What have you accomplished without adderall?

[Cat 294]

This really isn't intended as a bragging post so hopefully it doesn't come off that way. I was just doing some reflecting on the past year and realized there is a lot that I'm proud of myself for accomplishing without adderall. I thought it would be cool to hear from you all about your achievements since quitting, and hopefully give some encouragement to those who are just starting the process of quitting to see just how far the awesome folks in this community have come.

 

Here are my biggest accomplishments since quitting adderall/vyvanse on January 5, 2013:

• Took a better job where I am pretty happy, making significantly more money, and getting fantastic benefits.
   
• Also job related, learned how to work a full time job without adderall, gaining the skills and building up the motivation to succeed on my own, one hard earned step at a time.
   
• Got engaged, planned a wedding in 6 months without adderall, and had the most amazing day of my life on my wedding day with friends and family, completely present and happy for every single second of it.
   
• Started running and signed up for my first half marathon.
   
• Quit ambien and am now prescription-pill free, which feels really liberating, to be able to go anywhere and not worry if your prescription will run out or if you've packed enough pills.
   
• Learned how to live in the moment. 
   
• Started reading books for pleasure again.
   
• Cut my alcohol consumption significantly. Still love a glass of wine, but now it's a glass with dinner instead of a bottle drank in secret to cope with the crash.

Your turn!

 

[lunax 260]

I love everything about this post.

[Jon 685]

Cat, great idea!

 

I'm too green to lay claim on any accomplishments. I'm afraid to jinx my quit. I don't even like counting my months because it will always be one day at a time for me. If not Adderall, something else lurking in the shadows. Living sober is a real challange and there are still training wheels on my new bike. 

 

When the time is right for me, I will revisit this thread and state accomplishments that I feel secure in announcing.

 

I love yours. They are real and you own them. Thank you for sharing. I look at them like goals worth attaining.

[Zerokewl 1,996]

Adderall Brain: "Not nearly enough. You sleep like 8 hours a day, exercise and spend time with friends"

 

Post Adderall Brain: "Productivity is improving daily. Mind grapes still a little mushy but returing to normal. Remmeber you aren't superman... you never were"

[Cat 294]

Zerokewl: YES. Don't you love how the post-adderall brain is calibrated to live life like a normal person, rather than superman? 

 

Jon: You of all people will not jinx your quit. You are one of the wisest and most grounded people on this forum and if I didn't know better I'd guess you had years under your belt rather than months. Quitting adderall is hard. Writing down this list of stuff does not make it any easier, but it sure does help put things in perspective. I challenge you to think of a couple things you're proud of accomplishing. 

 

Lunax: You hit the 60 day challenge straight out of the park! So proud and happy to see you sticking around especially as your big day approaches

[Zerokewl 1,996]

 

Jon: You of all people will not jinx your quit. You are one of the wisest and most grounded people on this forum and if I didn't know better I'd guess you had years under your belt rather than months. Quitting adderall is hard. Writing down this list of stuff does not make it any easier, but it sure does help put things in perspective. I challenge you to think of a couple things you're proud of accomplishing. 

 

 

 

seriously need to give yourself more credit man. You are doing awesome. Almost as good as me ....almost

[JustinW 1,285]

Wow Cat, you are leaps and bounds away from where I am at personally and I'm only 1 month behind you; congratulations!  You are an inspiration.

[blesbro 180]

Great idea! What I have accomplished since quitting adderall on December 21st, 2012.

 

• I have gained the ability to become genuinely interested in others and also have developed a genuine interest to make real friends. I didn't have a natural desire to make new friends during the down-slide of my addiction.
• I have a strong self-confidence in myself and much hope for the future. I was absolutely hopeless on adderall. I had no chance of pursuing my dreams on adderall.
• I have made serious positive changes to my body since I quit adderall. I've gained lots of muscle and lost lots of fat since quitting due to my strong work ethic in the gym and willpower to eat healthy. This is probably the accomplishment I am most proud of.
• I am able to "live in the present" and get the hell out of my head once and for all!
• I am able to enjoy relaxing as well as sleeping.
• I feel more awake, focused, and energized than I did on adderall.
• I have overcome social anxiety for the most part.

Still have a long way to go, however, I couldn't be more happy with the progress I've made. Every month is better than the last.

 

Blesbro

[km517 2]

This is some really inspiring stuff, everyone.  I keep reading all the posts I can in an effort to understand what my (ex)boyfriend (ugh!) is going through, and I'm super impressed.  

[Zerokewl 1,996]

@milty gawd i wish my ex would read this...

 

@ blesbro thats quite a list.

 

@cat great thread!!

 

I just landed a big contract this morning so I am holding off on writting a list unitl I complete go live date is Jan 7,2014

[Jon 685]

Jon: You of all people will not jinx your quit. You are one of the wisest and most grounded people on this forum and if I didn't know better I'd guess you had years under your belt rather than months. Quitting adderall is hard. Writing down this list of stuff does not make it any easier, but it sure does help put things in perspective. I challenge you to think of a couple things you're proud of accomplishing. 

 

 

Cat,

 

Thank you for your kind words and gentle encouragement. Okay, here are some accomplishments. I am happy I quit. I am happy to be off the daily salt and pepper shaker ride. I am happy that I am learning to live life sober with the help of people on this incredible forum.  

 

I look at sobriety as my only option, without wavering. The commitment is stronger than the struggle. I feel humility for the capacity to possess this outlook. I didn’t create it all by myself.

 

I have worked many long hours at my job and got through it.

 

I have learned how to live a life without coffee, although I miss it greatly.

 

I cut the grass every Saturday after quitting. It took all my power to get this done.

 

I added a white-eyed vireo to my birding life list last weekend. I am slowly beginning to participate in life again… in very small ways. The vireo is a very small bird.

[ashley6 1,163]

I found out today that I will be a December 2013 college graduate. I left my advisor's office feeling elated!!! Many of you know my story, but I started college in 03-04, went 5 years, and due to my adderall addiction, stopped going to classes, failed some classes and was so ashamed I told my family I had graduated. They found out the truth. About 5 years of avoiding the fact I didn't graduate, and taking lots and lots of adderall, I knew it was time to get my life back. So about one year after getting clean, I went back (only 3 classes to finish). And today finding out I have one month of college left, it just made me realize how much quitting has paid off. With all the hoops I had to jump through and contacting lots of different people, taking class 2 hours away, just to get myself on track would NOT have happened on adderall. I would've stopped going to class, if I even got that far, because I would've been a paranoid mess. There are so many things that have changed for the better since quitting, I'm essentially a different person, but today I'm celebrating this

[blesbro 180]

Awesome, congrats Ashley! 

[Cat 294]

Ashley, that's awesome! Congrats!

[ashley6 1,163]

Thank you! I also have to add that your lists are all quite impressive. Cat, I was blown away by yours. Great idea starting this thread.

[lunax 260]

Lunax: You hit the 60 day challenge straight out of the park! So proud and happy to see you sticking around especially as your big day approaches

Thank you so much for the kind words. I could not have picked a better time to do this. I am going to be PRESENT at my wedding and I can't wait!

[Jon 685]

I found out today that I will be a December 2013 college graduate. I left my advisor's office feeling elated!!! Many of you know my story, but I started college in 03-04, went 5 years, and due to my adderall addiction, stopped going to classes, failed some classes and was so ashamed I told my family I had graduated. They found out the truth. About 5 years of avoiding the fact I didn't graduate, and taking lots and lots of adderall, I knew it was time to get my life back. So about one year after getting clean, I went back (only 3 classes to finish). And today finding out I have one month of college left, it just made me realize how much quitting has paid off. With all the hoops I had to jump through and contacting lots of different people, taking class 2 hours away, just to get myself on track would NOT have happened on adderall. I would've stopped going to class, if I even got that far, because I would've been a paranoid mess. There are so many things that have changed for the better since quitting, I'm essentially a different person, but today I'm celebrating this

 

That's wonderful news Ashley! You have certainly earned it. An accomplishment like this can bring closure to all of the horror years. You are free to move on with your life again.

[quit-once 1,710]

I found out today that I will be a December 2013 college graduate. I left my advisor's office feeling elated!!! Many of you know my story, but I started college in 03-04, went 5 years, and due to my adderall addiction, stopped going to classes, failed some classes and was so ashamed I told my family I had graduated. They found out the truth. About 5 years of avoiding the fact I didn't graduate, and taking lots and lots of adderall, I knew it was time to get my life back. So about one year after getting clean, I went back (only 3 classes to finish). And today finding out I have one month of college left, it just made me realize how much quitting has paid off. With all the hoops I had to jump through and contacting lots of different people, taking class 2 hours away, just to get myself on track would NOT have happened on adderall. I would've stopped going to class, if I even got that far, because I would've been a paranoid mess. There are so many things that have changed for the better since quitting, I'm essentially a different person, but today I'm celebrating this

Ashley, I am so proud of you for finishing school.  I know this has been a huge hang up of yours since I have "known" you, I remember the public speaking class issues.  If I could reach through the internet and give you a big hug I certainally would.  Way to go - your good news just made my day better too!

[ashley6 1,163]

Jon,

Thank you so much. You're doing great, and I really enjoy having you around!

Quit-once,

Hearing you say you'd give me a hug made me happy! You've heard about most of my struggles and have often been a voice of reason for me, when I couldn't be for myself. The funny thing about public speaking was that I ended up enjoying that class a lot. It was 90% the anticipatory anxiety. I might post my diploma on here when I get it....ha. It's been 10 years coming!

I'm so grateful to be off of that crazy roller coaster ride I call adderall!

[JustinW 1,285]

Way to go Ashley!  I've been to college about 5 different times and haven't been able to achieve that elusive degree.  It is a huge accomplishment.