hyper_critical

Faith - Rehab is an option if you can't get through the first month or two on your own. Friend of mine who works as a civilian for the Navy consulted EAP, found a rehab covered by his insurance, and is doing much better after getting 30 days away. His boss, although surprised at the nature and extent of his problem, had known something was up for some time. He's been off Adderall a few months now and his whole team (they don't all know what happened, but obviously noticed he was away), is thrilled he's back, looks healthy, and is once again a reliable employee.

Frank - I've seen Wellbutrin help other in early recovery. Good luck.

Hey KHAG, FWIW, took me 4-5 months to get back to normal "functioning." But it did come back... H-C

This is an awesome one about getting back on the wagon after a relapse:

OMG I've been listening to this song on repeat all week. Just hit me that it might as well be about breaking up with Adderall Do you have any inspirational songs that have helped you?

"Can I quadruple like this post, please?!" -----> Word. Certainly hasn't been all sunshines and rainbows for me. This was one of the most important moments of my life. I got incredible love and feedback from the people on here:

That sounds similar to my experience. I was elated after getting one year. Then I felt like I backslid and couldn't get off my tush for a few months. "Start before you're ready" is some of the best advice I've gotten since getting clean. It's the opposite of how we're wired/grew accustomed to doing things on Adderall. All I can say is keep going. It wasn't a straight line for me from there, but there was significant improvement in my second year.

AD, My God I can relate. You are not alone on here, which I'm glad to see you've discovered. I'm not big on giving advice - I find it far more effective to share things I have direct experience with. However, in this case I'm going to go out on a limb and say I think you should tell your parents. As someone in recovery who is active in AA, I can almost guarantee you their response will not be judgmental. They're your parents. They love you, and if they're connected to "the program" they will either be able to help you or know someone(s) who can. Plenty of people in AA have drug problems (even Adderall). Having said that, unsolicited advice is worth what you paid for it! This is the most exciting part of getting off Adderall. I had high hopes that I'd get back to "who I used to be," but learned over time that I had to let that admittedly romanticized version of things go and accept that getting clean was priority #1. By focusing on doing the next right thing, putting one foot in front of the other, I learned to trust that things would work out in the end. I did whatever I had to do to stay clean for a year. And then two. And now, trying to live a useful, healthy life, new possibilities have opened up that I couldn't have imagined. My priorities are different than when I was using Adderall, but I'm thrilled with that. It doesn't mean I've had to lower my personal or professional standards. Part of that is also becoming an adult. Those of us who started using young and get clean in our 20's all of the sudden get some time under our belt, and realize "holy shit, I'm not a kid any more...I have to take care of myself and be responsible for my life!" Wishing you the best, H-C

It gets SO much better. No bullshit. There have been several stops along the way where I felt hopeless. Just beyond those points, incredible growth was waiting. The first year sucks. No getting around that. The second year sucks less. And so on. It's a process. I'm coming up on four years completely clean and sober, and am loving life, including my job. Keep after it, one day at a time.

Seabrook House, New Jersey. Chris at Seabrook West for extended inpatient in upstate Pennsylvania. Cannot endorse the latter strongly enough.

Powerful.

I experienced auditory hallucinations towards the end. Scared the daylights out of me. Also helped finally convince me I had a problem that needed to be addressed. Didn't want to flirt too much longer with amphetamine psychosis.

"Once pickled, never a cucumber." I think you'll find these forums littered with posts from people who tried that approach and failed. Maybe it's possible, but I'm yet to see it IRL and don't recall seeing anyone with a story like that on here.

Coming down for New Year's weekend. Will be hitting meetings at Dupont Circle Club. Bunch of coffee shops nearby if anyone wants to meet up before or after on Saturday, the 31st. DM me.

Interesting read on dealing with Adult ADHD. Full disclosure: I was interviewed for it, but won't tell you where. Sooo I guess that's really only partial disclosure. Author isn't a clinician...successful professional who interviewed a whole bunch of people and relayed their experience, struggles, strategies, etc. https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Distractions-Thriving-Adult-ADHD/dp/1454920769

Interesting read on dealing with Adult ADHD. Full disclosure: I was interviewed for it, but won't tell you where. Sooo I guess that's really only partial disclosure. Author isn't a clinician...successful professional who interviewed a whole bunch of people and relayed their experience, struggles, strategies, etc. https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Distractions-Thriving-Adult-ADHD/dp/1454920769

This post is gold. Congratulations! I had a hard time buying into SMART but am thrilled it's worked for you. If you're new, follow Erin's lead!!

Perfectenshlag.

Congratulations, Danquit! Six months is a huge achievement, and it sounds like you've got the right perspective going forward. Keep doing what you're doing...moving forward through fear and discomfort...one day at a time. Your new life has just begun!

Check out the comments section on this article. Crazy denial and victim shaming. Don't have any answers but there are enormous hurdles to convincing people this is a problem they should have a compassionate interest in: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/magazine/generation-adderall-addiction.html?_r=0 Great article, BTW.

Keep at it, mdahl. You only have to do this once.

Good for you, Cheerio. Will DM next time I'm heading down there.

My fitness has come back in fits and starts since getting clean. Having said that, I fully endorse what duffman said. It's what people I know who are in shape say, and at 3.5 years, I'm still waiting for that spark to show up out of nowhere that compels me to go to the gym every day and eat right with the same enthusiasm I approached scheduling tasks my first year on Adderall. When I'm eating well and working out (and sleeping regularly), I'm more likely to continue eating well and working out. Like most habits, just gotta push through that initial period, and plan for relapse/build resilience i.e. instead of "Oh no I missed two workouts so I might as well 'Netflix and chill' aka rage eat Dominos by myself watching some show I've seen 12 times and never work out again," fight through the discomfort and get back on the horse ASAP.

Grateful.

Well said, BHN. That was similar to my experience as well.