Outside of drugs like Adderall what tricks do you use to stay on top of your work (whether school work or at the...
67I can only give my own experience. First, a short background. I am ADD, was diagnosed in high school, medicated for a short time, and quit the meds for quite a while. I’m 36 now, still ADD, and currently medicated on Ritalin. I chose Ritalin because after reading up on Adderal and other similar meds, the Ritalin seemed like the best bet because it is non-addictive so I can quit taking it when ever I want, or only take it when I feel that I need it. With that said, here’s how I’ve been fairly successful mostly non-medicated, and why I do occasionally choose to be medicated.
In work I’ve taken pains to get in to a career that I not only enjoy, but is, for the most part, a continual challenge. It wasn’t easy. Getting in to the field of software engineering required starting off working a second job (the tech support job) while I did what I knew (baking bread) to continue paying the bills. When I’d advanced enough for my second job to replace the first financially, I made the move. This helped keep my attention because I not only had a goal in mind, but I enjoyed the work. As I became more comfortable in my work I would seek out new challenges on my terms, again, so that I could have a challenge that would keep my attention because it interested me. When I start to get bored in my work I seek out environments, in the same company if possible, where I can get in slightly above my head in work that I want to do. I keep myself challenged, and for the most part this does keep my mind from wandering.
I started college after getting started in my career. The benefit here was that I knew what I needed to study and why I was getting my degree. Since it is something that I wanted to do there was a level of interest that I would not have otherwise had. In spite of this I spent most of my time in college fighting to stay focused. To combat this I enrolled in a school that allowed me to work online in my own time, this let me work when I was able to focus rather than when I had to be in class. The school also has deadlines for assignments, papers, and projects. Since I am paying for the loans I had an incentive to do the work on time and with as much quality as possible so that I didn’t have to pay for a course twice. The end result is that I graduated, mostly un-medicated, with honors.
There are times that I will see my Dr. and get a script for the meds. There are times in my work that I will make a substantial change that offers more of a challenge than I can easily deal with on my own. It is not that I’m not interested, but the fact is that my mind always wanders…case in point, I wouldn’t be writing this right now if I had full focus…the challenge might have tight deadlines, or I might simply have to show almost immediately that I am more skilled than I actually am. In order to pull this off I do need more of an ability to concentrate than I naturally have, and in these cases I will seek out the meds. I’m currently in such a state, and will be for quite a while yet, but because I know that in most cases I can get by without the meds I’ve made the choice to use Ritalin rather than one of the other more popular drugs available.
The bottom line is that if you are able to manipulate the environment around you in to a situation that you need, and you are a person who can function well without medication most of the time, you will likely be able to remain un-medicated most of the time. When and if you choose to take the meds do your research. There are options available that carry a reduced risk, or no risk, of detox when you quit.
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Thanks for answering my question!
No problem. I hope it helps.
It seems to me that the question was asked with the assumption that the adderall was being used as a stimulant, like caffeine. Not being taken as a prescription drug for a certain condition. I could be wrong, and I'm not saying your Hub isn't worth reading. You make some very good points. It sounds like you have a great system for controlling your condition and working around it.
Great Hub, my brother is ADD too and I always said they should just take him off the meds and only give them to him on days he really needs it. And the Adderall is bogus, Riddelin is the only one worth using. They had him on another one called strattera or something. He was a total zombie, I can't stand all those crazy meds they give kids now.
Jonno,
I'm with you. If the question was asked from the perspective of just trying to find a stimulant, then this subject isn't even worth discussing.
As for taking the meds only when your brother needs them, I agree with your point of view. Most of these meds are amphetimines. Nothing more than legal crank which is why most of these drugs require a supervised detox when the patient goes off em. Ritalin, in my experience is a different sort of beast. It's possible to take it when you need it, not take it when you don't, and it's not on the scale of one of the "zombie maker" drugs, and alot of the people using these hard core meds do get to be zombies. It's a pretty bad trend, I think.
CherylTheWriter 3 years ago
Hey, it makes sense to me. I have PTSD and for more than a decade I needed anti-depressants and other drugs. When I turned into a zombie and couldn't get the doctor to work with me or even return my phone calls, I quit them cold turkey and have never regretted it. But I can't handle forty hours a week without them, so it's a trade-off.
You're right. Take the meds when you need them, and put them aside when you can function without. Organize life to suit your family, your abilities, your needs, and your goals. And just do your best with what you have.
Thanks, CJensen.