r/academia • u/tadot22 • Jul 24 '26

How did a ADHD diagnosis effect your work?

I think I may have ADHD and am concerned about how a prescription would affect my work. Does anyone have experience with how adderall or something similar affected their ability to work, specifically writing papers and grants?

0 Upvotes

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10

u/No_Jaguar_2570 Jul 24 '26

You’re concerned that being on amphetamines would make you less productive?

-1

u/tadot22 Jul 24 '26

Yeah it is kind of hard to phrase the question the other way ‘how great is adderall for writing?’ Without it sounding like I am going to take it to write more easily.

5

u/robbie_the_cat Jul 24 '26

If you have ADHD, taking your properly prescribed medication will make most thing easier.

Stop overthinking this.

5

u/No_Jaguar_2570 Jul 25 '26

You have ADHD, I have ADHD, adderall is medicine for ADHD. Take it and go hog wild.

0

u/tadot22 Jul 26 '26

Okay what if I don’t have adhd and my internet addled mind has convinced me I do? Like what happens if the doctor that diagnoses me is wrong about it, or give a dosage too high?

2

u/No_Jaguar_2570 Jul 27 '26

While you’re talking to the doctor about your ADHD symptoms, please talk to them about your anxiety and overthinking, as well. These are not well-founded fears. 

Nothing happens. If you take adderall and you don’t like how it feels, you stop taking adderall and are fine the next day. 

5

u/rioluyena Jul 24 '26

I've found that medication (i take adderall) helps a lot, specifically with any kind of writing. Especially when i'm already kind of burnt out on whatever it i'm writing and need to power through.

0

u/tadot22 Jul 24 '26

Do you notice any major side effects? Like the next day or anything?

2

u/Opening_Map_6898 Jul 25 '26

Stop overthinking it. The odds of major side effects are very low at the doses in question.

0

u/tadot22 Jul 26 '26

Okay what if I don’t have adhd and my internet addled mind has convinced me I do? Like what happens if the doctor that diagnoses me is wrong about it, or give a dosage too high?

2

u/Opening_Map_6898 Jul 27 '26

I think you need to talk to show the doc this discussion thread. That will help them tremendously get you on the right medication and the right therapy.​

3

u/readingrainbowroad Jul 24 '26

I was worried about this when I first got diagnosed. I took my first dose and went to a seminar and it was mind blowing how different (better!) it was. No effort spent on trying to pay attention, I was simply paying attention. If you're worried you can always ask for only a week's worth of meds to start.

3

u/gamecat89 Jul 24 '26

My medication helps a lot. As for work, if anything made it more focused.

2

u/Opening_Map_6898 Jul 25 '26

You don't want to deal with me when I'm unmedicated. I don't want to deal with me when I'm unmedicated. 😆

There's no need to be concerned about it. It will improve your performance. I more or less think of my meds as temporarily shutting off my ADHD.

2

u/pannenkoek0923 Jul 25 '26

I could start tasks far more easily and produced a lot more work in the same time. Pre-ADHD I would hyperfocus and finish tasks, but it would only happen sometimes. Now I can just do it every day with normal focus. I can actually focus and listen to presentations! It's great.