Posted by Tomatheus on February 4, 2012, at 9:53:20
In reply to are stimulants cures for work + stress, posted by Jeroen on February 4, 2012, at 6:30:05
Jeroen,
I'm not an expert on stimulants or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but it's my understanding that although stimulants don't cure anything that they treat the symptoms of ADHD. By altering the brain chemistry of individuals afflicted by ADHD, stimulants tame down hyperactivity and improve focus, which, I believe, can enable those who respond favorably to the medications to work more efficiently and handle stress better.
In response to your second question, I would say that stimulant-induced mania and/or stimulant-induced psychosis are possible outcomes when a mentally healthy person takes stimulants, but I don't think that the medications always produce symptoms that resemble those seen in mental illnesses. Stimulants certainly alter the brain chemistry of those who take the medications, whether the individuals taking them are mentally healthy or not, and thus affect the feelings and behaviors of those using the drugs. However, the alterations in brain chemistry produced by stimulant use have different effects on different individuals. In some cases, stimulant use can lead to behaviors and feelings that would resemble mental illness. In other cases, the medications actually make the symptoms of mental illness -- ADHD in particular -- less severe. So, I would say that the extent to which stimulants can make one seem mentally ill varies from one individual to the next.
Tomatheus
Suffers from anergic depression and aminoguanidine-induced psychosis and cognitive impairment, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.
Taking 5 mg Abilify, 2.25 mg Hydergine, and six supplements.
poster:Tomatheus
thread:1009261
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