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I took Ritalin for several years as a kid. Hey, it was the 80's, we didn't know any better then. I went from being free-spirited and emotional to cold and calculating. I'm still cold and calculating today, because I learned that by embracing it, I could get ahead. I went from being a classic extrovert to being the exceptional-strong-INTJ I am now. Not that I'm complaining - I like who I am, and think most emotional extroverts are weak. The point is, though, that Ritalin makes permanent changes to the brain's functions - terrifying changes. Children go from being happy carefree fun machines to being criminal masterminds under the effects of the chemicals contained in that particular product. Several other people I grew up with that took it in larger doses for longer periods developed OCD tendencies later in life, a few were involved in some of the case studies on the drug. My sister did a paper on it in college using me as her inspiration. Her findings were downright frightening, to say the least.

Consequently, I had an employer who found out I used to be a Ritalin taker, and he decided he wanted me back on it to keep working for him. I told him to lay me off or I was calling the law. I found a new job the next week.

And to address the INTJ thing, I was always INTJ, and while I did notice a bit less creativity while I was on medication, I found that losing it was not permanent. When not taking it, I am emotionally back to how I was before I started. I’m not saying it isn’t a bad thing, for some people, but I don’t feel it has had any negative effects on me.

[I took Ritalin for several years as a kid. Hey, it was the 80’s, we didn’t know any better then. I went from being free-spirited and emotional to cold and calculating.]

Most parents are fools and allow their children to be drugged so they do not have to be parents to them. And it is the male children who are largely overdosed and most wind up using drugs, over 80% become addicts and many commit suicide and yet most American homes are full of ritilan boys.