Thanks a lot for your reply! Your list makes a lot of sense. I think I need t be more mindful before and after taking the medication (namely, planning, and doing the said tasks).
You’ve got a pretty valid point about “why not exercise instead of meds” - the answer to which I do not know, though my guess is meds are more “reliable” of a solution. The side effects, yes, they’re not great but (with the caveat of having a proper doctor) should be very little/manageable. Disclaimer, I am on (prescribed) methylphenidate for my ADHD, and the side effects can be annoying but I’m generally better off with the medical + side effects than otherwise. Exercise does help pretty well for me too, though unfortunately now in 2 degree C weather it’s not convenient.
FWIW, at least in some parts of Europe methylphenidate is the 1st medicine considered, not amphetamine derivatives. (Also suggesting that a medically prescribed and oft beneficial medicine is akin to "giving a kid street drugs" is an un-nuanced way of looking at (stimulant) medications. Not to mention all the "amphetamines are just like meth" folks who probably haven't studied biochemistry.)
A slight semi-tangential/related question for OP/others who've benefited so much from medication - did you receive any guidance from your doctor on how to use it, or do you use any strategies you figured out yourself?
I have been prescribed (generic) methylphenidate, but the doc essentially told me "Take the tablets twice a day, good luck!". The medication does give me more mental energy, but it's much closer to "being on a rollercoaster" where you're being flung around than driving a sports car that you're in control of. (I haven't received any particular guidance/therapy etc.)
To give an example, if I take my dose when getting ready, I'm probably going to be focusing too much on moisturizing my face or arranging my bag, rather than using the energy boost to "just" get off my butt and move out. I should probably add that I don't have very good structures/schedules in place.
I really would like to help "tame" the med and would be grateful for any HN'ers help/suggestions!
As a fellow T1 diabetic, I fully agree. I'd much rather have no diabetes and full-fat depression (assuming both conditions can be properly medicated) than the other way round - and I already have low-fat depression thanks to decades of untreated ADHD. A hypoglycemic "attack" can kill silently in the middle of the night. And trust me, I have way more frequent "suicidal" thoughts than hypos on an average day (quotes because I know I'm not going to follow through). Of course this isn't meant to be a pity party of who has it worse, this is more of a note to the author/readers.
(Fortunately my ADHD diagnosis + medication seems to be helping a good bit.)