This is the Message Centre for NMcCoy (attempting to standardize my username across the Internet. Formerly known as Twinkle.)
Stick TUIT & Ritalin
Blue-Eyed BiPedal BookWorm from Betelgeuse (aka B4[insertpunhere]) Started conversation Feb 6, 2003
Twinkle,
I was checking out the On-Line TUIT Store hosted by Master B, and took a peek at your Personal Space, as you also contributed something of use to him. Wanted to know how taking the Ritalin went (or is going) for you. Did it do well for you? Did you experience any unwanted side-effects? How's your "background noise"? Did your parents and friends notice a change for the better or worse?
I've got a 14-year-old daughter who's had some tough emotional times over the last year and she was prescribed that, on top of some other mood stabilizing drugs. By the time the doctors added the Ritalin to the mix, we began to wonder how her body would handle all the different medications. She wound up getting dizzy and losing her visual focus: she described it as "looking down a tunnel, it's as if everything just got far away and I was looking at it from behind myself". At that point, we agreed with her to discontinue it. She's still on the other stabilizers, but we won't be putting her back on the Ritalin.
Best of everything to You,
B4 
Stick TUIT & Ritalin
NMcCoy (attempting to standardize my username across the Internet. Formerly known as Twinkle.) Posted Feb 6, 2003
It went badly for me. I didn't really give it a "fair trial", but I hated it so much the few times that I took it that I refused to take any more. I just couldn't think, really. It helps you focus by refusing to let your mind wander, which was worse for me than it might sound. It doesn't make the tedium any less tedious, you see. It just makes the tedious stuff the only thing there, so you have to do it. Imagine being locked in an empty room for several hours with nothing but a pile of simple addition problems.
So no, I didn't experience any unwanted side effects (other than slight loss of appetite); I experienced unwanted main effects.
Stick TUIT & Ritalin
Blue-Eyed BiPedal BookWorm from Betelgeuse (aka B4[insertpunhere]) Posted Feb 6, 2003
Twinkle,
Glad to hear that you and your parents agreed to leave off using the Ritalin. I feel it's over-prescribed by many doctors and acts as a panacea for the patient and his(her) closest relations--until they begin to see the detrimental effects to the overall personality. Welcome back to the thinking world. Beyond that, find a good counselor that can teach to 'channel' your thoughts creatively so you can practice staying on a particular task to completion.
One other thing that will be helpful: make yourself 'want to do a certain amount of tasks you normally find distasteful. Life is full of them and we've each got to contend with them rather than try to ignore or run away from them. Once you get in the habit of getting the 'stupid stuff' out of the way, you'll find a greater peace to enjoy the 'fun stuff' you'd rather be doing. You won't constantly be living with that nagging feeling of "Gee, I really oughta get that done, but..."
Bless,
B4irambleon
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Stick TUIT & Ritalin
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