ADD question for people who take medicine?!

ADD question for people who take medicine?

What was you life like before you were put on ADD medicine? How has it changed. what kind of medicine are you an.

I was diagnosed with ADD about 6-7 years ago. I am 49 now. At that time I was back in college and was having the same old problems I had in my younger years while in school. It takes me a lot longer to understand things so while in algebra class, this time, sometimes I could actually work out the problems then I wouldn't have a clue so I made a phone call to a tutor, so I thought, and I ended up calling a Phychiatrist by accident that dealt with learning disabilities. I was stunned by him answering the phone. I was expecting a tutor.

At first I apologized because I wasn't expecting a shrink. He started to ask me questions and then I made an appointment to see him. I didn't even realize all the areas in my life that were challanged per say. So he gave me some Adderall and said to call him in a couple of days after taking it. So I took it. the only way I can explain to you the difference it made at first was I felt as though my five lane highway was merged into a two lane highway and my mind slowed down. People noticed that I was quiet and asked what was wrong with me. I didn't tell anyone what I was doing at the time. I seemed more organized and got things accomplished. I didn't take it full time, only when I was in school or at my job that was and still is very demanding.

Now the down side to this drug is that it is habit forming and when wearing off, I seem to drop. I sometimes feel even more depressed after. Now I haven't taken much of it recently, nor do I really like to but I don't like the idea of taking drugs at all.

My whole family is flooded with ADD on both sides of my family and have been screened professionally. My daughter doesn't care for the way it made her feel. Kind of like the way I felt. It helps in some ways, but it also takes away. I have seen these drugs help and hurt a lot of people. I am currently in a group of all high fuctioning adults. We meet once a month and have discussions with the original Dr that I saw runs this group. He is almost 70 years old now and he managed to get himself free of the drug with biofeedback. He said he flunked algebra 3 times while in college before the light went on in his head and he's a real doctor. I think overall, I find support the most helpful. I try to pace myself more but sometimes the situation is impossible, not me. There are times I still use it but not that often unless I feel I have no choice.

I hope that if you are on one of these meds, I hope you see a professional in the matter. Now that I am older, I can look back at all the stuff I did in my younger years that were true signs but in those days, it wasn't heard of as much. I was always distracted by something and even though I was, I was still a over achiever.

I hope I gave you a little insight into the situation. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. ADD/ADHD covers a very large area and involves a lot of research on your part.
Megan