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I can’t seem to ever concentrate. My friend says Adderall helps him concentrate. How do I find out if it’s a good option for me?

132 Answers
Last Updated: 07/06/2023 at 4:34pm
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Top Rated Answers
dreamMelody27
April 18th, 2020 11:16am
The best would be to talk with your primary physician or a psychologist about the struggle you are facing. They can help you decide which steps are right for you. What you definitely should not do is just taking it yourself to look what happens. You should definitely talk with an professional before medicating yourself on anything, because not all that helped a different person will help you. Till you get an appointment you could try methods to help you concentrate for example only focusing on one task at the time, Breaking down what you have to do in smaller more manageable blocks, using visual reminders, trying out Fidgit toys...
GoldenRuleJG
July 6th, 2023 4:34pm
Sounds like your having mixed feelings about whether or not to follow your friends suggestion and a curiosity about what medication can work for you. Its absolutely ok to go by what your friend has said, yet different medications work for different people. You may first of all want to consult your general practitioner or doctor on what you could use to help manage your concentration. If not trusting the doctors opinion for your own reference you can research suitable medications for ADHD on NICE guidelines site (https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summaries/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/) and enquire about this with the GP. You are welcome to chat with one of our listeners 1-1 who would be happy to provide emotional support.
Anonymous
April 23rd, 2020 6:14am
It is best to start off with a least invasive measure first before taking medication. Try other relieving factors such as meditation exercises and deep breathing exercises. If you would like to find out if it is a good option for you, you may want to ask your physician on side effects that this medication may cause. I find that deep focus music helps me concentrate, as well as being in a dimmed room. You want to make sure you try other measures first before taking medications that may cause addiction and/or abuse in the future. I hope everything works out!
MiracleHelperthe1st
April 24th, 2020 8:18am
Be sure to immediately stop the medication and contact a doctor! If this medication has not been prescribed by an doctor you should be sure to contact your doctor concerning taking the medication. Also please tell your friend if the medication is not safe. If you have suicidal thoughts please contact a suicide hotline immediately. I would also recommend searching online about the medication such as its side effects. Please stay safe from any medications that cause you to feel bad or even worse. Please do not take any medications that are cause any health risks because it can lead to something bad!
Aidisnotapotato
May 14th, 2020 4:03am
Not being able to concentrate can be a big struggle for many people. If you find yourself struggling to focus and believe outside intervention via medication might help, visit your doctor. They might be able to help or refer you to a specialist. There are many options available for treatment if there is a diagnosable reason for struggles with concentration. Some doctors might suggest therapy, and others might prescribe medication such as Adderall. If medication is suggested, use it responsibly as directed. If you don't feel that it is working, reaching out to your doctor to find a new plan might be beneficial.
Anonymous
May 22nd, 2020 7:51pm
I had trouble concentrating and considered it once but decided against it after working with my doctor. I can not answer this question but the best person to answer this is your doctor and family I suggest you go to your primary doctor and ask if he or she thinks that it is a good option for you. Also talk to those you trust. Always consult with your doctor before taking any medication as it could be harmful to your health. Listen to your doctors advice and in conjunction with you doctor and loved ones you have to make a choice based on their recommendations.
Maggis88
June 12th, 2020 6:03pm
Make sure you talk to your doctor. most people find that for ADHD a combination of medication and talk therapy or other ways of coping is the most effective. You will want to make sure your doctor has experience with ADHD and that they know all about it. you may want to ask about more natural treatments and try those first and then turn to meds. It's really up to you and your doctor to decide the best path for you. you must experience issues in more than one aspect of life for a diagnosis. if you do decide on meds your doctor will prescribe different doses and drugs and see what works best for you.
Anonymous
July 1st, 2020 7:06pm
If you are considering medication to help you focus, it's best to see a psychiatrist / trained doctor or professional first! They are trained to know what medications help what symptoms, and if they see fit, they would be able to give you the correct dosage of a medication. The medication or the dosage that works for your friend may not be best for you - and a doctor would know best. Have you ever talked to your friend about how he felt before taking Adderall? If he felt similar to how you feel now, that may be another good reason for you to see a professional!
faeriejpg11
July 2nd, 2020 9:37am
You could try researching more on the use of Adderall. Since it is a drug, educating yourself on the risks and benefits to see if it would be suitable for you is important. Everyone's body works differently, so stick to your gut. Reaching out to a family doctor or mental health professional is also helpful since they are trained and educated in medications for mental health.
brightbubbles88
July 4th, 2020 5:16pm
Hello there! I can definitely understand having difficulty concentrating-you are certainly not alone in that. Adderall is a common medication prescribed by a doctor to help with concentration so the best way to find out if it is a good option for you is to seek support from your doctor and let them know your concerns. From there they may refer you to another professional to explore whether the difficulty concentrating is related to ADHD and/or determine other factors that may be contributing this difficulty (ie past trauma, anxiety, difficulty with time management, lack of motivation). Know that Adderall is not the only "solution" to help with concentration, and though it helps for some individuals, like your friend, there are also other options to help you out and improve your day to day life like learning strategies and coping skills. It absolutely does not hurt to seek support from your doctor and explore what option(s) would work for you. All the best, good luck and I believe in you!
kindZebra4867
July 15th, 2020 12:59am
Talk with your healthcare provider about different options to improve concentration. Ask if Adderall could be a good option. But don't limit yourself to just that - one solution won't work for everyone. Since you are having difficulty concentrating, you could look into an ADHD diagnosis - this would also be something you could speak about with your healthcare provider. Before you do so, educate yourself and search online for different ADHD symptoms and see if you relate to them. A good source is ADDITUDE, and here is one of their articles: https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-symptoms-checklist/. I have difficulty concentrating at times as well and have personal experience with ADHD. Know that there is no miracle pill. Medication may help, but you may still find challenges concentrating even while taking medication. So, a multi-faceted approach may be recommended. And again, talk with a healthcare professional about your options and what you can start doing to help improve your concentration.
KittyKat0269
July 24th, 2020 7:54pm
I would say then it would be an appropriate option to make a appointment with your physician to ensure that all your needs are being met. What may be good for your friend may not be good for you, but there are many options for the doctor to try with you. Oftentimes, your physician may want you to seek counseling as well to make sure there isn't an underlying mental health issue causing the perceived lack of concentration. Undiagnosed mental health issues can often have lack of concentration as a symptom, and are often manageable once diagnosed. It is certainly worth checking it out :)
Haleybaxter03
July 29th, 2020 11:09pm
You can always talk with a therapist and ask them what they think is best for you. Always do whatever you are comfortable with as well. If you do not feel comfortable taking medication, there are always other options for you. There's different tests you can take to see if you have ADHD normally taken by a psychologist. Seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist, I think would be better than a therapist if you want medication. If you do not, I would recommend the therapist. Talking to family members is always a good choice before talking to a professional because they usually know what's best for you.
Calmwaters2246
August 2nd, 2020 3:45am
The best way is to find a behavioral therapist who is able to evaluate you for Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder. I was diagnosed as an adult, and I wish someone had helped me find information like this sooner! There are a series of questions and activities that they will have you do to evaluate your baseline and determine if something like Adderall or many other ADHD medication might help you with some of the things that you are struggling with. It is very important that you get evaluated and don’t take someone else’s medication as these drugs can have lasting effects and the doses need to be figured out by a doctor. I wish you all the best and I hope you find the assistance you need!
Matthew8888
November 3rd, 2021 6:05pm
Hi there! I think that the first thing to ask yourself would be if Adderall is the only option for you or not, as well as if your lack of concentration is to the point that you would clinically need treatment. One way of doing this would be visiting a counselor, or perhaps a psychologist. For the first connection, I would recommend one of these two rather than a psychiatrist. While a psychiatrist eventually could be a good source, their primary focus is to treat you with medication rather than other behavioral or cognitive techniques. Talking to a counselor, psychologist, or therapist could provide you with the background to know whether or not your concentration needs to be clinically treated and medicated. If not, there are other therapeutic techniques that could be cheaper, and will undoubtedly have less side effects. If these methods don't work, then you might want to consider if medication such as Adderall (or others, there's plenty of other medication options) are right for you!
Anonymous
May 2nd, 2021 6:00am
First things first never take any medication not prescribed by your doctor or cleared by them. I would say talk to your doctor about what you are experiencing if not a mental health specialist. Sometimes a lack of concentration can be caused by a number of stressors in your life. These can range from everyday problems to environment issues. What works best for others may not work best for you! Also check on your habits, are you eating well, are you getting enough exercise, getting enough sleep? If this is not that problem then you may have ADHD or ADD. Or maybe even another disorder, there are tests online to help you self-diagnose. I do not recommend taking Adderall based on these results. If it does appear that you have one of these disorders discuss with doctor about getting a prescription!
KindFriend2001
May 7th, 2021 2:31pm
Definitely talk to a psychiatrist about getting diagnosed with ADHD. You have to be diagnosed with ADHD before being prescribed Adderall, and also, lack of concentration could be caused by depression and anxiety as well. In my experience, the first medication they’ll try will be a stimulant (like Adderall) of some kind. From there, you will be able to see if that works for you, or another medication works better. Do not try to take Adderall without a doctor’s prescription, as it can become addictive and dangerous if not taken properly. If it is likely caused by anxiety or depression, you may be put on an antidepressant or anti-anxiety med before being put on anything for ADHD, as well. Tl;dr-Talk to your doctor, and be open and honest about what you’re experiencing.
ouiCherie
May 28th, 2021 7:28am
Having difficulty to concentrate is indeed tough and may negatively affect our productivities, ability to function well in daily lives, and or our relationships with others. ​ Difficulty to concentrate can be a result of many different things, from depression, anxiety to ADHD. Different things may need different treatment, help and medications. I'd like to strongly encourage you to visit a Psychiatrist or Doctor to get a proper and correct diagnosis and medication. As Adderall is a stimulant that also have side effects such as increase of body temperature, loss of appetite, increase blood pressure, and heart rate, etc. It is not an Over the Counter (OTC) medicine for a reason.
whimsicalWriting9073
June 3rd, 2021 5:14am
Ask your doctor or psychiatrist. Don't figure it out on your own. Meds work differently for everyone. Adderall worked for me for a period of time then I had to increase the dose. But that's just me. I felt like i had super powers on it. Don't try meds without the guidance of a doctor. Meditation is really good, yoga. Go to your family doctor, if they want to refer you to a psychiatrist do that. I personally thing Adderall is addictive but drugs help everyone in different ways. Don't do anything without the guidance of a doctor. That's all I can think of.
Rainbowsandmiracles888
July 30th, 2021 7:23am
It’s great that your friend has found a medication that makes their ADHD better. Your first step would be to make an appointment with a psychiatrist who can evaluate you to see if you meet the criteria for ADHD. He or she can help you formulate a medication plan if it they do confirm that you have ADHD. Adderall can be a great medication when used properly to treat a mental health condition. They can evaluate whether or not you would benefit from the medication. There’s many different medications to treat ADHD disorder. Talking to a health care professional can help you evaluate your options.
peacefulNarwhal7122
August 4th, 2021 7:17am
Talk to a medical professional to discuss if Adderall is a good option to help with issues in regard to concentrating. Focus is important and recognizing that it is difficult to concentrate is the first step. Talking with friends and sharing ideas, options and resources is important in networking our thoughts and hurdles we experience. Speaking to a trusted medical professional about ideas and solutions that work well for individual needs, discussing other options and risk/benifit for all possible solutions is very important to a positive outcome. Starting simple with ones self and rippling out from there is a wonderful idea!
wildnwitchy
October 2nd, 2021 2:20am
The right medication at the right time for the right person can be a life changer. While it may be right for your friend, only you and your doctor can decide what is right for you. There are many methods to work on improving concentration outside of medication as well that you could discuss with your doctor. The best way to find out what is possible would be to make an appointment with your family doctor to talk about your concerns and what options are available to you. They will be able to give you options to work towards better concentration.
Anonymous
October 23rd, 2021 9:59am
Hello, what a great question! Not being able to concentrate must be super frustrating and tiring. I’m so glad that you are trying to find solutions and ways to cope. Not everything works for everyone but finding a safe and healthy way to cope will be much better in the long run. Try looking up different healthy and safe methods to keep stay concentrated. You could also join a group chat and ask how others stay concentrated. If these methods do not seem to work, which is completely normal, then a doctor or a therapist could definitely provide you with other ways to stay focus. Happy Healing!
Servingspace
March 13th, 2022 1:51am
Well finding out what kind of concentration difficulty you have is essential, also if any other problem along with that is present or not needs to be find out, it is never good idea to selfmedicate. So if you have any symptoms try to consult psychiatrist. Psychiatrist will help you find out wether you have any disorder or just have difficulty in concentration and no other requirement and then will prescribe you adderall if he feels that it is needed for you. Also will assess for other psychiatric condition if they are present or not. So kindly do not take adderall on your own, just consult psychiatrist, they will guide you better.
dancingWinter4425
May 25th, 2022 3:38pm
Before taking any medication that requires a prescription, which Adderall does, speak to your primary care provider or arrange a session with a specialist. Taking medication without a prescription can be unsafe and cause harm to your body. There are other alternatives to medication that one can try such as talk therapy, breathing exercises, or meditation. Often times individuals who take medications like Adderall have been diagnosed with an attention disorder and manage that symptom with a specialist. If you believe that you would be best served by medication like Adderall, again always speak to your medical provider before attempting.
Anonymous
April 15th, 2022 3:20am
It's important to consider whether these difficulties with concentrating has been a consistent issue throughout your life or a more recent development as Adderall is used to treat ADHD, a developmental issue that has effects from a young age. You could talk to your doctor or get a referral to a psychiatrist (depending on where you live) if you are concerned regarding this, and they would be able to test you for ADHD, and any other possible psychological or physiological condition that could be causing concentration issues. As Adderall is a stimulant, using it regularly without a prescription can lead to other issues, so it is important to talk this through with a professional.
Anonymous
March 25th, 2022 12:32am
Always talk to your doctor before considering nay types of medication. Adderall is a prescription that is not right for everyone and should not be used by anyone who does not have a prescription. Recreational use or incorrect use can be dangerous and unpredictable. Talk to your doctor about your struggle with concentration and see what options they can present for you. As well, there are many alternatives to medication that can help with your concentration. Things like practicing mindfulness, or going out for a walk without distractions are simple strategies to help your mind relax and think more clearly.
Anonymous
February 25th, 2022 5:21am
The best way to find out would be to talk to a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner, particularly one who has experience with ADHD. A good place to look would be Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/psychiatrists?search= I hope this helps! If you're a minor and one barrier your experiencing to treatment is discussing with a parent about this, I'd highly recommend this article: https://childmind.org/article/how-to-talk-to-your-parents-about-getting-help-if-you-think-you-need-it/ If neither of these are an option and you are currently a student, your school or university should have resources and support for students with ADHD, such as a learning specialist. Even if you are not diagnosed with ADHD, talking with a school learning specialist or center for students with disabilities at your school could be a great first step.
Anonymous
January 27th, 2022 1:42am
Adderall and similar drugs should only be prescribed if you need them. It is a controlled substance for a reason and should not be taken without a strict need for it. You can explore other options of de-stressing and focus before making that decision. I think it's very important to tell your psychologist exactly what's going on with you that's driving you to seek medication. If you're already on a medication that isn't working as well as you had hoped, make sure you explain that. Absolutely, mention adderall specifically, especially it has worked for you in the past. However, remember that your psychiatrist has had more experience in this area, and may have an even better medication to suggest based on your specific needs and history.
lakelady1414
April 23rd, 2021 1:26pm
A good option would be to see a psychologist. They can do several tests and examinations to determine what is a good fit for you. Often times issues regarding mental health can be really unclear. For example lack of concentration could be the result of other issues such as anxiety, depression, poor diet, poor sleep, etc. Psychologists use their knowledge and experience on a variety of topics to assess your personal situation on numerous levels to determine holistically what you may be experiencing. In addition, I would never recommend taking medical advice from a friend. Though it can be helpful to gain some foundational information and push you to seek proper professional help, unless your friend is qualified, it is best to seek professional medical help when problems become too much to handle or seem to be moving in a more serious direction.