I think your experience is not unheard of for ADHD folks and maybe ASD as well. I personally didn't have such a stark difference in social factors due to medication, but it has definitely made a difference for me too. Trying to talk to people just requires more working memory than I normally have. I think I'm usually okay, maybe a bit awkward, as long as I just have to listen to or otherwise
receive communication from other people, but as soon as I have to open my own mouth, things go downhill fast.
Although the diagnostic criteria for ADHD doesn't have anything about "deficits in social communication" in general (unlike ASD), several of the symptoms are examples of incorrect social behavior. There has been enough research and anecdotes about ADHD folks having social problems that any decent ADHD-knowledgeable mental health provider should hopefully be aware of it.
If you're hoping for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, I'd recommend starting with whatever primary care doctor you normally see for anything else, and if necessary, look for a psychiatrist (not psychologist) who claims to specialize in ADHD. You can skip to the psychiatrist if you want, but they are often more expensive or more difficult to get an appointment with. PCPs often have inadequate knowledge about ADHD, but I feel like it's usually worth giving them a shot first, just don't be discouraged if the PCP is unhelpful or even condescending.
These things you said also sound fairly ADHD-ish:
Quote:
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Two weeks ago, I was zoning out as usual, someone gave me a 15mg adderall. I was hesitant. I am extremely focused on certain things. To the point where nothing ever gets done, I want to do all of it, and end up hardly doing any of it to the very last second. That to me is extremely stressful. In fact I would describe it as having a complete inability to multitask at all.
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(Yeah, even the "extremely focused" part.)
Some things to keep in mind about Adderall:
- Adderall can cause euphoria (feeling overly happy), which might make you overestimate its actual usefulness. For most people taking it therapeutically, the euphoria usually only lasts the first few days.
- Starting with a lower dose might mitigate both the euphoria and the "crash."
- Lots of people like to use Adderall for performance enhancement, appetite suppression, or getting high, so some doctors are paranoid about prescribing it.
- It was technically illegal for your friend to give it to you and I think for you to take it. I don't think you have to worry about getting in legal trouble for telling your doctor you took it, but some doctors might get extra-paranoid that you are "drug-seeking."
- Despite the above, telling the doctor you took the Adderall could be a good idea, both to explain your symptoms and to point them toward a treatment that you already know will be effective. So you'll just have to weigh the pros and cons.