I used to take ADHD medication to manage my condition beginning when I was about 13 years old. I am now 23.
I continued this for about 5 or 6 years, and then gradually came down off of my medications. I had been put on a number of different medications at different times to see which medication worked best for me, and we finally settled on taking Concerta, and did this so for about 3 or 4 years.
In the time I was off of my medications, I developed Major Depression, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, problems with managing stress which lead to PTSD, developed non-bacterial chronic prostatitis from the stress, formed more Obsessive Compulsive behaviors, and a horrible case of Hypochondria.
These emotional problems and mental disorders I have been diagnosed with were never a problem when I was younger, for I never experienced them (aside from Hypochondria, for I used to panic about the way my heart would beat a lot when I was about 8 years old, even though my heartbeat was normal).
These emotional problems and mental disorders listed above developed real slowly after I graduated from high school and stopped taking my ADHD meds "safely", and I thought it was just part of the anxiety with growing up, but I have come to find out from a therapist that this is definitely not the case.
I have recently been put back on Concerta so I can go back to college and concentrate better. I've noticed in the past few days I have been able to manage my emotional stress better, and I have been less anti-social issues.
Could the fact that I was no longer managing my ADHD with medication have a factor in me developing these disorders?