An Adult on Ritalin: The Stigma of Seeking Treatment

Most people have heard of ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The disorder is generally associated with young children and teenagers who are seemingly rambunctious or do poorly in school due to an inability to focus or concentrate on a given task. ADHD is not limited to just children, and adults can suffer from the disorder as well. Many adults suffer from the disorder, some not knowing what their symptoms are, others too ashamed to seek out treatment for a condition that seemingly only belongs to children and teenagers.

Suffering in Silence
Almost anyone can relate to some of the characteristic symptoms of ADHD; being easily distracted, impulsive and hyperactive. Those with ADHD however, suffer these symptoms on an almost constant basis. These symptoms can interfere with everyday tasks and daily living. Things as simple as loading the dishwasher or remembering to switch the laundry can seem nearly impossible for an adult with ADHD. Adults suffering from ADHD commonly mistake their symptoms as those of depression, and may even seek treatment, when in fact, depression is only a side affect of the disorder. After the birth of my second child, I started experiencing these symptoms, and although I had been diagnosed as ADHD as a teenager, it never occurred to me that my depression and frustration could be a result of the ADHD.

The Stigma of Ritalin
Just as there is a stigma on the diagnosis of ADHD, there's also a stigma on the medications used to treat it. Many of the medications used to treat ADHD are stimulants and are usually placed in the amphetamine class of medications. Although there are non-stimulant medications, such as Strattera, available to treat ADHD, many patients find these medications less effective, or with too many undesirable side affects which is why stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall are the drugs of choice when it comes to treating ADHD.

Because of the drug classification of these medications, and the fact that these medications are controlled, many patients are hesitant to try them. When I saw my own physician about the symptoms I believed to be depression and he recommended treating my ADHD instead of continuing on anti-depressants that weren't working, I was very hesitant, even apprehensive. After all, I didn't want to be hopped up on stimulants, especially not Ritalin, a drug I had seen compared to cocaine in articles all over the internet and in magazines. I didn't want people to think I was a pill-popper or a speed-junkie, and for many adults with ADHD, this is a real concern.

How Ritalin Works
For many years, perhaps even decades, scientists were unsure exactly how Ritalin worked to improve focus and cognition. In recent years however, it has been discovered that Ritalin dramatically increases the level of dopamine,a hormone that aids in the transportation of chemical signals throughout the brain, and seratonin, a hormone associated with overall happiness and well-being, in the brain. Studies on mice have shown that when the mice were on Ritalin, the signals fired within the brain became more precise, and were delivered more efficiently, with less "background" signals being fired at the same time, signals that theoretically, could cause a person to become distracted or unable to focus.

The Effectiveness of Treatment
Although there is no one-size-fits-all medication for any one condition, Ritalin has been shown to be very effective in treating and managing ADHD. When I began taking Ritalin, I did it on a trial basis because I wasn't sure about taking a stimulant I was skeptical that it would work, but I was amazed at the results. I was finally able to focus. I could organize tasks, set a schedule (and stick with it), get things done and focus. I finally felt as though I was living a normal life. I didn't feel overwhelmed, lost, confused and distracted all the time. I felt normal. Of course, taking medication isn't the ideal route for most people, but as someone who put off treating the condition for nearly a decade, I regret not treating it sooner. Ritalin may not work for everyone, but there are other options available to those who don't respond well to Ritalin.

The Bottom Line
Ritalin has suffered some big blows to its reputation; from being likened to cocaine, to stories about high school kids using it to get high, Ritalin is a medication that seemingly never fails to spark a debate. Regardless of the controversy, for some people, like myself, the positive aspects of Ritalin greatly outweigh the negative. Just as with any medication, a patient, along with their physician, should judge their need for the medication as each individual's needs may differ/ ADHD, just like any other condition, can have a severe impact on a person's life and they shouldn't be condemned for choosing to treat the condition. Ritalin may not seem like the ideal way to address symptoms, but for some like myself, Ritalin has made a world of difference in my ability to focus, concentrate and achieve.

References
How Ritalin Works

What Makes Ritalin Work?

Adult ADHD

ADHD in Adults

Ritalin and Cocaine: The Connection and Controversy

Is Ritalin "Chemically Similar" to Cocaine?