that you finally knew you found the treatment? In other words, what event occurred that made you stop and go "OMG! This stuff is working!!"?

For me, it was doing and finishing a crossword puzzle for the first time in my life. After that, I was doing every crossword puzzle I could get my hands on. They no longer frustrated me or left me feeling stupid.

That's when I knew my prayers had been answered. I found the right treatment!! :D

the racing thoughts stopped and the impulsiveness gave way to a second to stop and think before I speak

I made the deans list in grad school.

For me it was 20 minutes after taking my first Concerta the huge knot I'd been carrying around in my stomach relaxed, I didn't snap at my kids, or pull away from my husband when he tried to hug me.

Scattered

I sat through a two-hour meeting with a group of professionals and made respectful, appropriate comments. Felt entheusiastic about the results.

Didn't fidget, doodle or fall asleep. Didn't stir up controversy for my own entertainment. For the first time in my life.

I found out I wasn't a slave to addiction.

I feel real. Like I am in touch with the rest of the world, not far, far away.
(um... kinda hard to explain)

Also, I am seeing when to keep my mouth shut. Now I can wait for others to figure it out. I don't always have to be the one to "get it".

I could focus and realized i wasn't stupid

For me it has taken quite a while for things to "click". Of course when I first started taking the medications I was amazed at the overwhelming changes in perception and ability to focus on details and plan. But you get used to that. For me it was after months on the meds that I finally realized how much I had accomplished and how my life had changed. It's hard for me to accept that I actually have done very well for myself. Mainly the realization happened at work where I have recieved increasing praise for my competence over time, rather than the initial flurry of activity followed by a burn out after a two months or so.

Basically, I'm less intense so my progress is slower and much more lasting. The other things I have noticed involve being able to read again, as well as actually being able to hold a semi-"normal" conversation without being rude or stirring up trouble or blurting out dumb crap.

Work, social aspects, and reading, and I finally admitted grudgingly that I have improved immensely! It's still hard to accept in my own mind though :)

I worked at a doctor's clinic that when from an association to a hospital department the lab/X-ray portion policies and procedures had to be revamped to reflect to hopsital's buy on a tiner scale. I was actually able to read the policey and procedure book from hopsital cone it down in simple easy to find and read book. I was able to set up a quality control routine that was simple to do and set up so even the disorganized and rushed could easy stay in complaince.

I still didn't "see it" until the "big boss" called me in so my "coned down" policies and procedures could be copied used in all the clinics. Then wanted me to show all the regional managers how to set up the same quality assurance system I had in my lab/X-ray portion so the entire network could use it. It was only then did I realize I accomplished organization for the first time in my life!!!!!!

I could drive without white knuckles and pounding heart! I was so totally calm and relaxed!

When I drove to work under the speed limit - after leaving the house *without* yelling at my husband and kids, on the biggest and most important work day of the entire year for me.

That same day, before leaving my office I paused to check that the windows were closed and that the coffee machine was turned off. I had never done that in my life before, preferring to spend the entire evening worrying about the rain coming in through the open office windows or the coffee machine starting a fire instead. ;)

It was weird - I felt like I had found religion, LOL.

1. 45 minutes after the adderall was first given to me (now I take concerta). The whole world shifted into a level of clarity I hadn't even realized was missing. I was 28, married with two children.

2. At 30, coming out of a severe depression, when I stood outside my old house with my three children and realized that my life wasn't over...it was JUST STARTING. I recall standing in the shade and suddenly noticing sunshine, and deliberately stepping into it. Then grinning. Therapy helped a great deal.

3. At 33, driving home after my first day of a new job, in a new state, with my four kids. Grasping that I had finally realized my dream of being paid to do a job that I love, that doesn't feel like work. Then bursting into bittersweet tears that my family had not been able to believe in me, and missed out on sharing this moment. Finally, realizing that it was okay, because I believed in myself. (I'm a goofball that way.)

The first time that I realized the little things didn't make me want to kill my family! ;) lol I didn't redo the dishwasher or have a panic attack when people moved my stacks on the table.

It's wonderful!

Dawn

After taking Adderall for a couple months, I realized I could effectively express my feelings. I am able to participate in a debate/arguement. Not just sit there and clam up, because the converstation was moving to fast for my brain to respond or form the correct words. I am also able to express empathy. I am able to pickup on social cues like people's tone of voice and facial expressions to assist in figuring out their intentions.

Also throw in all of the other stuff : improved focus, not hyper, able to get to sleep.

I looked at the sky and noticed it was blue.

This isn't sarcasm, BTW. I always knew the sky was blue, but up to that point it was as if I knew the sky was blue because I read about it in a book without really knowing what it meant. But when I looked up, it was like I was seeing blue for the first time.

Ok that sounds really corny. I don't know how else to describe it.

been there...but I still, I doubt so much. Not many understand. It's so hard for me to feel happiness. I am on meds, but I keep coming up with reasons why the medicine isn't working. Sometimes I realize that I'm, blah nevermind. There will always be little nicks seperating me from true happiness.

By the way, is feeling kind of, "high", normal during your first few days of adderall?

I realized I could effectively express my feelings. I am able to participate in a debate/arguement.



I resemble this!!!!

I haven't thought of it for a while because I have been on medications for several years but You are sooo right.

I guess the most productive out come of this is I became able to express annoyances before I became over whelmed and inraged. I also be came able to ask for clarification of peoples apparent rude intentions instead of auto-reacting.

Like when Gary sounds like he is talking down to me I simply ask if he means to insuniate I am stupid by talking to me like I am five. I can also see the funny part of this behavior in public. Who really looks stupid when a grown man is talking to an adult woman using a childs voice.

Treatment allows me to choose responses as well. Instead of them choosing me!!!!

I will respond to Gary's "child talk" in public by responding with second semerster college words that leave him bewildered!!! This type of response also has the side efffect of reveiling the educated as their facial expressions turn to laughter as I sound like I am saying some thing when really I am not.

Gary has learned that doing this is an emabrrassment to him because I know more big words!!!!!!! I can do all this without once resoting to threats of violence. :D



Not just sit there and clam up, because the converstation was moving to fast for my brain to respond or form the correct words.


Until my medication the world wished this would happen to me. I had exact opposite problem. My mouth moved before my brain enguaged. Therefore I would say things I hadn't thought of yet!!!!! Which isn't always a good thing by the way!!!

I looked at the sky and noticed it was blue.

This isn't sarcasm, BTW. I always knew the sky was blue, but up to that point it was as if I knew the sky was blue because I read about it in a book without really knowing what it meant. But when I looked up, it was like I was seeing blue for the first time.

Ok that sounds really corny. I don't know how else to describe it.
It's not corny at all. That's very poignant.

My defining moment?

My wife screaming at me, and me realizing that I wasn't getting mad because I knew she was dead wrong, she knew it and didn't care. I moved out less than 5 minutes later.

I'm no longer afraid to go home ! ! !

I am not a victim ! !
I am a free man ! !

Smoochy

wooohooo to freedom :) congrats. i'm very, very proud of you!

Mine was not feeling like a little kid in trouble,I felt like a confident adult.I dont doubt myself anymore.I show my girls self control now and patience.Thats the most important to me....

It may not seem much to most but it was a MAJOR change for ME.

On the second day on Ritalin, I was able to quickly do the dishes by hand or cut the lawn without drifting off and having to restart several times. I was for the first time in my life able to stick to the jobs I started and complete them.... even things I did not particularly want to do.

l8r, Vic

meadd823 said:

"I guess the most productive out come of this is I became able to express annoyances before I became over whelmed and inraged. I also be came able to ask for clarification of peoples apparent rude intentions instead of auto-reacting."

"Treatment allows me to choose responses as well. Instead of them choosing me!!!!"

"Until my medication the world wished this would happen to me. I had exact opposite problem. My mouth moved before my brain enguaged. Therefore I would say things I hadn't thought of yet!!!!! Which isn't always a good thing by the way!!!"

Yep. Me too. In fact, I'm more expressive of annoyances....much to the chagrin of the manipulators in my life! :eyebrow: :rolleyes: Before meds, I was expressive but like you, my responses chose me and then I would always think of what I "should have said" or "how" I should have said it, after the fact. :mad:

Now, it's "cut-to-the-chase-get-to-the-point and don't waste my time with games."

I sometimes tend to go all "Deniro" on people: You talkin' to me? :cool:

I took meds as a young kid but not remember much about that. However as an adult, I got my meds and took one before I even got out of the drug store. It took 2 busses and half an hour to get back. When I got back to the shop, I sat down in the chair and got the stuff done I needed to, and suddenly was like hmmmm this is how my brain is suppose to work.

I did a comparison. Before and after:
I pulled out one of my old university engineering textbooks and began to read it. Little made sense even after reading the same paragraph 4 or 5 times.
When the mdication took effect, I read a different paragraph once and it made perfect sense to me...no confusion, no re-reading. Wow...how much better could I have done while I was still in university??

a crap load. i was lucky i caught myself while still in high school, but don't live in the past. It wouldn't really make sense to regret something that never really happened. Just like you can never miss what you never had. Ya, something like that.