Why does Adderall calm me, reduce my social anxiety, and make me happier?

Answer 1

If you have ADD/ADHD, these stimulants tend to calm you down and help to focus your attention, whereas if someone without ADD takes a recreational stimulant they're physically and mentally jumping all over the place. This is not a paradoxical reaction as seen in people with bipolar disorder. The ADD/ADHD brain has areas of under-activity primarily in the prefrontal cortices. Anyway, the lack of activity in the prefrontal cortices is the reason why our train of thought is always jumping tracks, if not crashing outright. Nature abhors a vacuum, right? So the brain makes up for that under-activity with extra activity elsewhere, thus the hyperactivity part of ADHD. The ADD meds go right to the prefrontal cortices and generally boost the activity everywhere, but mainly, when they work correctly, where there's not enough activity. Thus activity in the brain is smoothed out and regulated and there's no need to be hyperactive in one place because you're not under-active anywhere else. And with normal brain activity you can keep a train of thought going.

To use a somewhat flawed analogy of a car with a misfiring cylinder, the one or two cylinders that aren't firing correctly are the under-active parts of the brain, while the ones causing the annoying backfires, knocks and bangs are the hyperactive parts of the brain. The ADD meds smooth out the activity of your brain so everything runs at the same level of activity. The trick is just making sure you're not revving too fast all the time.

Answer 2

Adderall Social Anxiety

Answer 3

Adderall For Anxiety

Answer 4

I'm on Adderall. It calmed me, made me more alert, able to pay attention, and that in itself made me happier. I didn't feel as spaced out as I did my whole life lol. But it didn't do much for my social Anxiety. I tried the Paxil for that, which did nothing. So I was put on Benzos. Klonopin. The wafers are great. I can't swallow pills for anything.

But the calmning part, I totally agree with. Before I was on it, I was so easily provoked. Blowing up at the slightest thing. lol. I used to call Adderall my "miracle drug" but not so much anymore...it's not working like its supposed to and the impaired part is a bit disabling....and I don't know what to do...


how long have you been on Adderall? Is it yours or someone elses?


and I thought that the Adderall increased the amounts of Dopamine and Norepinepherine. I didn't even know that it touched the Serotonin.

Answer 5

Well, the first three answers are all right. Also studies of spinal fluid of ADDers show that those of us in that category have a significantly lower level of serotonin the your average non ADD/ADHD individual.
If you want the technical answer, think of the messages traveling 'round your brain as little guys in canoes, Your thought sends them all running to the shoreline & they hop in their canoes to get the message across to the other side. Only there are more messages than there are canoes(neurotransmitters). The Adderall supplies the extra canoes.
For a really great & empowering, funny & intriguing look at the subject, try a great self-help book written by an ADD psychologist and an ADHD teacher:" You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid Or Crazy? A self-help book for ADDers."

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why does Adderall calm me, reduce my social anxiety, and make me happier?

Answer 7

If you are a natural person you should try cognitive behavioral therapy. It was the only thing that has helped me with my horrible health anxiety. Read here https://tr.im/EndPanicAttacks

Your thinking determines your quality of life. Your thinking is what causes you these feelings:

Anxious, fearful, stressed or depressed
Constantly worried, or angry about something that is happening in your life
Struggling to overcome obsessive and negative thoughts.

If you change your thinking, you will change your life. This is the basic idea behind CBT for anxiety. The Cognitive part is where you learn nee methods and ways to change your same old habits and thinking patterns. If you keep thinking and expecting the worst – You will continue to suffer.

Answer 8

Check out this program I found online about social anxiety and shyness http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=296
I'm using it and results are encouraging. I'm getting better overtime.
Have a nice day

Answer 9

You might just have ADD. ADD people have a different brain chemistry than most people. That's why they're calmed by stimulants. I have ADD and caffeine calms me and helps me to focus instead of making me hyper.

Answer 10

It provides more Seratonin to the brain. Seratonin is the chemical produced by the body that stimulates "the happiness center" of the brain. Lack of seratonin causes depression/anxiety, or a lack of concentration (ADD/ADHD).