Compiled and edited by Cynthia Hammer, MSW
Here is a hint: it starts with M, is a 4 syllable word and research shows it is the most effective treatment for ADHD….medication. Not convinced? Read these comments on Reddit from people who take medication for their ADHD.
Unmedicated, my brain is convinced that no activity is worth the effort it takes, no matter how rewarding or minimal the required effort.
Unmedicated, I’ll walk past a sock I dropped on the floor and think “I should pick that up”, but I don’t. Every time I walk past it, I get anxious, but I still won’t try to do anything about it. Medicated, I pick up the sock: no hesitation, no anxiety. The hill I had to climb to start most tasks was gone. I do the thing. There is still a struggle when it comes to doing the things I need to do rather than the things I want to do, but that’s not something medication is ever going to fix.
When I’m not on my meds, it is like I am living in a dense fog. Now and then, I find a way to navigate this fog, but I’ll eventually run into a dead end and get stuck again. Also, the general apathy I have for life, not on medication, is crazy. I used to believe I was just sluggish and depressed. But when I take my medication, I can finally use my brain.
A lot of times, ADHD goes undiagnosed simply because the patient has a plethora of coping mechanisms that hide many of the symptoms, and bad psychiatrists/psychologists can’t tell the difference.
An ADHD diagnosis might be worth looking into, if only for the sole reason that getting some meds on top of your coping mechanisms will make a world of difference. Your brain will quiet, and you will be able to think one thought at a time.
The first time I took Adderall, it was like being awake for the first time. My brain could organize My thoughts, and my daily tasks suddenly seemed doable. Just like you, I only passed school because I was intelligent enough to pass tests but rarely completed homework. Seriously, if you feel this way, get tested, guys. It could change your life.
Don’t be afraid to seek help; YOU also deserve to succeed and accomplish something. Sometimes, all it takes is a little oomph, a little pill once a day, and suddenly getting out of bed, being productive, and going for a fulfilling life. It is not so complicated, and it may be all you need. Don’t let yourself be your enemy,
I wish someone had told me long ago that I wasn’t as terrible as I thought. One thing people don’t talk about enough is how undiagnosed ADHD is just constant shame about so many things, over and over.
