Life on adderall

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My ‘Why’

When I was in my addiction, I was completely obsessed with Adderall. It was the first thing I thought about when I woke up, it consumed my thoughts throughout the day—especially when the high would start to wear off—and it was the last thing on my mind before I went to sleep. I couldn’t wait to wake up just to take another pill.

I started projecting my experience onto others. Any time I saw someone working hard or focused, I’d think, “They’re on Adderall too.” Sometimes, I’d even ask them. Looking back, I realize this was my way of normalizing my use—trying to connect with others through my obsession. I’d go as far as telling people they were “missing out” if they weren’t taking it and would pressure those close to me to try it, just so we could be in that strange high together. Some of my friends told me they hated how it made them feel—but I didn’t believe them.

To this day, I carry guilt for pushing others to take something just so I wouldn’t feel alone—or ashamed. I was desperately seeking validation, and because of that, I became hyper-aware of any mention of Adderall. But the validation I found wasn’t always the kind I wanted. It didn’t confirm that the drug was “good” for me or that I truly “needed” it—instead, it forced me to confront the depth of my obsession. Deep down, I knew I was on a dangerous path.

Below are the TV shows I watched and re-watched, simply because they mentioned the word “Adderall”—none of them in a positive light.

Reality TV Addy Mentions: 

Stassi Schroeder: During the Season 7 reunion, Stassi revealed she stopped taking Adderall after realizing its negative impact on her relationships and behavior. She attributed some of her past outbursts to mixing Adderall with alcohol.

Source: People.com

Kristen Doute: In a 2016 interview, Kristen admitted to using Adderall to cope with the show's demanding filming schedule.

Article: Refinery29

Shows That Mention Addy:

Riverdale: In Season 3, Episode 10 ("Chapter Forty-Five: The Stranger"), Reggie Mantle uses Adderall to enhance his performance during football games, highlighting the pressures student-athletes face.

Pretty Little Liars: In Season 4, Episodes 18 ("Hot for Teacher") and 20 ("Free Fall"), Spencer Hastings becomes addicted to Adderall while trying to manage academic pressures and personal challenges.

The Morning Show: In Season 1, Episode 6 ("The Pendulum Swings"), Hannah Shoenfeld offers Claire Conway Adderall to help them stay awake during a demanding work situation, shedding light on workplace stress and reliance on stimulants.

Industry: In Season 1, Episode 4 ("Sesh"), Harper Stern's birthday celebrations turn sour when a past mistake involving drug use comes back to haunt her and threatens her future at the bank.

Desperate Housewives: Lynette Scavo (played by Felicity Huffman) uses Adderall in Season 1, specifically in Episodes 10 and 11.

In Season 1, Episode 10 (“Come Back to Me”), Lynette gets Adderall from another mom after struggling to keep up with her energetic kids and mounting responsibilities. She begins taking the pills to stay on top of everything.

Season 1, Episode 11 (“Move On”), Lynette’s use starts spiraling as she becomes increasingly dependent. Eventually, she confesses to Tom and decides to stop using it.

This storyline was one of the early examples on TV showing a suburban mom turning to prescription stimulants to manage the unrealistic pressures of modern motherhood. 

Southern Charm: During the season 6 reunion, Craig Conover first opened up about his Adderall addiction. He admitted to struggling with dependency, originally prescribed for ADD, but eventually abusing the medication.

Later, in his memoir, Pillow Talk: What’s Wrong with My Sewing?, Craig revealed that by the end of Season 3, he was heavily addicted—taking three 15mg pills of Adderall daily. His use escalated after a breakup before Season 5, and although he tried to quit before Season 6, he relapsed during filming because he felt he couldn’t do the show without it.