True Life

Living with Attention Deficit Disorder

Paige, a Michigan State University senior was prescribed Adderall her sophomore year of college in order to help her focus

and control her ADD.

She already had focus issues in high school, but once she got to college, it only got

worse because of the increased workload.

I have lived with Paige for two years and have known her for 8. She is that one friend that always wants to be active, go out, do basically anything other

than just sitting around and watching TV.

I don’t find many negatives with those specific qualities- it’s only when it’s past 11 p.m. and I can hear her playing soccer against the basement wall

that I start to pull out my hair in frustration.

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is one of the most common mental health disorders

of childhood and often persists into adulthood.

From 1998 through 2009, ADHD prevalence rose to 10% in the Midwest and South

regions of the United States.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db70.htm

She enjoys riding her long board in the house and doesn’t think it’s a

big deal to leave her things all over the kitchen table, rendering it

unusable.

When we first moved in together, I started enforcing strict rules because I thought it was just

nonsense to ride something with wheels in the house (thanks for that, Mom) and I thought it was

unacceptable for her to leave her things all over the house.

Safe to say, things have changed and Paige has taught me to relax, have fun and to not compare the house we live in at school to my parents

home.

Now if I hear a banging in the basement, instead of getting mad, I go downstairs and play soccer

with her.

Paige only uses her Adderall as a crutch

when her ADD symptoms start to kick in, it is not always an

every day occurrence.

Her symptoms: Can’t sit still Talkative

Day dreaming Doing anything involving

movement

“I started out taking it every day when I was first prescribed, but as I

have gotten older I’ve learned to only take it when I notice that my

ADD symptoms are out of hand and I’m going to

be unable to get anything done without

it,” said Paige.

“When I take my Adderall, I’m not only productive, but I

pay attention to very minor details for whatever I’m working on,” said Paige.

“It takes a long time, but I’m a creative

person so I’m able to spend a lot of time on ideas and projects and make it exactly how I

picture it.”

As Paige’s roommate and friend, I sometimes worry that she focuses too much on projects that don’t

have to do with school.

She really has shown me that her ADD is not my problem, and that everyone has their own way of

managing how they get stuff done in their life.

I’m proud of her for not implementing Adderall into her every day routine and knowing when to use it.

“I like the idea that I’m still able to be in control of my life

and that I can manage how often and when I take my

Adderall...”

“I never want to be dependent on it.”

To this day, Paige only takes her Adderall when she feels she needs to.

She hopes other college students with ADD or ADHD don’t feel they need to depend

on their Adderall to function 24/7.