I was always super ambitious, but whenever it came time to actually get work done, I always had to force myself to get started — and staying focused was my biggest problem.
Like a lot of folks finishing grad school and growing their careers, I tried a small dose of adderall that a friend gave me. And I couldn’t believe how well it worked.
I started taking it to power through big projects and all-nighters, and I would take it almost once every week. But when I started relying on it, I knew I had to stop taking it from someone else.
Getting A Prescription
I went to see a doctor, and I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get a prescription. I knew what to say (I’d looked it up online), but I was shocked that it only took about five minutes. I just gave him the spiel and I was out of there.
Having my own supply was great at first, but once I started taking it almost every day, I noticed the effects became less and less strong. Eventually, it just stopped working. And my focus and energy levels were even worse than before.
I went to the same doctor to report back, and he responded by doubling my dose. Sure enough, I got the same boost as when I first tried it — but it came with side effects this time. It made me feel really irritable and stressed, tapping my foot and tensing my jaw all day long.
The Tolerance
And the energy and focus it gave me wasn’t reliable anymore. One day I’d take it and knock out my entire to-do list. Another day I’d take it and zone in on a Wikipedia page for a couple hours, without starting the work I was supposed to do.
And other people noticed. My personality started to morph, and my friends started to comment that I always seem stressed and tense, like something was wrong.
So I finally decided to quit. The first week was torture — I couldn’t even get out of bed. I couldn’t believe I was addicted to something that didn’t even work well for me.
Finding Nootropics
While I was adjusting, I spent a ton of time researching different ways to boost my focus. And I can remember the exact moment I stumbled across the word “nootropics.”
Essentially, that funky-looking word refers to a class of cognitive enhancers that modulate neurotransmitter systems. Think: ingredients like gingko, ashwagandha, lion’s mane, and amino acids like NALT and L-Theanine.
Long story short, nootropics were the only thing that could get me to focus like I needed to, so I could finally get stuff done without constantly getting distracted. For me, the right blend of nootropics gave me the perfect amount of energy and focus, without any of the side-effects I had before. No irritability, jitters, or crash — just me, in the zone. Plus, after a few weeks, I noticed my short-term memory noticeably improve.
Personalized Nootropics With Thesis
To get my nootropics, I use Thesis. I’ve tried a few other brands, but Thesis is the only brand I’ve found that’s completely personalized. They even matched me up with a brain coach I can talk to if I want to change my formulas or chat through my goals.
You can check out Thesis here, but I want to finish off by saying that there isn’t anything wrong with using Adderall as prescribed. If it works for you, I’m happy for you. But it’s ridiculously easy to get a prescription for it these days — and I didn’t understand how serious a medication it was until it was too late.
