Have you ever doubted that your meds had anything to do with your improvement?

[SpaceBaby]

I dunno why, but when I'm on meds and focused on my work, it's like I have this doubt in my mind that the meds had anything to do with it. Maybe it's because I had the expectation that I'd feel like a different person, but it didn't really "feel" like anything.

[lalapin]

I understand what you mean, at the beginning I thought like, "oh well it might be that just because I know I'm taking meds I'm trying to make it happen and it's just a placebo effect".

I'll explain you why it's not.
1) at 18mg concerta I was doing really good for the 1st 2-3 days then back to distractions. That was a placebo effect obviously + me being highly motivated. Placebo effects are never long lasting I guess.
2)then I moved to 27mg and things we're a bit better so I stayed there for a few more weeks even if the Dr planned to get me to 36mg. But when I started my university classes this september, I was more organised and stuff but still had a bit of a hard time listening to the teacher all the time and had trouble reading and doing homework. That's when I moved to 36mg and eversince that dose is very optimal and still as effective 2 months after.

So yes, it's because your meds work

[Mrtommyboy1904]

Yes, Spacebaby, I always think this. Some days I even wonder if I'm just overcompensating because of the side effect profile of the Ritalin. Like, I feel very zoned out when I take it in the afternoon and do I then try extra hard to pay attention? Gotta love mental health issues!

[miellie]

Originally Posted by SpaceBaby

I dunno why, but when I'm on meds and focused on my work, it's like I have this doubt in my mind that the meds had anything to do with it. Maybe it's because I had the expectation that I'd feel like a different person, but it didn't really "feel" like anything.

The mind is a powerful thing indeed...

I often go by this quote: "Expectation is a powerful attractive thought"
fficeffice" />>>
So if I have this right in my mind, I see it as this:>>
If you expect something (the meds) to work, it will attract just that (the expectation) which then must mean, it's the meds working... >>

For example... >>
Let’s say I go to the mall - I expect to find a parking right close to the exact entrance to where I want to be, first time round!>>

If I've found this parking, did I get it because of my expectation or because I used more precious energy and looked for it harder?>>

Chances are I would have spotted an empty parking space close to any entrance at the busiest of times regardless of how hard I was looking for it or not...
>>
So therefore, I put it down to the "expectation" of it...


This so by the way I do all the time and more often than not, find parking space of my choice!

It works on other stuff to, try it!
>>

[Plognark]

I get these same doubts sometimes.

Then I skip a day of the meds, go back into full-on derp mode, and the doubts go away.

[Zevispaz]

Yeah, I take a med holiday on weekends sometimes. They make a pretty big difference. It's like a bunch of subtle things that just add up really, so it's hard to notice anything in and of itself.

But on meds, the apartment just naturally gets tidied up a little, laundry gets done completely in less than a day, dishes don't accumulate at my desk, etc... Off meds, I'm all over the place the apartment is cluttered and trashed in the span of a weekend.

[fracturedstory]

No. never. It actually feels like they are doing something in me. Complete attitude change. Motivation and immense focus. Then I'll go out grab the first person I see and talk to them for about 2 hours. Usually I can't even talk to people for 2 minutes, and I don't want to talk to them. I don't like to be distracted away from whatever I'm doing but on meds I won't mind and might talk to them for longer than I planned to. People also cut out talks short.

I suppose one of my hugest issues is trouble comprehending written words or trouble getting my thoughts down on paper. Then I have to be descriptive and write very complex paragraphs that make me panic so much when not on meds because I just can't think that way. I take my meds and suddenly I wrote 6 pages.

I also don't take my meds on the weekend, unless I have to be social.

[DvlsAdv0c8]

I know it's the meds. It amazes me how much quieter my brain becomes on the meds. I actually feel more "here" and not trapped inside my head.

I also have WAY better impulse control and don't feel so inclined to just react as quickly and intensely to emotional triggers. I am actually able to tell myself "it's not worth the energy" and brush it off instead of freaking out.

Just wish I could find a fix for the darn dry mouth problem...

[salleh]

Oh yah, life with meds......almost worthwhile ( they only get me to about 60 to 70% of normal)...

life without meds ? Not worth living .....can't do anything and the guilt is horrendous....

[SASChii]

right there with ya....I am still in the early stages of treament with my first Rx. I think my does is too weak and tends to wear off early. I took one about 2 hours ago and honestly I really don't feel anything at this moment. I did have a heavy breakfast at 9AM which is why I waited. But, it seems like it changes my perceived behavior where I am sort of allow myself to be pushed. I don't know..its been 19 days so far with 15mg of Adderall XR generic (D-Amphetamine salt). What I don't like is that it makes my whole body go into overdrive, instead of my head.

[SASChii]

Originally Posted by Plognark

I get these same doubts sometimes.

Then I skip a day of the meds, go back into full-on derp mode, and the doubts go away.

LOL!! I use the "Flowers for Algernon" metaphor when I have my derp days off the med (one day experienced so far).

[Conman]

i think meds definitely started helping me aside from conditioning (not literal, but before meds i learned how to 'be good' in some areas or certain ways just so i wouldnt get in trouble due to past experience). cuz of meds i developed what i refer to as 'Defense Mechanisms' cuz they undid certain traits i had, like procrastination, messy, disorganized, etc. Even when im unmedicated is till adhere to schedule like things, or a perceived order of how the day will go aside from **** that just happens. i mean i still need them, but it's not like im completely lost and ****** without them

[ana futura]

I completely notice the meds. I go from paying absolutely no attention to other people to having actual, real conversations with them. I go from reading one paragraph over and over to being able to read an entire essay rather easily- although this did take a while to get the hang of. I notice myself caring about things- how I look, how I act, what other people think of me.

That said, I consistently take myself off of them because I reach a point where I say "Everything's going great, I can totally manage without this crap!" because that's what my medicated brain tells me. So I take myself off them, because deep down I don't want to be on them, and then everything slowly goes back to "normal" and my improvements all slip away. Finally something will seem really really hard, and I'll give in, take the med, and the cycle starts anew.