When the ADHD Medication wears off, the magic comes back

Being medicated for my ADHD has been a complete game changer. It allows my mind to focus and to turn down the ever-changing radio station in my mind. I can keep a tight schedule, prioritize my tasks, complete projects in a timely manner, and stay present with what’s in front of me.

There are occasions when I don’t need and don’t take medication. It still amazes me how quickly my mind reverts. But after years of building new practices and habits with the help of medication, my days are still more structured than they once were.

There are times though that I get to experience my brain transition. When the medication has worn off and is out of my system.

If I stay up late enough — I’m usually in bed by 10:30PM — I get to experience the circus come back to town, and I savor it. It starts slowly, maybe while watching TV, I notice my mind wandering, starting to flip slowly and aimlessly. Then I’ll notice that I’m physically not as still as I was, I might be flexing my foot up and down.

Over the course of a half an hour, my thoughts speed up and the creativity that is expertly stifled by medication begins to wake up. Now pushing towards midnight is when I feel like I have an endless stream of ideas to write about. Instead of launching into writing now though, I just note some ideas to come back to.

It’s at these times that I feel most like myself. Being diagnosed with ADHD was a giant relief. I, along with others close to me, had long suspected it. The relief that medication brought has been almost entirely positive, and I wouldn’t want to go back to living without it.

In moments like tonight though it’s nice to be reminded of the dreamer I am, and to tap into the creative mind that I possess.