[ARflowerstar]

So I'm 15, having trouble with hyperactivity, impulsivity, and attention problems. I'm in a special school for mental illness (I have anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder). I've had the problems with attention and stuff for a while and so last week my psychiatrist said my teacher noticed my problems as well so he sent home a long questionnaire for my parents. Then the next day I had to fill out a long one as well with one of the counsellors. So my counsellor got back to me today and said that my psychiatrist is still going over the results and that they're probably going to diagnose me with ADHD. She also told me that I'll probably be put on Meds as well because my symptoms seem to affect everything I do. So I was kinda wondering... Isn't ADHD meds like.. Speed? I'm kinda confused like doesn't "speed" make you high? I mean doesn't that make hyperactivity worse??? Also isn't it addictive? I remember once I was put on an extremely strong anxiety med for a controlled period of time and the doctor said it was addictive and my parents FREAKED. But like they didn't understand how badly I needed something to work for me. Either way, my parents didn't let me take that for long. I'm worried my parents might do that with these meds if its addictive (I'm pretty sure they are!) Like I really need something to change in terms of attention and hyperactivity because it affects almost every aspect of my life and if my parents won't let me take these meds because they're addictive... I'm really screwed.

[FitnessMel]

ADHD meds are not speed, although they belong in the same class of drugs (stimulants). They won't make you high. For the majority of folks who don't have ADHD, similar substance will probably make them hyper and give them energy.

But in adhers, it's actually the opposite, it calms us. You won't develop addiction or dependence either. The medical doses are not enough to cause that effect, contrary to streets drugs.

As long as you take the treatment as prescribed, that probably won't be an issue. It's important to communicate with your doctor and let them know of any side effects you might be experiencing.

As for your parents, maybe bringing them to your appointment so the psychiatrist can explain them about your diagnosis and treatment can reassure them?

[meowmixxx]

ADHD medication makes and ADHD brain "normal". It slows everything down and lets you concentrate. It does the opposite for people who do not have ADHD.

They can't really be all that addictive to someone who genuinely needs them. There are withdrawls if you stop cold turkey sometimes. But this happens with a lot of medications, even happens with birth control.

I have parents who don't believe in medication or psychological doctors. So I understand how that can be frustrating. I wasn't able to seek out help till I moved out. Hopefully that's not the case for you, but at least you can come here and talk and vent. I wish you the best of luck.

[Addy70]

I wish I was told the following when was 15 years old. It may have made me feel a bit less self-conscience of my ADHD life. I hope I explained it in a way you will understand.

ADHD is a misunderstood mental health condition. About 5 to 8% of the population has this condition and it carries a variation of subtypes. (If you want more on subtypes just ask and I'll share). ADHD children are more hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive than non-ADHD children within their developmental age. ADHD is life-long which means there is no cure. The older we get, our condition changes except for the consistency of inattention and impulsiveness. Sometimes hyperactivity will disappear or lessen in late adolescence and well into adulthood. In my case, I'm still on the hyper side but running helps release my hyperactivity while medicine helps balance my brain chemicals.

Medicine treats the imbalances in our neurotransmitters because the chemical substances called dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are supposed to release at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse causing a transfer to another nerve fiber to move messages from part of the brain to another. Except that our brain uses the dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin faster than a non-ADHD brain which creates inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity.

There is something called 'Blood Brain Barrier' that protects the brain and spinal cord which allows the neurotransmitter to move messages back and forth. (It's kind of like ADHD having its own nervous system because it regulates attention and emotions in different ways than the nervous system of non-ADHDers). Medicine increases our brain chemicals for thinking and attention (dopamine and norepinephrine) then tricks the brain into allowing dopamine, and norepinephrine to last longer in the brain. Since medicine is short lasting it's considered treatment because there is no cure for ADHD.

[Jeffhd041]

Originally Posted by Addy70

I wish I was told the following when was 15 years old. It may have made me feel a bit less self-conscience of my ADHD life. I hope I explained it in a way you will understand.

ADHD is a misunderstood mental health condition. About 5 to 8% of the population has this condition and it carries a variation of subtypes. (If you want more on subtypes just ask and I'll share). ADHD children are more hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive than non-ADHD children within their developmental age. ADHD is life-long which means there is no cure. The older we get, our condition changes except for the consistency of inattention and impulsiveness. Sometimes hyperactivity will disappear or lessen in late adolescence and well into adulthood. In my case, I'm still on the hyper side but running helps release my hyperactivity while medicine helps balance my brain chemicals.

Medicine treats the imbalances in our neurotransmitters because the chemical substances called dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are supposed to release at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse causing a transfer to another nerve fiber to move messages from part of the brain to another. Except that our brain uses the dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin faster than a non-ADHD brain which creates inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity.

There is something called 'Blood Brain Barrier' that protects the brain and spinal cord which allows the neurotransmitter to move messages back and forth. (It's kind of like ADHD having its own nervous system because it regulates attention and emotions in different ways than the nervous system of non-ADHDers). Medicine increases our brain chemicals for thinking and attention (dopamine and norepinephrine) then tricks the brain into allowing dopamine, and norepinephrine to last longer in the brain. Since medicine is short lasting it's considered treatment because there is no cure for ADHD.

Have you ever tried modafinil? I'm pretty sure it not only works for add but enhances all aspects of cognition, and doesn't really affect the dopamine system that much. Just don't know how how long to safely take it for..