ADHD and Creativity | ADHD Information

I am on Dexedrine and it doesn't stop my creativity, in fact it allows me to focus long enough to get those creative thoughts down on paper and the dexedrine also allows me to remind myself to write that thought down because yes I will lose the thought if I don't  I'm not an artist though, I could barely draw a stickman if I had to, but I love to write and if anything the dexedrine has totally helped me with that.

Maybe you just need to try a new med?

~CC

I had a bit of trouble gettting through school until my sophomore year in college....that was when I started my real work as an art major...I was not diagnosed until this year..and I am 33. I started aderall about 3 weeks ago and I have some mixed feelings about the creativity thing..My theory is similar to the last post.......I don't take my meds all of the time...and when I do have all of those thoughts and wild ideas...I right them down..take my meds the next day and then I can make my plan come to fruition....I had exactly the same struggle and still do.....You don't have to choose between being the the well organized level headed business person or the zany artist....happiness lies in a true balance of each..good luck.....Well butrin scares me because herd on tv  can cause seizure or don't take if in history.What happens while driving? Why if so even out on the market.rshn

Wellbutrin doesn't cause seizures, what it does do is lower the seizure threshold in those prone to seizures.

Especially if the dosage is too large too fast, otherwise, it is a very good med for ADD & Depression.

I tried welbutrin to quit smoking. It put me on a complete high. I felt like I
was smoking weed again. The worst part was that I was substitute
teaching and was very worried that students and other teachers would
think I was high.

Yeah, there is a buzz with it, but for me, it was gone by the 6th week.

Off all the meds I have been on, it is the one that I have the best quality of life with.  It wasn't for the ADD, it was for the clinical depression. 

Are your art classes like Mon Wed or Tues. Thurs...you could skip your meds on the days you have art and take the meds on the days you don't have art.  I too paint, draw etc.......when I am in this mode I think you need the "Free to roam in your mind" feeling ADHD gives you...it is like you are in your own little world....and you can create your surroundings or express what is in your soul. Non ADHD people don't have the capibility to look within that void between consiousness and unconciousness. It is a floating feeling filled with abstract energy that the meds cause to dissapear....   Almost all artist in history were prob bipolar ADHD etc...currently there are others who complain about the meds taking away their artistic creativity...I know a artist who lives in Austin/SanAntonio she is Bipolar...and ADHD she does not take meds...she is very talented, but the lack of medication causes her to not be very good with people therefore her talent is not marketed at the level it could be because she doesn't have the capabilities of meeting with the public at showings often....Her name is Nivia Gonzales here is a link to one of her pieces...http://www.firstartsource.com/Content/htm/NYG30953. htm you can see the emotion in her work. Hope this helps!   PS I do take meds when I use grids for perspective...because if I didn't I would have chairs with three legs on the floor and three legs off.about a year and a half ago I started my sophomore year of college by
taking Stratera, figuring that it could help me concentrate in classes and
get my work done. It def did what I wanted it to in my academic classes
however I am an art major. When I got to my Life Drawing class I found
myself producing absolutely horrable drawing, and having no motivation
to be creative. Granted I could read for hours on end, I began to consider
what I wanted out of life. I try to see myself as an intellegent person,
despite years of parental critisism of being lazy and unfocused, and I
really had to consider whether art or academics should be my path. I
decided to quit the stratera and withing a week I was back to my old and
wonderful drawing habbits, as well as being back to disorganization, lack
of academic concentration, and no desire to read.
I am looking at all of this as trying to be who I am meant to be. I dont
think it is worth giving up creativity and visual spacial skills just so that I
can conform to sitting in a classroom.

let me know what you all think about this. I am doing a conceptual art
piece that will address my ADHD and am using many of these message
boards as the basis. The more responses the better I can organize these
thoughts and make a bold statement.
Tommy

I do understand what you mean.  Some medications can dull the creative flow and slow down the brain.  I know of several artists that refused to go on anti-depressants because they took away the passionate angst that drove creativity.

With that being said, I do believe that there can be a happy medium for some.  I am on Wellbutrin XL and I don't believe it has stiffled my creativity.  If anything, it has slowed down my thought processes enough that I can think a project through and organize better for materials, time, equipment.  Before, I would jump in with both feet and about half way through either go UH OH!  Forgot to get extra mastic! 

Or more often, just got bored and quit.

But that is just me.  :)  I do understand what you are saying about being true to your artistic soul.

Esther

I've heard a lot about ADHD people being very creative, and I often wonder why this particular symptom completely passed me by.  When in art classes at school my pictures where only fit for the bin. 

I decided to try being musical once, and after a few lunchtime beers I bought myself a guitar.  I was heartbroken when I discovered I couldn't play it.  I tried buying loads of teach yourself books, but they didn't help much (probably because I never read them).

In fact the only thing I have ever been able to create is chaos.  Am I alone in this?

I have done the alternating method too.  When I need to be creative I'm off, when I need to do the business end of art, I'm on.  Works for me... I take Concerta.