ritalin is given to younger people to combat hyperactivity when they suffer from it (for people who do not it acts as a stimulant like amphetamines, hence the reaction Squat Monkey had).
There was recently a big furore in the right-wing press because teenagers with this syndrome had realised the value that excess supplies of ritalin have to their friends who go raving etc; and were selling them in exchange for cash or mobile telephone credit vouchers.
I think I suffer from it to an extent but have dealt with much of the negative personality aspects; and (as the articles say) I can make use of it to positive ends as when you are genuinely interested in something you can work a lot harder.
I do have problems with concentration etc on anything I am not interested in and have to be careful not to make mistakes particularly as I get older and end up doing more responsible jobs.
Also I am not really that impulsive any more – OTOH I do constantly tend to check myself, think before I speak and make sure I am not doing anything too “inappropriate” or taking too many risks, because I have learnt my own limits (or the limits of what society wil tolerate!).
That is also to an extent why people who meet me in real life often find me a bit “shy” or “quiet” particularly with new people..
I also find that the lifestyle associated with raves etc exacerbates things and knackers my attention span to the point I finally am considering cutting down drastically and finally “calming down” although this is as much due to work and other pressures…
