Slashdot Mirror
Working with ADHD?
Famanoran asks: "I've recently been diagnosed ADHD ? and am now taking Ritalin. I've found that it helps me rather significantly, but I'm keen to try other things that may help. My question is to the ADHD'ers on slashdot: How have you coped with ADHD, and how have you found it affect your work performance? Do you object to having ADHD? Have you tried natural alternatives such as DPA/EPA (Omega3), 5-HTP (natural precursor to serotonin), and what were your results? Also - How do you find it working in groups of people, either as the only ADHD'er there, or in a group of ADHD'ers? Do you think that your ADHD contributes to your abilities technically, or is it a hinderance?" Previously, Ask Slashdot dealt with ADHD in children, now what suggestion do you have for the grown-ups, with the additional burden of a career, who find themselves in the same situation?
There's a great new (somewhat experimental) drug that's being used to treat ADHD. I've been using it for a few weeks now and
OH LOOK - BUNNIES!
Chaos, panic, disorder...my work here is done.
You won't hear that from your doctor, just, "Take more pills."
Establishment medicine, espcially psychiatry, is a total fraud.
'Begin rant
ADHD is dumb and drugs like Ritalin are extremely bad.
(pause for troll)
I exhibited all of the symptoms of a child with adhd while growing up, and even got tested during college by a psychiatrist. The diagnosis, I had add and adhd and received a prescription for 10 MB quick and slow release Ritalin.
After taking the first few pills, I would say that is one of the worst drugs ever. I am abhored by parents giving small children even small dosages of this drug. I makes you speedy and you crash hard, increasing the need for the drug.
The tests they give you for this drug are ridiculous. Like "do you doodle during class?" and "Do you speed often while driving?". I was a freshman in college, of course I did!
I simply became more organized and was able to perform well in an Ivy league school. Of course, taking up coffee didn't hurt.
I can see in adults you may see a benefit, but giving them to children is insane. Plain and simple. I doubt anyone will argue with the dramatic effects of this drug.
'End rant
ok, personal opinion here.
ADHD is yet another one of those unfounded diseases that seem to sweep the country every few years. a few years back it was carpal tunnel, everyone seemed to have it then and now there's only a few holding onto it. There's still no scientific proof to any of it that i've ever seen. I read about one of these country wide illnesses that hit in the 60's or 70's where apparantly everyone was low on sugar and would take sugar breaks. back in the 1900's it was "the vapors" basically gas from what i understand.
The amazing fact is (i read this in a psych book somewhere) there have been 0 diagnosed cases of ADHD in Europe.
Karma to burn, Karma to burn, I am the leet troll with ADHD, burn karma burn, in the garden of zen!
Why do you figure its only efficient to work at one task at a time? Why cant you work on multiple tasks?
If you cant remember what you did, that does not sound like ADHD, that sounds like you are forgetful.
But ok, lets assume I take you seriously, if these pills are the key to concentration, why arent they over the counter?
If the goal of this is not to be labeled a victim, well why not let everyone access these pills? Why should only the ADHD victims get special privlages, you see my point now? Do you see how it looks?
I'm not saying you cant use these pills if they actually help you, go for it, but if these pills truely do what you say with absolutely no side effects, these pills should be sold over the counter.
If a person has a migrane headache they can go to Walgreens or CVS and buy a bottle of pills for it, why cant the average person buy Ritalin? Why do these same doctors who want all our kids to be on ritalin freak out when kids start using ritalin who dont have the ADHD label?
IF it helps people concentrate, its good for everyone, if you dont want to seem like a victim with a disease, well then why do certain "experts" want to TREAT it like its a disease?
Now i'm not saying you have control over how ADHD is presented, I'm saying its presented wrong, I hear people comparing it to diabetes and asthma instead of manic depression and other personality traits.
This is why I say people are making it seem like ADHD is some kinda disease where all victims need drug treatment. I disagree.
If you use Linux, please help development of Autopac
The parent post is *not* a troll. People, stop modding something troll/overrated/etc simply because you don't *agree* with what it's saying. The poster has a very good point and he communicated it well without insulting anyone. Now why the fuck is it modded into oblivion???