Are you concerned about medium/long term damage to your brain or endocrine system? I'm not judging at all, but for me, the fear of damaging what is my #1 asset has kept me away from anything beyond the occasional cup of tea. The idea of being "in the zone" easily and for hours is very appealing, but the unknowns and risks make my shy away. What are your thoughts?
I run regularly, and eat reasonably well. There are risks, but the difference is so dramatic i think it's worth it. As i understand it, amphetamines have been around forever, and are pretty well understood.
To be clear, i tried everything many times. personal organizers, schedules, regular exercise, diet, avoiding stimulants like caffeine and depressants like alcohol, meditation, weird reward systems where i'd buy myself stuff if i did well for x days. I didn't do the full powerset... maybe there is some combination that would work, but my search for a system i could live with for the rest of my life was not successful.
My current personal theory is, I wear glasses cause my eyes are a little screwy, and take speed cause my brain chemistry is a little screwy.
I'd suggest doing everything else first. 5 hours of exercise (or so) a week is a big win. If you only eat horrible food, diet changes help ... if you occasionaly eat horrible food not so much. Meditation helped, but if you only do 1 thing, pick exercise.
If you still suck at finishing things after you've done all that, talk to your doctor.
"My current personal theory is, I wear glasses cause my eyes are a little screwy, and take speed cause my brain chemistry is a little screwy."
I wish this POV was more prevalent, and I hope that more people talking about neurochemical imbalances will help that.
Most people have no trouble with the idea of taking insulin shots to handle diabetes, but somehow taking brain drugs is de facto spooky bad. Pretty much, "Oh, psychiatric stuff. So you're like, crazy?"
My understanding is that the biggest risk is acclimation/addiction.
I can live with that, insomuch as it's a trade off of that risk versus problems right now with focus and concentration.
(That said, pretty much anyone routinely taking any drug needs to have their liver functions checked regularly, and periodically evaluate if the drug is still doing doing anything useful.)
If you are not currently fighting cognitive problems, then the risk/benefit balance is different.
After 30 years I decided I probably have ADD. Talked to a doctor and he agreed.
Very small doses give me hours and hours of concentration.
Only about six months in, but the difference is night and day.