Why Stimulant Medication Helps ADHD -- and How Stigma Can Hurt
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
- Happy ADHD Awareness Month! In honor of that, and hitting half a million subscribers (eeee!!!), I decided to ask Dr. Carolyn Lentzch-Parcells (www.gtw-health.com) to come talk about stimulant medication -- and help bust some of the stigma that keeps people from treating their ADHD.
#ADHD #treatment #stigma
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References
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strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Arch Gen
Psychiatry 1999;56:1073-1086.
Molina BSG, Hinshaw S.P., Swanson J.M., Arnold, L.E., Vitiello B, Jensen PS, Epstein
JN, Hoza B, Hechtman L., Abikoff, H.B., Elliott GR, Greenhill LL, Newcorn, JH, Wells
KC, Wigal TL, Severe JB, Gibbons RD, Hur K, Houck PR, and the MTA Cooperative
Group: The MTA at 8 years: prospective follow-up of children treated for
combined type ADHD in a multisite study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc
Psychiatry 2009;48:484-500.
Barbaresi, William J. MD (Guideline Panel Chair) * ; Campbell, Lisa MD † ; Diekroger, Elizabeth A. MD ‡ ;
Froehlich, Tanya E. MD § ; Liu, Yi Hui MD, MPH ‖ ; O'Malley, Eva ¶ ; Pelham, William E. Jr PhD, ABPP ** ;
Power, Thomas J. PhD, ABPP †† ; Zinner, Samuel H. MD ‡‡ ; Chan, Eugenia MD, MPH * Society for
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and
Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Complex Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder, Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics: February/March 2020 - Volume 41 -
Issue - p S35-S57 doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000770
Krull, Kevin. Pharmacology of drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in
children and adolescents. UpToDate: February 2020.
Wolraich, Mark L, Joseph F. Hagan Jr, Carla Allan, Eugenia Chan, Dale Davison,
Marian Earls, Steven W. Evans, Suan K. Flinn, Tanya Froehlish, Jennifer Frost, Joseph
R. Holbrook, Christoph Ulrich Lehmann, Herschel Robert Lessin, Kymika, Okechukwu,
Karen L Pierce, Jonathan D. Winner, William Zurhellen and SUBCOMMITTEE ON
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVE
DISORDER. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics 2019;
144; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-2528.
Barkley RA, Fischer M. Hyperactive Child Syndrome and Estimated Life Expectancy at
Young Adult Follow-Up: The Role of ADHD Persistence and Other Potential Predictors.
J Atten Disord. 2019 Jul;23(9):907-923. doi: 10.1177/1087054718816164. Epub 2018
Dec 10. PMID: 30526189.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
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Music for "Why Stimulant Medication is Used to Treat ADHD (& why we feel weird about it)"
"The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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If you can't make the neurotransmitters yourself, store bought it is fine.
Just like people with other deficiencies. Like hemophilia, diabetes or similar things.
Just like hormones
I had to pause the video because I just giggled uncontrollably for 2 minutes straight at your comment. :)))
I love this!
One of the best tumblr posts, rly helped when i first saw it, and still does
Seeing all of that “ADHD isn’t real” stuff made me so upset..
Because I have a small following online and talk about my ADHD I have total strangers tell me this fairly regularly and it really gets to me sometimes 🥴 it’s amazing how many people feel passionately about something they don’t even have.
Yeah... I really didn't need to see that.
@@PamsPrettyPlants That sounds so upsetting :( Why are people like this..
Yeah im suspecting adhd and when I asked my aunt about it she said 'its just a personality,not a mental illness' and that they're trying to sell us drugs to become addicts. Ugh
It made me upset too. I had a former co-worker tell me ADHD isn’t real after I told her I had been diagnosed. It’s upsetting how widely accepted that thinking is.
"Pills don't build skills, but skills don't change your brain chemistry" is so, so good
+
@@voldefox but we cant get to that point if we cant make the neurotransmitters on our own
im gonna use this the next time my mom tries to make me feel bad for having adhd
I explain to people that they wouldn’t tell someone who doesn’t have legs to learn to drag themselves everywhere because they can’t always rely on a wheelchair.....
Yeah agreed -- the treatment is pointless if you can't even focus/pay attention enough to benefit from it lol. :D
My parents didn’t let me get medicine because they thought I would become an addict…. I became an addict in my early twenties and I think proper adhd treatment meds would have helped in keeping me from ever becoming an opioid addict. I’m 2 years clean now and finally got my self properly treated for ADHD. It’s a huge difference in every aspect of life.
Which type of meds do you take for it
Way to go my man, I hope you can keep it up!
I abused Xanax i didn't realise i was self medicating my adhd
@@coybi Thanks for the encouragement. I’m keeping my head down and my nose clean and that last part about my nose I actually meant it literally as that was my preferred way of abusing opiates. I just keep reminding myself of how horrible the withdrawals were and how they are inevitable when abusing pills. I really don’t ever want to use I just still am having trouble getting back to normal. I feel bad often and have had some anxiety since getting clean then got treated for my ADHD and initially the anxiety completely went away but (as you might have read in a previous comment I made on this thread) I’m having some anxiety again in the afternoons on some days.
Im a work in progress 😎. Thanks again I really do appreciate it. It helps me to talk about it and the encouragement kinda helps rebuild some of my confidence in myself and in general.
@@ben-jam-in6941love you brother, keep onward. I'm finally going to get some help soon.
As someone with ADHD, and who is on medication, I hate when people say it is a lack of discipline. If I had a lack of discipline, I would use meds as a way to have more fun playing video games. Not study, read, etc. Medication doesn’t make you do productive things. You still ultimately need to make that choice.
Would you tell someone with diabetes "Just try harder and make your own insulin?"
Right on the mark.
Brilliant response
bad analogy and you have no idea what the levels of the chemicals inside your brain are anyways
@@l21n18 yeah hold up let me precisely indicate the levels of insulin I need just by looking at it
@@DellKaGor not the same
She talks fast, it's great, for someone with ADHD the speed she talks at is perfect I don't have to wait for her to get to the point.
But i still played the video at 1.5x speed... What does that say about me 😭😭😭
@@CamelliaAoi sameee
She knows 😭
@@CamelliaAoi same I play it at 2x speed haha
You know I wondered why her videos just feel better to me than most TH-cam content and you finally answered the question for me lol ill have to try speeding up other videos in the future
I’m 33 and was diagnosed a couple months ago. I started Adderal about five weeks ago (tried concerta first which didn’t do anything). In those five weeks I’ve quit cannabis use (longest streak without it in YEARS), lost 15 Lbs (I’ve been over 100 Lbs overweight for over ten years), been less impulsive, less exhausted, more motivated, kept my house clean, and tackled projects (or at least started projects) that I’d been putting off for months. I wish I had realized that I needed this years ago. Without meds, I am working SO HARD every day just to do the bare minimum to stay out of crisis. With meds, the bare minimum is easy, and when I want to I can pour extra energy into going beyond the bare minimum. I don’t know how to describe how much this has improved my life in such a short period. I can’t wait for the long term impact.
Thank you for sharing. I’m a 32 year old woman who has had the same issues. I hope this treatment can help me the way it’s helped you
I struggle just to stay underwater and not even at baseline. I think this will help my life so much but I'm scared of side effects bc people say it's like speed .. and I'm anxious. But I desperately need help it gets worse the older I get. I got fired for having adhd and now I'm just in a horrible place. Thanks for sharing and reading. :) I'm very happy to hear your life has improved!
I'm 33 exactly this. I've spent my whole life just wanting to die. Praying every night that I don't wake up in the morning. Just trying to survive is so painful. I've been diagnosed recently and can't wait to get on the meds. I can't wait to turn it around. So excited
Yes. Kept your house clean. I have produced this symptom with most stimulants.
I am so happy for you Lorraine 🤗✨
The first time I took medication for adhd I literally cried.
For the first time in my life my head was quiet, I immediately fell asleep and woke up and everything was still. People can say what they want, but there is a night and day difference in my mind when I am and am not taking my medication
I was diagnosed in August. I'm 37. I cried the first time I took medication, too. I tell people who don't have ADHD to "shut up" because they have no idea what I've gone through.
I’m glad you found a way
What medication are you on@@mayday24916
I am so there with you. I explained it as if there was an invisible shield that was removed from my head and I was seeing the world through a different set of eyes!
If ADHD meds are addicting, why do I keep forgetting to take mine?? Ha! Bet you people who believe that didn't think about that one!
Same dude
I have alarms on my phone to take my meds twice a day, and I still occasionally miss doses, especially if I'm out in the afternoon and didn't bring or stock my little med pack.
Same. Pretty sure Dad's coffee is more addicting than ADHD meds.
Funny thing, Dad was up to twelve cups a day at one point. Few years later, he was diagnosed with ADHD. When I complain about waiting 25 years to get a diagnoses, he reminds me he was pushing *60* before getting his.
Do you mind telling me what your meds are
@@yasmeensaleh9243 its concerta, why do you ask?
Hearing people who DON’T have ADHD deny it’s existence is so invalidating
I don't understand why people do this.
Cry harder
That’s exactly my parents, and it’s a shame because I’m very sure I have it. I told them I wanted to get a diagnosis a few years ago but they just dismissed it and said I was just “using an excuse for being lazy”
@@l21n18 Ok!
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
@@l21n18 Your life must be really sad
I am 42 and keep my Adderall prescription a secret from the world. I do not function well without the meds. Those around me don’t have ADD. They don’t understand what it is like to have ADD or what the meds actually do. My own wife blames my meds when we have disagreements. Who needs that kind of judgement. It’s easier to just keep it to myself.
I get that criticism from family too! Lol
Keep chuggin long Dave, I’m proud of you🙏🏻
Tell her meds are confidential you aren't allowed to talk about them wo
With other people they have insurance I never thought of it you don't need to know that
How long have you been on it?
Some people just do not understand or do not bother to try to understand how helpful our meds are. I get i lot of " isnt that the one that causes this or causes that" because they heard it on some news or article, but don't bother looking into it before making judgments. You do you. If your meds are helping you, don't let others stop you.
I am 40 and I have recently realized I lived with ADHD my whole life. Thank you for spreading the awareness.
I also had this realization last year from watching youtube videos and im now diagnosed and on medication. Good luck with everything!
I just got diagnosed at 42, though I realised 3 years ago (first doctor didn’t see it, second spent twice the time and asked more and better questions, had quite a wait between, though).
@@felinefurkin4275 Hi, how you get the diagnose and you go to the appointment and say "I think that I have adhd"?
My psycologist didn't want I go to see an psychiatrist because she didn't see my symptoms or didn't give the importance that I give, so I didn't have a medical interconsultation. Thanks!
Same here 🙌🏻
Same here
It doesn’t help that we’re treated like borderline criminals by the medical and insurance system.
And my employer. They won't even let me tell them ahead of time when I get drug tested that'll be positive for my medication. Which is super annoying because then they call me 4 days later and give me 24 hours to prove it to them. Like, boy, I could have told you but noooooooo...
UGH YES! When I was trying to figure out my goldilocks dosage of Vyvance, I had to try about 4-5 different dosages. My primary care physician accused me of selling my mis-doses on the street 😂😂 for clarification, I dont do drugs and I didn't even drink til I was 21- I'm straight up NOT some drug dealer. Luckily I moved on from that doc but damn that was rude.
@@hobihope2981 OMG story of my life. I was even told I been taking the caps apart and filling them with sugar and returning them ...
ever since the opioid crisis, my states laws made it so i have to pay for a drug test for me to refill my adderall prescription every two months to make sure i'm not selling it. it really sucks and is really expensive.
@@user-K8T
Long and short, you are working at a place that doesn't understand you and there's a good chance they don't value you as a employee as much as they should. I've been there, hope things work out for you.😊👍✨
I had a "therapist" completely stignatize not only medication but diagnosis. She mocked me and accused me of being a drug additct for bringing up ADHD because that diagnosis isn't for people who look like me, apparently. I'm so incredibly grateful for your channel and others like it or else I'd have little hope.
That "therapist" should be reported to their licensing board. I hope you're getting the help you need and deserve.
I am guessing you are a women, since I've heard similar stories from women in a much higher degree than I've heard from men. It's sad how uneducated some "therapist"s are, carrying misconceptions based on old old thoughts about ADHD.
I was first assessed by a "psychologist" (and a "doctor"), who said among other things that I couldn't have ADHD because I was too smart according to one of the testing tools - made not for ADHD but for like car-crash victims with brain damage. Later found out neither of them believed in ADHD, the "psychologist" told me flat out and the "doctor" claimed weird stuff that didn't align with any of the science on ADHD.
Yep. I tend to be infantalized because I have a youthful quality about me. It's hard to be taken seriously under any conditions. When I think about things, I start spiraling into dispair. This is the free healthcare in my state, so that might be a factor. I think some of the smartest people have something going on with them, like there's a trade off happening somewhere.@@neuroriot
I also have the same thing
I think older generations have really made it difficult for younger generations in a lot of ways. Old fashioned is not always best. Sometimes it's the worst.
They also made it more difficult for themselves. I can't even imagine having adhd as an adult 30+ years ago.
the amount of people killing themselves after starting psych meds would beg to differ.
@@TheDavveponkenhow many people? I want numbers and source. Do you have any?
Tale as old as time. People can't let go of the way things used to be, so they fall behind and get scared.
It happened to our parents. It's gonna happen to us. It's gonna happen to our children.
I can my Dad has it too its just bad @@bleh329 😅
It hurts to know how non adhd people abusing our medication is later blamed on us.
Funny how that works, eh? Alcoholics take the blame for their own decisions, and there's no major stigma against drinking responsibly in many cultures. But heaven forbid you take a medication that was officially prescribed to you by a doctor on the mere _chance_ that it might cause an improvement in your life. Meanwhile *how* many cultures drink coffee or tea? Both of which contain caffeine.
I'm pretty sure that it's easier for them to get those meds than it is for us, I have to get a yearly bloodtest and EKG, finding a psychiatrist was a whole journey in and of itself, and I went there knowing what I have and what I need, since I got the diagnosis as a kid, every single place turned me away, I had to get my insurance to make the first appointment, and they got me an appointment at a clinic that had previously turned me down, I'm just thankful I'm not in the US, because that would have been an even worse nightmare.
@@l.c.8475 Really, my General practitioner
can even prescribe my to it because I already have the diagnosis
@@TheMaevian a GP would technically be able to continue treatment, but most of them won't do it, some will only do it on a private script, I see my psychiatrist every 3-4 months while I would have to see my GP every month if they were to prescribe my meds, so the psychiatrist really is the simpler option in my case
Different rules for different countries
@@l.c.8475 I do have to say that this is a ‘family doctor’, he’s not literary family, but he knows me and my family personally. My dad is his banker, my grandparents and my parents have been going their for ages.
Don’t know what I’ll do when he stops, as he’s like 72
That Doctor had an extremely relevant point. If ADHD is managed correctly using medication then the potential for substance abuse will decrease because we are not seeking to self medicate or looking to escape from anxiety and/or depression. This is a very important lesson...
Thank you for the video
I agree. My doctor said the same years ago. What I don't understand is why there is little mention between quick release Adderall (4-hour) vs Adderall XR (~14-hour) ?
@@ryanz2001 Because this is not relevant when it comes to fraudulent use. In both cases the chance for an addiction to happen is low (if you have ADHD and use it correctly).
So true, when she said people are self medicating with THC vapes she was spot on because that is me and I had no idea I was using it to self medicate my adhd
Yes! Such a great point✨
I completely agree. That is one thing I have to say is we did well as a community is manage it well from day one. He has the best support system around him and I am so glad for that!
My GF prior to me meeting her was addicted to opioids, she has adhd and I learned a lot about her illness and the lessons she learned in her life. Even her own doctors push stigma on her for needing a 5mg increase in doses after 2 years of use, she monitors it, takes tolerance breaks and doesn’t take her medication when she’s not going to work or in a setting of needing it, but yet it’s sad that even at the level of the people who are supposed to help you, you can’t always escape the stigma
I've faced a lot stigma from HCWs, more from doctors than other HCWs. I'm currently on half the dose that i used to have, that me and a team of ADHD knowledgeable HCWs got to after about 9-10 weeks of testing and dosage adjustments. When my doctor retired, the new one just halved the dosage immediately and when I protested and asked why he just said "dosage too high" and claimed the HCWs team test was invalid (with no explanation of why).
My dad today said something very inconsiderate because of the stigma on ADHD medication. I didn't lash out, but I did tell him I don't want to hear him say that again. Later on, I told him about the stigma briefly and sent him this video and he watched it and learned! Thanks for being an amazing resource?
I can't function at work without my Methylphenidate. And my colleagues know about this.
When they see I loose my focus they ask me if I forgot my pills. Not as a joke, but to help me.
When we still worked at the office and I forgot to take my pills at home, I was allowed to go home and work from home.
No stigma here. I take my pills at lunch, they are on my desk, out in the open, if I don't see them I forget them.
This is how it is should be.
That's wonderful. I'm so happy tou work in such a supportive environment. My friends at work are very understanding about my medication and I count myself lucky that most of my coworkers and managers are good in this job, a bookstore that I love, and have even made me the in store go to person to help people coming into the store that need help finding either books on ADHD or asking what books or activities might be helpful to get their adhd child into reading. I love it, have a go to rec lost for these occasions. It's great to feel supported and be able to help other people too.
@@madalice5134 Thank you Alice for your reply.
And it's good to hear there are workplaces where people are open to neurodivergents like us.
Keep up the good work 🙂
If i get medication. I'm doing this. I've some conversations ahead of me.
@@BushidoMauve I'm very optimistic and very open.
Be aware that not every work environment is just as accepting like mine. It should be, but it isn't.
Be cautious. But I do encourage you to be open. Just don't blurt it out. Take your time to look at the lay of the land so to speak.
That's awesome! I keep a couple in my car because I've definitely forgotten and remembered on my way to work before.
I'm not ashamed to take my ADHD medication, I'm ashamed society thinks I should be
BARS
FACTS.
Well said!, but, let’s not lose hope for future generations ...
Thank you
Bless you. I'm going for my first assessment this week. I'm labelled as lazy selfish loser and have spent my entire life saying these 4 words "I'm sorry" and "I forgot". I've lost my passport on holiday, fallen asleep at a stop over airport and missed my connected flight the list goes on and on. I feel like my parents have always known (its obvious) but they have never directly addressed it ( as if they were hoping I'd one day get my act together). I'm dying to open up to my mum and i will, just trying to build up enough courage.
I was diagnosed at 15. Was so ashamed of the meds and diagnosis that I stopped after 3 months. I'm now a 37 year old Dad and going to an appointment in the morning for a reassessment. Thanks for making this channel.
Hi i saw your comment and am kinda of the same am reconsidering tell me how it worked out for you
@@ajferas1 hey, so I'm on the tablets for ADHD for around 6 months now and it has made a big difference in my productivity, my relationships, my energy levels, my focus, my ability to hold a tgought, I'm less overwhelmed and stressed. Just life is easier
It has made a definite positive impact and i wish I had done it sooner. I take it some days and not others depending on how busy I am.
@@SimonKelly21 did you get reevaluated ? And if so how ?
@@ajferas1 I did. I went to a psychiatrist. Are you considering it? The good thing with the tablets is that they only last for maybe 4 to 8 hours. It is immediate and also stops by the days end. I don't take it on days i don't need it.
My younger brother was diagnosed when he was little, and after being on meds for awhile, decided he didn't like how they made him feel and wanted to stop. My mom supported him through that, though they never looked for other treatments that could've helped better. Granted, this was in the late 90s/early 00s so there weren't as many resources as today. It's funny; my brother's ADHD was way worse as a kid, and he's learned to manage it as an adult and is doing awesome! Meanwhile, I managed my ADHD well in school (mainly by always keeping a ridiculously busy schedule with sports and extracurriculars and work and everything), but as an adult it's kicking my butt. Anytime I bring up looking for treatment or trying meds, everyone in my family is like "are you sure about that? It didn't work for your brother. And remember when [family friend] almost died from a reaction to Ritalin?" And my mom constantly brings up new ways to improve my nutrition or supplements I should be taking to reduce heavy metal toxicity. I feel like I have to hide the fact that I actually want to try meds to help get to a baseline where I feel like I can function. I've heard so many people say "it's like putting on glasses for the first time" and I really want to know how that feels. It's definitely hard when there's societal stigma both in and out of the family.
so did you take it ? if you did how did it feel. would like to know
I recently got diagnosed, but don't like the feeling of the medication either. People have asked me to explain but I struggle to. I wonder what your brother would describe.
Tell her Ritalin doesn't work on some ADHD brains because it only blocks the reuptake of dopamine it doesn't create more of it so in extreme cases there isn't much but Amphetamine based medication stimulates the production of it.
Would you tell me more about the family friend that almost died? I've been crippled cognitively for the past 14 months due to a weeks worth of Ritalin.
A while ago, someone tried to tell me that I was addicted to my ADHD medication, and "Dependent" on it... because, get this, the symptoms of my ADHD... would come back. When I didn't take the medication.
GEE GOLLY GOSH WHO WOULDA THUNK IT??
Omg yessss, like people take medications to control diabetes and if they stop, what do they expect to happen????
You should tell that person that they are dependent on water. If they don't drink it every 3 days they'll get horrific symptoms. Total addicts I tell ya. Maybe they should just push through that though and deal anyway.
People really don't understand anything do they? They like to think the world or their brain is magic and there are clear things that are "bad" and "good" because they are "common" knowledge. Like wives tales and saying being in the rain will make you catch a cold, or that you lose most of your body heat from your head.
It's infuriating.
Gotta watch out for that dihydrogen monoxide!!!
My friend and I were talking about how to navigate the workd outside our brains... and in making new relations, how does one explain , I have to take a medicine everyday - I can’t tell you what it is ... you’ll want some, and it’s a slippery slope ... ahhh
😂
I was just diagnosed yesterday and my family’s first response was “don’t let them dope you up.”
I can’t tell you how right on time this video is. 😭
This is one of the reasons why I never told my family about my diagnosis, especially my mother.
Good luck on your journey!
Remember to talk it out, I went through some weird emotions after diagnosis (at 29), talking with friends, family, colleagues and a therapist really helped.
Please, If you think medicine is right for you, please take it.
For me personally, stimulant meds are the only reason I graduated. I was lucky to be diagnosed in 3rd grade. I think I started meds in 4th. I'm extremely grateful for my meds. It doesn't matter that they could/would change my eating and sleeping habits, the thing that did bother me is that anytime I forgot to take my meds, I was happier. Not significantly so. But enough. However, being able to focus at school was worth sacrificing a social life for.
I never wanted to be dependent on them and I felt it was a battle of doing good in school or having friends who wern't teachers. Every few years I would get permission to go off of them. The most siginficant of those was in 9th grade. I went almost a full semester before my grades got so bad I had until the rest of the year to pick them up or be kicked out and not allowed back for 10th grade. It was terrifying. I went back on my meds and in one semester, with minimal effort, bring my grades from a 2.4 to a 3.1. Without the meds I had been strugling daily to keep that 2.4 from going any lower. With the meds I easily had a 3.1.
I thought that would be the last time I would go off them during high school, however I went off of them my senior year as well. And I managed to keep a 3.5 (until corona hit...)
I hope my story made sense. I tried to re read it and I think it does, but honestly I'm not sure. Just please, the right medicine makes a world of difference.
Also please know that ADHD is highly genetic, if you have kids you should probobly see if they have it (I admit to not having seen the research that proves its genetic, but tbh I got that fact from this channel, so I think it's well reseached)
@@kathrynehiersche1817 It's around 70-80% genetic. Autism has a stronger link (if I remember correctly from my studies it was around 85%). It being a said % percentage genetic doesn't solely mean your children have a higher chance of having it. The other ~20% is either nurture or your child doesn't have it. So it's definitely useful to seek help for proper parenting.
I have both autism and ADHD (mostly inattentive form) and my dad got diagnosed because I had the diagnosis. Wish that had been known sooner. I would've had a way better environment to thrive in.
But yeah, the right meds can be a life-changer. If you want meds and find the ones that suit you.
As a parent of a child with ADHD, as a teacher and as a person with ADHD - what a wonderful video! Thank you for putting this together!
aww
The medication stigma is really strong and it even prevents you from going after a doctor to have a test.
I’m 38 years old, I’ve been taking methylphenidate for 5 months. It changed my life. The impact it caused on my anxiety and emotional fluctuations is unbelievable.
The weird thing is: my mother is a psychiatrist but she never took me for a test, even with many early symptoms.
Which meds do you take
Methylphenidate literally saved my life. Untreated ADHD -> devastating depression.
@@juliuscaesart Methylphenidate is the active ingredient in among others Ritalin and Concerta (pro-longed release). I've used Concerta/generic-versions for a few years and it has been hugely beneficial for me.
I don't know why but I always cry watching your videos. I think it just makes me emotional to see someone take this so serious while the rest of the world thinks we are making up excuses for being lazy.
I completely agree. Until last night, where I watched her TED X talk, I didn't know that my ADHD had a big effect on my life. I wish society didn't convince me for over 10 years that I was being lazy and that I didn't need my meds.
100% yes yes yes. its so hard to articulate the effect adhd has on our life and how our brains work, but she does it perfectly and i finally feel understood
@@sleepykitt5275 I'm finally going on today to get it treated. Can't wait to see the results.
YESSS!!!
And even this made me cry cause it rarely happens that someone understands..
Jessica: *takes pill without water*
Me: What a legend
just reminds me of people who chew on cronchy pills
Weird flex but I can do that if the pill is small enough. I think it's because I just have a lot of spit to use. A dentist once told me I was less prone to cavities because I had very active saliva. It was a strange compliment.
True, but for me it just gets stuck halfway down.
@@braceyourselvesfortruth2492 same!! I never take meds with water now, because I've sort of pavlov'ed myself into salivating when I need to take a pill.
But that’s how they do it in the movies. Handful of pills in mouth, no water. DRAMA ACHIEVED!
My own doctor told me to stop my medication and refused to write anymore prescriptions for me. I cannot begin to tell you how much my life has spiraled out of control.
I am being treated for the first time as an adult. It has been almost a year and it has changed my life. I am heartbroken for my younger self and I know I cannot change the past but I do so wish. Thank you for this video and sharing amazing content.
People : AdHD isn’t real
Also people: how come you can’t focus? How come your laundry isn’t done? How did you lose your jacket again? Why aren’t you doing everything that requires executive functions with no difficulty 🤔
You’re making me cry. My mum keeps saying that I don’t have ADHD because there’s “not enough symptoms” (even though I have every symptom bar one)
Also people: ohh.. I get it... Your just lazy.. So .. Just dont be lazy..😂😂
People: just try harder; you're probably not trying hard enough
@@ZoidAB those same people : do things effortlessly that they’re asking you to work harder for
Me, when I see that woman says that: _ | _ to my screen
It boils my blood when ppl say adhd doesn’t exist. I suffer with it every day. The ppl who are saying it’s fake don’t have it!
You're fighting an internal war and society and family/friends kick you when you're down. I experience that with ADHD and my wife did with a severe eating disorder that she almost died from. We're just having to hit the ignore button. I'd rather be alone for a while (and make new friends who actually listen), than to let someone not support me.
That's not true actually goofus
Exactly it sucks, those clips made me so mad
I used to say that and just got diagnosed with it.
People that say these things are probably married to their brother or sister, so I wouldn't ever listen to them
This video is a super fresh take. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and medicated with Vyvanse (pictured in the video), a prodrug to dexedrine (aka dextroamphetamine or simply amphetamine, NOT methamphetamine :).
The stigma is totally real and I feel like I'm taking drugs to get a little high every day and it's naughty. That's because it's lighting up dopamine receptors the same way something edgy or forbidden might. Strange dynamic, but the end result is being able to tolerate boring activities (beware having a boring life, though, as drugs can't save you from that).
Addiction, as a term, is no longer favoured in medical fields dealing with mental health or pharmacology. With that said, I'm heavily dependent on my ADHD medication. For me, this medication does not come with a risk of dependancy, but the certainty of it. Withdrawal isn't horrible in the same way I have heard it is from, for example, opiates. Still, going cold turkey will make me desire only to sleep and eat for 7-14 days as my biochemistry normalizes out again (to regular ADHD normal, ha).
It is also easy for me to start doubling doses on some boring days - quite a slippery slope, but it's never lead to a serious "habit"/"problem". This is because these medications are only doled out in specific quantities on a monthly basis - doing more than prescribed leads to running out some number of days early, and this leads to the aforementioned sleep/eat/do nothing period.
Moving to a slightly higher dose helped me feel like I wasn't always running out, which mostly resolved these issues. I had to do some soul searching to decide if that was the right move, but ultimately it was. I still have to be disciplined with my meds though!
TL;DR - it's still working for me, talk to your doctor, have your own plan, etc.
Just thought I'd share some personal medical info because I was inspired by your de-stigmatization video. :D
Mom didn't want me to be on any treatment for ADHD. Thanks mom. 23 and struggling 💯
Stimulants are believed to work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with motivation, pleasure, attention, and movement. For many people with ADHD, stimulant medications boost concentration and focus while reducing hyperactive and impulsive behaviors.👍
Very well said.
Pardon me for asking... but aren't most stimulants, used in the treatment of ADD/ADHD, neuro reuptake inhibitors?
Kev -when you inhibit the uptake (”cleaning away”?) more neurotransmitter remains in the synaptic cleft.
@@Dolomedes81
...and is this inhibition prevents the reuptake of dopamine, it allows the available dopamine to linger longer in the pathways. Thus the basis of my question.
.
Allow me to rephrase my question.
@Daily Dose of Medicine
Do most stimulant drugs, used for the treatment of ADD & ADHD, increase the body's dopamine levels by increasing production of dopamine or by inhibition of their reuptake?
@@jupiterjunk IIRC then there are two main methods for stimulants to work. The first is to inhibit the reuptake as discussion already, and the second is by increasing the amount of dopamine the receivers take in.
If stimulants were addictive, you'd think I'd remember to take it every day!
Understood!
And that's the funny thing.
well you remember on day 2 since the drugs half-life is finally gone ....
@@wlidbill5261 not always, multiple times I’ve not realized for a week or more
To each their own, some work on certain people, and some don't
My mom refused to treat any of my psychological disorders including ADHD and as a result it's taken until I'm 30 to finally start addressing stuff that should have been addressed in early childhood. I'm finally getting the meds I need...decades late. Well at least now I know why I struggled so much. I'm finally getting to a point where I can actually function. I'm on a lot of meds now and I'm happier and more stable than I've ever been. My life has improved dramatically.
I'm so happy my mom didn’t give a frick about what others would think of them or me because I'm medicated since I was 9 y/o and was learned that I should NOT be shamed for this and that these meds help me be my best self and does not control me in anyway.
Same here my parents were very supportive with my meds
Even if I have not spoken English since birth, it is good to have this space and place to know that I am normal. i send a hello from chile.
hello from brasil
Hola,
Yo soy de Mexico pero vivo en Los Estados Unidos. Creo puedes ver los vídeos con subtítulos en diferentes idiomas. A mi me diagnosticaron hace apenas 4 años y tengo 44. No sabía que casi toda mi familia tenía ADHD. Que bueno que te estás informando para que puedas compartir con tu familia. Bienvenida a la tribu!
Holaa soy brasileña
Yo igual jeje
This is a good place.
I have ADHD and took prescription for a few years. My parents still think ADHD = mental illness = insane. They think I faked ADHD to get attention or have valid reason to take drugs. Last week I took them to psychiatrist. Turn out they also have ADHD. I wonder how they take the news.
*insert "How the turned table memes"*
How the turns table
This is the best story ever :)
👏🏽👏🏾 Yes. Don't hesitate to share your story.
@@Aikano9 How the turntables
so ur tellin me the psychiatrist diagnosed them BOTH with ADHD? Come onnnn man. As if two parents from separate familys both have ADHD, whats the odds. Doctors get paid to diagnose people with disorders, the pharma industry is a multi billion dollar one.
I’m 48 and a teacher- I was off adderal and wanted to go back on because I felt like I was going crazy and the doc said I was drug seeking! Im an old lady and have never done street drugs! The stigma is real!
Thank you for addressing this. There is not enough attention paid to the harms caused by not treating ADHD properly. The damage of untreated ADHD is substantial and touches every aspect of a person's life.
Me: “Hey [parent], I have been researching and I might have ADHD.”
Mum: “That’s not a thing, if you aren’t feeling well take a walk every day”
Dad: “Honestly, you seemed different from a young age, see if you get diagnosed”
Yeah, definitely don’t regret choosing my dad during the divorce for primary custody, he actually believes in mental health issues
I honestly don't even know how to tell anyone this, I feel like they'll say I spend too much time on the internet
@@leratorantao7785 it’s a big step, I think telling my mother was a mistake but my dad took me to a psychologist and a psychiatrist when I asked, no questions asked when I was 16. It just depends on how supportive people are until you actually know. I started having actual proper problems only after I started college because I really didn’t need to study for more than one evening for exams in high school (and that’s the stress that can get me to study - exams too close)
Good luck with telling people, I’m sure it will go better than expected with most people
Lol I just told my parents today about my diagnosis and I had to do everything in my power to stop them from literally calling the doctor to tell them that they were wrong and that I’m perfectly fine 😂
They did the same thing when It was suspected when I was a child, instead of getting me help they just forced me to go to a new school 😂
@@leratorantao7785 I'm 36 and have never been diagnosed but after watching these videos, I can relate to everything been said and it has me wondering but I know my friends and family don't truly believe in these kind of issues, even the ones who are on anti-depressants think that anyone else taking them must be exaggerating... because nobody else can have real issues. I can only imagine the response I'd get if I started taking the meds and telling them.
I’m sorry to hear that you had to choose between your parents. Even if one parent is the clear choice it’s never easy. Custody battles are insanely difficult as a child, the guilt is tremendous.
You know what sucks about ADHD? When you're medicated for it, you can start to feel like you don't have it. It isn't until you forget to take your meds that it hits you like a brick.
fr
I’ve never felt like I don’t have it when I take my medication. But I definitely notice when I don’t take it.
I've had impostor syndrom after taking my meds for about a year straight then after taking a short break from them i got the confirmation that yes i do indeed have ADHD. Im not just making it up
Exactly!
Yep
Thank you. As someone who has debilitating ADHD I cannot function normally without medication. I’m currently in Greece and was able to get CONCERTA because my Adderall is held up in customs. The psychiatrist here understood how important it was for a young woman who’s had adhd her whole life. She was very kind and understanding as well as my psychiatrist in USA.
I wish I was put on medication when I was younger, it would have made my life so much easier, finally getting help in my late 20’s
"as if that's how you _win_ at ADHD, by not having to treat it."
that hit
I just started taking adderall this week. I was definitely uncomfortable taking that first pill. My mom was calling me constantly being worried about the drug and interrogated me about it. But now that I’ve taken it... it’s life changing. I’ve cried in relief multiple times. I just never knew how bad it was until it was gone.
Keep it up my friend
Dude I totally get you. I also just started adderall recently and had the same feelings of emotion and relief. And I know what you mean, you really don’t notice how bad it is until you take medication!
i’m definitely on the same boat; i was just diagnosed 3 days ago and was super nervous for my first dose as well, but realized on how much i was missing out on in a day and cried it out too!
Yes, as we grow up with it, we do not know how bad it is until the beast is tamed. I was diagnosed quite late in life, after 40, but wow! What a difference.
I want adderall but got Concerta. Do u have advice on how I can get on it fron here?
It's been so hard for me to even get on this...ugh
I do have severe ADHD...IM IN NEED OF THEM not just pretending...
Two of my kids have ADHD and I am honestly terrified putting them on medication. You are totally right about the stigma. One of my kids is 13 and we have done therapy, worksheets, vitamins you name it. Thank you for your video. I just want to do the right thing by my kiddos. I think it's time.
This video has finally made me decide to get back on ADHD medication, I’m 55 years old and I got off of it for a long time because I’m also on meds for diabetes and high blood pressure and I was just sick of taking so many meds, this was one that I didn’t have to take in order to survive, but I’m going to get back on it, my doctor tells me there’s no bad drug interactions and I’m hoping it’s going to help me out with my life
There's something about ignorant people discussing things with incredibly strong opinions on podcasts that instantly drives me nuts. Like, I don't have schizophrenia. So I'm not gonna hop on a mic and with a heavily judgmental attitude and nitpick how people who actually suffer from it decide to cope with it.
Bless👏 you👏
Agreed, they have no right to because for the most part they don't know what their talking about
My ADHD was actually misdiagnosed as schizophrenia for years. Sounds insane but it's less insane when you know about schizophrenia and my specific situation. Though there was also a decent amount of incompetence involved. Since I've now had both diagnoses, I've done more research on both than most and I can say that ADHD and schizophrenia are both things that everyone has heard of, think they know about but really are extremely misinformed about. It's the same exhausting "no, schizophrenia is not split personality or axe murderers" as "no, ADHD isn't laziness or lack of discipline." I'll say though, when it comes to battling stigma, my ADHD diagnosis is definitely an improvement from before.
AAAAAAMEN!
If they do that repeatedly they should become unimportant to you. It's hard, sometimes really hard but the healthy thing is to not let them dictate your/our emotions. That's what I'm trying to do anyways.
As a recovering stimulant addict with ADHD and autism…my addiction happened because I WASNT being treated and was unintentionally self medicating with rave drugs
Same. I figured out why I was self medicating with alcohol and other substances. But my doc was opiates mostly because I broke my back right after high school and was in pain management. I tried addy a few years ago right before I finished getting clean and of course I thought I was doing something wrong but it was the best I have ever felt in my life. I was the most productive when I was using them. I was my best self. But since I thought it was a problem I got myself off of them. Not too long later, my whole entire life fell apart. I lost my job, my house constantly looks like a tornado went through it, and I can barely take care of myself, let alone my two small ND children. I finally figured out I have ADHD last summer at 32yo. I feel like I'm failing and because I am so bad at advocating for myself (I am probably autistic as well) I can't get her to prescribe Addy and I'm scared to tell her the truth that I used it like that cuz then she'll think I'm just drug seeking. But I can't keep living like this. My non-stim isn't working but she won't listen to me. I don't want to switch providers again but I'm afraid to say everything that I probably need to. Idk what to do.
Sorry for the novel. I tend to overshare when I see someone I can relate to
I'm 32 and totally recognize this. Things start to fall into place, I used to smoke a lot of weed as a teenager, this would reduce the anxiety and stress, later started to self-medicate amphetamine (really low doses) because it make me feel more "normal". Last few years even was taking Methylphenidate and Modafinil because it was a less impactful but same result kind of thing. I just got the indication for ADHD and I really cannot understand how I could have missed this...
Regardless it's probably good that you have a habit of taking the medication designed to treat a condition
@@tone618 well back in those days it was almost to a fault but i get what you mean lol
It’s too much for neurotypical people’s brains to process that not only is stimulant medication a treatment for ADD, but people with ADD are at higher risk of being self medicating addicts to begin with.
I was diagnosed with ADHD since my teenage, spent my whole life fighting ADHD. Also suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my husband recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. This is something that really need to be use globally to help people with related health challenges.
Congrats on your recovery. Most persons never realizes psilocybin can be used as a miracle medication to save lives. Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death bud, lets be honest here.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Germany. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them.
YES very sure of Dr.alishrooms. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
Mushrooms helped my son get off opioid
How do I reach out to him? Is he on insta
My son with ADHD takes medication (he’s 10). Right now he only takes it during the school week; not on weekends. I have asked him the difference between taking them vs. not taking them. He has said that they make him feel more calm. I have been one of those “last resort” parents. Thank you for this video. Your videos and the wonderful people that comment with their stories have really helped me understand my son better. I always thought ‘he can take it for school, but be “himself” at home on the weekend’. I’m not sure, now, if that is the best thing for my son. Time for more conversations to see what he wants to do. Thanks again for your amazing videos. You rock Jessica ✌🏻❤️😊
Talk to him and look at lower dose extended release for times when demands on his executive function needs are less.
Thank you. I’ll talk to my son and his dr. about that. 😊
@@jenjensage7242How is everything going with you and your son? Did the meds help him improve?
I'd love to know :)
@@cutepuddleslime8201 Thanks for asking. He is about the same. We are still on summer break and he starts middle school in a few weeks so we’ll see. ✌🏻😊
Side note: the guy in the purple polo shirt trying to sell his "natural remedy" (about the 2:00 mark) is employing a really common advertising trick. Notice that the background is some sort of reclaimed wood panelling. People trying to sell something with a label like "natural" or "organic" will try to associate it with some sort of rough, natural and unfinished material, such as those "natural, organic" breakfast cereals that are exactly the same as the major brand labels but come in a rough cardboard carton (and usually cost twice as much). In this case, the guy is trying to appear more genuine, trying to give the impression that his product is somehow more authentic, by presenting in front of a wall made of unfinished wooden planks.
Just a little advertising psychology to maybe keep the jackals at bay.
Super interesting, thanks!
That's very interesting, and quite troubling to hear. Seems extremely exploitative.
Is it weird of me that when the guy was talking about the natural supplements, that I was more distracted about Treatments being spelled Treaments? lol. But I have used herbal in a pinch (like when my mom was dying and needed something to take the edge off while I was 6 states away from my doctor. It probably was just a placebo effect, but it worked)
I've used herbals for a lot of things too, and tbh that was Dr Axe I think, his whole career is about how to do natural remedies for literally everything. But while I don't really prefer pharmaceuticals, for some things it's necessary. ADHD is one of them in most cases.
This was so interesting. I'd love to have a conversation with someone like you to learn more such advertising psychologies.
I started taking adhd meds and the first thing I noticed is I could understand what people were saying so much better. I realized every time someone talked to me I would understand about 60% of what people said and then had to try to puzzle the rest together based on the context of the conversation. Can’t believe I’ve been living that why this whole time and didn’t even know.
I'm just diagnosed n that 60% thing n then puzzle ing it up accordingly is just me, gonna take my meds as u told it works
Same! I would also read books SUPER FAST but then I realized that I wasn't actually reading the whole words, just the first few letters. My brain was just completing what it thought it should say which often made me re-read sentences over and over because I was so confused. It was also hard for me to spell check my own papers in school because my brain would auto-complete so I thought everything was right.
@@alexandrafarrar Wow that's exactly what happens to me as well!
Yeah it increases the Dopamine avaliable between synapses, and since you have more Dopamine the body no longer needs to acquire it through the use of stimulus via distractions around you , (looking at a sound you heard would create Dopamine that would jump start your Neurotransmitters)
@@ricardochavez7076 I really need it cus to me it’s blah blah blah and I just be like yea right right 😂
I hope I get diagnosed this year. I deserve a calm peaceful mind
I grew up with what I never realized was ADHD and hated all of my "quirks" that other people didn't seem to have. I also grew up with the "All drugs are bad" mentality. After my partner mentioned my issues sound a lot like ADHD I was still convinced that medication like Adderall was absolutely evil. After talking with my doctor and soul searching I finally saw a truth. I wasn't finding a crutch or using Adderall because I "needed" it. I was finally doing what it took to be on a more level playing field with my friends.
Medication isn't for everyone, but I definitely am thankful for my meds for helping me be the best version of me I can be
My dad didn’t want to give me meds for my ADHD and he watched some of your videos and he realized I should have them. Thank you for changing my live for the better ❤️
I got frusrated having this ADHD , but with the use of dr imenherbal on TH-cam herbal remedy , i have been able to get rid of ADHD
big pharma wins again it was scientifically proven the brain chemistry scare was a SCAM
@@outerworld100 this Dr imenherbal is real
@@hannahjohn9154 take your pills
@@outerworld100 is not working for me, only the herbs medicine I receive from Dr imenherbal cure me
My mom fought tooth and nail to get me diagnosed as a child and NO ONE listened to her NO ONE took her seriously. They blamed her for “bad parenting” and told her I was lazy and didn’t apply myself. Here I am at 28 years old finally putting a name to whats “wrong” with me and I can’t wait to get started with treatment. Life has been hard for me I’m so mad they refused to help me as a child.
so sorry to hear that. One question tho, did you have issues studying?
@@abhyudaychakraborty3818 well im non treated and i've had alot of problems studying and for exams to..
18 and trying to get diagnosed currently (its hard), its very aggravating knowing my whole life ppl have just said "you have so much potential", life is just on hard mode for us that no one gets
@@faithtodd1540 I'm on methylphenidate and it's much better now 😀
@@faithtodd1540 it doesn't help that every teen claims to have it just because they have low attention spans.
I am 20 years old and have actively been treating ADHD with Concerta stimulant medication since 2021. This is after I was told my family would cut me off and not speak to me if I pursue that line of treatment. I’ve hidden my prescription bottle and doctors visits from my family since then, but that small sacrifice of honesty with my parents has been worth it in the insurmountable benefits I’ve reaped by having a “normal brain”.
I am so sorry you have to go through that. But so happy you’re able to do what is best for you regardless
My family is just like this. Thankfully I don’t live with them anymore. I feel for you. Our wellbeing is worth so much ❤
I’m sorry you lost your mom recently. I know she is proud of you and the hope you are giving to so many people.
Since my ADHD diagnosis at age 70 I’ve noticed and felt the stigma attached to stimulant medications. Every time I pick up my medication refill I arrive at my pharmacy hoping that my prescription will actually be ready and won’t have been put on hold by the “computer”. It’s always the same. My med is on hold. The pharmacy tech needs to talk to the pharmacist. And I and anyone in line who cares to pay attention witnesses the hushed conversation and the pharmacist’s disapproving glances toward me. It’s time to find a new pharmacy.
Hey I am a 35 yr old mom of two and I have been treated the same way in every pharmacy I have used...try a local mom and pop pharmacy.
Yeah, don't give them anymore of your money if they're going to be that way. I get my medication at an online pharmacy and pay for 3 months at a time. Only thing is, because it's controlled, I have to physically send in the paper script... my doctor can't do it by computer... but it works great for me.
Edit: I just had a doctor's appt and she said I'm her only pt that has to have a paper Rx to send in... in fact she had to order special Rx paper just for me! So it is probably my pharmacy that needs to upgrade their computer program to accept class 2 drugs so she can do it online. So most people won't even have to mess with that part of it. Once my pharmacy upgrades their computers, I won't either. =)
Here in the UK the pharmacist is the only one who can hand it over as it is a controlled substance. I just straight up tell them I'm here for my crazy pills and it seems to relax the whole situation.
@@cerealnana That would not work in the US lmao you would get blank stares and scowls probably.
They shouldn't be making you feel bad. Not cool.
A friend of mine has a little girl who was diagnosed with ADHD over the summer. She came to me because the psychologist suggested medication and she didn't know if it was such a great idea. I explained to her "when I was 12 I quit my medication, because it made me struggle to feel hunger as a side effect and people started to ask if I was anorexic. I was a dumb teenager who didn't want to talk to my doctor about it and I ended up struggling for years. If the psychologist is suggesting medication it's probably a good idea to at least give it a fair chance. Chances are your little girl will be happier and better able to function with the medication and if she's not she'll let you know one way or another."
Another friend quit her medication at 18 because she was out of school and thought that because of that she would never need it again. Boy, was she wrong. She struggled to keep a job for about 5y before giving in and asking the doctor for her medication back. She loves the work she was doing and was able to land a stable job shortly after getting back on medication.
One of my students has ADHD too (actually a couple of them have it, since my colleague tends to send all the 'difficult' children over to my class). I found out during camp when she was taking her meds trying to go unnoticed so I asked her what she was taking them for. She told me it was for concentration, but she didn't like everyone knowing. I told her I used to take medication when I was younger too. Obviously she wanted to know why, so I explained I had ADHD too. Never seen that kid so happy and right away she told the entire class she had ADHD, but it was okay because I had it too so she knew she'd get better at dealing with it as she gets older.
As for myself, I don't know if I'll ever get back on medication. Sometimes I think it would be a good idea and I know it has improved a lot since I was a child (and I don't mind talking to my doctor anymore), but I'm still worried about side effects, tend to forget to take any medication and coping without has become somewhat of a habit. It also helps that I'm lucky enough to be working with people who are understanding.
Jesus Christ, you outdone yourself.
What an amazing and beautiful thing you did for your student. 💕💕
Role model???
I love these stories. Good job setting the right example. I don’t take meds either, but I have so many friends who can’t manage their ADHD without them. It’s so important to be able to get them when we need them.
I can relate with your story. I'm also a teacher and I make it a point to tell my students that I have adhd. I often get students who come to me about their adhd/autism/etc related problem because they feel less judged. Having a teacher who also has to deal with adhd and is mostly managing it, can give them a lot of hope and reassurance.
I was just diagnosed as ADHD at 26 even though I showed signs my WHOLE LIFE. People blame it on cell phones, etc. nowadays but I didn’t have any electronics when I was in first grade threatened with being held back because I couldn’t focus on class and teachers trying to teach me how to read. My parents didn’t believe in mental health back then (they’ve now changed their mind obviously) but I was always told to just “pay attention” and “do better”
I got through school by a hair and graduated college just barely. Getting this diagnosis and being put on medication was EXACTLY like you said, putting on glasses for the first time. Everything became easy for me, paying bills, scheduling doctor appointments, functioning as an everyday human being. Thank you for this channel and normalizing the discussion around ADHD and medication. I found you after my diagnosis and I’ve been binging your channel and I have never felt more validated. Everything makes sense
I am so sorry about your mother; my father passed not too long ago and this video helped me better understand how I feel and how my ADHD affects my mood.
My mom knew I had adhd but since I was gifted and not failing school, she never got me diagnosed because she thought I didn't need treatment. I ended up on anxiety and depression medication when I was 16. Now I'm 22 and I took myself to a psychiatrist, got the formal ADHD diagnoses I've needed for years, and started stimulants. I am probably the only person who is finding law school easier than undergrad because I don't have to do it with untreated ADHD.
I went through the same thing. I'm pretty intelligent and so I just got diagnosed at 26. The psychologist who tested me was so confused at how I passed my classes with adhd.. Lol like I got the info down in 5 minutes - what else is there to do other than stare out the window.. 😂
I took only AP and PreAP courses in high school and still struggle in easier courses I am taking now. How did you manage ADHD during grad school?
My parents did the exact same thing! Only they only knew I was struggling a bit as a kid and didn't want me to be evaluated because they didn't want me to be "doped up", which is hilarious since my older sister was doped up due to a hormone insufficiency but yah know apparently a mental disorder isn't threatening enough. Now 28 and realizing I probably have ADHD and possibly also autism but can't get a diagnosis yet because I can't afford it. Until I can, been researching and finding techniques to hold me over. :(
@@booksRAwesome92 are you from UK or US?
In the UK it seems pretty impossible to get medication for ADHD prescribed as an adult unless it seriously interferes with your normal functioning
I wish there were "foods supplements, natural treatments and essential oils" in the treatment of stupidity, ignorance, and nonsense...
👏👏👏👏😂Well said
And I could say that to their face. I mean, if their comfortable dispensing broken medical advice, maybe I should offer them an essential oil to cure their stoopid.
I’m 38. Finally came to the realization that I need to treat my adhd. I start my medication tomorrow. I feel better about it after watching this video.
Week 1: I am present in life for the first time in a long, long time…
I feel like I’ve robbed myself of happiness over the years, believing it’s just depression. It was more than that.
People don't understand that people who really have ADHD, ADD or another disorder that responds to stimulant therapy. You don't get "high" like others might. We have an imbalance of chemicals in our brains and these medications 'shore-up' the imbalance. I have explained to so many people before about stimulant therapy. I told them "I don't feel high when I take my medication. What I feel is the volume of the static of life around me being lowered." Its hard for those who don't have it, to understand what it really is and what it feels like. Its different for everyone, but also the same.
We don't want to get high and aren't looking for an escape. We are looking for normalcy. I don't know about anyone else out there but, I hate taking medication every day of my life. The alternative though, no thanks. I am successful in part because I am successful, but also because my medication lets the real me come out.
Ya like youve actually looked inside your head and what you are saying is false anyways
Wow thank you for sharing that was great
@@analisesmith1378 ya ok
That thing about static... that was the first thing I noticed when starting Vyvanse last September. I couldn't believe how quiet the world felt. I had never heard of anyone wording it the way I did. Very cool to see you mentioning this as well.
Which medication do you take?
My parents constantly lecture me about how I'm using Adderall as a "crutch" to get through life, and that I wouldn't need it if I just tried harder. But when I take it, I see improvements in nearly every aspect of my life. I'm more patient, more motivated to get things done, and it is the only medication I've found to stop my adhd-induced trichotillomania. I honestly think I wouldn't still be here today if not for my medication.
I often compare it to diabetes. In diabetes, your body doesnt make (enough) insulin. So people take extra insulin, to keep their body functioning.
With ADHD, your body doesnt make enough dopamine, and we take medication to increase the amount of dopamin, to keep our brains functioning.
The difference between the two is of course that diabetes is deadly when you don't take the meds, and it's immediately clear you need them.
ADHD is a brain thing, so other people don't see the symptoms, and don't understand how much medication can help.
Reading this while pulling at my eyebrows 😅 I didn't know the two could be related. Thanks for sharing!
I have that too! The ADHD induced trichotillomania. Its so awful, I hate myself sometimes. Do you have fidget toys or something that help?
So by that logic: If you lost a leg and walked with a crutch would your parents say the same about that crutch? That you just had to try and hop harder without it? Because it is the same: a chemical crutch for a chemical missing leg.
I recommend you just stick to what works best for you and let the rest babble. ;)
Wait a minute that can be from adhd? Wow never new that
I'm 22 yo and was very recently diagnosed with adhd. My mother has been an alcoholic and smokes weed and cigarretes my whole life and my older brother is dependend on weed since he was 16 because he's "too energized". Upon receiving my diagnosis I understood that I and other people had dismissed a lot of my symptons because it's just "how my family is". I'm highly suspicious that both my mother and brother have it too, and because addicts because of the stigma around medication. I needed to have a long conversation with my mother about going to a psychiatrist now that I have the diagnose so I can get treatment, luckily she heard me, and said "u know, I'm really proud that you are searching answers about yourself in such a mature manner, you're not diving in alcohol or other drugs, you're looking for real help" that's the moment I fibalky had a clue about why she became an addict in the first place
I feel the opposite of shame when I take the medication I know I need. I know my body. Unfortunately, some around me have decided to inject themselves into my business and declare--without a medical background--that they don't like me taking the medication I need which treats my condition.
Thank you for posting.
Not only is there nothing wrong with taking medication to treat a disorder, there is everything right with taking the medication.
I got diagnosed with ADHD at 30, and medication literally changed my life; however, I'm 33 now, and nobody knows about my diagnosis but my husband (and now you guys, lol). You're giving me the courage to talk about this with my family and friends. Thanks 💕
@Tatsuya Nakamurata not sure what you mean
How did you get the diagnosis? I've read it's super hard to diagnose for older people omg, i'm 25 rn and It seems like it would be complicated. How did you start?
I would love it if there was an adult ADHD group where we could talk about the issues openly and as equals. The problem is, absolutely every one of us knows we might show up to a few meets, but after a couple of late arrivals, we'd be onto something else and complexly forget that group was even there. Except for the times you remember and feel a bit remorseful for skipping ... and what's that... a new interest, sorry I forget what I was on about. Be right back to finish this in the next comment.
I just started taking a stimulant and I am 36 and its doing wonders for me in my job. I can finally focus in those boring meetings, and I am developing good habits like creating list and taking superior details notes than I could before when I would simply lose interest. Trying to figure out the sleeping situation but hopefully can get there in time.
39 for me. Its a game changer for sure I am glad you got help. It also helped me realize my daughter has it and get her help too.
My daughter just started meds last week. I keep having to remind myself that I'm mostly feeling apprehension about it because of stigma, and that even if my family doesn't approve of my decision, I know that I'm trying to make the best choice for my kid. Thanks for your videos Jessica!
My son who is not a adult have been on medication for about 4 years now. It took two tries to find the right medication because the first one made him tired which was one of his issues with his ADD to start with so they swapped and this time it worked and my son no longer fall a sleep at school and now work, and he dont go to bed just after dinner because he cant keep away. The life quallity he got in return is huge for him.
And no he is not an addict and no he is not high on drugs.. He is him self with a bit more energy over for him to maintain his life. It also helped his depression that he suffered from.
It was really bad in his earlier teens, but now he have more energy to see that there is more in life then going around feel like your brain is a pot of mashed potatoes, or so is his words about it =)
So put those bad feelings away you are supporting your child and help your child towards a better life.
@@uniquename111 Out of curiosity, what do you mean with "which was one of his issues with his add to start with"? Do you mean sleepiness for seemingly no reason or are you talking about sleepiness due to sleeping problems like thoughts not quieting down etc?
@@strongpowerty9377 Well his sleep was an issue too and sometimes still is, but the big problem were the medication helped was that he could sort out what he needed to focus on and the focus lasted longer. Before that it was just a tornado of impressions in his head which tired him out to a point were he just was overwhelmed.
Sorry English is not my native language and a lot of words that you use is hard to translate sometimes and google is not always helpful =D
You have no idea how much this video has helped me today. I got stigma from hubby because of a prior-auth and me not having my meds for almost a month. Him saying I need to go off of them. Me crying and unable to stop or sleep and feeling impulsive to the point of SI is me off my meds. "But you weren't like this before." Yeah, I was miserable, too. And self-medicating.
Thank you so much for this video..I’m a 43yr old mum who has just been diagnosed with ADHD..I am about to start medication tomorrow and I was a little nervous. Thank you for making me realise I’m doing what I know is right for me. You made me cry when you said it’s self care…we don’t do that enough! And I’m sorry for your loss..mums are irreplaceable but she will always be with you sweetheart;)
The TRUST I have in Jessica liking it before it even loads❤️
awwww tysm
Lol! SAME! I saw the title and hit like while the video was still loading!
@@HowtoADHD no worries! Happy ADHD awareness month! You’re wonderful 🥰
@@HowtoADHD thank u sooo much, this is QUALITY MATERIAL has been helping me ALOT
of course! her videos are always so warm-hearted and thought through, i know that no matter the context, jessica will have tried her absolute best and beyond to make a super informative video for us :D
Imagine criticizing ADHD and treatments for ADHD when you yourself know nothing about the condition
Who says they don’t know anything about the condition? And who is this person making the video?
@@l21n18 a lot of the people attempting to make a statement do not have adhd. Even if they did, everybody is different. I personally need medication, and don’t get many negative side effects from taking them.
I’ve tried just telling myself to try harder, for years and years I have. This does not work.
Its pathetic really 😒
@Positivetunnel87 great vid, but what does it have to do with medication?
@@l21n18 like this guy, the human example
This literally has me in tears, ive struggled with addiction for a third of my life and this explains what i already taught but had no real knowledge of...this makes so much sense to me its overwhelming to have this clarity.
Medication made a life changing difference for my daughter. She was really falling behind in grade 4 when we started her meds, but now she’s in grade 9 and doing really well academically and mentally.
I clicked so fast. I've been waiting for a video about this because my parents refuse to ever let me take medicine for my condition.
This is not Jessica's first video on meds. Look through the catalog and you will find many videos not just on meds, but helping to explain ADHD to those who don't have it.
@@penflare5411 I know, but unfortunately my family is pretty close-minded. Thanks for the help though.
Sometimes I think about how my life would have gone if I'd been diagnosed before I was 30 :(
I think about that a lot too. If I had been diagnosed before I was 24, how much different would my life be? It gets me melancholy, so I try not to, but it's one of the biggest 'what ifs' of my life.
I find it better to think that even a diagnosis at 30 is better then the median diagnosis of late 30's to early 40's for Adult ADHD. To focus on the years gained as opposed to those lost, especially considering if there are clear indicators in other family members (both living and dead) who had never gotten treatment or turned to negative self-treatment through things like substance abuse and the like. Your diagnosis and experience will also help in the future to begin treatment early in you or your relatives children lives.
I'm 38, just got diagnosed. I'm at the educational level of a high school student because I dropped out/was expelled for "attention issues". I can't even sustain interpersonal relationships. I feel you.. my life could have turned out the complete opposite had someone noticed how much I was struggling.
I got diagnosed after 40 , and only "recently" understood how it has affected me through this channel. I now understand myself so much better!
I was diagnosed at 45. I think about that a lot, too. But, honestly, I'm just thrilled that I have the tools now!
My son is 6yo and recently diagnosed with ADHD. I'm an addict (in recovery for 13 yrs) and it's been difficult to accept that drugs are actually ok when used for treatment. My husband and I have been in therapy to learn how to parent our beautiful boy and it seems we're at the the jumping off point toward medication to better help our son. Thank you for this video 😊 I realize how much societies stigmas as well as the recovery communities "rules" have impacted my decision making. I so appreciate your openness and honesty 🙏 It's wonderful to see you leading the way to educate and support people/families 💛 Thank you thank you THANK YOU 🙂💚
As someone who went unmedicateed till 18, PLEASE medicate your kids! I struggled to have good grades, have friends, made a lotttt of mistakes and ended up developing anxiety. Since getting medicated my life has turned around and I'm striving not surviving. Your kids deserve that. Mind you I had tiger parents with strict schedules and routine, I had tutors and I STILL struggled.
My uncle told me that “you’re don’t have a disorder you’re just addicted to your medication” it hurts. People need to know more about adhd and mental health
Yeah you become addicted to it like caffeine 😂 it’s a damn stimulant, you have to be on it for the rest of your life
@first name just because you're old doesn't mean you know how mental illness works
My brother pulled the same thing with me
Like us Guys wouldn't know how menstruation pain feels like, because we don't experience it,some people can only relate something they already experienced
@first name you’re obviously the one that needs to learn more you’re trolling in a TH-cam video for ADHD 😂😂😂😂😂 why don’t you have anything else to do with your time are you that lonely? 🤣
So many people that call themselves doctors need to watch this instead of treating use like addicts that can't move
Exactly
They're paid to keep us coming back for drugs
Its a business and they profit off of our declining health.
As someone who was diagnosed in their late 30's with ADHD, I can't even express the difference that stimulant medication made in my life. I was completely lost after years treating a supposed clinical depression that wouldn't get better, I felt stupid, incompetent, a complete failure. After starting on medication, along with behavioral therapy, I just feel like a completely new person. I finally feel, for the first time in my life, that I'm in the right place, that I have the right job and I'm incredibly good at it, that yes, I might be a bit disorganized, but I'm intelligent, and talented, and kind, and not a burden to my friends and family like I used to feel before. There is a lot to work on, still, but the difference is immense, already. Stimulant medication might not be the right choice for everyone, but it is the best choice for a lot of people, and we should feel no shame about taking it.
Have you ever tried just concentrating harder or not being so lazy. Haha just kidding.
I'm the same 37 to get diagnosed just messing around with meds to find what works. I always thought "easily distracted" was just something always written on report cards because that was just a throw away line.
Good on you keep on striving
My roommate was on antidepressants for a while and once he was finally diagnosed and medicated, that mild stimulant worked miles better than any antidepressant. They were better able to just.. do stuff they wanted to do. Getting a diagnosis on your own, having ADHD, is incredibly hard. They don't want to give stimulants to those that don't have ADHD so it's a struggle to get the diagnosis and being undiagnosed and face those challenges.. it's easy to just put it off.. for years, even if you pretty clearly know you have it. The experience of getting the medication for the first time and having it work almost makes you want to cry because of what you've been missing. Like some fog in your brain just cleared up. You can follow conversation easier and mess up less with your own responses. You can more easily do things that you need or want to do but have been up against an invisible wall between. It doesn't fix everything obviously, but no coping mechanisms do what it does. You'll probably still need to use those coping mechanisms while on medication if you want to get a lot done, but that's more along the lines of general motivation at that point.
I get so sad every time i hear the positive affects of ADHD meds because its something that sounds so nice and so helpful and so simple and is so hard to get
It's mostly because these neurotypicals abuse it. So it makes it harder for people who actually have it.
I’m 32 and just got a diagnosis and prescription for adderall. We’re still adjusting the dosage but MY GOD I didn’t realize how much I was struggling. Even a super low dose is enough to make me wish I’d pursued this back in college but I still thought ADHD wasn’t real and that I just had to “be more disciplined”
I almost feel like I wasted ten years but I’m so glad to have a doctor to work with me now.
Uh so what I'm sure everyone would feel that way if doped up, big deal
@@l21n18 what
I’m so glad this video found me. My father always told me I was just lazy and undisciplined. I have begun to believe him and feel like a failure as it feels like lifting the planet to make myself do something I don’t want to. And the anxiety I feel about conversations and sharing my feelings makes me want to curl up in a ball and die. This video brings relief and a feeling of hope that this is something real that I can get treated for.
I’ve been watching your videos and using your tips for 3 years. I finally got diagnosed last month, I’m 27. I got put on meds two days ago but I’ve been on anxiety meds since I was 16 and faced stigma for those too. I decided to go through you videos on medication to help me make some sense over what I was feeling backed with some knowledge 😊 This video made me tear up especially that asking for help isn’t failure. I’m glad to have an answer and meds are already helping but I’m so frustrated and sad for younger me who struggled for 27 years. I already did the med stigma thing and I don’t intend to let it stop me this time either from being my best self but I feel for those who had stigma hurt them.
I’m glad I was born into a family where my mom is a nurse and my dad has adhd so they never taught me the stigmas around adderall so I have taken my meds since I was diagnosed and have never felt shame. Also, I’m really open about my adhd and everyone that I have ever told that I have it have never told me about any stigmas or anything. Never worry about what others say, worry about how you feel and how you can take better care of yourself.
My son is very open about his meds because he doesn't feel shame. He also gets the same response. People don't bother because he wouldn't put up with it anyway.
I have had a very similar experience. I was diagnosed at 9 years old and it is very severe. My dad also has ADHD and took meds as a child so there was no stigma around it in my immediate family. I have always been an advocate for myself and others who need to have their needs met. I have been very open about my ADHD for many years and started talking about it more directly when I decided to go into education. I just finished getting my teaching credential and throughout the program, I was constantly informing my colleagues about how an ADHD brain might react to certain circumstances and teaching methods. By the end of the 15 months, many of them always talked about ways they could accommodate students and said that they kept what I was saying in the back of their minds when they were writing lesson plans. Many of them said they appreciated learning about ADHD through my research and shared experiences and how they can more comfortably use strategies to help their students without stigma.
When I was a kid, my mom forced me to take herbal "focus" tablets, while yelling at me and saying I was so smart I just needed to apply myself. I was a "gifted" kid who skipped a grade, yet burned out by 7th grade. Never even thought I had ADHD, didn't think I fit the male-based studies and stereotypes. I'm now 26 and finally got diagnosed and meds. The fact that I made it this far without it is astonishing.
I was struggling so much every day in so many ways. The lack of dopamine was giving me severe depression with suicidal ideations. My lack of diagnosis left me with no answers and I was super susceptible to bullying for being "different" and I didn't know why. Once I started meds, my suicidal ideations I had been dealing with for 15 years pretty much disappeared overnight, and even if I do get thoughts here and there, they are very manageable. It's like I'm finally in the driver's seat of my own brain. Ritalin has truly been a game changer, and a life saver.
Wow, skipped a grade! Unfortunately, I was the opposite and got held back because I wasn't 'focused' in class. My parent's dismissed it as 'normal' child behaviour.
@@BetterMakeItWorthIt I only skipped because I was hyperfocused on learning everything above my grade level. Unfortunately, that hyperfixation ended and school was a struggle since then. It's so weird how ADHD presents itself in different people. Did school ever get easier for you?
I recently got diagnosed in medical school. Always a smart kid but looking back struggled to focus daily in class. Only made it this far because teachers unknowingly were providing needed accommodations. Have every symptom of ADHD, tried the meds for a short time. Supper helpful, but it gave me side effects. Currently struggling to focus as a physician
I can really relate to this description. I'm currently waiting for my evaluation for adhd and I really hope to get access to medication that would work for me. I just want to function and I know that I have valuable skills, but I keep getting burned out over and over again.
@@HaapainenRouske I just got diagnosed with autism as well, so if this does sound like you, don't rule that out either. I feel for you, and I hope you get the resources you need!
For me, taking an SNRI (non stimulant on-label for ADHD) was like flipping a switch.
I came for the migraine prevention, i stayed for the improvement in my mood and executive function.
I just got diagnosed with ADHD and Autism today, relieved and scared because I kind of knew it was going to happen, but i'm 20 years old, I went my whole life dealing with this, I feel like i will get judged if i ask for the help i need or start a medication. I just want to say you're videos have helped me immensely