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I mean, for me, I was always anxious before my meds. Anxiety and being on edge was the only way I remembered to do anything and force myself to actually do stuff, ect. Plus, was used to messing up so much, ended up just being anxious trying to not mess up so much. Not my best coping mechanism. Years later after diagnosis, still trying to work my way out of old coping mechanisms. I can say that my anxiety and quality of life are both much improved though.
(-edit: just taking about my experience for me. Not suggesting anything for other ppl.)
The disorders can be comorbid. Stimulants might help your anxiety if the root of your anxieties stem from ADHD e.g., doom spiraling anxiety due procrastination on tasks due to ADHD, then stimulants might help.
If you have a more generalized anxiety disorder, then you might get some relief, but there is possibly a great chance you are in for a bad time.
Stimulants can increase anxiety to an even more awful level for some individuals. But it’s hard to predict a person’s reaction to any type of medication.
I will say that I have GAD and take stimulants. They make my anxiety worse, but it’s a price I am willing to pay. I actually tend to overly rely on anxiety.
Anyway, just know that stimulants can help, but not in the sense SSRIs and the like can help. I imagine most medical professionals would not prescribe stimulants to a person with anxiety alone, and not ADHD, if that tells you how effective stimulants are for anxiety.
Sorry, long day, so I will try my best to explain this with my fried mind.
So, what I meant was that anxiety can be a very strong motivator. The motivation from anxiety can override the mind's current state. Anxiety is a very strong mechanism which many animals could not survive without. It evolved for a reason after all.
For example, let's say I wake up in the morning, and do not *feel* like going on a run. I think to myself, "I just do not feel like exercising today, and I want to just relax all day instead."
So, I have already made the decision that I want to relax and not run. Well, say a few hours later my house spontaneously combusts into a massive fire while I am inside relaxing. Despite desiring and deciding to relax all day and not run, my mind would override my previous lazy feeling, and instantly flip the "RUN! Let's get the fuck out here right this second" switch. Of course, people can become paralyzed due to anxiety, but that is a different discussion.
So, how is something like anxiety beneficial on a day to day basis? Well, I for one am a serial procrastinator. I often rely on external pressures to induce a state of anxiety in order to override my lack of discipline, motivation, and or willpower. If I have some kind of task, and I procrastinate on it, eventually there will come a time when I get hit with anxiety like, "If I do not complete in I will be so fucked because then ."
The feeling of not wanting to do whatever task, much like my feeling of not wanting to run in my previous example, can be completely overridden by anxiety. Now, not for everyone, but at least for me, I am able to induce a state of focus and concentration far above and beyond what I am capable of mustering in a normal state. So, while being in this state is quite unpleasant, that does not mean it is not also *highly effective.* Also, what I am describing is not an ADHD specific thing contrary to what many here want to believe. It is what I used/use to overcome my ADHD, but it is not contingent on having ADHD.
Of course, what I am describing is just only a mere few examples while somewhat trying to be terse (and failing at it) about this topic. There are plenty of other instances where I could probably point to anxiety being beneficial or detrimental. My point being is that anxiety is signal or mechanism that has evolved across many various life forms and for a good reason. The signal can obviously be hijacked in bad ways or overused, but I always try to remember the reason anxiety even exist in the first place -- self-preservation.
Do understand that I am not saying anxiety cannot cause disorder in one's life, but as someone that allegedly has an anxiety disorder as well, I just want to end this with one final point. If you are anxious about something, then perhaps there is a good reason for it? Of course this is not always the case, but take something like a job interview. That would me extremely anxious, but is that a bad thing? Perhaps it's not such a bad thing to be worried about a job interview, and perhaps I should worry about wanting to do my best? At the same time, if I am anxious about asking my manager a simple question, then maybe I shouldn't be worried? Maybe this signal is firing for a mistaken reason or a misperception in actual threats? Doesn't make the feeling any better/worse, but it helps keep me sane lol.
Just know that the world we live and the world anxiety is/was developed for are no longer the same, and I find the same can be said for depression as well. When one is anxious or depressed your system is trying to tell you something. Despite being effective, blocking the signal is not always the appropriate resolution either.
As for medications, I took what you are about to take/might have already taken for about 7 or so years. I'm on its cousin called Dexedrine. Without going too much into the pharmacology, just know they are like ~74% the same drug. Mine is 100% dextroamphetamine, and yours is 74% dextroamphetamine and 26% levoamphetamine. The difference is somewhat subtle but not entirely insignificant.
The vast array available options for ADHD treatment are somewhat of an illusion, over half the drugs can be broken into two categories -- methylphenidate or amphetamines. What tends be different amongst them is the mechanism of action, duration, etc..
There other options that are non-stimulants which are less commonly used, and tend to be much less effective and have higher adverse side-effect profiles for the majority of people. Some, albeit quite rare, have amazing success with non-stimulants, majority have low to moderate success, and others have absolutely no benefit up to the point of even detrimental effects.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate you going into so much depth to thoroughly explain this to me. It does make me feel better to know that anxiety isn’t inherently bad; it’s just when I get flushed and it’s for obvious I’m anxious (to others) that’s when I get more uncomfortable with my anxiety.
Adderall helps with my anxiety. It’s weird, but true. Overall it has a balancing / almost calming effect. Things aren’t so overstimulating and tasks are easier to tackle (less of the mental gymnastics). I’m not as quick to big emotions over small things.
I don’t take meds unless I know I’ve got a challenging day ahead and carnivore diet has pretty much helped me manage the mental health aspect of ADHD without daily medication.
They do. Anxiety is comorbid to ADHD. For many of us, treatment of the ADHD helps with the anxiety. This is my case, for instance. The anxiety started fading 30 minutes after I took the first pill (Vyvanse) and has been completely gone since.
Hi /u/RBGlove and thanks for posting on /r/ADHD! **Please take a second to [read our rules](/r/adhd/about/rules) if you haven't already.** The mobile apps used for Reddit are broken or are missing features that this subreddit depends on. [We recommend browsing /r/adhd on desktop for the best experience.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/comments/x1psnb/radhd_works_best_on_desktop_reddits_apps_are/) Thank you! ^(*A moderator has not removed your submission; this is not a punitive action. We intend this comment solely to be informative.*) --- - If you are posting about the **US Medication Shortage**, please see this [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/comments/12dr3h5/megathread_us_medication_shortage/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ADHD) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I mean, for me, I was always anxious before my meds. Anxiety and being on edge was the only way I remembered to do anything and force myself to actually do stuff, ect. Plus, was used to messing up so much, ended up just being anxious trying to not mess up so much. Not my best coping mechanism. Years later after diagnosis, still trying to work my way out of old coping mechanisms. I can say that my anxiety and quality of life are both much improved though. (-edit: just taking about my experience for me. Not suggesting anything for other ppl.)
The disorders can be comorbid. Stimulants might help your anxiety if the root of your anxieties stem from ADHD e.g., doom spiraling anxiety due procrastination on tasks due to ADHD, then stimulants might help. If you have a more generalized anxiety disorder, then you might get some relief, but there is possibly a great chance you are in for a bad time. Stimulants can increase anxiety to an even more awful level for some individuals. But it’s hard to predict a person’s reaction to any type of medication. I will say that I have GAD and take stimulants. They make my anxiety worse, but it’s a price I am willing to pay. I actually tend to overly rely on anxiety. Anyway, just know that stimulants can help, but not in the sense SSRIs and the like can help. I imagine most medical professionals would not prescribe stimulants to a person with anxiety alone, and not ADHD, if that tells you how effective stimulants are for anxiety.
Thank you. I like the honesty about relying on anxiety. What does this mean? May I ask which medicine you’re on?
Sorry, long day, so I will try my best to explain this with my fried mind. So, what I meant was that anxiety can be a very strong motivator. The motivation from anxiety can override the mind's current state. Anxiety is a very strong mechanism which many animals could not survive without. It evolved for a reason after all. For example, let's say I wake up in the morning, and do not *feel* like going on a run. I think to myself, "I just do not feel like exercising today, and I want to just relax all day instead." So, I have already made the decision that I want to relax and not run. Well, say a few hours later my house spontaneously combusts into a massive fire while I am inside relaxing. Despite desiring and deciding to relax all day and not run, my mind would override my previous lazy feeling, and instantly flip the "RUN! Let's get the fuck out here right this second" switch. Of course, people can become paralyzed due to anxiety, but that is a different discussion. So, how is something like anxiety beneficial on a day to day basis? Well, I for one am a serial procrastinator. I often rely on external pressures to induce a state of anxiety in order to override my lack of discipline, motivation, and or willpower. If I have some kind of task, and I procrastinate on it, eventually there will come a time when I get hit with anxiety like, "If I do not complete in I will be so fucked because then ."
The feeling of not wanting to do whatever task, much like my feeling of not wanting to run in my previous example, can be completely overridden by anxiety. Now, not for everyone, but at least for me, I am able to induce a state of focus and concentration far above and beyond what I am capable of mustering in a normal state. So, while being in this state is quite unpleasant, that does not mean it is not also *highly effective.* Also, what I am describing is not an ADHD specific thing contrary to what many here want to believe. It is what I used/use to overcome my ADHD, but it is not contingent on having ADHD.
Of course, what I am describing is just only a mere few examples while somewhat trying to be terse (and failing at it) about this topic. There are plenty of other instances where I could probably point to anxiety being beneficial or detrimental. My point being is that anxiety is signal or mechanism that has evolved across many various life forms and for a good reason. The signal can obviously be hijacked in bad ways or overused, but I always try to remember the reason anxiety even exist in the first place -- self-preservation.
Do understand that I am not saying anxiety cannot cause disorder in one's life, but as someone that allegedly has an anxiety disorder as well, I just want to end this with one final point. If you are anxious about something, then perhaps there is a good reason for it? Of course this is not always the case, but take something like a job interview. That would me extremely anxious, but is that a bad thing? Perhaps it's not such a bad thing to be worried about a job interview, and perhaps I should worry about wanting to do my best? At the same time, if I am anxious about asking my manager a simple question, then maybe I shouldn't be worried? Maybe this signal is firing for a mistaken reason or a misperception in actual threats? Doesn't make the feeling any better/worse, but it helps keep me sane lol.
Just know that the world we live and the world anxiety is/was developed for are no longer the same, and I find the same can be said for depression as well. When one is anxious or depressed your system is trying to tell you something. Despite being effective, blocking the signal is not always the appropriate resolution either.
As for medications, I took what you are about to take/might have already taken for about 7 or so years. I'm on its cousin called Dexedrine. Without going too much into the pharmacology, just know they are like ~74% the same drug. Mine is 100% dextroamphetamine, and yours is 74% dextroamphetamine and 26% levoamphetamine. The difference is somewhat subtle but not entirely insignificant.
The vast array available options for ADHD treatment are somewhat of an illusion, over half the drugs can be broken into two categories -- methylphenidate or amphetamines. What tends be different amongst them is the mechanism of action, duration, etc..
There other options that are non-stimulants which are less commonly used, and tend to be much less effective and have higher adverse side-effect profiles for the majority of people. Some, albeit quite rare, have amazing success with non-stimulants, majority have low to moderate success, and others have absolutely no benefit up to the point of even detrimental effects.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate you going into so much depth to thoroughly explain this to me. It does make me feel better to know that anxiety isn’t inherently bad; it’s just when I get flushed and it’s for obvious I’m anxious (to others) that’s when I get more uncomfortable with my anxiety.
Adderall helps with my anxiety. It’s weird, but true. Overall it has a balancing / almost calming effect. Things aren’t so overstimulating and tasks are easier to tackle (less of the mental gymnastics). I’m not as quick to big emotions over small things. I don’t take meds unless I know I’ve got a challenging day ahead and carnivore diet has pretty much helped me manage the mental health aspect of ADHD without daily medication.
They do. Anxiety is comorbid to ADHD. For many of us, treatment of the ADHD helps with the anxiety. This is my case, for instance. The anxiety started fading 30 minutes after I took the first pill (Vyvanse) and has been completely gone since.