Thankfully, the day came when I stopped giving into that fear and I stopped feeling shame for needing ADHD medication. Now I realize taking ADHD medication gives me and other fellow ADHD-ers focus and clarity. It doesn’t make you a zombie, an addict or less creative.

Why big pharma is a big help

<figure><img alt="Image for post" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/1*l971fy36nx53RDoCkiplug.jpeg" width="680" height="510"><figcaption class="ij ik db cz da il im cg b fw ci fe" data-selectable-paragraph="" dir="ltr">Used with permission from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cartoonsbykristin/" class="cm in" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Kristin Coghlan</a></figcaption></figure>During the summer of 1999, I got diagnosed with ADHD. Like most people, I thought needing a pill made me weak and I felt like I was less than others.My personal stigmas prevented me from being open about having ADHD with myself and with my doctor. This went on for many years of my life until I was almost 20 years old.Thankfully, the day came when I stopped giving into that fear and I stopped feeling shame for needing ADHD medication. Now I realize taking ADHD medication gives me and other fellow ADHD-ers focus and clarity. It doesn’t make you a zombie, an addict or less creative.Taking medication for ADHD does not differ from a person taking insulin for diabetes. Listening to my doctor and putting aside my fears was one of the best things I’ve done for my mental health.Medications for ADHD empower people to gain tools for dealing with life’s challenges. ADHD meds improve things such as emotional regulation and impulse control and other areas of your life.<h2 data-selectable-paragraph="">How can you talk about medication in a healthier manner?</h2><UL><LI>Educate yourself regarding any incorrect beliefs you may have regarding <a href="https://thoughtcatalog.com/sandy-pace/2019/03/10-misconceptions-about-treating-adhd-with-medication/" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">ADHD medication</a>. Beliefs such as “ADHD is a made-up condition” or “ADHD medication is a legal form of speed” are harmful and just lead to more stigma.</LI><LI>Getting information from reliable sources like doctors and pharmacists and other medical professionals. If you feel nervous about seeing a doctor or therapist check out <a href="https://totallyadd.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Totally ADD</a> or <a href="https://howtoadhd.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">How to ADHD</a>.</LI><LI>Using healthy language while keeping in mind how your words can negatively influence individuals living with ADHD. By basing what you say on how it affects the person on the receiving end of your words instead of on how you assume they should react.</LI><LI>A study by <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/save-your-money-vast-majority-of-dietary-supplements-dont-improve-heart-health-or-put-off-death" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Johns Hopkins University</a> by Khan et al. goes into detail about how supplements aren’t what they claim to be. The study goes into detail about how supplements don’t have to meet a certain quality of standards.</LI><LI>When ADHD medication gets used properly, it’s more helpful than harmful, and the negative side effects are very low. A big one is lack of appetite. It’s also worth noting that the side effects can be preventable or manageable. The following article written by Dr. Ray Boorady at the <a href="https://childmind.org/article/side-effects-of-adhd-medication/" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Child Mind Institute</a> goes into detail about how you can help prevent common side effects related to ADHD medication.</LI></UL><h2 data-selectable-paragraph="">If you struggle with the thought that taking ADHD meds is terrifying, remember these final lessons.</h2><UL><LI>If you think taking medication is a crutch or makes you weak. Remember, medication isn’t a crutch it simply helps you get better. When it’s used in combination with therapy, and other healthy self-care practices.</LI><LI>If you think you taking medication makes you an addict, this article written by Dr. Carl Sherman at <a href="https://www.additudemag.com/the-truth-about-adhd-and-addiction/" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">ADDitude Magazine</a> goes into detail about why taking medication reduces the likelihood of substance abuse.</LI></UL>Lastly, an article written in <a href="https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/use-summer-to-improve-your-parent-child-relationship/" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">CHADD</a> magazine explains before a child with ADHD turns 12 yrs old, they receive 20,000 more abusive comments than a child without ADHD of the same age hears.If you’re nervous about taking medication here is a video made my <a href="https://totallyadd.com/add_video/are-adhd-medications-safe/" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Totally ADD</a> which explains how ADHD medication works. Here is another video made by Jessica MacCabe called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHd48MbyBzY&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">“What I Want to Say to My Mom, Who ‘Drugged’ Me”</a> which explains why taking ADHD is incredibly helpful for someone with ADHD.<figcaption dir="ltr">From How to ADHD on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHd48MbyBzY&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr"> YouTube</a></figcaption>Instead of stigmatizing medication, remember ADHD medication simply levels the playing field. Medication helps individuals living with ADHD reach their full potential, and that’s a positive thing.

During the summer of 1999, I got diagnosed with ADHD. Like most people, I thought needing a pill made me weak and I felt like I was less than others. My personal stigmas prevented me from being open…

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During the summer of 1999, I got diagnosed with ADHD. Like most people, I thought needing a pill made me weak and I felt like I was less than others.

My personal stigmas prevented me from being open about having ADHD with myself and with my doctor. This went on for many years of my life until I was almost 20 years old.

Thankfully, the day came when I stopped giving into that fear and I stopped feeling shame for needing ADHD medication. Now I realize taking ADHD medication gives me and other fellow ADHD-ers focus and clarity. It doesn’t make you a zombie, an addict or less creative.

Taking medication for ADHD does not differ from a person taking insulin for diabetes. Listening to my doctor and putting aside my fears was one of the best things I’ve done for my mental health.

Medications for ADHD empower people to gain tools for dealing with life’s challenges. ADHD meds improve things such as emotional regulation and impulse control and other areas of your life.

How can you talk about medication in a healthier manner?

<ul><li>Educate yourself regarding any incorrect beliefs you may have regarding <a dir="ltr" href="https://thoughtcatalog.com/sandy-pace/2019/03/10-misconceptions-about-treating-adhd-with-medication/" rel="noopener nofollow">ADHD medication </a>. Beliefs such as “ADHD is a made-up condition” or “ADHD medication is a legal form of speed” are harmful and just lead to more stigma. </li><li>Getting information from reliable sources like doctors and pharmacists and other medical professionals. If you feel nervous about seeing a doctor or therapist check out <a dir="ltr" href="https://totallyadd.com/" rel="noopener nofollow">Totally ADD </a>or <a dir="ltr" href="https://howtoadhd.com/" rel="noopener nofollow">How to ADHD </a>. </li><li>Using healthy language while keeping in mind how your words can negatively influence individuals living with ADHD. By basing what you say on how it affects the person on the receiving end of your words instead of on how you assume they should react. </li><li>A study by <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/save-your-money-vast-majority-of-dietary-supplements-dont-improve-heart-health-or-put-off-death" rel="noopener nofollow">Johns Hopkins University </a>by Khan et al. goes into detail about how supplements aren’t what they claim to be. The study goes into detail about how supplements don’t have to meet a certain quality of standards. </li><li>When ADHD medication gets used properly, it’s more helpful than harmful, and the negative side effects are very low. A big one is lack of appetite. It’s also worth noting that the side effects can be preventable or manageable. The following article written by Dr. Ray Boorady at the <a dir="ltr" href="https://childmind.org/article/side-effects-of-adhd-medication/" rel="noopener nofollow">Child Mind Institute </a>goes into detail about how you can help prevent common side effects related to ADHD medication. </li> </ul>

If you struggle with the thought that taking ADHD meds is terrifying, remember these final lessons.

<ul><li>If you think taking medication is a crutch or makes you weak. Remember, medication isn’t a crutch it simply helps you get better. When it’s used in combination with therapy, and other healthy self-care practices. </li><li>If you think you taking medication makes you an addict, this article written by Dr. Carl Sherman at <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.additudemag.com/the-truth-about-adhd-and-addiction/" rel="noopener nofollow">ADDitude Magazine </a>goes into detail about why taking medication reduces the likelihood of substance abuse. </li> </ul>

Lastly, an article written in <a dir="ltr" href="https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/use-summer-to-improve-your-parent-child-relationship/" rel="noopener nofollow">CHADD </a>magazine explains before a child with ADHD turns 12 yrs old, they receive 20,000 more abusive comments than a child without ADHD of the same age hears.

If you’re nervous about taking medication here is a video made my <a dir="ltr" href="https://totallyadd.com/add_video/are-adhd-medications-safe/" rel="noopener nofollow">Totally ADD </a>which explains how ADHD medication works. Here is another video made by Jessica MacCabe called <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHd48MbyBzY&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener nofollow">“What I Want to Say to My Mom, Who ‘Drugged’ Me” </a>which explains why taking ADHD is incredibly helpful for someone with ADHD.

Instead of stigmatizing medication, remember ADHD medication simply levels the playing field. Medication helps individuals living with ADHD reach their full potential, and that’s a positive thing.

Medication For ADHD Isn’t a Crutch, Weakness or Gateway Drug

Why big pharma is a big help

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