I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) five years ago. I was about to start my senior year of high school and my mother took me to a psychologist because I was having trouble focusing on a topic for more than about five minutes, I could not sit still, I was scatterbrained, and I would have panic attacks daily because I felt so overwhelmed by the world around me. So, I saw the doctor and she diagnosed me with severe ADD/ADHD. She immediately prescribed me a medication called Vyvanse to manage the symptoms that were negatively affecting me.
My disorders are not a huge secret. My parents are very open about the fact that medication was the best choice for me. I was diagnosed by a respected doctor, and my medication dosage is regulated on a monthly basis. Recently, a distant family member of mine wrote a post on Facebook about how students who take ADD/ADHD medication and do well in school are essentially no different from an athlete who takes steroids to boost their performance. This was a slap in the face to me. I don’t take my medication to increase my GPA; I take my medication so that I can function normally in a classroom and society.
At Wake Forest, ADD/ADHD medications for recreation purposes have become easily accessible as many students who are prescribed them sell them to make a profit. Students on campus will buy Adderall or Vyvanse off their hallmates or classmates in order to stay alert while writing papers or studying for exams. This is a vast difference from what I use my medication for. My medication is life support.
I am not necessarily shocked by the fact that my family member spoke out about their aversion to ADD/ADHD medication. Honestly, with how much these prescriptions are abused and misused, I can see how people would build up misconceptions in their minds about their use. I am not telling my story about my ADD and ADHD to get attention for myself, or to call out this family member; I wanted to speak out to help dismantle the stigma around ADD/ADHD diagnoses and treatments. ADD is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed and mistreated disorders in the country. Yes, I will admit that; but just because someone has been diagnosed by a medical professional and is receiving a treatment that they need to function, does not mean that they are trying to get an academic advantage by "doping up."
I say all of this because I am angry and I am frustrated. I am frustrated by the misconceptions surrounding ADD and ADHD. I am frustrated that I have been approached by individuals trying to buy my medication off me because they want to pass an exam. I am frustrated that people assume that I can just "get over" my condition. I am frustrated that I have to defend my use of medication to make it "OK." Honestly, the best way to approach Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder is just to ask someone with them how it feels. Don’t try to be their doctor, don’t try to undermine their struggles; just try to understand what it is like.
