Twoblock wrote on Feb 22
nd, 2003 at 3:50am:
Michelle
I have a grandson with ADD and that's why I have been getting up-tight over these posts the last couple days. I finally had to vent a little bit ago.
Without drugs he would have never been able to finish highschool. He wants, desperately, to get off them but when he tried, he lost his job. People need to educate themselves that the prescribed drugs keeps you, him and others (with ADD) normal people.
Very true.
I went through high school and college undiagnosed and untreated. My boyfriend is a psychiatrist and he's been telling me for years that I have ADD. For years I told him he was an idiot.
Long story short, he was WRONG! I have ADHD not ADD. Heh... Point being, I *know* school would have been so much easier had I known about this and taken meds. Reading is hard with no Dex. To read short bits and pieces is no big deal. Reading a book is impossible for me without Dex. Not impossible but a hell of a struggle.
When my b/f first suggested ADD I thought he was nuts because I thought ADD was an over-diagnosed disorder for kids and adults couldn't possibly have it. I was wrong. The first tablets of Dexedrine that I took were truly amazing for me. For the first time I discovered that reading a book did not have to be such a struggle. Staying focused was not hard at all. Thinking the way others think is a piece of cake.
After the incident at work when I was falsely accused of something and it wasn't until it was done and over that it was discovered I did nothing wrong, I swore I'd never take the drug again. It wasn't worth it. I quit taking it for a couple of years and I finally decided that I am not going to let idiots dictate how I deal with my own issues. I started taking it again and I seriously doubt I'll ever quit treatment. Life is so easy and enjoyable without all the struggles.
It is really amazing how much of a disadvantage it is when one cannot keep up with the latest books or mags. Journals are another issue. I love reading them. Well, I love it now.
I was signed up to go back to college starting last month but due to an unexpected illness that is being put on hold until fall. I couldn't do that without Dex. Well, again I suppose I could and I have but it was way too hard and now it is going to be easy. I'm really excited about it. I'm going for my masters and the reality of life is that I wouldn't even consider it without Dex.
Good for your grandson for going on with treatment. Lots of adults won't do it for reasons made clear on this very thread.