[nusl]

I’ve had ADHD my entire life, too, and never tried medication until my early 30s. After being unmedicated for so long and learning to adapt with it as a superpower as you say, I found meds to mostly be ineffective. They do remove the random side noise that can sometimes be detracting, which helps when you need single-minded focus without much deviation. Otherwise, it makes me feel jittery when it’s active and physically tired when it wears off. I tend to dose when I need it as needed, which my Psych says is fine if it works for me. Eg. a quarter of a tablet 30min or so before I need the effect. This is with plain methylphenidate and not an extended release variant. I’ve also known others to start meds later in life and shortly thereafter be unable to work effectively without them. In such cases, I am unsure if having a strong dependence on a med is worth it over trying to work with ADHD. Dependence on meds can have lasting effects.

That being said, I quite enjoy ADHD outside of times where it can make focus or work harder. I see things in, IMO, more interesting ways, and learn and notice things I might not otherwise. Some of these things have significantly contributed to my personal and working life in a positive way.

As a side-note, I also take Wellbutrin for depression, though it has a stimulant effect. I am unsure if this effect contributes but I haven’t noticed a significant change when I forget to take it for a while.

TLDR; depends. Try meds, see how it is for you. Try not to entirely depend on them to be productive.

[dranudin]

I have a similar experience. I got a prescription for adderall type medicine when I was around 18 years old. I think my ADHD is not a very severe one. Taking the medication was not worth it for me. I could focus better after taking the pills, but when the effect wore out I was pretty exhausted and way more unconcentrated than before.