Personal Narrative: My Experience With ADHD Medication

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was around ten years old, but I was not informed of this until the end eleventh grade, when I accidentally stumbled upon the information. I have trouble controlling my focus and completing work in a timely manner, particularly with essays and I occasionally have trouble following along during class lessons, especially with math. I have always had high expectations for myself in school, but had difficulty producing work that displayed my mindset. This was frustrating because I spent twice as much time on homework than my classmates, but still found myself behind on assignments. I always completed my homework, however, the late penalties I often received greatly impacted my grades each year. My parents told the

It all started on a warm sunny day, my dad had just arrived from Michigan. He came into the house gave my siblings, my mother and me a hug and told us the big news. “We are moving to Michigan” he said. He said it so calmly as if expecting my siblings, my mother and myself to react in a good way. Immediately I started to panic, I didn’t want to leave the place I grew up in. I was only eleven years old, I didn’t know how the people in Michigan would be. Finally I spoke “ I don’t want to move dad, I love it here!” which he responded with “I’m sorry but we are going to move because we can’t afford to live here anymore” He said this so emotionless as if not knowing how this could affect me. I hardly got any sleep that night for the fact that my parents were arguing for what felt like all night, but in reality was just an hour.

They wanted me to do their homework and we was only in the 2nd or 3rd grade. There was no excuses why they could not do their own. When I turned six years old, everything changed. I was called to the office and when I got there my aunt was standing beside a woman and they were looking and smiling at me. I just looked and smiled back and automatically knew it was my mom. She looked like me and I could not say anything because my heart was just pounding. I just hugged her. Ever since, I would go to my mom’s house, on the weekend, to spend time with her. When I hit 10 years old, I walked in my aunt house after school one day and a man sitting on the sofa and I automatically knew it was my dad. I knew it was him because I knew where he was. He was in jail. He wrote to me and sent pictures. It had me thinking maybe my mom was in jail also because he told me they had a big fight and she had pulled a knife out on him. I do not know why she did not send pictures or ever write

After many doctor appointments, many test, many forms completed by both my parents and the teachers they diagnosed me with ADHD and prescribed medication. Unfortunately, I am one of the people who does not respond to the stimulant medications.

I have continued to excel in school, and by the summer before my freshman year, in spite of my doctor’s recommendation, I chose to be taken off of the medication for the ADHD. I was determined to be highly organized and stay focused in my classes. I have learned how to help myself pay attention and stay on task in class. I always take advantage of classroom work time since my ability to focus gets worse by the

I was unable to check my e-mail because I have been sick and miserable. Please see the attached doctor's excuse. I apologize for the delayed response.

I do not feel as if my GPA accurately explains my work ethic or my knowledge in general. During my sophomore

I can personally relate to how overly prescribed individuals are today with ADHD medication, and the dangers these medicines pose. Last year I got a concussion playing soccer and as a result I was having trouble with school. I went to the doctors to see

I wasn’t sure what was happening to me and didn’t think I had a right to voice my opinion so I simply agreed with my parents, teachers and doctors. My behavior improved and I seemed to be more focused, however, it also affected my social skills and personality. Soon I became out of touch with society, uninterested to do sports or play with friends and worst, I lost my personal traits; my humor, wittiness and affection. In spite of the side effects, over the next few years I continued to take the medications because my school grades were skyrocketing and I wanted to make my family proud. By the age of 11, I decided I wanted to gain back my personality and social life so I stopped taking Ritalin. It surely affected my lack of interest in school but I felt happier and alive.

Medication is a wonderful thing, and there's absolutely no shame in taking medication for anything. However, medications all affect us differently, especially Adderall. If you know me, you know I suffer from ADHD and I am thankful for adderall because it helped me get back on track my first three years of high school, and kept me from failing out. However, by my senior year it had just done a number on me. Sure, when it was in effect I could focus but when it wore off... I have never felt more lethargic or anxious ever, not to mention that I was at least 20 pounds underweight. When I got home from school I would just nap all night, because I was so tired and literally didn't have any more energy. I wouldn't eat during lunch time, and I was

Hi! My is Ginger and I am 40 something (lol). I am married and have 4 children and 2 granddaughter & expecting another grand daughter in Oct. I am currently in grad school and I have just been diagnosed with ADD. How in the world can someone in their 4o's just find out they have adult ADD?

At first, I was panicking. I was panicking a lot. We had a few days of winter break left, which also signaled starting my new school, Reynolds. It was hard saying goodbye to my teachers(a proud teacher's pet) and friends. Luckily, most of my friends had my number so I could still communicate with them. Nevertheless I was still overthinking everything that could happen; what if everyone hated me, what if I did not fit in, and most importantly, would my best friends and I still be as close?

“SAIL!... Blame it on my ADD!” This line from an alternative rock band’s hit song was what I let define my life for the longest time, or at least with its disorder cousin, ADHD. From the age of 9 I hid behind this disorder as the absolute excuse as to why I couldn't. From a life of dealing with ADHD I learned that I can't do this anymore and that my disorder gave me no excuse to fail or to not succeed at something. That just because something is hard or unfair doesn't give you an excuse not to do it.

Subsequently testing all day, proved that I did indeed have a mild case of ADHD and ADD which was unfortunate because I was diagnosed at sixteen years old. For years I struggled with confidence issues because of my grades and frustrations from not achieving all of the goals I set forth. Understanding this diagnosis was the first step to regaining my confidence, thus making me want to strive to become an overall better student. I was prescribed a small dosage of Adderall by my doctor to help me focus and stay on task during school. However, after taking the prescribed medicine for about a year, I began noticing my lack of interest in certain activities and subject I once used to enjoy. Due to the way it made me feel, I decided to discontinue taking Adderall. In spite of this, due to trial and error, I have learned new techniques to stay focused and on task. Although it requires me to put in more effort than most students, I have seen a great improvement in my senior year of high

I saw a bathroom with a laundry room, the kitchen, dining area, and living room. As I got farther into the house I saw the sliding doors that led to the beach, and that's when I saw it. I looked out in amazement, before me was the ocean. I snapped out of my thought as I remembered there was more to see, the ocean had to wait. I then climbed the slim stairs to a small hallway which contained two doors. I entered the first door I saw, which ended up being my siblings and I’s bedroom. The room contained two twin beds and a large dresser, the entire room with a beach theme. To the left a door which held a bathroom. After settling my things I came to the other door and that was another bedroom, which would be my parents. I observed there was also a sliding door in the bedroom that looked out to the ocean, but at a whole new level. I got closer. I slid the door open and peeked my body out onto the