omg im so stressed, will it change me much, does it affects your way of thinking or what does ritalin do??? can somebody tell me im scared and excited at the same time

omg im so stressed, will it change me much, does it affects your way of thinking or what does ritalin do??? can somebody tell me im scared and excited at the same time

You might find you're less driven to seek stimulation, and find it easier to keep your focus.

It will help you be the person you want to be.

You may begin to notice a difference within 30 minutes, and expect to feel different for at least 2hrs.

omg im so stressed, will it change me much, does it affects your way of thinking or what does ritalin do??? can somebody tell me im scared and excited at the same time

Everyone reacts differently, but usually it makes the chatter in your head calm down. And you can concentrate more, you don't hear everything around you, just the person your focusing on.

Well, feel anything yet??

Oh god, first time using ritalin, took it 45 minutes ago, 10 mg. And i can actually hear my toughts now and am able to concentrate and type a text without making any errors, i seem to be 10 times more focused, when i think it seem like i can think very clearly, one thought at a time. It is amazing!!!! Oh god! There is my brother right next to me playing this game with mega loud sound and yet i can concentrate on typing this text without stopping and having the sounds of the tv bothering me, it is like my mind is crazy focused, i also read the forums and for the first time was able to read the whole texts without feeling like rushing trough the texts and only reading half, it is like nothing bothers me!!! i do feel a little bit nauseous but much more peaceful! i hope this stays.

OMG YEASSSS
my concentration is like ten times better!! i can already see a HUGE difference it is like crazy, my brother is playing this game with mega loud sound and i can actually concentrate on what im doin!!!, guess 10mg is the right dose for me! omg cant wait to try it while on my job! i seem like im so much more posed and calm also. I watched the tv 5 mins ago and i noticed the smallest details, what they were wearing, and actually laughed at the joke cause i finally undestood them, i dunno if its the rush of the first day but its a 10 for me. at least for now. I am so happy and estatic, i cannot wait to start school, i hope it will stay like that.....!!!

hey,

I just wanted to give some pointers that really helped me when I was in school.

I was in university when I was diagnosed and was, like you, stressed out about how it would affect me.

The best thing I did for myself was to figure out how long a dose lasted in me, so I could time the dosage precisely.

For me 15mg lasts 3 hrs 30mins, BUT it takes around 15-30mins for the dose to "kick in", so I overlap a bit.
I take meds ever 3 hrs 15mins when I need to have a steady dose.

I set my watch for it, you can set your cell to vibrate for it.
I carry around a candy container with my meds in it.

Another thing is, I have inattentive subtype (not so much hyper) and can get TOO focused on things and not notice time passing.
Time awareness is HORRIBLE. I can end up perseverating (obsessing, getting "stuck") on something.

FOR ME (works differently for different people)
ritalin helps with focusing

dexedrine helps with being aware of time, and shifting from task to another

if I only take ritalin, I can focus, but I can get stuck on something

if I only take dexedrine, I'll get little bits of a bunch of projects done

so I take XR dexedrine and reg release ritalin


this is just an example.

I can relate to your anxiety about meds.
University was stressful for me because all I really wanted was to do well in school.

Are you in high school? University?

:)

good luck

i am in high school, i cannnt sleep...shouldnt have taken a pill at 8pm....thanks for the pointer though....i feel high and strange....

okay now my life has gone from totally gay to amazing... since ive discovered ritalin everything is better in my life...and by better i mean MUCH better. My socializing is now crazy, i now feel like talking to everybody but so calmly, but it is not a need, i dont have the need to be accepted anymore, like if i was more focused, more self assured. Me and my parents are experiencing great fun to talk for the first times in a looong long time.

As for my living, art, it is without a doubt the best part of using ritalin, i have much.... but by much i mean crazy much more patience, like fuking crazy more patience xD , i could spend all the day on the same drawing under ritalin, before i wouldnt even last 30 minutes on a draw. The fact that i can now do the things i wished to do all my life has brigned me tears of joy.

Cleaning is also a major good effect of ritalin for me. I now feel like my house has to be clean and neat just like my mind now is.

My short-term memory has also dramatically improved, i remember names, adresses, passwords, conversations, and tasks. Wich is probably the second most amazing thing about this.

My hunger wich was too big for my size before and got myself doing bad things (puking) has greatly dimished if not totally, even though it is something i must watch out the few extra pound i needed to lost are now melting away.

Even my skin is so much better since i now feel the need to take care of my skin, eat well and sleep at the good hours.

There are millions other effects of ritalin but as of now i feel totally normal and am so excited about how my life is gonna evolve with the help of meds.

if things continue to be good like that, i am definitly gonna buy a big bouquet of flower to my psy and hug her next time i see her. Cause she has helped me turn my life totally around.

the first two day i had headache but they are now gone, and ritalin doesnt affect my sleep anymore. So for me ritaling is nothing short of amazing. Even if the effect of it would fade away, wich i hope it wont, ive knowned 4 great amazing days that i will never forget

I totally know what you mean about socializing, since i started treatment for my ADD i've been so relaxed and instead of it being a sturggle to socialize now i really want to!

I am 8 days into my med routine and I totally know what you are talking about. I never knew I could be this kind of person. Kind to my family, kind to myself.

Isn't it nice to feel healthy?

I so completely get this. Life isn't perfect but I wasn't looking for perfect. Just manageable. I have had conversations with people and actually recall them. I can write a sentence and not have to correct it constantly. I can sit quietly.

Life is GOOD!

yea its good isnt it xD omg!!!!

My effect is the reversed from yours i tell, but i like to hear someone has a great time on Ritalin! Good for you! :D

oh, how come is it different??? whats happened? you get less concentration or sumthing? was it good at first or always like that?

I'm on day 8 on adderall 20mg XR. First time ever that I've been medicated. I wouldn't go straight to "amazing" but I have had some glimpses of what life can be like.

I have energy and motivation. I feel good. Willing to get out and not shut myself alone. I wish a little more ability to focus was present, but hey, it's a beginning.

I have had what I think is a BP down cycle in the last week, but that's for another forum.

yea well i guess some people take more time to get full effects from meds i guess, but im sure youll get what you want

Great, I'm delighted for you!
For those who aren't feeling the proper effects yet, remember it's about getting the dosage right primarily as everyone has different needs. Actually, I think Concerta was better for me...you have to try all the options and potential doses available before you can really know what's right for you, so don't lose heart if you're not as ecstatic as Andartarius just yet..

yea, the doctor told me i would probably go on concerta if ritalin works for me but i read all those bad comments on concerta and im kinda scared... i just hope the long formula will work as well as ritalin because in a way ritalin is way too short for my needs

I think it's better dude. It's a steadier feeling, no ups and downs. 54mg of Concerta will give you 3 doses of 12mg ritalin per day (that's what the "experts" say anyway). Remember that when/if you change over as my doc started me on 18mg Concerta which didn't have any impact.

Ok so this is my update to tell you how im doing

Im keeping taking ritalin 10 mg, and i cannot believe how more focused i am.... school seems so much easier now...like...incredibly easy...its been two days im at school and each class im always listening like i do not miss one word of anything the teacher says, i now have the need to take notes, stay organized, i dont lose my stuff anymore. Im totally different.... even my personality. Before i was everywhere talking to everyone... but kind of in a irritating way... now im totally calm, but i cant seem to go see other people anymore...like im too shy....i dont look at people anymore, i dont feel the need to socialize...i juste want to do my homework and have the best grades as possible...as if school became a sudent obsession, and i love this, because i study art and art was always my passion but couldnt keep myself on my projects.

the professor gave a project thats due in like 3 weeks and ive already pretty much finished it. After the class i stayed like 6 hours and finished it totally... 6 hours, and its very good quality...i mean...before i wouldnt even spend 1 hour on my projects and i would say ah fuk off ill finish it later wich i probably wouldnt. Ive noticed that im crazy better at drawing since taking ritalin... since im present when im drawing...im reflecting, thinking, head clear, drawing what i see in my head and remebering all the stuff ive learned over the years, the creation process is much better and much more addictive and fun, so im drawing way more too. I feel like i can finally accomplish personnal projects i am going to be proud of.

The discovery of my ADD has been a light in my life, and the medication has helped bring all my self esteem back. But medication dont do everything... theyve only worked so well for me because im a very passionate person, and trough my ADD i coudlnt be who i wanted to be. It doesnt give you the will to learn or study or draw, it just helps you focus on it. The will i had before, i just couldnt keep my mind focused on accomplishing that will. If you dont want to do anything with your life and hope the pills are somewhat gonna take over your body and make you do amazing things, it will not happen. You need to be dedicated, the meds just helps you trough.Once you take them, you are, mind clear, going to be your real self.

Anyway, next monday im seeing the doctor that made me discover i had ADD and im gonna buy her a present. Maybe make her a nice and FINISHED drawing to accompany it lol, since im now able to finish them :P.

Good for you!!!!!!! Great :)

moderator note:

I just merged OP's Ritalin threads, they appear to be in decent order. But, if you're questioning continuity, that's why.