I’m a 45-year-old dude who’s only now coming to grips with having probably lived my whole life with undiagnosed inattentive-type ADHD. My wife and online communities like this one (and formerly Reddit) have helped me see that I may have been playing life on hard mode by pretending I didn’t have ADHD.
My doctor had me try Strattera (atomoxetine) about a year ago, but all it did was make me feel like I was nervous.
Have any of you inattentive-types had any success with simulant meds? I know it would be a lot of trouble to get officially diagnosed and even more trouble to fill the prescription, so I wonder if it’s worth trying.
edit: Thank you everyone who shared their experience. It sounds like Adderall or Vyvanse are effective for focus and executive dysfunction. If anyone is still keeping tabs on this conversation, have you had any improvement in forgetfulness/distractedness with simulant meds?
I’m 38. Diagnosed with combined (everything) type ADHD 2 months ago.
The experience for being on meds for me has been life changing. I’m on elvanse (vivanse in the US). It’s like suddenly being in the driver’s seat of my own mind. The guy that was driving before was an idiot. I can now just choose to do stuff.
What struck me is that not only are you playing on hard mode, but everyone else is playing on easy mode and telling you it’s hard mode. “Life is hard” means something completely different to everyone else.
Definitely try it again. Medicating ADHD is really well understood and incredibly successful for so many people. I think it’s insane not to give it a go and see if it’s right for you.
The stigma around being medicated is completely backwards imo.