I find ADHD meds significantly increased my productivity (2-5 x )

It is scary to take drugs that affect how my brain functions.

It took me a lot of time to consider seriously if I could get an ADHD diagnosis.

I am unsure whether ADHD is "real" even while having a diagnosis. But I struggle with tasks I see my friends find easy and taking medication has made me much more productive.

I've taken ADHD meds for roughly a third of my life, and metilphenidate really helped me deal with some of my worst symptoms of ADHD. It also helped me realize many of my academic issues weren't my fault (it wasn't just me being lazy).

In parallel, I started developing better ADHD management strategies, so I'll classify the experience as pretty good overall. I did have problems with appetite, which is why I'm currently trying a different class of ADHD meds (atomoxetine). I would go back if the new meds didn't work, though.