Am I overestimating just how much they will help me?
I have an assessment soon, and I am absolutely confident i have it, so if i get on ADHD meds, will they help me read books again? will they help me study? will they help me get back to work if able? How much do they help with executive dysfunction?
I feel as though I’m putting all my eggs in the ADHD meds basket.
How much do they help you?
Everyone reacts a bit differently, and it takes time to dial in a therapy. Like anything, drugs are only one part of the treatment. You need to be mentally prepared for them to work.
Line up work and set achievable goals. Remember that your hyperfocus rate of productivity is also a symptom of ADHD and you don’t need to achieve that to be a success. Don’t forget to eat.
If I don’t have an idea of where to direct my focus, I will absolutely focus on something irrelevant. I’ve planned 3 week intercontinental trips in detail, with no fucking plans or intent to take these trips because I got off course. I’ve spent the morning of workday sorting my budget (which isn’t entirely a bad thing to do, but I did have something to do for work that arguably was more time sensitive).
If you don’t have any coping mechanisms in place, stimulants aren’t a magic pill to suddenly become a neurotypical with tumbleweeds in the brain when you’re not doing accounting. You’re still who you are, just with a bit more capacity for focus.
Thanks. I think i AM indeed vastly overestimating how much ADHD meds can do for me, which sucks :/
Adding to this because I took my Vyvanse and golly this is way more fun than work. I’m on the AuADHD spectrum comorbid with a side of depression. “Is it the depression or ADHD interfering with executive function, or just screen addiction?” Any way the doctor wants to diagnose it, the drugs get me off the couch.
All those coping exercises that people give you - make a list, set timers, whatever - they actually work when you’re on a drug that works. The first couple days, for me, tend to be a bit of a high before my system adjusts. If you can use that alongside the novelty adhd bonus, it’ll help. Make some lists of things you need to get done, set goals, set timers. All that stuff.
I’ve set up a schedule for myself that’s working with my current job. I have a piece of work I’m going to get done and when I’m done that I’ll break for a snack and a workout. If I reach for my phone I try to catch myself and stick to the task. Maybe I’ll set up a pomodoro if the task seems to drag, or if I’m multitasking (could be a break to get water and check email, or a break to change laundry or a break to walk the dog depending on what you need to do and how you’re feeling.)
This all takes time and experience and patience. The drugs may not work great for a while. You may need more, or you may need less, or you may need to change them.
You may find that you need to adjust your life too - I have to moderate caffeine intake and I need to be really on top of life factors like food and drink and especially sleep. My partner says I’m distant - I’m impatient and have a drive to get things done, rather than cuddle. Sex drive is muted while the drugs are active and when they wear off I’d rather sleep. Irritability is sometimes magnified. If your dose hits too late it can fuck up sleep. It increases my desire for alcohol - thinking about it, I should declare that a problem in my life; I’ll drink as soon as I can after work when I’m on the drugs (“social” drinking is still unhealthy overall).
I only drink 2 200mL cups of coffee a day, but I still have found that depending on external factors, it can stimulate too much anxiety and I need to cut back to 1 or less. It’s a morning wake up ritual and I did try decaf, but short of a double blind study i think the caffeine hits faster or differently than the drug.
I am a skinny person and track calories in order to maintain a weight and body composition I want - I’m the person who loses weight on vacation - and the drugs make that worse because I don’t have an urge to eat on stimulants. Many people don’t have a problem with this because their appetite returns when the drugs wear off and they kinda do a form of time restricted eating, but because my appetite isn’t huge to begin with and I need to eat specific macronutrients, it’s tough to get the calories in sometimes.
Thanks (Vyvanse 😝) for sharing your experience. I’m just lurking but it helps to hear your perspective.
It ain’t a magic pill.