jslugger94
New member
these circumstances? Here's my story... a little bit complicated. Please bear with me.
I'm a junior in high school. I've always gotten amazing grades. Just this year, I've really started needing to study for school. In the past, I've been able to get by without studying much and by completing work effortlessly. I believe I have a strong work ethic, whether it is school, high school baseball, Boy Scouts, or any other activity that I participate in.
For a little bit more background: my dad is a family physician (general doctor). He seems to be a lot more understanding than my mom. She always just tells me that I need to cut out distractions (computer, phone, etc.) and do my work. She expects it to get done magically, and isn't really the one to understand that I try my best to get my work done. By dad is logical and understanding.
A few months ago, I began doing test prep for the ACT (similar to the SAT). I took the ACT once, just to see where I was before prep. After that, I knew I could improve my score drastically by taking practice tests. I would take practice tests every week for about a month or two. I noticed that I would have trouble concentrating after the first section (English grammar, one of my stronger subjects). I knew something was wrong at this point. I never had been required to sit still for this much time and put all of my energy into a test. It's hard to describe, but I just wasn't able to do my best.
I have trouble focusing on my homework as well. It's not that I have distractions... I just am not physically able to get my work done. I'll muster up enough strength to start writing an essay, and I'll just get distracted by the smallest thing. It upsets me that I'm not able to focus on my homework almost every single night. I often start different assignments and end up not finishing any of them. I'll finish them right before they are due in my other classes at school. I'll usually not do very well.
One of my friends had gone to his doctor and complained of ADD symptoms, and had been given Vyvanse. Let me make it clear... he DOES NOT have ADD, but was able to get it from his doctor. Anyways, he gave me a few of his pills. Don't freak out... I know my medical history. No, I am not a licensed medical practitioner, but I know my own body and how I react to things. I know about interactions. I know how stimulants affect the mind. Don't call me a druggie.
Anyways, I decided to take one of these doses before I took a practice test, just to see if it would improve my ADD symptoms. It turns out, I was able to concentrate throughout the entire practice test, and I had no negative symptoms from the medicine. I did the best I had ever done on a practice test. Weeks later, I took the official ACT for the second time on Vyvanse, and felt that I had performed very well. I plan on taking the ACT a third time, just to see if I can beat my score once again.
What I am really asking is... how should I approach my dad with this? Obviously, he will be disappointed in me for experimenting with prescription drugs. To people who don't know the nature of Vyvanse: NO, it is not addictive. It is very hard to be abused to get high. I am not dependent. I was just made more aware that I DO have ADD. There is no doubt in my mind that I have ADD. I know that my dad won't be angry at me, because I will be confessing to him what I did honestly. He will only be slightly disappointed. Ultimately, I just want to get treated for ADD by a physician. My dad is not normally my physician, but he will prescribe antibiotics for my family, if he feels they are needed. There is a chance he would prescribe me an ADD med.
Should I even mention that I've used a friend's prescription drugs? Or should I just explain my symptoms? I don't feel that he'll completely understand my case unless I tell him how much the Vyvanse helped my symptoms.
Please help. I know that I sort of seem all over the place about this. I've probably left out a lot of important things and details, but I've tried my best. Thanks everyone.
I'm a junior in high school. I've always gotten amazing grades. Just this year, I've really started needing to study for school. In the past, I've been able to get by without studying much and by completing work effortlessly. I believe I have a strong work ethic, whether it is school, high school baseball, Boy Scouts, or any other activity that I participate in.
For a little bit more background: my dad is a family physician (general doctor). He seems to be a lot more understanding than my mom. She always just tells me that I need to cut out distractions (computer, phone, etc.) and do my work. She expects it to get done magically, and isn't really the one to understand that I try my best to get my work done. By dad is logical and understanding.
A few months ago, I began doing test prep for the ACT (similar to the SAT). I took the ACT once, just to see where I was before prep. After that, I knew I could improve my score drastically by taking practice tests. I would take practice tests every week for about a month or two. I noticed that I would have trouble concentrating after the first section (English grammar, one of my stronger subjects). I knew something was wrong at this point. I never had been required to sit still for this much time and put all of my energy into a test. It's hard to describe, but I just wasn't able to do my best.
I have trouble focusing on my homework as well. It's not that I have distractions... I just am not physically able to get my work done. I'll muster up enough strength to start writing an essay, and I'll just get distracted by the smallest thing. It upsets me that I'm not able to focus on my homework almost every single night. I often start different assignments and end up not finishing any of them. I'll finish them right before they are due in my other classes at school. I'll usually not do very well.
One of my friends had gone to his doctor and complained of ADD symptoms, and had been given Vyvanse. Let me make it clear... he DOES NOT have ADD, but was able to get it from his doctor. Anyways, he gave me a few of his pills. Don't freak out... I know my medical history. No, I am not a licensed medical practitioner, but I know my own body and how I react to things. I know about interactions. I know how stimulants affect the mind. Don't call me a druggie.
Anyways, I decided to take one of these doses before I took a practice test, just to see if it would improve my ADD symptoms. It turns out, I was able to concentrate throughout the entire practice test, and I had no negative symptoms from the medicine. I did the best I had ever done on a practice test. Weeks later, I took the official ACT for the second time on Vyvanse, and felt that I had performed very well. I plan on taking the ACT a third time, just to see if I can beat my score once again.
What I am really asking is... how should I approach my dad with this? Obviously, he will be disappointed in me for experimenting with prescription drugs. To people who don't know the nature of Vyvanse: NO, it is not addictive. It is very hard to be abused to get high. I am not dependent. I was just made more aware that I DO have ADD. There is no doubt in my mind that I have ADD. I know that my dad won't be angry at me, because I will be confessing to him what I did honestly. He will only be slightly disappointed. Ultimately, I just want to get treated for ADD by a physician. My dad is not normally my physician, but he will prescribe antibiotics for my family, if he feels they are needed. There is a chance he would prescribe me an ADD med.
Should I even mention that I've used a friend's prescription drugs? Or should I just explain my symptoms? I don't feel that he'll completely understand my case unless I tell him how much the Vyvanse helped my symptoms.
Please help. I know that I sort of seem all over the place about this. I've probably left out a lot of important things and details, but I've tried my best. Thanks everyone.