When it’s a name like Pills Don’t Teach Skills, I have certainly had a few inquiries about what this means? So, let’s set the record straight and make sure everyone understands the title of this Blog and the book I have written.
First and foremost, I am not a Doctor. If you feel the need to utilize medication to assist in dealing with ADD please see your Doctor. Having said that, I feel that the use of medication can be beneficial in managing ADD. The point I want to make is, the pills are not the answer. In other words…..pills don’t teach skills. If you take medication, it is the additional things you need to do that allow you to work through the challenges of ADD and learn. Medication simply can help to put your brain into the state of having the ability to learn. It’s up to you to learn through research, reading and the development of life skills etc.. Personal, the most effective thing I did was utilize an ADD coach to work with me while I was on medication. I am no longer on medication and still use my ADD coach.
So, pills will not teach you skills. If you and your Doctor determine that medication is the right direction, the pills will help if you make the effort to work towards better management of ADD and becoming a better person.
I just stumbled across your blog, and was intrigued by the name. I am an adult living with ADD, diagnosed at the age of 33. I could go on and on about the challenges. We all can.
But I wanted to drop a note because your explanation above lines up well with my experience. I’ve been taking medication for my ADD since diagnosis, and I concur that reason it helps is because it allows me to use more effectively the tools and skills I need to manage my ADD.
For me, ADD is like being locked in a room with no doors, windows, or other exits. In this room, there’s a television. It’s on, it’s loud, and it randomly changes channels every 30 seconds or so. I can’t unplug it, turn it down, or turn it off.
What the medication does for me is that it turns the volume down on the television, and slows the channel shifting, so that I know when my ADD is kicking in, and I can use the tools and skills I have to manage it, and keep it from derailing me.