Medicine, Me, and ADD

(a short story)

Melissa could see that Jen was boiling mad when she came out the main door of the school. She walked real fast and only looked straight ahead of her. Jen was Melissa's best friend and they walked home together from school every day. Today Jen seemed so upset that she almost walked right by Melissa without even seeing her!

 "Jen, what's wrong?"

Jen stopped walking and noticed Melissa for the first time. Melissa had wavy hair and big brown eyes and wore round glasses which made her eyes look even bigger. Sometimes the boys teased her about her glasses, but Jen just thought that Melissa looked very smart in them.

"I could have punched that Brian just now!" Jen said. "It's not cool to beat up on a boy so I just walked away. Boy, he gets me so mad!"

"Oh, no, not Brian again," Melissa said with a sigh. "What did he do now?"

"He said that I'm dumb because I take medicine for ADD," Jen replied sadly. Her eyes got a little watery, like she was going to cry. Melissa could see that her friend was not only mad, but also her feelings were hurt.

"Well," said Melissa, "I think that Brian is kind of dumb for even saying that."

 "Yeah, I know, but it still makes me soooo mad!" Jen said. The two girls started walking down the sidewalk toward their homes. They were quiet for a while, and Melissa was thinking.

"Know what, Jen? Taking medicine doesn't make anyone dumb. My dad takes medicine for his high blood pressure, and he says it just makes him feel better and he can do more things with us. Like go camping."

"Yeah, that's right," Jen replied. "And besides, that dumb Brian takes medicine for his asthma to help him breathe better, so what does he know!"

 They looked at each other and burst into giggles. Jen smiled and seemed a little more relaxed.

"Well, your medicine helps you pay attention better, right?" Melissa asked. "So if it helps you, then it's a good thing."

"I guess so," Jen said. "I feel less fuzzy headed when I take it. It helps me concentrate."

"Right," Melissa agreed. "And it helps you be less hyper, so you can sit still and get things done. Right?"

"Yes," said Jen, nodding her head. "Remember when I was spending like three hours on homework every night, cause I couldn't stay focused and I'd get real hyper? Now it takes like one hour and I get it all done. My parents say I have to take the medicine to take care of the ADD."

"Right, see?" Melissa said encouragingly. "So then it's helping you."

"Yeah but sometimes I just wish I didn't have to take it," Jen said. She looked away and sounded a little sad again. "Why do I have to have ADD? I wish I could just focus without any medicine. Sometimes I feel like I'm so different!"

Melissa stopped walking and looked at her friend, her big brown eyes all serious behind her round glasses. "Don't be silly!" Melissa said. "Just because you have ADD doesn't mean that you're different from anybody else. Hey listen, we're all different in some way!"

Jen turned and started walking quietly again. She was looking down at the sidewalk.

"Look Melissa, you don't need to take medicine to help you pay attention. You can focus just fine without any help. See, I am different!"

Melissa scrunched up her face and thought. There was nothing wrong with Jen, and it didn't matter that Jen had ADD. Jen was the best friend that Melissa ever had. She felt kind of bad because Jen felt bad.

Suddenly Melissa looked up, with a big wide grin on her face.

"You're wrong about that!" she said to Jen. "I need something to help me focus better too!"

"Huh?" Jen asked. "What are you talking about? You don't have ADD."

"Don't you remember when we were in 4th grade, in Mrs. Johnson's class?" Melissa said, and her smile got even bigger.

"Yes I remember Mrs. Johnson's class," Jen replied. She gave her friend a puzzled look.

"Well," Melissa said, "remember when I had trouble seeing the board, and I had a real hard time in math? I had a D- in math one semester because I couldn't see the board! So that's when I got something to help me focus!"

Jen looked at Melissa's wide grin, and at her big brown eyes beaming at her from behind her big round glasses.

"Your glasses!" Jen said and started laughing. "That's when you got your glasses!"

"Right!" Melissa said. "I need my glasses to help focus my vision! You need ADD medicine to help you focus your attention! So what's the big deal?"

Jen stopped laughing and just stood there, smiling. "No big deal, Melissa. You are just the best friend in the world."

"So look Jen, I'll wear my glasses to help me focus, and you take your medicine to help you focus, and we won't care what Brian or anybody else thinks. Deal?"

"Deal!" Jen said. "I'm not even mad at Brian anymore, it's not worth it."

"OK then!"

Melissa looked down the block to their houses, right next door to each other. "Tell you what, why don't we ask your mom if you can come over and play before we do homework?"

"Sure! I get first turn on Play Station!"

"No way!" Melissa said. "I'll race you to your driveway, winner gets first turn on Play Station!"

"Deal! Ready.....set......."

"GO!!" 

There are many types of medicine which people take for ADD. Your doctor and parents will decide if you need to take medicine, and which type is best for you.

Medicine for ADD mostly helps people pay attention better, not be as hyper, and helps them be more patient so they can get things done. It should not make you feel any different, or think different, and it won't change who you are.

Taking medicine for ADD does not make anyone dumb or different. Many very smart people have ADD and take medicine to help them pay attention and focus better.

Some medicines for ADD might make you have less appetite, or have a harder time falling asleep at night. If that happens it's important to tell your parents and your doctor, so the doctor can decide if you need a different type of medicine.

Kids and adults who take medicine for ADD are just like anybody else. They are just as smart and healthy as anybody else. If anyone tells you differently, talk about it with your parents and doctor. Usually those people who say mean things don't understand what ADD is or what medicine for ADD does. They don't know any better!

Text material copyright (c) 1998, Peter Jaksa, Ph.D. This story may be copied for personal use. It may not be reprinted without expressed written consent from the author. Dr. Jaksa may be reached at e-mail address DrJaksa@aol.com

Graphics copyright (c) 1998 West Essex Psychology Center