I'll start from the beginning. I'm a creative guy, which can be a good thing and a bad thing.
Of course, you all know why it can be a good thing. But it also means it's kinda easy for me to get off task.
To set the scene, I'm in 11th grade at a competitive private school in Florida. I want to be an artist, whether it be in animation, graphic design, or some sort of engineering. I know I am a smart guy. I'm witty and have a hell of a lot of common sense; I'm not about to be modest about stuff like that.
My grades slipped in 9th and 10th grade because I simply got off task. I didn't try hard enough in subjects I knew I could excel in. Although I haven't been diagnosed with ADD (I'm not even sure if it's something that is "diagnosed"), I started taking Vyvance (specifically, I believe I take a 40 mg dosage once every morning), which helps my work ethic in school. Instead of having to do well, I now WANT to do well. My average is now an A- for this year and I'm happily working harder to try to get into a pretty good college like FSU or UCF for digital design or engineering.
This is all great!
However, I'll go for 2 to 3 days without any sleep. I've always been a night owl. I'm not a guy that needs that much sleep to function. 4 hours and I'm pumped and ready for whatever the next day throws at me. But lately, I haven't gotten much sleep. Another problem is that this medication completely takes away my appetite after breakfast. I don't eat lunch at school, and it makes me lack in (physical) energy. I barely eat dinner.
I talked to my doctor, he said that the medication is supposed to wear off around 6 pm and that I should be getting my homework done before that. I feel like it lasts much longer. I don't know if it has anything to do with my weight or height (6';150 lbs). I haven't really noticed any change in temper or attitude. I've always been kind of a smartass, of course not to my family. That's just how I am
. I asked my doctor about changing the medication to a different one, expecting possibly different results in health. He said this is probably my best option.
Anyway, my question is: Do you think I should try to ween myself off of the medication and POSSIBLY sacrifice the grades and attention I'm paying to school work? Or should I stay on the medication and try to stick it out until the end of this year? They say Junior year is the most important year for me to make positive changes in my grades.
PS: Any constructive criticism or advice with getting by in high school and/or college would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
-Mike-
Of course, you all know why it can be a good thing. But it also means it's kinda easy for me to get off task.
To set the scene, I'm in 11th grade at a competitive private school in Florida. I want to be an artist, whether it be in animation, graphic design, or some sort of engineering. I know I am a smart guy. I'm witty and have a hell of a lot of common sense; I'm not about to be modest about stuff like that.
My grades slipped in 9th and 10th grade because I simply got off task. I didn't try hard enough in subjects I knew I could excel in. Although I haven't been diagnosed with ADD (I'm not even sure if it's something that is "diagnosed"), I started taking Vyvance (specifically, I believe I take a 40 mg dosage once every morning), which helps my work ethic in school. Instead of having to do well, I now WANT to do well. My average is now an A- for this year and I'm happily working harder to try to get into a pretty good college like FSU or UCF for digital design or engineering.
This is all great!
However, I'll go for 2 to 3 days without any sleep. I've always been a night owl. I'm not a guy that needs that much sleep to function. 4 hours and I'm pumped and ready for whatever the next day throws at me. But lately, I haven't gotten much sleep. Another problem is that this medication completely takes away my appetite after breakfast. I don't eat lunch at school, and it makes me lack in (physical) energy. I barely eat dinner.
I talked to my doctor, he said that the medication is supposed to wear off around 6 pm and that I should be getting my homework done before that. I feel like it lasts much longer. I don't know if it has anything to do with my weight or height (6';150 lbs). I haven't really noticed any change in temper or attitude. I've always been kind of a smartass, of course not to my family. That's just how I am
. I asked my doctor about changing the medication to a different one, expecting possibly different results in health. He said this is probably my best option.Anyway, my question is: Do you think I should try to ween myself off of the medication and POSSIBLY sacrifice the grades and attention I'm paying to school work? Or should I stay on the medication and try to stick it out until the end of this year? They say Junior year is the most important year for me to make positive changes in my grades.
PS: Any constructive criticism or advice with getting by in high school and/or college would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
-Mike-
