Jessie,
Do you have an update for us? I am curious to how things have gone.
I want to tell you that I am an adult with combined ADHD, hyper, impulsive and inattentive. I call it winning the jackpot, I got it all. I have been on meds for 11 weeks and I wish I would have done this years ago. I know my life would have been so much different. I managed to get a college degree but have never really put it to use.
I was filled with this internal aniexty and fear. I had nightmares about upcoming projects and failing at them. I had a great deal of trouble sleeping because my mind would not turn off at night. Things would go in one ear and out the other. I could hyperfocus on strange things and be unable to focus on what I needed, My house was a mess with tons of unfinished projects. I often was up late finishing a project that I needed the next day. I was not a nice person often because I was stressed out.
Now, my life is different.
Now, I am calm inside and am able to accomplish so many things. I have a sense of time and can plan a project and complete it. My house is not spotless, but it is much neater. I am so much happier. I can not tell you how wonderful it is to be this happy. I look forward to each day and what it has to bring.
Meds have not made me stupid, turned me into a zombie or made me want to go out and do any crazy stuff. I can actually say that the meds have given me some self control over alcohol. I like to drink wine but do not keep it in the house because I had a hard time stopping after one glass. It made me feel calm, so I would have some more and then some more and low and behold the bottle would be empty. Now I can drink one glass and stop. I do not need the alcohol to be calm.
I didn't mean for this post to be so long but I wanted you to think about trying the meds. Please try them for a month and remember there is a wide variety of medications that help and you might have to try more than one before you find the right one.
reruho39662.882025463There are many other meds than just Ritalin, but it is most widely used. I think you should try it and see what happens. it only lasts 3-4 hours and will be out of your system quick. then you can see for yourself.My name is jessie and i'm going to be 13 this christmas but i'm extreemly mature for my age. i have boarder line ADD with dislexia and dispraxia and i can't do ANYTHING rite at home; My mum says i wont concentrate on the things she asks me to do and now she's giving in after 10 yaers of raising me on her own so she's taking me to our GP tomorow to ask her about ritelin.
i'm rubish at sport and all things arty so my intelligence is the only thing i can be proud of (I.Q 140+) but ritelin may comprimise it.
my mums a child developmental phycoligest (soz i cant spell) and an expert in ASD, ADD ect. and has told me about ritelin and how it can make me have more of an addictive personalaty then i all ready have.
so the way i see it i have the following options:-
1) take the meds and grow up stupid and adicted to evrything.
2) pretend to take the meds and hide them.
3) tell her that there's no way i'm taking the meds and would rather grow up screwed but clever so i can sort out my life whilst not possablly smoking,drinking,doing drugs ect. so i'm moving to my Dads in england.
i guess you should know why i'm not allready living at dad's; over there the only food is the cheapest crap from tesco to eat whilst here it's all organic, the schools are bad and chavvy so i'd have teach myself outside of lessons but the school i'm in now is fantastic and well equiped.
1),2) or 3) plz help!!!!!!!
ur's allways XXjXX
Update
Hi just a quick update to say that i now have a much more open minded about taking meds should the need arise, am not on them atm and think im coping well however as some one on the replies said i am allways uplate at night finishing projects but i also end up making excuses as to why is not in so maby i should think about tking meds to keep me calm and organised. thanks for all youre help and coments.
XXjXX
XXjXX39669.0771064815p.s im open to any other sugestions
XXjXX
XXjXX39645.1182986111Actaully many MANY studies show that kids who are medicated for ADHD tend to not use drugs. The ones who are unmedicated tend to self medicate with illegal drugs. SO, if you do actualy have ADHD and take Ritalin, or another similar med, you are not as likely to self medicate with weed or other drugs.
if anyone out there has a reason why i SHOULD take the meds plz tell me i would love to keep an open mind.
XXjXX
oh that wasn't sarcasm just so you know i just can't find a good reason for meds.
XXjXX
the meds will help you be all you can be and use that wonderful IQ to your fullest potential. If you're IQ is 140, but everything else is disorganized and out of control, you're going to still struggle.............
so my answers
1)taking meds will not make you either addicted nor stupid.
2)do not do this
3)if you truly do NOT want to take meds, try to discuss this maturely with your Mom and your doctor, don't tell her you'd rather grow up screwed up, it'll get you guys in a fight. Just tell her you're not comfortable right now and feel you need more infomration on the positives of taking medication. Try to be open minded and learn as much as you can.
Good for you for reaching out and asking.............
How about asking your mom and the dr. how things might change if you take the meds? Then you can make an informed decision whether or not it's something you want to do. The point of the meds would be to gain control over certain problems you are having.
Ritallin is not addictive for people w/ ADHD. It actually calms them down even though it's a stimulant. Like a pp said, people w/ ADHD who take ADHD meds are LESS likely to use nonprescription drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc.) and they're LESS likely to engage in risky behavior (unsafe driving, behaviors risky for pregnancy and STDs, etc.).
Finally, know that the meds are not a lifetime commitment. You can try it for a little while and then discontinue it if you don't want to take it. However, don't hide whether or not you're taking it. That'll lead to other problems.
thanks evry1 just to let u know im not on meds for now but u've all made me see things more clearly thanks
XXjXX