I can’t seem to ever concentrate. My friend says Adderall helps him concentrate. How do I find out if it’s a good option for me?

The absolute best way is to talk to a qualified medical professional i.e. a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. The best way to see one of those is get referred through your family doctor or general practitioner. Unfortunately not all doctors are equally knowledgeable when it comes to ADHD related issues such as difficulty with focusing and have prejudices with prescribing drugs. Make sure to advocate for yourself and if your doctor is not willing to explain why he/she thinks Adderall is or is not right for you, don't hesitate to get a second opinion! But if your doctor has taken the time to properly understand your symptoms, and explain their medical opinion then that is the opinion you should go with and you should never take drugs that are not prescribed for you

Speaking to a doctor or psychiatrist is the first step in finding out if, first, you have ADHD, and second, the best way to treat it. Without a doctors expertise, you can’t be sure if you have ADHD or there’s something else going on. If you don’t have ADHD and you choose to self medicate to treat being distracted, you may cause harm to yourself and in some cases develop addiction problems. If you do have ADHD and decide to self medicate, you are at an increased risk for developing an addiction. Medications work differently for people who have ADHD and people who don’t. The best thing to do is to see a doctor and talk to them about your concerns. They won’t judge you and will work with you to help you.

Adderall is a prescription stimulant that’s a combination of two substances: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It’s available in an immediate and extended-release formulation, and its primary function is to help people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. It’s also sometimes prescribed to people with narcolepsy. When a person with ADHD takes Adderall, it has somewhat of a calming effect on them, and this is largely because of how it affects the central nervous system and neurotransmitters in the brain. It can help someone with ADHD concentrate and focus more effectively, and it can also help them manage their behaviors. While Adderall is available by prescription, it’s also very commonly abused in the U.S. When someone doesn’t have ADHD, and they take it, the result is different. A person without ADHD who takes Adderall will find that they feel a type of high with it, although the effects can depend on how much is taken. Signs of being high on Adderall can include euphoria, a sense of excitement or energy, self-confidence, and optimism. This all might sound great, but there are many risks of abusing Adderall. There are short-term effects of Adderall use that aren’t desirable and can include nausea, headache, anxiety, and rising heart rate and blood pressure. There’s also the risk of addiction, and when people come down from the Adderall high, they tend to feel sluggish, depressed or unwell. The best answer to your question to know if its a good option for you would simply be to talk to your doctor.

When I struggled to stay on task and concentrated, I felt like I was the only one dealing with this until I reached out to my parents and school counsellor. I found out this is really common and eventually I did go to my doctor who referred me to a specialist, I was afraid however the specialist discussed a number of ways to help me improve my concentration. Adderall affects everyone in different ways and sometimes it's a process of trial and error to find out what option works. To figure out whether you believe it's a good option for you, maybe try going to a support person and expressing your concerns and see where that takes you. Good luck and have a good day!

You should ask your doctor for advice on this one because Adderall is addictive and should only be used if prescribed by a psychiatrist. The effect it has on you if you dont meet the criteria for someone who needs the drug to function can be devastating. It might be another thing for example anxiety or even depression. Dont take your health lightly you might end up doing more harm than good if your not safe when taking medication. Lots of times Adderall is abused by students who want to concentrate more but an actual diagnoses is at least required.

Your Primary Care Physician should be able to guide you with a decision about this. He or she can help with arriving at a proper diagnoses that might help you know why you're having difficulty with concentration. They can decide whether or not medication would be helpful and They would then determine if medicine is necessary, or perhaps some type of therapy or exercises that you can do to teach yourself to concentrate better. It's important to enlist the help of a professional who knows you and your medical history before beginning or stopping any medications.

Hi, and I appreciate such a great question. The first step is going to be to contact an expert or two on the topic. Sometimes one expert is just not enough and so you may want to speak with a doctor of medicine and one of psychiatry. Is your inability to pay attention caused by other things that you could solve if you had the time and resources, such as not getting enough sleep, or temporary issues with stress, anxiety, or tough times? Adderall is a prescription chemical and central nervous system stimulant, and while it can help many people, it can also cause harm when not used appropriately or for the right needs. Especially if your brain is young and developing, you don't want to alter the natural maturity of it unless there is a good reason to do so.

I would first look into your routines and environment to determine what is causing you distractions. A change in routines and tasks can assist you with focusing. If you are having any health issues such as lack of sleep, headaches, or any discomfort, you should seek medical advice from your doctor. Also take a look at your daily diets. Sometimes certain foods and drinks can cause us to feel a certain way. Just randomly taking medicine that your friends may suggest is not ideal and may not be safe. Keep of a journal of your daily routines and behaviors before you meet with your doctor.

A psychiatrist who's familiar with your symptoms and medical history can help you figure this out! It's not a good idea to self-medicate without being prescribed your Adderall by a psychiatrist, you could end up hurting yourself unintentionally. Your physician can refer you to a psychiatrist if you talk to them about your problems with concentration and say you'd like to see a professional about them.

Thank you for your question I think it will serve many people. The specialized advice of a doctor is always better, a professional diagnosis gives you clarity or new routes to get concentration. Your focus curve is something that you can train little by little (increasing time of focus every week). Maybe other people have already given you the recommendation not to take that drug. I think that sometimes we hear an idea and we stay focused on it because the possibility that something helps, but your Wise Mind made you ask to make a healthy decision, great for you :) The route of understanding how the human brain works... I think it will bring you benefits. Daniel Goleman's book "Focus" has very good information for this wonderful purpose that you have.