PostAdderall

I can definitely relate to the feeling that you can't get out of your own way in your head, or however you phrased it. I have tried most of the prescription medications you have, and found none of them to be the end-all solution. Your story sounds familiar to mine - at a pretty rockbottom place when you decide to quit in terms of other circumstances in your life. Just wait it out, things will get better. I would really recommend reading the book "The Feeling Good Handbook" by David Burns. I generally think self-help books are lousy and kind of a joke, but he outlines concrete ways to change the way you think in order to change the way that you feel. Empirically, his cognitive behavioral therapy (just reading his book, and doing the journaling he recommends) has been show to be more successful than SSRI's to treat depression. I really recommend it, at least before trying to go on other medications. It's all great to feel like you are ultimately in control of your own happiness.

I would recommend the book "the feeling good handbook" by David Burns (I think that is his name). It is a great read, it helps you change your thinking patterns

I would recommend staying off of prescription drugs. The idea that a pill can solve your problems is a mindset worth thinking critically about. Isn't that why you took Adderall in the first place? Great in the short run, questionable in the long run. Research extensively any drug that you are considering taking. In my opinion, any drug that can cause severe birth defects in an unborn fetus is probably not good for your system. For example, my doctor prescribed me Effexor when I went off of Adderall. I almost popped the first pill, but decided to do some Google searches. The 3rd or so google result (at the time) was a petition to Wyeth about the unexpected side effects experienced when trying to come off of Effexor (http://www.petitiononline.com/effexor/petition.html). I read some more and decided not to take it unless I wanted to be on it my whole life, which I didn't.

Hi Brian, I took Celexa for 3 or 4 years. If anything, I would recommend that you take Lexapro instead of Celexa. Lexapro is the newer "brother" of Celexa - they are chemically similar, but Lexapro has a shorter half life which means there are less side effects and fewer withdrawal symptoms. While Celexa did make me feel less depressed and less anxious, it made me feel numb and I wouldn't recommend it. After Adderall, though, I have vowed not to take any more prescription medication and I would urge you to do the same. Your brain chemistry will naturally readjust, although it may take some time. Taking any drugs will cheat yourself out of a natural recovery, and ultimately make it more difficult to feel happier naturally later on down the road. I know the idea of a pill providing a convenient and easy solution seems appealing, but life is full of challenges that we are equipped to handle on our own. We don't know the long term effects of any of these drugs - to me it seems dubious that we actually understand neurochemistry enough to be handing out prescriptions the way that doctors do.

Quitting Adderall is like learning to a adjust to being a different person, with different shortcomings, interests, and abilities. It takes time, especially when you are flooded with memories of who you "used to be." Most of it is in your head - which is not to say that it isn't real - just that it's not biological. I would recommend reading the book the "Feeling Good Handbook" to help you correct some of your thinking patterns in a way that will help you ultimately be more positive, productive, and accepting of who you are. It is easy infer that after quitting adderall it is inevitable to feel lousy, tired, unproductive, and mentally slow. I don't believe this is biologically inevitable. The way you think sharply impacts how you lead your life, and you can change how you think -- at the end of the day, it is the only thing you truly do have control over.

Does anyone have a difficult time writing after quitting Adderall? I feel as though I was a pretty good writer both before Adderall and while on Adderall, but recently I have been having a hard time writing eloquently and coherently. I write much more slowly, and feel like I have a difficult time effectively communicating my ideas. Does anyone else struggle with this? Any suggestions? I am considering just trying to write a little bit everyday to give myself some mental exercise -- perhaps it is just that overtime I have fallen out of touch with the reading/writing part of my brain.

That sounds like an interesting idea. Unfortunately, the link did not work.

Stealthology - I have been off of Adderall for a year and am much more productive than I was on it. Maybe my interest in whatever I am doing has waned slightly, but I am better able to prioritize and can accomplish tasks more efficiently. My grades have even improved.