MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Adderall is severely over prescribed. It will turn you into a zombie and never let your kids take it.

If you can't concentrate try a few natural ways first.

1. Get more sleep
2. Eat healthier foods
3. Workout 3 times a week

I don't think it's as much "apples and oranges" as you're making it. Lifestyles are relative. People back then had no problem working 12 or 14 hour shifts, working on assembly lines, or working out in the fields all afternoon. They had no problem with manual labor. They had no problem getting jobs at 12 years old. There were a lot of things that people did in the free time to stay busy that we just "punch out from" mentally these days (ie play video games rather than entertain friends at a dinner party and stay social). The world back then was different when you look around, yes, but all of the day-to-day activities were much the same. People woke up, went to work, came home to families, slept. Many of them also went to college and became very successful in certain fields WITHOUT the assistance of things to help them focus.

I understand people with serious problems like ADHD, but the idea that we're just casually popping things like Adderall is mindblowing to me. There are people out there with real issues (and don't even get me started on how sickeningly overprescribed they are). Abusing a prescription drug (that is basically speed) simply because someone needs to study is crap. Sorry. It's an abuse of convenience, not necessity.

Take some Oxycontin, let me know how it goes

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!

So many people are seaching for a diagnosis for themselves any time something isn't easy, or to explain away past failures.

The "grandma remedies" for people who aren't productive happen to coincide with science.

"Take a brisk walk" - yes, excercise absolutely affects your mental health, energy levels and concentration.
"Eat a good meal" - nutrition is necessary for your body to function properly
"Get a good nights sleep" - again, the body (and mind) needs rest

I'm not sure how to categorize this next generalization, but the younger an American is, the more likely they are to quit something, be it a simple task, a job or a relationship. Giving full effort isn't seen as the bare minimum for many people any more, it's seen as something they'll do when they feel like it, if they're doing something they like, and are getting rewarded the way they like.

.... or lazy.

i've found cocaine works wonders.

People back then also didn't have the instant gratification of e-mail or the internet to engulf their attention spans.

Some of my work does not require the internet and when I close those windows, it does wonders for my concentration and productivity. Otherwise, every few minutes. I'm checking my personal e-mail, the job search engines, looking at RCMB, NYT, bank accounts, amazon, espn, you name it, I will easily distract myself with it.

I see 10 year olds on Adderall, I want to punch the parent in the face. My child is out of control, and it seems like he can't stop moving.. NO SHIT! HE IS A F'ING KID!

I hate lazy parents. Take the kid camping, hiking, or go play football. Let the kid burn off his energy before you put him on a damn pill.

I think theres a camp you can go to for that.

what are some of the over the counter alternatives?

I agree with this - Drugs for concentration are absurd. I dont know if it's society or something like that, but it seems that everyone I know (including myself) seems to think that the have "ADD" or some concentration problem. Maybe it's a by product of technology or our immediate satisfaction society, who knows.

I have always thought that I have had problems concentrating in both school and currently at work, but have never been prescribed medication.....I finally realized that the problem is that I have too many distractions (cell phone, TV, internet etc.). That was the problem.

Used to use Adderall for studying when I was in college - It never did what it was supposed to do, which was help me concentrate and study more effectively. I always found that it was better for busy work type things - raking the leaves, mowing the lawn, yard work, cleaning etc. rather than sitting down and reading, studying or writing a paper. It used to fuck me up bad, give me no personality and keep me up all night.

And just like another person said, I always got a tired depressed feeling coming down from it. I'm no chemist, but it had similar effects as cocaine - pretty sure it's from the same family of drugs.

Go see a psychiatrist - But in reality, you're probably overthinking things and get distracted too easily by all the extra minutae available in the world.

Figure out an effective way to get things done, prioritize before you go the drug route. Just my opinion, but I'm no psychiatrist.

I'm not making one generation out to be great or horrible, just noting that the trend is to "doctor shop" to find what you need (and that tends to be an Rx, not simple advice like "Get off your fat ass and excercies, put down the bacon double cheeseburger, etc.".) I've witnessed people say they can't concentrate as they're checking emails and facebook in between sending text messages. The fact is, they choose to concentrate on things that are largely insignificant. If you don't "like" yor friends lunch choice until after the work day is over, the world will not end, I promise you.

No doubt there were periods of such economic growth that college educated people found it much easier to get a job. However, the term "pussification of America" comes into play here too. There are more college grads now, but many, many of them simply found a school that had low enough standards that even they could get in. And they're just as likely to seek an Rx for something as someone with a more valuable degree.

If you think "competing" against morons who are pussified makes you special in some way, or you think that there aren't young people who are succeeding, then you're experiencing delusions of grandeur (and perhaps should seek an Rx to help you get over that).