Why Stimulant Medication Helps ADHD -- and How Stigma Can Hurt

If you can't make the neurotransmitters yourself, store bought it is fine.

She talks fast, it's great, for someone with ADHD the speed she talks at is perfect I don't have to wait for her to get to the point.

"Pills don't build skills, but skills don't change your brain chemistry" is so, so good

My parents didn’t let me get medicine because they thought I would become an addict…. I became an addict in my early twenties and I think proper adhd treatment meds would have helped in keeping me from ever becoming an opioid addict. I’m 2 years clean now and finally got my self properly treated for ADHD. It’s a huge difference in every aspect of life.

The first time I took medication for adhd I literally cried. For the first time in my life my head was quiet, I immediately fell asleep and woke up and everything was still. People can say what they want, but there is a night and day difference in my mind when I am and am not taking my medication

Seeing all of that “ADHD isn’t real” stuff made me so upset..

Would you tell someone with diabetes "Just try harder and make your own insulin?"

I’m 33 and was diagnosed a couple months ago. I started Adderal about five weeks ago (tried concerta first which didn’t do anything). In those five weeks I’ve quit cannabis use (longest streak without it in YEARS), lost 15 Lbs (I’ve been over 100 Lbs overweight for over ten years), been less impulsive, less exhausted, more motivated, kept my house clean, and tackled projects (or at least started projects) that I’d been putting off for months. I wish I had realized that I needed this years ago. Without meds, I am working SO HARD every day just to do the bare minimum to stay out of crisis. With meds, the bare minimum is easy, and when I want to I can pour extra energy into going beyond the bare minimum. I don’t know how to describe how much this has improved my life in such a short period. I can’t wait for the long term impact.

As someone with ADHD, and who is on medication, I hate when people say it is a lack of discipline. If I had a lack of discipline, I would use meds as a way to have more fun playing video games. Not study, read, etc. Medication doesn’t make you do productive things. You still ultimately need to make that choice.

Hearing people who DON’T have ADHD deny it’s existence is so invalidating

I am 42 and keep my Adderall prescription a secret from the world. I do not function well without the meds. Those around me don’t have ADD. They don’t understand what it is like to have ADD or what the meds actually do. My own wife blames my meds when we have disagreements. Who needs that kind of judgement. It’s easier to just keep it to myself.

I am 40 and I have recently realized I lived with ADHD my whole life. Thank you for spreading the awareness.

If ADHD meds are addicting, why do I keep forgetting to take mine?? Ha! Bet you people who believe that didn't think about that one!

It doesn’t help that we’re treated like borderline criminals by the medical and insurance system.

I had a "therapist" completely stignatize not only medication but diagnosis. She mocked me and accused me of being a drug additct for bringing up ADHD because that diagnosis isn't for people who look like me, apparently. I'm so incredibly grateful for your channel and others like it or else I'd have little hope.

I was diagnosed at 15. Was so ashamed of the meds and diagnosis that I stopped after 3 months. I'm now a 37 year old Dad and going to an appointment in the morning for a reassessment. Thanks for making this channel.

It hurts to know how non adhd people abusing our medication is later blamed on us.

That Doctor had an extremely relevant point. If ADHD is managed correctly using medication then the potential for substance abuse will decrease because we are not seeking to self medicate or looking to escape from anxiety and/or depression. This is a very important lesson... Thank you for the video

My dad today said something very inconsiderate because of the stigma on ADHD medication. I didn't lash out, but I did tell him I don't want to hear him say that again. Later on, I told him about the stigma briefly and sent him this video and he watched it and learned! Thanks for being an amazing resource?

I think older generations have really made it difficult for younger generations in a lot of ways. Old fashioned is not always best. Sometimes it's the worst.