I can't imagine not having ADHD and doing what I do. I'm a professional bartender and have been doing it for 13 years. Making 20 different drink recipes for the service bar while making drinks for the people sitting at my bar all the while ordering food and getting the bar customers sitting there to get talking to each other or finding something good to watch on the big screens. Now that's multitasking.
I've been told I'm one of the best at what I do from many people all over the world. I thank my "condition" in this respect because I think it allows me to do all of these things at the exact same time while not forgetting to do any of them. And while doing all this trying extra hard to make no mistakes because often enough you have to pay for your mistakes.
I'm extra curious to know how Concerta will affect my bartending skills if at all or if it will make me better or worse at it. I am in every way and in every stretch of the word: hyper. This also plays a role because it seems as though I grow extra arms when I get in the weeds. The hyperactivity makes me move crazy fast and when that happens I've learned to call it, "growing octopus arms!" People are amazed sometimes to watch.
All my liquor has to be in the right place so I don't waste time looking down for it. A manager or anyone who comes behind my bar and starts moving stuff around is like someone moving a mechanics tools on him.
/rant off
There seem to be some experts here and I'm wondering what you might think?
I'd consider myself experienced with ADHD rather than expert LOL. But I'll try to answer if I can.
The meds should be awesome for a bartender. Frankly I'm amazed you've done as well in such a job as I know my memory was totally swiss cheese and a bartender's memory is his main tool. You can't be going back to the books for simple drinks and I can just imagine I would have. However many with ADHD can focus their existing memory on things like trivia, job-specific tasks so it's not all that amazing.
The meds will enhance memory skills (especially short-term). We can retain more of what we hear now rather than needing all the repetition. Focus is enhanced - great if it's a noisy environment. I work in a factory with earplugs in and I can tell you my dexedrine helps me avoid just nodding my head not really understanding but focusing on what is said and asking for repeating if I don't get the whole thing. It's nice not to have people mad at me anymore for that.
In kids our meds slow them down quite a bit. That's where all the pooh-poohers who are anti-med call it "zombie" - where the kids seem downright sedate. I find that my metabolism kicked up several notches and though I don't need to be moving all the time - when it's required I can kick up like I never could even at 18. I keep telling the kids at work that - if I can do it at 39 they certainly can!
Remember - meds are short acting so if you don't like the way it affects you then don't take them after that! It's great to test drive and see what happens.
Thanks again Glen!
well said glen
b4 meds (concerta here) i was a drag ass,, to quote aerosmith
"my get up and go mustah got up & went"
i wont deny i enjoy the zip/rush of meds...
I hear though add and adhd people are more proaned to self medicate with alchol/drugs. I don't listen to this statement at all. I have ADHD and was a great bartender without meds. Probably cause I loved it