Xialian

Not the OP, but I got my ADD diagnosis late last year after asking for a second opinion and was pretty lucky with my first medication showing good results (methylphenidate, but bear in mind what works for someone is a very individual thing - biology is weird).

I'd probably not describe it much like as if a flip has been switched, but rather that I'm having an easier time staying focused on tasks when I need to, am generally less tired during the day and find it easier to summon the energy to do boring tasks. It hasn't solved my life's problems, as I still struggle with them, but it is easier and noticeably so.

I think the right expectation to have when you find something that works for you is things being just a bit easier in the day-to-day. It may not sound like a lot, but it does make a comparative world of difference!

There's always the chance it gave you bad side effects, but generally, your body has to get used to stimulants, and you will likely feel a bit off for the first period of time. Any time my medication has been upped, I felt a bit weird for a couple of weeks before things returned to normal. If you experienced those after several weeks (I'd shoot in the dark and estimate about 4-5 weeks-ish??), probably not the right medication for you.

The way my practitioner has gone about it has been almost entirely based around the idea that you should get the most possible benefit with the least side effects. If the stimulant helps, but makes you feel awful, probably not the one to keep using.

I cannot state enough how personal it is for these medications. Concerta is the brand name for methylphenidate, the one I'm using, and it works for me, but it doesn't mean it works for everyone else. I feel like if she's trying to guilt or doubt you like this, she's probably not really fit for the job. It is a known fact that not just any ADHD medication will do the trick for everyone.

If she's not being super weird about it, I would, if I were you, and you felt bad side effects after, as mentioned, about a month of starting, ask to try a different one. It's supposed to help you, not make you feel worse.

Oof, sorry to hear that! Yeah, tasks are real hard, even ones I enjoy. Like, I know I should do them, and I would love to do them, but it just doesn't feel right? Like, I'll get started with a game I really like and 5 minutes in it's like borderline physically painful to keep playing it. It goes both ways and is for sure one of the biggest tells that it wasn't just laziness, but proper executive dysfunction and being a highly vibes-based being as a result of ADD.

Also, too high doses can for sure feel bad. Too low doesn't do much, if anything at all, and too high can be very uncomfortable and very zoom-y.

If you do manage to get ahold of a professional in that specific field, they'll for sure help you find something that works. It may take some time though, as not all meds work for everyone, and sometimes it takes going through all of them to find the one that works dead last on the list. Have some friends who reported this, at least. Patience is unfortunately key here :/

I'm glad my words are helpful, though :) Wish you the best of luck with figuring it out - but it is very much a bit of a journey. Especially if you do get the right meds and realise you may not "feel" like you're doing better, but paying attention to the small things you suddenly feel capable of doing, just sometimes, quickly adds up <3