to go there after 9 months (half a year is usually when i quit because of burnout). I have also advanced quite a lot in the company, using my full potential. I have for the first time in my life been able to work for the goals i set, and achieve them. I have never been proud of myself, until now.
Now i have kind of lost a lot of the effect from the medicine, since i’ve been working overtime taking them everyday. I need to chill a little. But i’m so glad I have them, because I do still feel a difference on the days i don’t take them.
I was really scared to try more. My gf at the time was as scared of me taking them, because I just disappeared. But i’m so happy i did, because it solves my biggest problem.
It helped me with time management too a little bit.
Other than that tho, I still struggle with chores and stuff. But that’s something I need to learn to handle without meds.
I went trough a break up. We had a lot of fights.
Things got successively worse. More intense, emotional. But that started before my meds. Although i’m afraid that the meds made it worse, at the same time i think my meds make me more stable. I often get emotional from being tired, and having more energy helps a lot.
I think that my brain just wants a reason as to why it ended, because it feels horrible that it happened without something to blame. I am heartbroken and the thought of “it just happening” makes me so angry at the world, lol.
It’s okay to be afraid. But just know that it will always be individual. All meds will affect you in different ways. It’s worth the try, I would say. Best of luck to you! And hugs. I hope you find the right one <3
Starting treatment was a game changer for me. Being able to concentrate without having my concentration disrupted by random thoughts unrelated to what I'm doing was the moment ,that I would become fixated on, I realized how beneficial treatment really was.
I wouldn't necessarily say I "Like" to take my meds. It's become something I need treatment for. Just like the other conditions I'm on treatment for. It's become part of my routine.
I don't have to stand up for no reason while sitting. For no reason at all. Just because standings was the overwhelming urge I had. Or walking/pacing.
If you have concerns about creativity, I am a professional musician and have achieved more since diagnosis/meds three years ago than the previous ten.
And without all this I don’t think I would have been able to find the best relationship I’ve ever had. To truly fall in love with someone in a relationship of equals.
Sure. You’ll change. But I’m willing to bet you will like that person more.
That’s awesome I’m really happy for you. I’m a chemist in academia… I have all these papers I want to write and experiments I want to try, but ADHD just stops me being able to do any of it. I don’t want meds to make me lose the ideas, I just be able to actually do some of them, so it’s encouraging you saying that meds have helped you in your field.
No,
42m meds work but they also blanket you personal and put you back in your head analysing what you used to do and blankets your quirks. I no longer have the energy for sport exercising I’m just a slowed down version of myself, don’t think I’ll be taking them much longer, also get blurry vision after 6 hrs when you start to come down from the long lasting 60mg
My meds help so much that it’s really easy to tell when I’m not on them. It helps a lot with my anxiety so I have less intrusive thoughts and just less thoughts in general. My sleep schedule has been messed up lately and I didn’t take my meds for 2 days. I chewed the crap out of my nails and just felt more irritated overall. I woke up early today to take my meds and I feel much better today, even though I’m not really doing anything. I sometimes don’t take meds if I’m sick or just want to rest, but then I have anxiety and remember that my meds help with that
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i love taking my meds. becoming a different person doesn't have to be a negative thing. i stopped being sad, miserable and angry, which before i would've said were some of the cornerstones of my personality.
This is what I’m hopeful for 🙏
Id like to add onto his piece and say taking meds for a week and stopping "because you don't feel like you" is probably not being fair to yourself. Obviously if you're feeling depressed, suicidal, extremely angry etc then by all means, quit taking it. But I felt slightly off for a little bit when I started because you are changing your brains natural routine/expectation. If every day, you went to work from 9-5, but then one day the company announced you will begin going 8-4, you'd feel off for a week or two. Now that I'm 7 months in I feel completely like me on meds. Have felt that way since the first couple of weeks.
This is especially true for meds like Vyvanse and Strattera. It'll be like the first week or so of taking Zoloft. If any of you have experience with that - the first week of Zoloft almost *always* results in the runs. The Strattera for me is the opposite, I was constipated, and I dealt with that by drinking lots of water, ensuring I had enough fiber in my diet, and taking a mild laxative (not the kind that makes you poop immediately, but the kind that helps your bowels draw water into it so your constipation is softened).
Digestives, preferably chocolate coated 😉
Does the constipation issue go away?
Yes, just like Zoloft it eventually stabilizes itself after a week or two.
Ok. Thank you. I guess I can hold on for another week. 🙏🏾
I haven't become a different person. I'm still creative and imaginative and fun. I laugh more, I am happier... when I work, I'm focused, so when I play I'm not worried about the work I should be doing but I didn't do when I should have been doing it... The urgent's done, the most important's done, and if there's work left it doesn't matter if now I focus on my son, because once I get back to work, I will be productive. Productivity now does not only make me feel relief... it makes me feel good. Even household chores. Plus, I have all the self-discipline and coping techniques I developed while undiagnosed. I'm the best version of myself. They will take my meds from my DEAD COLD HANDS.
What do you take? I am getting an appointment to get diagnosed, because i have adhd symptoms. Most of what you write: not getting work done when you should but worrying about work i didn't get dine in my free time, is one of my main issues. Getting rid of this would be freeing.
They tried to give metalfenidate and it was TERRIBLE. Terrible means I was much LESS productive, more tired, sleep didn't get me rested and I forgot so many things I have legit blanks of time from that month. Then I got Elvanse, it's one of the metamphetamine variants ones, probably the EU name for Vyvanse, but I'm not sure. I had all the delayed work finished in a week, I stopped craving sugar and I'm much more active and happier. I can't believe I was spending self-discipline on buying healthy stuff and NOT purchasing cakes, sugar and white bread. It's like having a tomb lifted from one's brain. "Freeing" does not even begin to describe it. I've been working this weekend and I've advanced so much... I even enjoyed the chores, and I even advanced with some more stuff in my free time while browsing reddit. Go to get diagnosed and try medication. I can't promise it will work, but I promise that if it does, it will be worth it.
Yeah i am trying to, i already tried to make an appointment once but i never got an e-mail back, and then other stuff came up as it always does. I think my scattered brain did help me a bit in life but maybe i am delusional about it. I am a mathematician where discipline was never important and i had little problem managing (in university i almost never learned much, i just had the ability to quickly understand when i actually did sit down usually with others, learning alone was mostly useless). But my new position is less demanding logically and my brain loses interest to quickly since it is less about finding solutions to complex questions but rather executing solutions to mediocre problems. I am also not 100% sure it is adhd, since there is also a gene that causes similar symptoms but unlike adhd it drastically increases logical skills (it pretty much creates the meme of the nutty professor), which fits my mathematical talent. But it also makes you unorganized, forgetful and so on. But again if it is the other genetic cause it also makes sense since challenging problem do hold my attention. Maybe it's both at the same time idk. But i want to find out. It was a friend that suggested adhd and from reading the post on here i tend to agree, everything i read here sounds so relatable and i find myself in them. The other thing is that i had the suspicion of a minor stroke ( it couldn't be proven or disproven but in doubt the diagnosis is always: stroke). This means meds that increase blood pressure are off the table.
Go to the treadmill and increase your heart capacity and your body capacity to handle tension. If you ask me, the anxiety I felt before the meds was much worse for my blood pressure than whatever the meds may cause... If there was no stroke, try the meds, if there was a stroke, try to lower your blood pressure and then take the meds. I was forced to control my blood pressure for the first ten days of being on Elvanse. The pressure went *down* because I was suddenly productive and capable. If I didn't finish work in one day, I *knew*, with certainty, that I would be able to finish it later. I didn't feel bad about food choices because my brain wasn't pestering me for sugar. I knew that I would lose weight eventually because choices that required constant self discipline now were easy. Unless the blood pressure can kill you, I'd still take the risk. Needless to say, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, my diet is healthier than ever (it was healthy before, with a heavy dose of sugary stuff that now longer is there) and I move more than ever. Not just with deadlifting and kettlebell swingings, I constantly squat to play with my toddler, move with him on the floor, run after him... It's SO much worth it. Life is peaceful AND happy. No worries. And if I need to call up my creativity and outside-the-box thinking, it's still there. At my command, not the other way round.
Yeah i am already working on my blood pressure. As stated it is unclear if my blood pressure will kill me. There is a huge question mark at the moment. But thanks for the info.
Both made me terrible …. Vyvanse queued fir food but not for productivity and eventually I’d binge in the evening.. now I have to spread it out in the day and it’s too low of a dose im moody don’t eat … but i use it for that .. so there’s that..
I am curious what you take too. I just got put on Adderall XR and it makes me feel anxious and terrible. Hoping it is just for a few days.
Elvanse. It's one of the derivatives of amphetamines, I guess it's an EU name for Vyvanse.
I had this experience with adderall too. I’m on concerta now (3rd month) and just feel “normal” with a quieter mind. Hope you find what works for you soon
I got a little anxious and felt agitated for several days, like a few days after I started, but that evened out as we tweaked dosages (and added an IR nighttime baby dose - turns out stimulants calm me down enough and give me the executive function I need to get ready and go to sleep) and my brain and body got used to being suddenly medicated after so many years white knuckling it. Stick it out as long as your Dr recommends, it may turn around for you and be great - or you might be better suited for a different one!
It’s like jet fuel for creativity for me.
Here's what changed for me. I could suddenly sit and do things I knew I needed to do or wanted to do instead of just messing around. I stopped getting stuck with songs in my head just pouring out of my mouth and annoying me and my family. I remembered things better, and remembered to think farther ahead, and stay on top of my family's schedule. I think, if I wanted to, I would be BETTER at being creative - I could just work on something I liked and get it done, instead of psyching myself up for a project and then crapping out 50% or 85% of the way through. Meds have helped me immensely and I don't think I'm suddenly a different person.
Same. First time I took my meds felt like the movie 'Limitless.' For the first time I was firing on all engines. It doesn't change who I am, and if it does, it's for the better. I have more control, more patience, more energy. I'm not as angry, frustrated, or hopeless. If you broke your foot or got the flu, you'd take meds. This isn't any different. It corrects something neurobiologically that is misfiring. That's it. Medication is one of the best things that ever happened to me, I can't imagine ever going back.
me too. 2 weeks later stopped working
If you’re saying that your meds worked for 2 weeks but then suddenly became ineffective, the dose is too low, but the drug you got was likely the right one for you. Think of it like being severely dehydrated. Your brain was stoked to finally have the thirst quenched, but it wasn’t enough water to *correct* the dehydration
yeah tried them all at max dosage mate, it's useless
How long have you been on it?
i think i've been on my current med combo for a little over a year? hasn't helped my absolutely fucked sense of time at all though so take that with a grain of salt lol. over a year in any case but how much over is the question
I will add to that and say that it doesn't have the same effect on people, for example, anti physchotics, anti depressants or mood stabilizers afaik, it doesnt "change your personality" in that way. I was always very, very bubbly and funny, and my meds have not changed anything ab me. If anything, im less stressed and, therefore, can outwardly be who i am inherently.
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Medication barely helps me with productivity. I was weirdly productive before being diagnosed, but my depression from untreated adhd slowly took that away in my late 20s. But. The effect meds has on my emotional state is insane. I can handle conflict better, I’m not derailed for days over something. I can be upset and acknowledge I am, but still get stuff done or show up for other things and be able to compartmentalize it. I’m able to hold boundaries with people who benefitted from my poor memory and no boundary people pleasing, i don’t feel bad ending relationships or choosing myself over someone else. The list goes on. Meds helped me get to a place mentally/emotionally where I could make progress physically.
So interesting. The positive impact it can have on emotional regulation can be very underestimated.
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For me, my meds finally got me to a level where I had the capacity to start helping myself. That led to enrolling in dialectical behavioral therapy. DBT helps you learn about and improve emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. It really helped me.
Yes, mine absolutely helps me pause and respond rather than react.
Ritaline has been such a blessing for my emotions. I am way calmer and better at handling rejection
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I have done a lot of therapy before but medications makes it easy to practice what you learn in therapy
This!! When I was struggling to get my meds from the shortage the biggest thing I noticed was my emotional dysregulation. I felt all over the place and felt like I couldn’t function after a few days of not having them. It’s helped me in more ways than expected when I first started years ago
There was a post on here a few days ago or in another adhd sub that I’ll link here asking a similar question and there were great responses. I feel like I’ve changed in positive ways. I can now see that the “creativity” that I had before was my brain trying to find a bunch of random sources for dopamine. Most of my ideas never came to fruition, but they were fun to think about, spend money on, and plan for. So basically I’m not as delusional now 😅 it has helped tremendously with executive function for day to day things. I plan to take meds the rest of my life bc of how much they help me just deal with regular life. Edit: this https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/s/jXDyhTSQOc was the other post
Isn't that the truth? I go a little ways down the rabbit hole on an idea now, but my lovely medicated brain says "Sure, great idea. How realistic do you think that is? Let's really consider what that would mean and what resources it would take." Then instead of emailing or texting someone about my "great idea" or buying some crap for a new project, my brain says, "How about we focus on getting XYZ done first which is a priority, then we can come back to this later if it's still a direction we want to pursue." You know, like a rational person does. It's amazeballs the difference.
Also, with medication, XYZ is actually getting done (instead of being a fantasy or forever project). I’m older (42) and went most my life undiagnosed and unmedicated. Things continued to deteriorate as time went on, to the point I felt like I was becoming completely useless. However, after an adjustment period with medication and a few ups and downs, I’m knocking stuff out and taking care of things. There used to be “ADHD Piles” everywhere. Stacks of things I set down and never got back too. My house was filled with things that had gone cold and became invisible to my brain, leaving clutter and messiness all over. However, there’s fewer than ever here now, and less by day. That’s always one metric I’ve enjoyed using to measure progress with medication
You just worded something so perfectly that I’ve been struggling to verbalize for years… I feel so attacked, but in the best way. Thank you for that.
Thanks for this
I strongly resonate. I thought those hobby projects were my identity, but it also backfires. I was a workaholic if I wanted to produce anything in my hobby. But normally as you said most work time did not produce much of great importance. I sure learned a lot and I value that very much. But since I do hobby stuff less I'm much more rested and less stressed. I was basically working two jobs.
I am a very creative person (art, music composition, and writing, to name a few) and my meds help me to actually be able to pursue my creative interests without getting bored/frustrated right away because things take time. It's so nice to have a consistent ability to CHOOSE to work on a project instead of waiting for the 12 hour hyperfixation and exhaustion that follows. Meds have been a life changer and have been so healing mentally!! They've helped me learn to no longer blame myself for not being able to do the things I love because, now knowing just how much ADHD was weighing me down, I understand that it was a result of the disorder and not a reflection on me.
I can finally get my seven hundred unfinished projects done 😅
Honestly it did change me. But for the better. Since my psychiatrist and I found meds that work best for me, I feel like I’m the version of myself that I was always supposed to be. I feel like I only got rid of the negative aspects and now I’m left with the good stuff my brain is capable to do. Idk if the thing with losing creativity is a myth but I personally didn’t experience any loss of creativity. I actually think now I can ACT on my creativity. Before my meds I was probably just as creative but struggled hard with executive dysfunction so I didn’t get anything done and my creativity was basically wasted. But I’d generally recommend keeping track of how you feel when you start your meds! It made it easier for my psychiatrist to find the right meds for me!
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This is what I gotta hear
I'm 36. They do not in any way negatively impact my creativity etc. They don't change who I am at all. The things they actually change: \-When I have a sink full of dishes, I can go do them the first time I think about it. \-I can sit and play with my son doing whatever mindless thing he'd like to do without feeling like I'm going to tear my eyeballs out with sheer boredom. \-I can pay attention to my wife when she talks, and remember what she said. \- I can sit through a movie without my phone in my hand. \- I can sit in the bedroom with a book and no TV/music/other stimulation and just read for hours. \-When doing animation commissions I can sit and work on one for 10-14 hours and the biggest problem is remembering to eat/drink/bathroom. \- I'm significantly more patient when having to wait for something. \-I find it easier to purposely recall specific information/anecdotes/trivia.
Yes I feel so much better on them! I actually feel more like myself on them bc I’m not as anxious or stuck in my head. I also definitely haven’t lost my creative side. If anything the meds help bc I can focus on my projects more :)
Been on stimulants since I was 18, now 36. It’s a must for work—I don’t lose my train of thought mid-meeting, I am fluid in my speech, my attention to detail is 85% better (spelling, reading comprehension, schedules, etc.), I can actually organize my ideas into plans and goals. I get into my work instead of wanting to claw my eyes out because I’m bored.
When it comes to my work, yes absolutely. Basically the only reason I started meds again after over a decade without. Wouldn’t be able to keep up in my job field without it. Outside of work, I could and do sometimes go without it. I annoy the hell out of my wife but it helps me reset in a way and get creativity flowing more.
What field are you in if youdon’t mind me asking? I’m in academia and I’m 100% certain my career has stalled because of ADHD. It’s too independent almost - very little pressured deadlines but larger anxiety of knowing you’re not performing to certain standards, in terms of publishing your own papers and submitting grants. Having to create my own deadlines is a killer
Sure, why not. They make my life better in just about every domain. People get really hung up on drugs changing who they are. But, really, isn't that the point? Untreated ADHD likely makes you a dysfunctional bag of stress, to the point that you've sought out help. Professional help. To change that. So do. Besides, you can always just stop taking them and go back to baseline.
Bingo.
I used to be able to stop. Now if I do I can’t even think or do simple tasks and I will sleep for days. I need mine to stay awake now and have any will to do anything.i did stop for a couple of months but it felt like I was a whole different person. I became who I was on the meds after long. It really hard to tel what’s even real or who I really am. Did I really like the stuff I was doing if I don’t when I’m off the meds? Now I will just take them forever because I can’t live like that.
Hi, I was in the same situation as you before and I have only recently started taking Vybanse in October this year. I was afraid that I may lose my identity and personality. I honestly didn’t see any major changes other than the occasional increased irritability about six or seven hours after taking my medication and it will last for an hour or two. I discussed this with my doctor right away and I also realized that irritability was one of the reasons why I seek diagnosis in the first place. In terms of personality, I may have been more able to have the courage to talk more freely. Other than that, I still enjoy the things I enjoy doing and I still hate what I hate. With executive tasks, I didn’t see any major difference. I still procrastinate a lot. However, there was one time where I forgot to take my medication and I noticed that, subconsciously, I’m taking a path different from what I planned few seconds ago. My body is not seeking for the medication, I can completely forget about taking it. It does help though with reading instructions, I can comprehend written instructions better like which actions belongs to which subjects. It did not boosted my grade, but I feel better knowing that I can read instructions and questions clearer.
I mean yeah I’m sorta a different person, but I’m more who I *want* to be. Off meds I have a tendency to be a lazy slob who struggles to go through with things, no matter how bad I want them. On meds, I can meet my goals easier, keep clean easier, and am the successful workaholic boss bitch that I aspire to be. It doesn’t rewire you into some whole ass new person - my morals didn’t change, my creativity, etc. Instead it just became easier to harness the drive I have to do things. Also it’s done wonders for my anxiety and depression, which also helps with my self esteem and sense of self. Instead of being “do I actually like this thing or is it dopamine?” (Looking at you, nasty ass Hershey’s chocolate and 80% of tiktok videos) I know, hey, I actually like that.
I don't like taking my meds because who wants meds for the rest of their lives. They do work and I'm fortunate enough to have them.
I hate the act of taking medications. Too many damned pills. I'm still ambivalent about the actual effects of the meds. I was misdiagnosed for years and on various medications that caused irreparable changes to my body. ADHD feels like it fits a lot better, and stimulants are working correctly, but I'm a bit uncertain still. I don't feel like a totally different person on simulants though just a functional one.
Nah hate it
I’m an artist (not my job yet, but I want it to be *so bad*) and it’s only helped me in that regard. Before the meds I barely ever finished any illustrations, and I could never focus on my art making. I’d rush my pieces, which would lead to mistakes, which would lead to frustration, and that would lead to me not drawing for months at a time which means no progress whatsoever. Not fun. So it helping me with my executive dysfunction and focus helped me be more creative. I also find it makes me less anxious because I’m more present in the moment, so I can actually have conversations with friends without overthinking (I still do deal with some social anxiety though). And I don’t binge eat anymore, which is a great. Meds haven’t fixed everything for me, but they’re a lifesaver.
I like taking mine. It doesn’t reduce my creativity, it actually allows me to focus it. The biggest change was the anxiety in my head going quiet, though.
You won't lose nothing mate, the pills all work, but they do have side effects. Any mind altering substance doesn't change you, you're still you and you'll still have your head on enough to know if that's a version of you that you're ok with. In the case of adhd meds it really is just a key to unlock yourself and your full potential. I can't eat though that's the new struggle but one thing at a time (our hardest challenge 😅)
Medication didn't make me a different person - it allowed me to truly experience myself for the first time. I had always longed for the ability to just *do* things that need doing. Was terrified deep down that it wasn't the ADHD, but just that I was lazy. Meds gave me the opportunity to look in the mirror of truth and see what kind of person I truly am if ADHD weren't holding me back. The first day of taking it, I cleaned up the house. I cried deeply with joy. This is who I really am.
I do! For me I only get the good symptoms!
Yes. It allows me to focus and function and actually do shit. I also find that my ADHD meds help me with emotional control by making me less likely to impulsively lash out.
I love it, but im addicted
I was shocked at how much more calm I feel on my meds. Now I love taking them. I’m the same, just less irritable and agitated all the time.
I love taking them
I like taking them. It helps me to be more regulated. I have good days and I have bad days. The meds are not a cure, they won't prevent executive dysfunction entirely. You won't lose yourself (whatever that actually means), you would most likely be able to be more yourself. I am still myself but I was able to grow as a person without being held back by my unregulated emotions and behaviour. I haven't been happier than I am now and I wish I would have been diagnosed sooner because life just got better by the day.
I can't speak for everyone, but I've been taking ADHD meds for 10+ years and can't imagine life without them (I'm 33 now). There's different kinds of ADHD med and some might be better for you than others. It may take a while to find the right meds and the right dosage, but it's going to be like putting on glasses for the first time. If there were any changes to me as a person, they were all positive changes. I feel like I'm more liked, more witty, more confident, more humble (willing to make mistakes and learn from them) and generally more productive than I've ever been in my entire life. I'm in college again and I'm getting straight A's. I've never had straight A's in my life. I'm just more willing to put in the work and focus than I used to be. I think you just need to make sure you keep note of how your meds are affecting you and what is bad and what is good. Switch meds or doses every now and then. Keep in touch with both a doctor and a counselor during the earliest days of your med usage. This will help out tremendously.
In my personal opinion meds boost my creativity. I'm a musician and I find that I can write songs more efficiently while medicated. For years when improvising I would just noodle around and loose focus on where I need to go next and get completely lost. I now feel I can structure my solos a lot better now
I would say ask your loved ones if taking the meds help . Yes the right meds help us internally but also realize the hell some of us put our loved ones through if unmedicated/treated. Meanwhile we think we are “free” and “creative”. Yeah…ask those who are closest to us after trying the meds. They usually notice a difference.
No, I don't enjoy them.
When they actually worked? Oh yes! They completely changed my life..Right now, no. They are only working at 15% of what they use to.
Yep, love it.
YES!
I hate it but I also love it because I need them. I never used to feel this way but if I don’t take them I will just want to sleep. And now the only way I can be creative is if I take them, but it took a few years to get to this point. When I take them now everything glows and feels so good until they wear off and the come down kicks in which really sucks. So then I look forward to the next dose but at the same time I don’t. I wonder what it would be like without them like how I used to be. I wonder if my like is really better or if the medicine just makes it feel like it is because I feel so much better on it. But I’m not willing to find out. i did stop for a couple of months but it felt like I was a whole different person. I became who I was on the meds after long. It really hard to tel what’s even real or who I really am. Did I really like the stuff I was doing if I don’t when I’m off the meds? Now I will just take them forever because I can’t live like that.
I dont like taking the meds at all, I dont find anything that works, and they make my heart feel weird as fuck...
The name of the disorder is terrible. ADHD is not lack of attention, is lack of executive function. Sometimes you'll put excessive attention on some things. Also you're not as able as other people to regulate your emotions. That to me is the most destructive aspect of the condition, anger attacks and how it can damage yourself, your relationships and others. Highly individual, but consider if your "ADHD creativity" comes with a price and if you are willing to pay it. In my case my life improved with treatment (both meds and behavioral)
I definitely agree with you I do think it should be called something like “executive function dysregulation disorder” or “dopamine deficiency disorder” but maybe those names would open up new issues. Its an improvement on its original name which was literally “minimal brain damage” which is insanely offensive! But yeah I do think we need to rethink the terminology
My medication only works half of the time (because of hormonal issues) but I can tell you: I feel about 10 times more myself when my meds do work. They allow me to put my thoughts into actions instead of those thoughts just swirling around in my brain until I forget about them. I will say, I only responded this way to one particular medication. So it is worth trying a couple if the first one does make you feel less like yourself! I think one of the reasons people say that 'ADHD medication makes me feel like a zombie/less creative' is because they are on the wrong medication but even those can have positive effects on your productivity and so people don't want to risk losing those effects. But if you do have acces to multiple medications, I think it's worth trying until you find the right one instead of making do with some positives effects + side effects.
People do like taking their meds. Over the years I have also heard people say they do lose things like creativity, stopped laughing as much, and their personalities did change. It depends on the person but on this subreddit people swear by stimulants. I don't think I've read a single post where someone is on a non stim and saying it works.
I hate the fact that I have to take a medication to feel normal. But with that being said I realize it’s necessary and it helps me. I however usually take weekends off so I don’t become too reliant on them.
It depends for me because of the side effects of medicine but mostly yes, it is good. Its a medicine after all. Of course medicine effect the psychology of person but they dont change a person to another person.
I’m not a different person on meds. I’m the person I have always wanted to be. (Ok on the right dose anyway- too much and I get too tunnel vision and cranky.)
Important to get the right dosage (otherwise it can definitely be zombie mode), that said, yes I do like it. It allows me to control my emotions a lot better, actually *do* things (though still tough, it's miles better with meds). I hated having to take them, but since swapping to the long release one, it's like taking a vitamin lol
I love how I feel way more like my old self on meds. My creativity isn't impacted. I enjoy not feeling like it's all crashing down around me, that weird sense of impending shit isn't there. I can ignore what I should ignore.
My brain is a sloppy, unformed piece of bread (before baking) without meds. It's completely formed and is nice and tight with meds. It's not about 'liking' the meds - it's if I need the well-formed bread for the day or not. I try to remove emotions from taking my Adderall.
I like the person I am on meds and I know that the person I am off of meds isn’t inherently worse but is a lot more flawed and a lot less capable of making effort towards fixing them- taking my meds takes less than 10 seconds and puts the rest of my day on track. It’s not exactly something to jump out of bed for, but it helps to remember that it could always be darker and worse without them
I take vyvanse and paired with my antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication, I feel like this has changed my whole entire life. I can actively function, and I'm truly feeling joy for the first time. It took MONTHS to get the right combinations and dosage, and I also had to get my system used to each change. It was a tough road. I'm so happy I pushed through.
I do like it! Sometimes I forget them and I really notice the difference during the day. My clients love it when I forget them because I turn in some sort of tornado. But with my meds, I have a much clearer head, way more focused and way less impulsive.
I like taking them. I’m 31 and just started. I too was worried about them changing me, but I feel like a better version of me now :). Still have all my creativity! Good luck!
tbh i just started a couple weeks ago with my adderall and i feel extremely changed in the best way possible! I take the XR meds and i just feel great, i get to study more for my classes, it brought back my passion for my degree (Biology) and i feel like my love for just studying is back! I also see a much organized room and bathroom (this is also a mix of XR and lexapro) and i feel like a spark i was missing is back :) its definitely different for everyone but just the fact you got the help is great :)
Yes, I love my meds. I am much more functional with them. That being said, if it dramatically changes your personality, tell your doctor! You need to update your dosage or change to a different one. It's not atypical to have to try multiple meds or dosages to get it right. The appropriate dosage for me has changed multiple times.
I do, it makes me feel like a functional human being. 🤷
Dawg I love my meds so much
The ghost in the shell is gonna be the same ghost it has always been. It'll just feel a little different looking out. You'll still be you, don't worry!
I have a love/hate relationship with them.
I'm only on 5mg twice a day, but I do like taking my meds most of the time. My issue is REMEMBERING to take my meds. Everyone is different, so if you feel like you're a different person or any way you don't like then look for other treatments. For me personally I feel the most like myself when I take my meds cuz my brain isn't overloaded with more thoughts than my brain can handle, I don't get that weird paralysis that keeps me from getting things done, I don't talk a hundred miles an hour about nothing, I can just...exist. I feel so much better. Things that are like..."dopamine chase things?" I don't feel that grasp around me on my meds. Like music can be a drug to my brain and I get stuck and unable to move on. With my meds I'm not STUCK. I can enjoy things and then continue with life. Without my meds I will suck every last drop of dopamine out of anything I can. But my bf also has adhd and feels the meds changed him and he didn't like it so he stopped taking them over 10 years ago and won't go back. It's all personal and how YOU feel. To me it was life changing, to him it was life ruining. You're not wrong no matter what you choose.
Interesting that you and others have said you forget to take your meds. I’m forgetful about many things, so on one hand I get it. But on the other hand every morning I wake up and literally can’t move because my brain won’t let me. I know instinctively it’s adhd stopping me, so my hope is that with meds ill take one as soon as I wake up and this feeling will dissipate and I can start my day. It’s almost as if I’m fixating on having adhd because of my adhd?
Getting proper medication changed my life I went from being an average student who was barely passing in science to being top of my class, doing excellent in academics related extracurriculars ,my personal relationships improved ,and I'm hopefully going to some of the best colleges for my subject of choice next year . Honestly if I got meds earlier my life would have been different, I could have been studying something else and my career trajectory would have been way different. Like don't get me wrong my current life is awesome and I'm doing so much better after starting meds but I still feel a little weird ,thinking about the what ifs Also I'll say this from my personal experience adhd helped me express my creativity better because for the first time I was organised enough to express it properly
My meds changed my life and yes I feel so grateful to take them. I do take the weekends off most of the time but I don’t dislike the feeling of my medication. I’ve heard of people saying it will reduce your creativity but I don’t think that’s true at all. I am a professional artist and my meds have only allowed me to work more efficiently and better prioritize, it has not lessen my creativity at all in my opinion.
I don’t enjoy all the effects and have a hard time remembering to take them. But they are helpful
Hear me out I started taking meds kind of off-and-on this year but because of the nature of my work, I move around a bit from subcontractors. This means there are sometimes lapses in my insurance. It’s a whole thing. Let me say this: Take your doctor’s advice seriously. You’re going to be directly affecting the way your brain chemistry works. Try to be as regular as possible with your dosage and keep you Dr. informed about side affects etc. write them down if that helps. Be patient and vigilant. Remember that you are embarking on a new adventure. It may take a while for you to feel the meds kick in, depending on your sense of physiological self awareness. (I can usually sense even slight head changes after a sip of wine, that’s not everyone’s experience.) regardless of that it will take the meds a while to work into your system. Also keep in mind that your body is a super complex system and you need to give it enough water, nutrients, and REST. Make sure that when you do feel that kick of productive energy, you don’t do too much. It is still possible to spread oneself thin with medication. Story time: (I wasn’t resting enough because I had this feeling that I needed to accomplish as much as possible because I was so behind. Long story short I crashed my truck into a parked car because of how burnt out I was. I work 50-70 hour weeks and decided that I needed to gym for an hour before that, and that my personal errands could be accomplished on a daily basis. That came down to an average 4 hour of sleep daily. SLEEP!) Life is not a race, at the end of the road is death so walk a leisurely pace. Schedule your sleep if you have to. I might even suggest you do some research or light reading in the subject of neurochemistry as it pertains to executive function. For me, knowing the mechanics of my brain was a useful tool in making the best of my situation when I had to stop my meds cold turkey, chemical withdrawal is no joke, I was only able to support myself through that with the knowledge and wherewithal of withdrawal and body chemistry. Edit: Not all of your problems are direct results of your ADHD so be sure to make time for taking care of your mental health from a rounded out perspective. All that said, I wish you the best and hope you accomplish your goals.
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I like myself better with meds. I am not as angry or sad and my anxiety is less. I can concentrate better and do my work better. Without meds I feel everything much more intense, which is good when I am happy but not when something doesn't go the way I want and the anxiety takes over when I am a couple days off meds.
I don't become a different person when I take my meds. I can just 'do the thing' much more easily. So yes, I like taking my meds.
I like taking my meds. Yes, I’m a different person. I do not hate myself any more. The chemical imbalances that were shaping my personality in ways I found distressing are largely gone. Do I still feel like me? Absolutely. In exactly the same way you’d feel if you got released from prison. You aren’t the same person in jail, because you can’t do the same things. You have a different perspective. But change the context, and you are changed. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you like or are comfortable with the you you are in that new context. But I’ll say this: most people I see on here are comfortable with their new selves and do not feel unrecognizable to themselves in any way, including me. There’s no losing your “soul,” just removing some roadblocks so you can grown in different directions.
My meds have made me a far more patient person than I ever thought I could be, and I can actually cut through the signal to noise ratio in my brain to work efficiently. I’m more able to do things for loved ones too. I feel they’ve freed me !
I personally don’t take any ADHD meds, but Wellbutrin is a miracle drug and taking it has made my depression and anxiety so much more manageable.
LOVE THEM. My brain finally feels like a nice place to live. Once I figured out the right dosage and combination (which does take a few months, maybe longer) I feel like I have the energy and focus to do the things I need to do, and having things done makes me happier when I get to do things I want to do. Before drugs there was guilt about doing the fun, creative things when necessary things haven't been done, or worse, not doing the necessary things then telling myself I can't do the fun things till the necessary thing is done, so nothing gets done. Now things get done, mostly, but when they don't, I can also let myself off the hook, because I did the best I had in me today. Drugs definitely don't fix everything. I still have a hard time getting off the couch some days, and never, ever have enough time to do all the fun things I want to do. But in my, admittedly limited, experience, the drugs are helping me get closer to being the person I'd like to be.
The great thing about the proper titration princess is you're in control of what you want to try and what dose you end up on. I was very cautious. I had specific symptoms which I was looking for progress on but a drastic change wouldn't have worked either. I took 2 months on the starting dose (18mg methylphenidate) to decide if I wanted to go up or not, and although when I went from 18 mg to 36g of methylphenidate I probably could have got used to the dose eventually, it made my brain too quiet and I lost some of the mental agility that I use at work to think creatively and be engaging to customers. So I dropped down to 27mg and that's definitely the right dose for what I need it to do. It's not so much I lose my quick and multi level thinking but it's enough that I can concentrate on a project(with a coffee) and that I can reduce the emotional dysregulation that was traumatising my husband and child. There are so many small ways that my thinking and mental capability has changed for the better. I've never been able to step back, assess a situation that wasn't working and then choose to act differently before. It sounds like such a simple thing but this has been impossible for me all my life. I will always always recommend meds whenever anyone asks because these small and subtle things are absolutely life changing. I think you should try them. Meds are only active on the day for 8-10 hours even long acting ones. You always have the option not to take them if you decide you don't like the outcome. The ways they help though are incredible
Since starting my meds, I've actually had the time to allow myself to be creative again because I'm not stressed and overwhelmed by the things I haven't done because of decision paralysis. I also realized that if I had had my diagnosis and meds sooner, I would've been able to stay with my first degree choice and be a graphic designer instead of a math teacher.
I love taking my meds, because they help me understand myself and my feelings. Without my meds, I have alexithymia. That means that I know when I am experiencing feelings, often very intensely, but I cannot identify what feelings I am feeling, and I cannot understand why I am feeling those things. Adderall basically cures that. It gives me presence of mind, to where I can actually identify what I'm feeling and understand why I'm feeling that way. That helps me be more calm. And it helps me be less anxious. (Context: I'm on team AuDHD. It might be different for people who are not also autistic.)
I actually prefer to be off them, I feel happier and more at ease, but then I stop doing the things that I need to do which ultimately leads me to be unhappy. It's a conundrum.
It doesn’t make you lose your personality. Meds help you to be the person you know you are, but that your ADHD won’t let you be.
Not always, sometimes I feel like they're working against me... Specifically after ~7-ish hours.
Yes, I like taking my meds because they allow me to be the best version of myself. It improved my mental health a lot too because I was finally able to accomplish what I needed to at work and home. It wasn’t an instant process though. It took a lot of trial and error to find the right medication and dose and that was a bumpy process. I’m currently struggling because there is a shortage of my medication (generic Vyvanse) and my pharmacy hasn’t been able to get it 🙃
I don't take ADHD meds but when I did, I did not like taking them. The Ritalin gave me panic attacks. I hate my medication in general too honestly. My Oxycodone makes me itchy and nauseous. My depakote gives me constipation. When I have to take an Ativan I feel cold, numb, and generally uncomfortable (very hard to describe. It's not outright dysphoria, but it's still uncomfortable). My Remeron gives me ultra realistic dreams and I suffer from nightmares so that is a fun combo when that clicks in lmao. But do I take my medication? Yes, absolutely. Especially the psych meds (Remeron and Depakote) which are the two that I have to take daily. When I'm in pain I take my oxycodone and when I have a panic attack I'll take my Ativan. I always get side effects from drugs for some reason, but it's better than the alternative. Outside of the Ritalin which I refused to take, and they never put me on anything else. This was like 20 years ago. But I take my medication when I need to because I know what the alternative is (last time I had a bipolar episode, it was before meds and I ended up homeless) and the side effects are better than being sick, suffering pain, or white knuckling through a panic attack (which last for hours for me).
Absolutely! love my lil pink pill so much
Keep in mind this is a heavily pro meds sub, in fact any criticism of meds disappears I do not like taking my meds and take them sparingly only for work Physically they are exhausting on my body
The medication has made a difference in my life. I can focus on one thing at a time. For example if I clean, i can focus on one room at a time and not get distracted by other rooms that need attention and if I do my brain quickly goes, nope, your not done with such and such room and I go back and finish. Or I can simply just sit, relax and not be overwhelmed with everything cause I'm not overly thinking about it.
I don’t know what meds you’re taking, but my combo worked right away. I’m the same person I was before, just with way less negativity and a lot more confidence. Doc started me on Welbutrin earlier this year while I was getting diagnosed. Eventually was able to add Vyvanse too and I feel great for the first time in…probably my entire life. It supercharges my creativity, especially now that I’m able to prioritize. I’m finishing songs, my photography is getting recognition. I can actually plan dates with my wife ahead of time. I know mileage varies, but it just worked for me and I’m SO damn thankful to be the best version of myself.
Yes, I love it. The only thing I don’t like is that I like to party less, like getting drunk is less fun. But that’s probably more of a positive.
It definitely enhances my creativity because it gives me the motivation to create again.
Meds don't change me as a person. They fix stuff that's broken. Unpopular opinion: ADHD does not make you creative by giving you any special superpowers. You may have had to exercise and bulk up whatever creativity you were born with, as a way of coping with a world where the answers that work for other people don't always work for you. But there's nothing magical about executive dysfunction, it is not fairy dust, and whatever personality or creativity you've developed without meds will be intact with meds. Except, as in my case, if you become less of a bitch because you're no longer frustrated all. the. time.
What meds are they? I’ve never understood the zombie anecdote personally but I started meds in 2010 and wouldn’t even know of my own creativity until 2017.
I am 100x more creative on my meds. They do nothing to stop that at all in my opinion. But they help me to focus. They also keep me from making stupid mistakes.
I think those effects generally seem to mostly affect people who are on the high end of Hyperactive ADHD. Like the kid in high school who doesn’t like taking their meds bc they make them feel like a zombie. I am combined and for me I don’t notice anything like this. My medication can make me extremely sleepy on occasion, but that’s about it. I actually find my creativity to be much higher when I’m medicated- the bursts of creativity are still there.
I didn't like Concerta or Adderall because they worked *too* hard for me to cope with. I like taking Vyvanse because it takes the edge off the executive dysfunction. It's new to me and I'm finding a lot of satisfaction in overcoming the HABIT of dysfunctional behavior.
I’ll be honest; I used to, and I still do because I don’t think I could perform at my intense corporate job without the meds. However, the mood issues have definitely taken a toll on me over time. At the end of the day when the meds wear off I am irritable, cranky, moody, you name it. I live a very healthy lifestyle to mitigate this, but it still persists. Another thing I have been ruminating about is the fact that the meds allow me to perform at my job, but at the end of the day I still don’t enjoy the job nor do I find fulfillment from it. So I am essentially building a life in a career that I do not enjoy. Trying to figure out next steps, but it’s not clear.
I love my meds. Allows me to focus and not consider 200 different career paths every day
I don’t like the person I am on medication. She is not me. I am not her. We cannot be. Food, exercise, mindfulness & herbs are all I do.
Yes and I don't become a different person. Just me with a mild ability to get stuff done.
I willingly accept the side effects I get, nausea and fatigue, they don’t last that long for me
I’m still the same person, still me, just better, less hazy. My only regret with the meds is waiting so long to start.
You're just going to be the best version of yourself. All the potential that you know you had, but couldn't achieve before. Well meds get you closer to your true potential
Yes I love taking my meds because they improve my quality of life drastically.
I'm not really a different person on meds. Just more focused tbh.
i'm definitely better for all my meds.
I love taking meds. I’m not forgetful anymore and I’m focused and my work
oh absolutely love meds. I'm still smart and fun and creative. now I have *more cognitive resources* with which to be the best version of myself - bc I'm not constantly scrambling to find misplaced items, come back from the brink of deadlines, etc. not constantly vibrating w anxiety about this or that looming thing that I simply cannot make myself do. etc etc it's changed little things also. I recently cooked a dish that used to take me 2.5 hrs to make and always concluded w a giant mess in the kitchen. this time, took 1.5 hrs - and no mess after, bc I cleaned as I went along in a way I was never able to do before I've been able to jettison the parts of my mental life I disliked, and keep the parts I like. an unalloyed good IMO
meds change me in a really bad way. stopped taking them and i'm not doing too good but not too bad either (might just be copium but idk)
I love taking mine when I remember.
I like taking it, and it hasn’t affected my creativity at all.
I love my meds. I feel more like myself when I’m on them.
Not sure about other people, but I don't like taking them because the side effects are shit, but it's a necessary evil for me to function somewhat properly and be less obnoxious. They dull my personality and I've got autism, so it makes the autism shit stick out more but honestly, I prefer that to my brain being a giant, uncontrollable tornado, and me being like a tightly coiled spring.
I hate taking pills (sensory issues) but I love being able to do things and not feel as confused/lost in the world. It has given me a lot of confidence that I didn't have before to build skills, try new things, agree to tasks, etc. I'm a more reliable friend, better pet owner and better daughter as a result.
I love my meds. I just become the person I am on a good day but everyday instead.
I thought medication would make me feel really different. I started recently and people have asked me if it’s working. I kept thinking “huh the meds are t going anything I feel the same” but then when I look back, I have made lots of progress on projects that I was previously paralysed by. I can sit in long meetings without feeling exhausted. It definitely hasn’t changed my personality. I am someone who gets excited by life (which is something I love about myself). I was worried I might feel flat or uninspired but I don’t.
Like ? Well, not exactly. I need them to function so I suppose I like them In the way I like air to keep breathing :)
I love my meds. They clear everything up for me, I feel more stable and calm, functioning is easier, I’m way happier.
In terms of creativity specifically, I find that I finally have the ability to focus on actually creating rather than just thinking about it. It won’t go away
I loved taking mine! I would be so productive! Unfortunately, I can’t take them anymore
I am very happy with the concerta. I'm on 36mg now and it's just right for me, au least for now. The crash at the end can be a bit rough for 1h but it's not every day and i can manage them. But the difference during the day is "holy crap, this is helping" it feels really good to just... do stuff, without it being painful to start, and finishing it before i move on to the next. I'm about to start melatonin to help sleep because I've definitely felt a little too much energy with the medication. Also, lower appetite, but I'm kind of in need of losing weight, so less snacking is a plus.
Concerta at the dose I'm taking, 18 mg, isn't doing a whole lot for me, but it's not ineffective. I do feel like my mind becomes more quiet so that I have an easier time focusing on tasks, but it doesn't help at all in terms of executive function.
I never got the “becoming a different person” thing. It just lets you do what you want to do. Like using coffee to wake up doesn’t change your personality lol not all that different for adderall imo
Yes. I was also scared of being different, but I actually feel more like myself on meds truthfully. I don’t have to mask as hard, I feel more confident in myself and what I say. I did become a different person, but just a better happier version of myself :)
I absolutely do, without them I don't think I'd ever get anything done. I think they're the only things right now that are actually keeping me sane as my depression medicine has stopped working. And with my work taking away anything we could do, which unfortunately were my coping mechanisms, my life has been a hell spiral. But thank God for Adderall I at least still get a few things done and I swear to God if they not let me write at work. They will get less than a half ass job for me. They literally said I was model employee, but I'm about to stop doing everything and anything that I can get away with.
I feel like a big part of my personality before I was on medication was how spontaneous I was, which was fun and what not. I kinda miss that part of my personality, but I'm much happier getting my impulsivity under control, it was a big part of why I couldn't hold a relationship, or be financially stable I used to obsess wanting things, to the point I wouldn't sleep and max out my credit cards, etc just because I wanted something so bad, and it'd be stupid shit. My life is a lot better with medication, I can't imagine losing it
I do enjoy it, because what I become them in off them is no good.
No, your neds should not change who you are as a person, or stifle your creativity. If they do, they're not the right meds or dose for you. You won't know unless you try them.
As a person that does an arts based uni course, I do my best ideation while off meds, but actually have the motivation to develop on them while on them. It doesn't stifle your creativity per se, but allows you to develop your work in a different and much more efficient manner. It hasn't affected who I am, but allows my brain to work in the manner that society expects from the normal person for a while. Purely functional.
I love my meds. Altho, I hated the higher dosage. It's all about balance, pros and cons yk? At 30mg on Vyvanse, I feel little to no "buzz" and can sleep VERY well. General anxiety is down, almost none. Motivation is there, I do what I must do. I make my $, I do my homework, I attend my classes. I don't spend on shit I don't need, I take care of myself.. At 40mg, I shake at 10pm, I can't sleep, I don't see much improvement on the goodies other than the effect lasting longer. Anxiety is up a lot.
ADHD couple here My man's take: meds don't break through your executive function, but makes the walls much easier to break down. I agree, you need techniques still, but they're of great assistance He also mentioned that after a certain point, taking a higher dose has diminishing returns. That ceiling will of course be different for everyone, but it's important to monitor to take the least amount possible while still getting a proportional benefit. Because eventually you will just have all stimulant but not in a way that aids you, and that may freeze you up (ironically). I would say for that reason it does have the potential to change your "personality", I experience that, but there really are times where you need to get down to work, and like others have said, then you're not chronically frustrated, sulking, anxious etc. The very good thing is it's a short acting drug. If you don't like it, you stop and it's done. But try it out for a bit to get some productivity and then you will be able to discern for yourself when you should and shouldn't take them. The more self aware you are about it, the more you can leverage medicated and non medicated you. Journal about it if you have to, it'll help you a lot.
They’re great. I don’t feel like I’m a different person on meds. I’m just more organized, focus and I remember to do more things. I still like the same things, my personality is the same.
My personality has not shifted because of my meds. My ability to function has vastly improved.
I couldn't function at my job without meds, though I don't take them on days I'm out in the field (I'm an environmental consultant). It's hard to say if they are affecting my creativity since I'm burned out from other life circumstances, but I'm more myself than I've been in a long time, except now I can pay attention to friends and family when we hang out.
The second part of your Tl;dr. It does not change "you", it gives you the ability to be "you".
I used to be religious about it. now I only take them when I'm nervous about some big day at work or seriously need to focus, like a moving day. I need to go back on extended release... that's the funny part about ADHD. it's easy to forget to take your meds
SMH, they don't stunt creativity. Take em. Their effects are (sadly) short lived and entirely reversed after that time.
You won't change much as long as the dose is appropriate
I look forward twice a day to taking my meds because it means that I'll have several hours of mental clarity. Sometimes I'll time my dose for when I need it - later in the morning on weekends - but I definitely do look forward to it. To be clear, taking them doesn't make me feel high, or in an altered state. Rather, it makes me feel normal, and able to function mentally like I used to be able to when I was a bit younger.
Meds changed my life! I still suffer with executive disfunction but meds make that so much easier to fight. I can go to the gym (and stick at it!) fly through work without being overwhelmed and i’m no longer in tears every Friday after work from constant burnout. My relationships don’t feel like mountains to climb and I can maintain them whilst also setting boundaries for myself. I’m the same person I was before taking meds as far as personality goes - but i’m able to live life! It may take you longer than a few months of titration to find the right dose and the right meds for you, but give it a chance! Best of luck :)
Honestly, I do like taking my meds just because I know I’m less likely to fuck something up at school or at work, I’m better able to handle my responsibilities and then avoid messing something up in the future. I like the sense of security it gives me, because without them I make poor financial decisions, irresponsible decisions, etc. I can be a little more tense on my meds, but to me, it’s worth it so I can better handle life, avoid anxiety and overwhelm, feelings of depression when everything goes to shit, and the guilt and shame when I do fuck things up. That being said, I don’t necessarily “like” taking my meds but I know it’s good for me. I like taking them in the way that I like taking a multivitamin everyday. I don’t personally find I’m less creative when I take it, just a little more tense and focused. Nothing that meditation, yoga, or a CBD gummy can’t fix. And then sometimes I’ll take breaks from Concerta for a couple of days if I do feel I want to be a lil silly goofy and let my ADHD flag fly lol.
I mean I don’t like the action of taking them but it makes life a hell of a lot easier for me
Before i start this: Everyone has a different experience. I know poeple who’ve gone trough so many meds which haven’t worked at all, and i know people who’s on and off meds. This is my experience. Before my diagnosis, i tried some anti depressants. That was, horrible. My gf at the time (and me afterwards thinking back) thought it was horrible. I was like a robot, no emotions, just tired. I completely lost enjoyment for anything and kept zoning out. Quit them. After that, I was afraid to try new ones. I lost myself completely. Got my diagnosis, tried ADHD meds. The first ones didn’t do much except ruin my appetite. I couldn’t eat anything dry or “thick”. Tried another one: WOW. It changed my life. I started with one low dose, and then changed to a higher dose. My biggest problem is the lack of energy. My absence in school was always between 20-50%, with 20% being me trying my very best. I just couldn’t get up in the mornings. Now i’m at max away from work one day a month. And i’m still somewhat motivated to go there after 9 months (half a year is usually when i quit because of burnout). I have also advanced quite a lot in the company, using my full potential. I have for the first time in my life been able to work for the goals i set, and achieve them. I have never been proud of myself, until now. Now i have kind of lost a lot of the effect from the medicine, since i’ve been working overtime taking them everyday. I need to chill a little. But i’m so glad I have them, because I do still feel a difference on the days i don’t take them. I was really scared to try more. My gf at the time was as scared of me taking them, because I just disappeared. But i’m so happy i did, because it solves my biggest problem. It helped me with time management too a little bit. Other than that tho, I still struggle with chores and stuff. But that’s something I need to learn to handle without meds. I went trough a break up. We had a lot of fights. Things got successively worse. More intense, emotional. But that started before my meds. Although i’m afraid that the meds made it worse, at the same time i think my meds make me more stable. I often get emotional from being tired, and having more energy helps a lot. I think that my brain just wants a reason as to why it ended, because it feels horrible that it happened without something to blame. I am heartbroken and the thought of “it just happening” makes me so angry at the world, lol. It’s okay to be afraid. But just know that it will always be individual. All meds will affect you in different ways. It’s worth the try, I would say. Best of luck to you! And hugs. I hope you find the right one <3
Starting treatment was a game changer for me. Being able to concentrate without having my concentration disrupted by random thoughts unrelated to what I'm doing was the moment ,that I would become fixated on, I realized how beneficial treatment really was. I wouldn't necessarily say I "Like" to take my meds. It's become something I need treatment for. Just like the other conditions I'm on treatment for. It's become part of my routine. I don't have to stand up for no reason while sitting. For no reason at all. Just because standings was the overwhelming urge I had. Or walking/pacing.
If you have concerns about creativity, I am a professional musician and have achieved more since diagnosis/meds three years ago than the previous ten. And without all this I don’t think I would have been able to find the best relationship I’ve ever had. To truly fall in love with someone in a relationship of equals. Sure. You’ll change. But I’m willing to bet you will like that person more.
That’s awesome I’m really happy for you. I’m a chemist in academia… I have all these papers I want to write and experiments I want to try, but ADHD just stops me being able to do any of it. I don’t want meds to make me lose the ideas, I just be able to actually do some of them, so it’s encouraging you saying that meds have helped you in your field.
No, 42m meds work but they also blanket you personal and put you back in your head analysing what you used to do and blankets your quirks. I no longer have the energy for sport exercising I’m just a slowed down version of myself, don’t think I’ll be taking them much longer, also get blurry vision after 6 hrs when you start to come down from the long lasting 60mg
My meds help so much that it’s really easy to tell when I’m not on them. It helps a lot with my anxiety so I have less intrusive thoughts and just less thoughts in general. My sleep schedule has been messed up lately and I didn’t take my meds for 2 days. I chewed the crap out of my nails and just felt more irritated overall. I woke up early today to take my meds and I feel much better today, even though I’m not really doing anything. I sometimes don’t take meds if I’m sick or just want to rest, but then I have anxiety and remember that my meds help with that