Hello Everyone! First I would like to say, I am the person who second guesses everything. And by everything, I mean Gov't, life, religion, family etc, you name it. I give nothing the benifit of doubt. With that said I must say that doubt and fear can sometimes influence one's perception of a healthy state which in my case was for the worst. As a child I was a frequent member of the "have him see a shrink posse". I always thought it was a waste because no one ever seemed to have a solution to my problem. Although the shrink visits stopped , I always knew there was something wrong. I could never control my thoughts and with some miracle I managed to finish high school and some college. As an adult my condition became unbearable. Six years ago I forced myself to see a shrink who diagnosed me with ADD. I had a few trials with different dosages of Adderall and ultimately became comfortable with 30mg xr, which I have to say was the push I always needed in life. I really never understood why my teachers always questioned my abilites. They always felt I could deliver greatly and unfortunately I always felt I couldn't. After the meds I truly became a better me. I was happy, focused, made more income, more creative and physically healthier. I Dam the day I questioned my new state of mind. The nerve of me to bother with opinion of those who couldn''t adjust to the new me. Why did my situation get better? something had to be wrong! People often speak of things they know nothing about and incite fear that sometimes get to us. The "doubt" from hearsay of Adderall's side affects finally got to me. Along with the "fear" of losing my "obsolete" friends have influenced me to make the worst decision in my life. Today I have fallen from my pedastal in hopes of defeating ADD without meds. The last 2 years have been torture in my mind. Dan, I truly know what you have been thru and I feel your pain. A few years ago an old neighbor asked me, "If a Doctor requests you drink your urine to improve your condition, would you?" I truly didn't understand the logic behind the question until now. To those who do not have ADD, Please stop posting your abusive experience with Adderall as it may prevent someone from using it who truly may benefit from its use. I hope you are all well and I would like to especially know of how Dan is today via email at . Friends! People like us must remember that the most important thing in our lives is our sanity, without it we cannot exist and no expense shall be spared to maintain it. I hope this has been of any assistance to anyone.
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Hey all,
I was diagnosed with add in my freshman year of high school. I was put on a low dose of Ritalin, but stopped after a couple of months because I didn't like how it made me feel. I got really good at the guitar during this period (something which has stayed with me to this day). I was told I would grow out of the behaviors associated with add.
Well I didn't grow out of it... I lost a good career in construction about 4 years ago because when it came time for lay-offs those who were frequently late were the first on the chopping block. I was well-liked by my bosses, and even received an unprecedented early raise and promotion where I then ran a crew of workers. I have learned that people who are just mediocre at their work but show up on time will always have a leg-up on you; no matter how good you are at your job.
This is why add is frustrating. People with different brain chemistry compared to "normal" people are often very creative/ inventive, but have problems with day-to-day tasks. I am chronically 5 to 10 minutes late, but I am highly productive when doing something I enjoy (like building structures or band practice).
I was building mechanical systems for medical labs, research facilities, and other industrial facilities. I find that my add is actually beneficial when doing something where I'm physically creating something I find interesting (including art, writing, or something mechanical). I go into states of "hyper-focus". For instance, I'll be writing an article for my college newspaper and will have 20 tabs open in mozilla and like two books next to me. I then find a way to pull it all together and produce a great article. I tune out everything around me during these "trances".
Back to the story...
The layoff forced me to couch surf for a while and eventually move back in with my parents. I quickly found a sales specialist job at The Home Depot and began attending school. I got fired from home depot after 6 months for being chronically late; despite being a top salesman and earning several awards from customers calling the store to say how great my service was. I now work two jobs and attend school part-time. One of my jobs is very sympathetic to my chronic lateness as long as I call ahead of time. I am on the dean's list at school despite being fairly unorganized... I have to be very selective with my professors and will literally drop a class if I think the teacher is going to be unsympathetic to tardiness or lost assignments (ratemyprofessors.com is an awesome aid).
I went on Adderall almost 6 months ago after being pulled aside and written up for being late and unfocused at my early morning job. My manager told me her daughter has add and that I clearly have the same symptoms. I did a lot of research into adhd drugs and landed on Adderall as my prime choice. My work performance has improved immensely. I can focus on finishing one task, or even accomplish multi-tasking. Before Adderall, I would attempt to take on an insane amount of tasks, and was a hideous judge of time.
Adderall is not a magic pill. You MUST study various organizational techniques, and I personally see benefits from short periods of Zazen (Zen Buddhist meditation). I try to meditate for 15 minutes to an hour a day. Check out the scientific empirical data that supports Zazen as an excellent brain booster (sort of like exercise for the brain). The scientific proof doesn't really matter; it's all up to what the practitioner directly experiences from it.
Doing any sort of exercise helps. Construction, Aikido, Zazen, and weight lifting all aided me to unite the body and mind, which helps with my focus. However, these things alone were not enough to allow me to "fit-in" and thrive in modern society.
My girlfriend of two years is also very patient and understanding. However, she also holds me accountable for my mistakes (but in a compassionate and respectful way).
Psychedelic substances can be beneficial when used respectfully and infrequently. They are not for everyone, but certain mind expanding chemicals will force you to travel to a place where you HAVE to deal with yourself and your scattered, fragmented, and out-of-control petty ego. Once again, these are not "magic pills" and require YOU to facilitate the positive change.
Make sure to take quality vitamin supplements. Calcium-magnesium and the b-vitamins get depleted from Adderall. Don't take low-grade calcium, because it's typically nothing more than limestone and has a horrible bio-availability. Calcium and magnesium need each other to work; they also help with Adderall tolerance issues. Co-enzyme Q-10 and pharmaceutical grade fish oil are essential for cardiovascular support. Avoid vitamin c for a few hours around your dose, because any form of acid (like ascorbic acid/ vitamin c) will destroy amphetamine.
I also have to comment on the doses some of you are taking. 60 to 170mg is absolute insanity! You are begging for serious trouble on doses like that. I don't care what anyone, including psychiatrists, say about what is a safe level to prescribe; anything above 30mg a day (for extreme ADHD) is counter-productive . I take no more than 15mg a day, and frequently take breaks from it when I feel my tolerance is starting to increase.
I just took two weeks off. I was absolutely fine with withdrawals. I noticed the organizational behaviors and level of self-awareness that Adderall has granted me stayed with me during my "drug holiday". This substance needs to be treated with respect and perhaps a level of fear. There are substances on this earth that are far more powerful than your desires and willpower alone.
As for the posters suffering from amphetamine induced psychosis... First of all I empathize with the mental distress and concern you must be feeling. I know several people who severely abused drugs (including methamphetamine and amphetamine) and they are now doing better after years of abstinence. Some people simply should not use and can not handle taking drugs due to their unique biology and defense mechanisms. You will eventually return to baseline after some time and healthy lifestyle choices. Set some small and achievable goals for yourself everyday. You must address and face any other "co-morbid" psychological problems you may be experiencing; at some point you have to take some responsibility and stop pointing the finger at drugs for all your problems. If you're depressed, try and figure out why... and it's not "because I don't have Adderall". Sorry, but that isn't the real reason.
good luck
I was diagnosed with add in my freshman year of high school. I was put on a low dose of Ritalin, but stopped after a couple of months because I didn't like how it made me feel. I got really good at the guitar during this period (something which has stayed with me to this day). I was told I would grow out of the behaviors associated with add.
Well I didn't grow out of it... I lost a good career in construction about 4 years ago because when it came time for lay-offs those who were frequently late were the first on the chopping block. I was well-liked by my bosses, and even received an unprecedented early raise and promotion where I then ran a crew of workers. I have learned that people who are just mediocre at their work but show up on time will always have a leg-up on you; no matter how good you are at your job.
This is why add is frustrating. People with different brain chemistry compared to "normal" people are often very creative/ inventive, but have problems with day-to-day tasks. I am chronically 5 to 10 minutes late, but I am highly productive when doing something I enjoy (like building structures or band practice).
I was building mechanical systems for medical labs, research facilities, and other industrial facilities. I find that my add is actually beneficial when doing something where I'm physically creating something I find interesting (including art, writing, or something mechanical). I go into states of "hyper-focus". For instance, I'll be writing an article for my college newspaper and will have 20 tabs open in mozilla and like two books next to me. I then find a way to pull it all together and produce a great article. I tune out everything around me during these "trances".
Back to the story...
The layoff forced me to couch surf for a while and eventually move back in with my parents. I quickly found a sales specialist job at The Home Depot and began attending school. I got fired from home depot after 6 months for being chronically late; despite being a top salesman and earning several awards from customers calling the store to say how great my service was. I now work two jobs and attend school part-time. One of my jobs is very sympathetic to my chronic lateness as long as I call ahead of time. I am on the dean's list at school despite being fairly unorganized... I have to be very selective with my professors and will literally drop a class if I think the teacher is going to be unsympathetic to tardiness or lost assignments (ratemyprofessors.com is an awesome aid).
I went on Adderall almost 6 months ago after being pulled aside and written up for being late and unfocused at my early morning job. My manager told me her daughter has add and that I clearly have the same symptoms. I did a lot of research into adhd drugs and landed on Adderall as my prime choice. My work performance has improved immensely. I can focus on finishing one task, or even accomplish multi-tasking. Before Adderall, I would attempt to take on an insane amount of tasks, and was a hideous judge of time.
Adderall is not a magic pill. You MUST study various organizational techniques, and I personally see benefits from short periods of Zazen (Zen Buddhist meditation). I try to meditate for 15 minutes to an hour a day. Check out the scientific empirical data that supports Zazen as an excellent brain booster (sort of like exercise for the brain). The scientific proof doesn't really matter; it's all up to what the practitioner directly experiences from it.
Doing any sort of exercise helps. Construction, Aikido, Zazen, and weight lifting all aided me to unite the body and mind, which helps with my focus. However, these things alone were not enough to allow me to "fit-in" and thrive in modern society.
My girlfriend of two years is also very patient and understanding. However, she also holds me accountable for my mistakes (but in a compassionate and respectful way).
Psychedelic substances can be beneficial when used respectfully and infrequently. They are not for everyone, but certain mind expanding chemicals will force you to travel to a place where you HAVE to deal with yourself and your scattered, fragmented, and out-of-control petty ego. Once again, these are not "magic pills" and require YOU to facilitate the positive change.
Make sure to take quality vitamin supplements. Calcium-magnesium and the b-vitamins get depleted from Adderall. Don't take low-grade calcium, because it's typically nothing more than limestone and has a horrible bio-availability. Calcium and magnesium need each other to work; they also help with Adderall tolerance issues. Co-enzyme Q-10 and pharmaceutical grade fish oil are essential for cardiovascular support. Avoid vitamin c for a few hours around your dose, because any form of acid (like ascorbic acid/ vitamin c) will destroy amphetamine.
I also have to comment on the doses some of you are taking. 60 to 170mg is absolute insanity! You are begging for serious trouble on doses like that. I don't care what anyone, including psychiatrists, say about what is a safe level to prescribe; anything above 30mg a day (for extreme ADHD) is counter-productive . I take no more than 15mg a day, and frequently take breaks from it when I feel my tolerance is starting to increase.
I just took two weeks off. I was absolutely fine with withdrawals. I noticed the organizational behaviors and level of self-awareness that Adderall has granted me stayed with me during my "drug holiday". This substance needs to be treated with respect and perhaps a level of fear. There are substances on this earth that are far more powerful than your desires and willpower alone.
As for the posters suffering from amphetamine induced psychosis... First of all I empathize with the mental distress and concern you must be feeling. I know several people who severely abused drugs (including methamphetamine and amphetamine) and they are now doing better after years of abstinence. Some people simply should not use and can not handle taking drugs due to their unique biology and defense mechanisms. You will eventually return to baseline after some time and healthy lifestyle choices. Set some small and achievable goals for yourself everyday. You must address and face any other "co-morbid" psychological problems you may be experiencing; at some point you have to take some responsibility and stop pointing the finger at drugs for all your problems. If you're depressed, try and figure out why... and it's not "because I don't have Adderall". Sorry, but that isn't the real reason.
good luck
Dreamspark, I'm sorry but people like you need to wake up and smell the coffee. You claim that you pulled your life out of some gutter but you were apparently never even able to take blame for your mistakes. Adderall is not evil, and it never tried to trick you into getting hooked on it. The reality is that you -were- a druggy, plain and simple. You falsely claimed you had a condition you didn't have so that you could score amphetamines. You're the kind of guy who would blame his dealer for ruining his life if you were brainless enough to have gotten yourself hooked on crystal meth instead of adderall.
The reason you got addicted is because you abused a notoriously habit forming family of drug to achieve an effect it was not prescribed for. You might as well have told the doctor you had cancer and tried to score some oxy. I'm assuming the only reason you didn't go that route is that it would have made you feel too much like a druggy. Or maybe claiming that it's all the evil terrible oxy's fault that poor little you got addicted just seemed like a harder sell.
Seriously bro, take responsibility for your own c**p decisions. It's just depressing to see posts like yours where some s**t feels the need to rebuke the use of a medicine just because you cant possibly be expected to control yourself.
The reason you got addicted is because you abused a notoriously habit forming family of drug to achieve an effect it was not prescribed for. You might as well have told the doctor you had cancer and tried to score some oxy. I'm assuming the only reason you didn't go that route is that it would have made you feel too much like a druggy. Or maybe claiming that it's all the evil terrible oxy's fault that poor little you got addicted just seemed like a harder sell.
Seriously bro, take responsibility for your own c**p decisions. It's just depressing to see posts like yours where some s**t feels the need to rebuke the use of a medicine just because you cant possibly be expected to control yourself.
Try quitting prescription opiates, and if you live to tell your experience let people know how bad is it compared to amphets. I guarantee you would rather quit salts and with drawl 100 times then to go through opiate with drawl. I have adhd mostly hyperactivity and have taken adderall off and on over the past 9 years. the shortest duration was like 3 months and the rest were a minimum of 2 years then like 8 months to a year off then back on. the only with drawl i received was having adhd again. Yeah you take salts so long you forget what adhd is. so then you stop and you dont feel right, remember you have adhd? oh yeah. This is referring to those who have true adhd. also i was on the highest dosage available and never felt buzzed or high and i know what being high is, i just felt balanced and was able to accomplish tasks like the average everyday person. if you get tweaky effects from stimulants they probably wont treat your adhad very well and maybe you were misdiagnosed. The first time i knew i was hyperactive was when trying coke as an irresponsible teen. I was told it was quality and 2 friend and i started doing lines. after doing a bit more than a gram i gave up only to watch my friends talking off their ears and bouncing around the room meanwhile i sat on a chair and just felt relaxed but not high. over the next couple week i tried 2 more times with the same results. i never touched it again since it did nothing to me. to those of you who try to fake symptoms it is no wonder why you are having the issues you had as a result. recently i was asked by my doc to take adderall again. adult adhd is much worse than when you are younger. it is truly depressing. i almost lost everything because i lacked the will to get up and complete tasks. i had the greatest intention only to be left with the feeling of failure. this can quickly lead to depression after repeated failure and with the added anxiety. This may sound to some who dont suffer like a bs excuse or a mental issue and just lable us as lazy people who could get out if they feel like it. i can see how some would think that because i thought the same thing, "oh im just being a baby about it, just get up and do it". Well it is mostly in your head, which is the most powerful and mysterious object known to humans. No one has the right to say that they know for a fact Adhd is bs. It is not and is quite frustrating to cope with the feeling of not being able to do the things you want to do even easy tasks like sweeping the floor becomes like having to run a 20 mile marathon. Ex: like you have the best intentions and are physically able but your mind is like "no your just gonna have to sit here while i give you a million reasons not to and im gonna make it seem like you cant move your legs so just relax, have some anxiety and accomplish nothing""ok lets think about so more nonsense so you cant even try to have a rational thought" "nice, now repeat". Yeah well i basically didnt work for over a month because the symptoms were so sever. i tried to weather it out waiting for it to pass but it never happened. I was frightened over responsibility and almost lost my business that was thriving. i ignoored all customers, phone calls, bills, and much more. i guess i gave up then finally went to my regular visit to see my gp. i didnt go with the intention of taking adderall again because i thought it was something different compared to the adhd i knew from the past. it had similarities but much more sever. if it didnt get better soon i was gonna leave this planet and that is no joke. wells the gp notice by my movements and speach that a resolve was needed right then. he explained after asking questions that adhd in adults can get much worse and crippling effect but can still be treated. so i went back on adderall and i feel totally normal again. stable is a good feeling and i have natural happiness again. just wish i did not wait so long to get outside advice. it is a miracle for me and i hate drugs. i never had any bad side effects and never really felt anything but normal and i can skip days when i feel like it. i do notice a difference but emotions are a part of everyday life. i could stop dosing tomorrow and have no with drawl just damn lack of motivation adhd. For now or untill there is a perminent cure i will take my meds as prescribed and be thank full there is relief from this very annoying mental imbalance. if you dont have adhd and want or take salts its not a good idea for long term, oh yeah your most likely an addict. come to terms with it and understand it more so it can be helped.
I went to my old terrbile shrink when having issue about 3 yrs ago. I told her i was tired all the time, got nothing done,couldn't think right so she prescribes me addreal 20mg 3 times a day when i had never even heard of them. Now 3 years later i am struggling to get off them and its so hard. I went a month in a half without them and slept all the time. Well now I can't do that because i have a baby at home. I am a single mom and he was a premie and in the hospital for 3 months. I was prescribed a 20mg adderal twice a day during my pregnancy but barely took them . I quit myself and the doc told me it wasn't good to do. Anyways now i have to function all day and can't sleep due to my son. He was so little that i have 3 nurses come to my home a week and he has 6 doctors. I have an 11 yr old daughter as well. Her father and I have joint custody but my son i am his mom and dad . His father never met him and has nothing to do with him. i am so overwhelmed and wish i never seen this doctor because no i am trying to get off these pills at one of my hardest moments living. I am worried about my sons future,overwhelmed,tired, and stressed. Adderal are no good!!!!!!
READ THIS POST I PROMISE IF YOU DO THIS, ADDERALL ADDICTION WILL NEVER BE A PROBLEM
B4 i start, know that I have an extremely addictive personality & was addicted to adderall, but that i got over my addiction, and u can too. I'm not going to bs u or sugar coat things or try to scare u. Adderall can be freakin awesome and beneficial, but if you're reading this, odds are it isn't right for u. So do urself a favor and read the entire damn thing. Ya it's long, but if u want to help yourself, take the time.
If you are worried you are addicted to adderall, First things first: Calm down & relax. You will be fine. So many of these posts make u feel like you've ruined your life. You haven't. I can relate to this addiction first hand and have way too much experience, but the most important thing in stopping is to not let this worry cause you anxiety.
How do you know you're addicted? 1 answer: if you are asking this question, then you are. End of story. But you're in much better shape than most, because you've acknowledged it. You messed up, inappropriately used it, and there's nothing you can do about it now, so get over your regret, and move on to the future where you will be back to your normal self.
How do you end your dependence?
Simple answer: don't over think it. Just as if you decided you watch too much TV, stop taking it - ie stop watching tv. Don't put yourself in a situation where you might be tempted. Cancel your cable service, u can't watch tv. Simply Stop buying it. Some people would say wean yourself off of it. While this will help your chemical addiction slow and deemphasize your withdrawals, it won't help your mental addiction, which is by far the most difficult part. By weaning, you will only make excuses for why you still need to take some. These will probably be subconscious, & then b4 u know it, you will be back where u started. The easiest excuses are "I have a paper I have to ace and in exhausted, so I'll just take it one more time" or "I have to be on my a game for this meeting". Sure, you will probably do better on the paper & in the meeting if you take it. But then you're right back where you were in the first place, and even though u may have aced this one meeting, the addiction will kill ur career in the long run if you don't stop now.
Understand that when you stop, some of the things you do that you would normally do will initially lack in quality. This is all because you have subconsciously gotten used to doing these things while on adderall, & because it has helped, you think it is the way to maximize your quality of work. AT FIRST, you probably won't do as well because you won't be as motovated. That's okay. Allow yourself to not be the superstar you think adderall makes you. People trick themselves into thinking they should take it because they see less progress on their work when they don't. You're again just subconsciously justifying yourself to take it. Never let yourself do this. Once you have acknowledged that you can do things without adderall (even if you may see the upmost quality), you will very soon improve your quality of work back to your maximum potential without taking adderall. I know this is a confusing catch 22, but trust me, it works. You won't understand this until you get to that point, so don't try to, just do it.
Things you MUST PHYSICALlY DO to end your addiction: perfect the smallest, most seemingly unimportant tasks in your daily life that make you feel satisfied with yourself. I'm talking the smallest things that you overlook because of there low importance. YOU HAVE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF. Examples: these are great for college students trying to quit: keep your room & car clean. Take the extra 3 seconds to put ur clothes in the laundry basket at night instead of throwing them on the floor. Throw a load of laundry in the wash b4 ur hamper is full. When ur getting out of your car, grab the empty cup in the holder to take inside, even if your hands are full & u need to adjust. Put the DVD in the case instead of on the coffee table. Put the dirty dish in the washer instead of the sink. You get the idea. Procrastination is the biggest thing that makes people want to take adderall bc they know they accomplish big tasks they've put off more easily while on it. If u take the baby steps to prevent you needing to do the task all at once, you will prevail.
SUBSTITUTES: when u stop taking it, especially cold turkey, yes, you will feel much less energized and motivated, do you will look for replacements such as caffeen. Or if your simply addicted to the adderall high, you might try to smoke a bowl of weed or get drunk so u aren't focused on adderall. That's the worst thing u can do. Allow yourself to be tired or bored or unmotivated at first. It's what happens its what withdrawals are. It's okay, they go away soon. You're probably going to feel the need to sleep a lot more so you feel more energized. After u quit, you will be tired no matter what for the first week or so, depending on the degree of your addiction, regardless of whether u get 7 hours of sleep or 12 hours of sleep. So fight through that part.
Instead of looking for things to take (caffeen, extra naps, etc) to compensate for your lack of energy, do completely irrelevant things that make you feel accomplished. The best is to begin working out, reading a lot more, or picking up a new hobby that generates some new excitement or sense of accomplishment. Get into a pattern of doing these things, alof with the simple everyday tasks of your life, and before you know it, you will feel as motivated, as capable, and as energized naturally everyday as you feel when u take adderall.
Timeline & phases to quit
(if you are heavily addicted, add about 3 days to each step besides step 1)
Step 1: (day 1) your last pill. Throw all of ur adderall away so u dont have access. "Sober" up. The time period of coming down from adderall. Depending on how much adderall you have taken on your last dosage, it can take anywhere from 5-15 hours for its effects to wear off, and up to 24 hours to 2 days to get it out of your system. When you no longer are under the influence, you can move on to phas two.
2: (first week) immediately following a binge, you will want to take more in the upcoming days because you are so tired & unmotivated. This is a very hard step. You have to allow ur body get use to not being on adderall every day. This is where withdrawals first come in. Here is where u have to get over the fact that ur work may not be of best quality, that you'll be tired, & that you'll feel unmotivated. Suck it up...this will go away after the first 10 or so days of stopping. Take a mental vacation from anything in life that stresses you. Pretend (to a realistic extent) that your job or school work is are not important. Let them take a back seat to yor desired actions. At this time, do as many things you can to keep yourself busy that you want to do or that make u feel good. Briefly avoid difficult homework or stressful work assignments, and do leasure things that make u happy.
3: (Weeks 2 & 3) this is the easiest part. By now u have hopefully gotten into a more healthy pattern & have relived some of the anxiety u had initially about quitting. Since you have now just gone a week or so without it and you're still living, you know you can do without it. This will motivate you to continue your success and your desire to stay adderall free since u now know u can. During this, you will probably have little or no desire at all to take adderall. Now, get back to reality and reaccept the responsibilities in your life that you let take a back seat to your leasure activities. Find a common routine you would be satisfied with doing every day in your life, and stick to it. Towards the second half of this phase, you will see your quality of work and motivation for success to start becoming more & more optimal. You will be doing great! But don't forget that you're still recovering from an addiction because....
Step 3 (weeks 4-5ish): THIS IS THE HARDEST STEP
You have now not only been off adderall for 3 weeks, but you have seen you can be successful without it and that u are on the right path. Ironaclly, this is the time where you are most likely to relapse. You have now gotten comfortable without it and confident that you are above it and don't need it. This is good, but it is also the time where you subconsciously start to think "my addiction was not a big deal, I wasn't really addicted, I just took too much at once, I just took it too often, etc." for some reason people allow their good cockiness and pride of accomplishment to down play the seriousness. Unfortunately, this is when you will be tempted to fall out of routine, and start to skip workouts, allow your room or car to be messy, etc. bc u r now more focused on your life's most important tasks, you begin to downplay the importance of the little, seemingly unimportant basics identified in step two. You will not even notice it. But your motivation will slightly decline, and your work quality will slightly dwindle. Before you know it, you may allow yourself to start procrastinating again, and then see yourself with facing a big task you have not prepared for. This is when you will say to yourself, again probably to a degree of subconsciousness, "I gotta do well on this. I know how serious adderall can be and ive learned from my mistake, so I'm just going to take it once to get this one task completed. But it will be okay because I know how to manage it now". NO YOU ARE WRONG. YOU CANNOT take even just one tiny pill one time for any reason! Even if you have not procrastinated more lately or felt less motivated or seen your quality of work decrease again, you will try to subconsciously convince yourself that you are no longer an adderall addict & that you know how to use it properly now without abusing it or letting it get out of hand. No matter what, the time will come about a month, give or take, after you've stopped where you will subconsciously justify a reason for u to take it "just once" or "start it again, just more responsibly". This is when you need to stay strong and simply say no no matter what. It is vital that instead of relaxing due to your recent strength, you must viggerously make the effort to focus on your routine, not skip just one single work out, not overlook one piece of clothing u find on the floor, or let one meeting/school assignment or test worry you so much that you turn back to adderall. Unlike the others, it won't be obvious to you when this step ends or starts, because it's difficult to acknowledge subconscious justifications and beliefs. Thats why you must keep in mind that these temptations will occur without u knowing it, and never let up. The only way u will truly know u are IN this stage is if you cave and take that one pill that one time. 6 weeks is my personal guarantee you have made it through this difficult point of subconscious temptation & justification.
Step 5 (FINAL STEP)
You are now both physically & mentally not addicted to adderall. Your body has completely readapted to a healthy, natural lifestyle. Now exhale, pat yourself on the back, and acknowledge that this addiction is a thing of the past that will never cause you any trouble ever again. It won't even be on ur mind. U will view adderall as you do ciggerettes (if you are a no smoker) in that I have no interest in it, no appeal, no desire for it, and you will see no reason to ever try it, bc you know it has zero benefits. If your a smoker, a better analogy would be that u now see taking adderall about as important as you do knowing what some random personnacross the world had for breakfast that morning. U dont care, and have no desire to ever have that knowledge. U dont care about adderalls existsnce, and have no desire to ever try it because you truly see it having no benefit. Let the past be the past. Just don't ever allow yourself to say yes and take another pill, no matter what the circumstance is. And you won't. Apply this to other negative temptations in life, especially other drugs. You're done!
please get away from this legalized chemical as FAST as you can . I have the same exact history, started adderall and was left alone to find a way off of this c**p. it's NO DIFFERENT ... than the way your body will react to any strong central nervous stimulant, whether it be in pill for (METH-AMPHETAMINES) vs STREET CRACK ... just different forms . TRUST ME .. I am never going back on this doctor prescribed poison again.
I think this is a fake post from a pharmaceutical company stooge.
How did you ultimately get off the Adderall? rehab?
Also, I was curious to know if there was a certain combination of vitamin supplements and/or an anti-depressant that helped lessen the effects from prolonged use?
I am in a similar situation and have thankfully been adderall free for 8 months. I am a much better "me" without it in regards to my relationships, outlook on life, etc. However, when I feel pressure at work or have to complete a seeming insurmountable task, the urge to find adderall is palpable. I think to myself: "I know that I could get a ton accomplished in a short amount of time if only I had a few pills to get it done!" As my mind turns to these thoughts, I typically "shutdown" and literally crawl in bed to further avoid doing whatever it was that needs to get done. Feeling Productive without adderall is virtually impossible once you have experienced its effects. No matter what, I know that I will NEVER feel as motivated or efficient as I once did on adderall. The high is too good to be forgotten, but my life as an adderall addict is not worth living at all. You take the good with the bad. :)
Being off adderall has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Truly. It is a daily struggle to maintain sobriety and remain adderall free, however no amount of recognition at work or project is worth losing everything I love and becoming a person that I am ashamed to be. Adderall proved to be the "devil" for me, literally, and lead me on a past of personal destruction as well. I feel your pain and know exactly what you mean. Hopefully we can both stay on track and not fall back into the adderall trap, or any other substance used to cope with our hunger. Thankfully I never took drugs for recreational purposes or else I would probably have moved on to illegal drugs, like cocaine or another upper, to get the rush. This fact alone has been my saving grace!
Reply if you have any advice as you have walked this walk longer than I. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
God Bless,
LP
To lmp2294,
I have been taking B12 and B Complex injections (one a week, alternating between B12 and B Complex) for about two months now and have noticed a pretty significant improvement from the "shutdown" feeling you describe.
I had been taking Adderall and/or Vyvanse daily for almost five years. Earlier this year my doctor switched to a practice that does not take my insurance, and I could not afford the visit or meds w/o the insurance. Rather than start over with a new dr I decided this was a good time to stop the meds. I love the way the Adderall made me feel like I was being productive but in actuality I think it caused me to just obsess over one particular task while putting others off (that at times were way more important). I became somewhat of a productive procrastinator. I would make a list of things I needed to do and start on the least important thing (like organizing a closet) and never get to the next task. At the end of the day I was proud of myself for completing task #1 but it would be way too late to do the other things (you can't go to the bank or call your mom at 1am). I would do this every day. I was always super busy, so I felt productive, but still neglecting the things that really mattered.
I was prescribed 3 Adderall a day so when I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to get more I started weaning myself. Before I ran completely out I started taking the B vitamin shots. For about a month I did the shot once a week and one Adderall a day. I've been out of the Adderall for two weeks now and still taking the shots. At times I do feel foggy and my attention span is not that great and it makes me miss the meds a little. However, I am sleeping WAY better! I had forgot how much I missed quality sleep. And I think I am getting more things done. On the Adderall I didn't really feel like socializing, I just wanted to stick to my task and be left alone. This weekend I actually wanted to go outside and play with my kids instead of screaming at them all day for getting in my way while I'm trying to clean. So I think I might be returning to normal :-) So I highly recommend the B vitamins. I get mine from a little outpatient clinic nearby and the cost is actually less than what I was paying for prescriptions. I don't need an appointment or anything. I just show up and get the shot. I hope you'll give it a try or find something that works for you. I know this is a difficult time. Hang in there, things always get better :-)
My son recently committed suicide after being on Adderall for 5 years and then quitting cold turkey when he graduated. He never abused it, never took other drugs, drank in moderation, never any self destructive behavior, never made rash decisions, never mentioned depression or thoughts of suicide to anyone, made excellent grades throughout K12 and college. When he quit Adderall he completely lost his motivation and apparently his will to live. Within 3 months he could barely drag himself off the sofa, he also started obsessing about things.
I never wanted him on ADHD drugs but he made that decision himself. I know many of you feel you need it to survive, I won't argue with you. But please, if you are thinking about going on it DON'T, it will end up controlling your life, and perhaps ruining, or taking, it. There is a lot of evidence that it makes permanent changes to your brain, and not good one's. These changes make it even harder to quit.
If you are already on Adderal, or one of the other amphetamines salts, taper off very, very slowly. You should also get medical care and be prepared for some pretty horrible withdrawal symptoms (alternating between not sleeping, or not sleeping well, for days and then sleeping for days, absolutely no motivation, your original ADHD symptoms returning with a vengeance, weight gain, depression, etc., etc). Its very difficult but someday you'll find your Adderall isn't helping you nearly as much as it use to as you build up tolerance, and its side effects make it no longer worth taking. Its doubtful you'll be on it for life, and if you are you'll be a mess. So the sooner you can quit taking it the better.
And again, if you are thinking about going on one of these drugs, DON'T. My son had a very bright future ahead of him, now he simply has hundreds of friends and family asking why?
I'm 17 years old and I've only done adderall for a month and then stopped completely, but I've started it up again only for a week at minor dosages. I was kinda interested in what damage it does to the brain so I've searched first for that and then after being horrified searched for solutions like magnesium and b12. Just by reading everyone's story I thank god that I still have a chance because I can see the level of toxicity, the fear, the mad scramble for help, the arguing between what is and what isn't the right thing to do, I hope you all find yourselves, the real you, add, ADHD, or none. This medicine is not worth the negative short and long term effects.
the first cut is the deepest
I SECOND DAN NC, I've been a healthy, non drug user all my life but spent years isolated, unmotivated and unfulfilled. Then I tried Adderall and my life changed for the better. I recommend skipping days and weeks off if possible so you don't become addicted, and use coffee and vitamin stimulants to keep you going. Adderall may have side effects but they are less damaging for me than the the unfulfilled life I always had. It really opens the mind and has allowed me to get what i want out of life.
I was on Adderall for a year and a half. Getting off of it was a godsend, but extremely difficult. Let me give you some advice, from personal experience. Take notes, this will be some of the most helpful, educational information you could find. First, let me help explain what goes on in the brain when you introduce it to amphetamines. Basically, artificial dopamine is pushed across the synapse into the receptors. In time, the brain says, "hey what's all this dopamine in here for?? This isn't supposed to happen SHUT IT DOWN BOYS." And there you have it, now you are dependent on the drug/s for any feel good, happy motivation. So here is a bullet point list, to make it easier, on how to get the human body to start rebuilding dopamine levels, and get YOUR life back:
-First, start jogging, jump roping, boxing or some form of consistent cardiovascular activity. At least 15-20 mins a day, and get a good sweat. This will help your body reproduce dopamine naturally again, as well as help detox your body.
-Eat a VERY clean diet. Kick any ASPARTAME and HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP out of your diet. Apsartame is poison on the mind, and will give you memory recall problems, as well as depression (youtube it). Fruits, vegetables and water are your best friends.
-Look into these supplements specifically: LECITHIN, L-THEANINE (wonderful for memory, and overall mood), FISH OIL (high EPA content) & multi vitamin/mineral (I like the GREEN VIBRANCE drink). If you need energy, pick up some L-ARGININE. This will help your body produce red blood cells, which will provide more blood and oxygen to your muscles (including the brain). Great before workout with electrolytes (a guy won a Nobel Prize on this). It will also help you build your cardio workouts, so they aren't as grueling. And also, Pick up powder form of MAGNESIUM that you can drink. Take that at night an hour or two before bed (around 500 mgs) and you will wake up refreshed and clear. *stimulants and poor diet deplete the body of magnesium, which is extremely important. AND LASTLY, but not least, get some Pink Himalayan Crystal salt. Take a tiny pinch (just throw in month and chase with water) whenever you feel nervous or stressed. It recovers the adrenal glands, which are the main reason to these side effects. Take in the morning right when you wake up, and you'll have more energy throughout the day. It's filled with over 80 different minerals.
This took me a very long time, and hours upon hours or research and asking questions (which the so called doctors could never answer). I think this would be the best advice anybody could offer you, coming from someone that not too long ago needed it most. I hope this benefits somebody and aids in getting them through the withdrawals and recovery from these terrible, so called 'medications.' YOU CAN WIN THIS! BEST OF LUCK!