So It's Life: ADHD

“I’d love your help. Want to share an anonymous story?” -Jenna

Anonymous Pilot Reply

I’d have to think of what I’d want to talk about. For a while I wanted to go to the FAA and work on trying to get ADHD meds approved. I think it’s so terrible that they would rather hush it up, or not have someone who is being seen by professional and under controlled medication. I would do what they asked or wanted if I could have taken what I needed to function more efficiently.

I mean I stopped in HS, and didn’t go back on. Especially when I found out I needed a medical. I “self medicated” with caffeine for tests, so I could focus. And I think I would have preformed significantly better in flying and school (I did well in class) but flying just took so much. And there were so many times I wanted to quit because of it. I’m still not on meds. I haven’t tried, as I don’t really need it with my job. But still I think about what could have changed or been different if I was.

Basically my understanding is that while adhd isn’t a disqualification itself, the medicine is. Luckily, I was off of it before I went to get a medical. So I was able to get a 2nd class medical, but I did have a 504 plan in college. I was able to transfer it from HS. This allows students different accommodations for tests or deadlines or other alternate methods to help with learning disabilities.

I had to go to the Therapist on school property to maintain the 504 plan. My main reason was more time for math/physics tests. And such. I had shit focus. But it helped. There was a whole system. I had to request the test, I would take it in a sealed envelope to the office. Take my test, and they’d seal it back up and I’d take it to the professor.

Yep… it’s sad. I loved flying, but for fun. It was too rigorous and draining. I tried.

I will always wonder what could have been, if things were different, and I could keep my medical and take the meds.

But I’m happy at X company, and have a great job making decent money. Still using everything I learned at school. So it’s life.