[carterjames]

Hello! I wanted to begin by saying I have always considered the possibility of having ADHD. I tried adderall for the first time today, I was unsure of what to expect mainly because I have been considering the possibility that I may have some sort of ADHD. I consider this possibility because I feel as if I really do not find myself being able to pay attention to anything for that long of a time without my mind starting to trail off somewhere else. I also feel that I am EASILY overstimulated in new environments and I am unable to function in a way I would prefer because of all these trailing thoughts. It seems as if I can't even finish a thought without having another related thought take over. I have been told by my friends that I am a heavy over thinker, and with this I am unsure of whether or not I am someone who would be classified as attention deficit. I say this because from researching the disorder it seems as if the lack of focus is occurring as a result of being hyper focused on external surroundings to the point of being unable to focus on anything. In my case, this lack of focus stems from being bombarded by my own thoughts, which can sometimes have nothing to do with external environment.

Anyways, I took the medication today and I have to say I felt mentally calm. I did not feel any bombarding of thoughts or euphoric feelings as I have read on some experience posts. Although I did feel calm and able to focus. I felt a sense of happiness but I feel it was because of the fact that I was able to focus on what I wanted to, instead of being under anxiety because I couldn't place my focus on anything. After taking the medication I very much feel like I am someone with ADHD. But I am not sure.

I also consider the fact that my mom says she acted the same way when she was younger but never received a diagnosis because her parents were unable to get one for her (for various reasons). To this day even, she hasn't ever received a diagnosis, mainly because my dad has convinced her the disorder doesn't exist. Although she is on plenty of other drugs that my dad fully supports.

I would like the feedback of people who have been diagnosed with the disorder. How does aderall affect you when you take it? I also would like the feedback of people who have taken it but do not have ADHD. How does it feel for you?

I also wanted to bring up that a lot of the time the thoughts disturbing my ability to pay attention are aberrant thoughts. A large percentage of them are centered on thinking about humanity and existence in general, which honestly tends to depress me to a very large extent. I try to read a lot hoping that my focus will get better, and from reading books on psychology and biology, I notice myself having thoughts in which I am applying what I have learned to situations I encounter. For example, I was walking into a store with my family yesterday. Instead of peacefully walking in, I noticed that all of the men in my family were on one side and the women on the other. I thought to myself about how they involuntarily set themselves up that way. This lead me to think about how much of an influence our subconscious minds have in our daily lives. The fact that I think this way tends to frustrate me.

I also wanted to note that I do NOT condone the usage of adderall without a prescription. I do not plan on taking it again without a prescription.

[Miswimmy1]

From your example towards the bottom of your shopping trip, that sounds to me like you are understimulated. You sound very intelligent and it almost sounds to me like your brain is just trying to find a way to occupy itself in an otherwise boring situation. I'm not dismissing the possibility of also having ADHD. Many people with ADHD are also gifted. This is just a thought I had.

As for Adderall - I have not ever taken it. I have taken a multitude of other stimulant medications, similar to Adderall, for the treatment of ADHD. I'm trying to think back to when I first took medication. So my ADHD makes it feel like I can't hold one thought in my head for an extended period of time. I used to describe thoughts as being like a TV in fast forward. I think about many things very quickly and jump from thought to thought. Before I was medicated, and when I am not medicated now, in order to focus mentally, I am usually moving physically (leg jiggling, tapping, pacing, bouncing in place, rolling pens, swiveling the desk chair, etc.) I remember when I first took medication, everything just sort of relaxed. I felt less tense. I could actually sit down and just think. I remember having a tutoring session that afternoon and my tutor commented on how focused I was that day (she didn't know of my diagnosis or that I was beginning treatment). It was also after I began medication that I began to be able to nap. I could never settle down long enough to take a nap before.

I want to say though, that studies have shown that even people without ADHD will see benefits of ADHD medication. Hence why stimulants are abused in school and in work environments. While ADHD medication will level the playing field for someone with ADHD, ADHD medication has also been known to enhance anyone's performance and productivity, regardless of diagnosis.

If you do seek a professional diagnosis, a thorough diagnostician will do a full workup of your school history, work history, ask you about your relationships, talk to your family members about their observations of you over the years, what you were like as a child, etc. Symptoms have to impair functioning in multiple areas of your life in order to be rendered a diagnosis.