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Whatever I'm doing when the meds kick in is what I will stay doing (lemmy.autism.place)

submitted 1 month ago by BackOnMyBS@lemmy.autism.place to c/adhd@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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Image: 4 panel Anakin and Padme meme

1st panel: Anakin saying, "We took the ADHD meds so we can focus."

2nd: Padme happily responding, "I'm excited to catch up on all of these neglected responsibilities."

3rd: Anakin with a sinister look saying nothing.

4th: Padme with a troubled expression, saying, "We're going to focus on responsibilities, right?"

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[-] weariedfae@lemmy.world 30 points 1 month ago

Hahaha yeah I tell my psych nurse that it helps me manage the task I'm doing really well - but it does NOT keep me on task.

Boring task I don't want to do is still boring task I don't want to do.

[-] folkrav@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 month ago

I usually describe the effects of the escitalopram I take as not really directly making me “feel better”, but mellowing out the uncontrollable emotional spikes enough that I can actually work on anxiety management skills. So far Vyvanse has worked for me in similar ways, in that I can actually focus on things now, but I’m also about 30 years late at developing proper task management skills.

[-] MossyFeathers@pawb.social 22 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Nope, time to play Animal Crossing obsessively until my medication wears off.

^send^ ^help^

[-] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 9 points 1 month ago

That used to happen to me. Med switch addressed that.

[-] MossyFeathers@pawb.social 12 points 1 month ago

Eh... Part of it is that I'm kinda being in a rut right now. I've found that if I manage to catch myself before I fall into my daily "rut" then it works pretty well, but if I don't, then I'll be completely useless. Something about games like Animal Crossing and The Sims makes them hyper addictive when I'm on my medication yet borderline unplayable for me when I'm not.

[-] BackOnMyBS@lemmy.autism.place 5 points 1 month ago

How so? What was the change and how did it affect you?

[-] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 7 points 1 month ago

Tried methylphenidate and it was like redlining an engine while in neutral. Switching to the Adderall family gave me useful energy I could direct. Stimulants are no longer worth the side effects for me, but they worked for several years.

[-] BackOnMyBS@lemmy.autism.place 2 points 1 month ago

redlining an engine while in neutral

That's an awesome metaphor! 😆

Yeah, methylphenidate instant release was pretty good for me. Then, I tried the extended release, but it wouldn't start working until after 3p and 3 coffees. Got switched to max dose Concerta, and that literally put me to sleep. I very rarely take naps. It's possible that I've gone years at a time without taking a nap. Still, when I was on Concerta, I was passing out on the couch even after 8 hrs of sleep.

Got switched to Adderall IR recently. It's really smooth, and I don't even notice when it kicks in unless I pay metattention (pay attention to my attention lol). It works pretty well, just have to make sure I'm doing what I want to focus on when it kicks in because I can possibly get stuck since it makes me want to see things thru to completion. It also seems to help me address emotional matters calmly and effectively. Not that it dulls emotions or makes me feel "good", but that I can actually focus on them to process, make and enact a plan. On the down side, I've noticed that it makes me more sensory sensitive. After writing this, I think it basically makes me more present, so the autism traits become more prominent.

[-] joulethief@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 month ago

Wish I was able to enjoy any game for more than 30 minutes before getting bored out of my mind

[-] MossyFeathers@pawb.social 4 points 1 month ago

Try factorio. It's fucking crack.

[-] joulethief@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 month ago

any game excluding Factorio lol, racked up quite a lot of hours there

[-] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago

Well as of now, unmedicated me gets almost nothing at all done ever so it's a risk I'm willing to take.

[-] LastoftheDinosaurs@reddthat.com 6 points 1 month ago

It's worth it.

[-] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

I want to make a joke but literally the only thing keeping me from getting on meds is actually calling my insurance for an in-network psychiatrist.

I've been putting it off for six months... or more accurately I have been putting off basically everything for the last six months and the lack of inertia is killing me.

[-] iarigby@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

I know how that feels but it’s really worth it and you deserve the support it will give you

[-] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 10 points 1 month ago

Fuck, it is like that?

I was once in a hyper rush on some other medication and did random shit I didnt need to do.

[-] LastoftheDinosaurs@reddthat.com 7 points 1 month ago

I think so. This is my first time being medicated as an adult, and I've had the same experience as OP. I have a new ability to focus but still need to learn how to use it like everyone else.