29M, I felt like my whole life was a nightmare from which I couldn't wake up, racing thoughts, mental overload, impulsive behaviour all the time. I feel so unable to fit into society, unable to have a social life, socially awkward and my social skills are poor. Makes me have really severe social anxiety. Lonely, avoidance.

My parents NEVER take my ADHD condition seriously even though I have been diagnosed by a psychiatrist. I don't get my treatment until I'm 18. Even though I've got my stimulant medication, it's still a struggle for me. The stimulant makes my anxiety so much worse. I had to hurt myself to cope. And most of the time, no one around me understands my struggle. I dropped out of school, lost my job several times.

Stimulant did not improve my symptom, it did but only when I'm not stressed out and not in anxious or panic attack, but most of the time I'm in miserable state and stimulant just amplified the negative emotion. Not to mention the stimulant crash. It's so horrible and at some point I can't cope, even if I cut my wrist. Every time I try to do something productive or the things I really want to do. I get vomit, diarrhoea and really bad anxiety and I have had serious suicidal thoughts several times.

I am tired all the time. I am almost out of options. Exercise, meditation, supplements, stimulants. None of them are really changing my life. When I bring my self harm to psychiatrist and he finally prescribe me with Strattera, after a month. It's really life changing, first thing I know it's that my anxiety and depression are great in control. And the noise, the impulsiveness are just GONE. I'm so much more aware, alert, presence of mind. I cried several times at realize how calm, how present and at peace I am. I could finally have the life I want and the energy to do it. I see hope at last.