Have been pondering on asking for meds to help me focus for a while again. But as long as I can locate the main source of why I am so bloody unfocussed, and know that source can and should change, I just don't want to take meds. Meds do scare me.
I know how you feel, I don't like having to take them either. I waited many years before finally admitting that I needed something for the concentration. I'm glad I did. In fact, I wish I would have had this med twenty years ago. I realize now how much I struggled with life.
I know you are hesitant because you need to be there for the little ones, but the only side effect I've had on this was headaches that went away in less than a week.
I noticed how much better I am if things are going as planned. If someone keeps disrupting my life, no matter in how friendly a way, it gets very bad. And I just don't want to take meds because of my ex dropping by time and time again unannounced, and thus messing me up. I don't want to take meds because of his behaviour. If he behaves well, and I still see myself not improving enough, I will think about it. My two NT brothers both have been on amphetamines for a short time as kids, to help them over a learning hurdle. And it did them well. Does scare me though. And not every one is as positive on concerta/ritalin as you are. So I will be hesitant to try it when life isn't that stable any way. I would need some basic stability to try it.
Have you recently broken up? (Feel free not to answer this, of course)
I don't deal well with emotional 'stuff' in my life....it either distresses me or I shut down completely...sometimes the shut down is good, most times a really traumatic event or stress can send me into a 'zone'...and I'm OK. I can be the calm one when everyone else loses their head. But...
on the flipside, if I go into 'distress' (can't think of the right word, now), it can have an awful wave effect on my life.
I do fight going on medication...and the AS clinic I went to supported that, and worked with me on options on how to cope and open up the pathways I suppose in my mind for processing / coping when I have my bad times.