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?
'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.