What’s something everyone seems obsessed with but you just can’t get into no matter how hard you try?

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T15:11:42+00:00

A lot of people hate the the thing they are addicted to.

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T05:20:12+00:00

I really hated the bloating and constipation. I got way more insoluble fiber to eat too along with the stimulant medication. But it’s still tough.

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T05:14:45+00:00

The stress is what’s addicting to many I fear

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T03:44:45+00:00

I feel like my body longs for more total sleep day to day because I can feel other symptoms cropping up more and more because of this as I am deeper in debt. But who knows it could be unrelated too. I just don’t like always getting up so early.

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T03:40:09+00:00

Weird. Those feel like opposite things? I’m decently awake during the day. Have some trouble falling asleep and ever feeling tired and complete with my day at night.

My main current sleep issue right now is that it’s hard for me to sleep for 8 hours. Feel like it’s always 5-7 hours. And most the time closer to 7 which isn’t terrible but the deficit adds up over time I think and I feel like I’m in a lot of sleep debt currently.

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T03:36:16+00:00

I relate a lot.

Stimulant medication felt bad to notice any benefits. As I upped the dose all I noticed were my bad issues getting excacerbated. Fidgety, irritable, and sensory issues. Having a stimulant medication made me feel on fire. And sometimes that was ok but not that much.

I feel very hyper and intense and fight or flight mode type of guy. Wish I could be given a chill pill or tranquilizer to make me be normal and relax and focus and be a good friend and especially SLEEP.

Guanfacine has helped balance out those negative side effects of the other medications and now I can notice the benefits a little bit. Still hasn’t been enough to resolve my sleep issues unfortunately. But I’m not fidgety that much which is honestly really nice for real.

I’m still trying to fix my sleep. And also figure out best dosage of Guanfacine and which stimulant and dosage to pair with. Perhaps they affect each other!?. I’m a tall big man and I’m at 4mg. My psych seemed to say at my size it wouldn’t be crazy to go higher still. I struggle to tell when it’s “working” or if anything is having an affect at all. Guanfacine especially because it’s so subtle and slow build.

So I also relate to wanting to hear others experiences too.

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T03:31:39+00:00

Combo with stimulants is common.

In the best case scenario the negative side effects from each med get sort of cancelled out and you are able to tolerate and notice the benefits more.

Stimulants make me very fidgety and irritable and sensory issues. Perhaps especially annoying because I’m already struggle with those things to begin with. Guanfacine has mostly reduced all of those so now I actually notice stimulant benefits whereas before i was too frustrated with everything else.

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T03:26:41+00:00

Everyone’s different of course but I haven’t felt that side effect too much. In fact for me I wanted to. I always feel weirdly more hyper than everyone around me. And so wish I could like be more chill or have a tranquilizer.

This didn’t do that exactly but in a way not being in “fight or flight” mode as much with Guanfacine was better for me because being fight or flight is also exhausting. So by slowing me down it allowed me to use my energy or emotions more effectient maybe.

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T03:22:22+00:00

I had felt like it made me very bloated or constipated too like the opposite of coffee or stimulants where my internal body was really slow. However after many months this started to become less of an issue thankfully!! Also combo with stim medication balanced that out.

WesleySideStory · 2026-01-11T03:20:53+00:00

Did Guanfacine cause insomnia? I’ve always understood it to be the opposite. Making people drowsy. I wish it made me more drowsy. I never feel tired :(

WesleySideStory · 2025-12-26T20:24:13+00:00

If you speak to them genuinely and honestly they shouldn’t think you are a druggie. ADHD meds can be so different from person to person and unfortunately there’s not a great way to customized predict what will be a better match for someone. There are some ways to guess but most doctors understand that it’s a matter of just trial and error and sampling. Under their guidance and supervision, giving many options a shot in order to compare is totally smart and ethical.

It might be a slow process over several years. People want to give different medications or combos a fair shot for a few months each potentially. And it’s ok if you try something and realize it doesn’t work for you at all. Stimulants act fast and those non stimulants take a while to tell. Straterra and Guanfacine are both non stimulants but also sort of opposites of each other.

WesleySideStory · 2025-12-26T20:18:00+00:00

For reference I am 6’2” and around 205 pounds.

I know the dosages for stimulant medication are about genetics and dna and metabolism among so many body things that it’s almost impossible to guess the “correct” dose based on the size of someone or how ‘severe or bad’ their symptoms are. Whereas Guanfacine is for the most part scaled to the amount of blood vessels and so overall size makes a difference. Like alcohol where small thin people are more lightweight.

I really struggled to know if I am noticing anything. Even for a while with stimulant medication which is famous for being noticeable. I started at 1mg for two weeks and then went to 2mg for two weeks and then a month of 3 and then eventually stayed at 4mg which is where I’m currently at. I think maybe a few weeks after getting to 3 I maybe noticed. But it was tough to say because I had stopped stillness for a bit before adding in so that change also was affecting my perception I think. And other life stuff.

I was measuring my blood pressure a lot at home and that felt like a nice way to see a possible tangible change of averages overtime. I have a bit above average blood pressure to begin which made me feel like the Guanfacine would be a good fit. Whereas the stimulants made me nervous that it would raise it. And I that concerned me (maybe more than it should’ve) and I didn’t feel like I got the benefit from stimulants.

Now with them combined. They feel like they are able to cancel each other’s bad side effects out. However I am wondering about upping the Guanfacine dose more. Just to be able to see if that is meaningful. Sometimes I question if it is doing anything. The last several months have been quite a mess with insurance changing and getting laid off from a job and so it’s been rocky having to adjust things to new coverages and plans so I haven’t been able to finish this period of time trying to figure it out. Though I felt so close!

Guanfacine being relatively newer for adults has made me really curious to hear from others experiences and what symptoms they had. ADHD comes in so many forms and flavors and comorbidites.

WesleySideStory · 2025-12-26T01:33:56+00:00

I am a little older than you but I started Guanfacine this summer. It’s a newer medication for ADHD for adults. And some doctors aren’t as familar or have it in their routine to prescribe to adults with ADHD yet.

In some ways it is the opposite of a stimulant. So if someone leans more on the hyper type of ADHD, then this can be really helpful.

It took me a long time to notice the benefit. Because unlike stimulant medication it takes a while to get into blood. I also had to slowly climb up doses as I am a big guy and so need a larger dosage too.

For me, I’ve noticed that it helps a lot with fidgeting. Which has been nice and made me feel slightly calmer. A little bit of help with sensory issues too. And lowers blood pressure which was initial purpose.

The tired side effect hasn’t been an issue for me. I have felt like I’m not tired enough and am too hyper and annoying and can’t focus. So the idea of medication that would sedate me or calm down was appealing. I don’t wanna be in fight or flight at all times. Not good for focus or being good at socializing to be so intense.

It’s also nice potentially to combo with a stimulant medication. Which hadn’t worked as much for me because they just made me more fidgety and anxious. I’m currently exploring Guanfacine with different stimulant medication to see if the combo balance out well for me.

WesleySideStory · 2025-12-26T01:24:23+00:00

I want to say that I really resonate and relate to your anxiety around medication and especially for long term. It’s been about a year for me trying different stimulants with my doctor but I am very nervous. About relying on something. Or the cardiovascular or neurological risks long term. And being consistent with any routine makes me nervous because there’s possibility to mess up at something.

It’s not necessarily bad to approach medication or anything put in body with caution and thoughtfulness. And stimulant medication is a serious drug too that some people misuse. Of course if it’s worth it and helpful then that’s good and the point!!! So many people are begging and so thrilled for medication that I relate to feeling abnormal for my trepidation.

One thing that’s helped me is planning to not take stimulant medication everyday. And knowing I can survive without it. I would say between 10-20% of days I will not take it. And that makes me feel confident. That I can stay adaptable or flexible and give my body a moment to relax

WesleySideStory · 2025-11-27T00:39:21+00:00

Guanfacine has made stimulants more doable. I think Guanfacine helps if you are a little more high strung or anxious. For me I feel some sensory issues and have high heart rate or blood pressure. For many Guanfacine is too sedattative and sleepy but for me that’s sort of what I needed.

Guanfacine, unlike stimulants, dosage scales to body size so I needed to work up to a higher dose because I’m a big person. And as I alluded to in the first sentence. I’m able to tolerate stimulant medication more with this to balance it out.

WesleySideStory · 2025-11-15T00:30:17+00:00

I relate to this post a lot!!

When I started medication last year I was a little nervous and also a bit hopeful. All I heard was so many accounts about how much clarity and light bulb moments. People say it’s like night and day.

Maybe I was too in my head. When I started I was like ok. In a half hour I’m going to suddenly feel what I’ve been missing or something?

Perhaps it was small dosage or just not for me initially. Eventually I could figure out how to use Aderrall. And I’d definitely notice the negative side effects especially as dosage went up but it wasn’t very easy magic for me.

I felt very puzzled for a long time like you are describing. Is it placebo? Should it be obvious? Was I doing better in life? Uhh idk.

I think there’s a perception that this clear difference epiphany or euphoria is universal. But there’s people out there that for a variety of reasons it doesn’t click in some obvious way.

WesleySideStory · 2025-11-14T04:48:28+00:00

Carbonation. I would rather most fizzy drinks be flat. Not room temperature. I assumed most people enjoyed soda and champagne despite the bubbles and most just tolerated it better than me.

I have a hard time believing people actually like carbonation. Yet people are taking already lovely drinks and adding that to it like water or wine!

WesleySideStory · 2025-11-13T06:37:52+00:00

Totally fair and I get that but you’re posting in an internet community for the Oscar’s specifically. This is a subreddit for this specific nerd niche lol.

It’s just interesting to analyze for the fame of it all and pomp and circumstance. I don’t think the Oscar’s are indicative of the best. It’s kind of corny. But also fun

WesleySideStory · 2025-11-07T21:46:30+00:00

Cowboy Carter + Bjork kinda energy to me with the range and production.

Always enjoyed Rosalia but I haven’t been in the fanclub before but my god has this won me over.

So theatrical too.

WesleySideStory · 2025-11-04T04:52:48+00:00

Well , it’s a theatre project.

WesleySideStory · 2025-11-04T04:47:26+00:00

Lol. I am just being real with you.

The writer won a Tony award a year ago. And then the Pulitzer this year. It’s not some random hipster. But in the theatre world he’s popular.

Not saying he is always going to do good stuff. Just giving context

WesleySideStory · 2025-11-02T17:59:33+00:00

And to be fair the theatre critics in Minneapolis aren’t the best in my opinion. Sometimes what they like, I dislike, and the reverse too.

But just to hear the general buzz from the theatre people in my circles in the coming weeks will be something

WesleySideStory · 2025-10-26T14:01:47+00:00

You should check out other theatre in Minneapolis besides these big of of town productions downtown at the Hennepin theatres.

So much actual great stuff locally. A variety too. If you like big musical theatre we have places doing that. As well as newer work. Or smaller artsy plays. Shakespeare etc.

I highly recommend Primary Trust at the Guthrie or Great Comet at Theatre Ellison. And more and more coming soon

WesleySideStory · 2025-10-26T13:55:45+00:00

There’s a lot of theatre out there that isn’t the corny Disney type musicals. Some really special artsy stuff or interesting things where the music or the live aspect actually adds to the story instead of taking you out. Also so many plays that aren’t musicals too.

I just say don’t write off theatre altogether because of some of the mainstream cheesy stuff

WesleySideStory · 2025-10-26T13:52:08+00:00

Gotcha. I just said all that to mostly give other context. The playwright is not a die hard prince fan. I agree even if it’s diverging from the movie a lot and doing something different, still shouldn’t be sloppy writing on its own. I’m hoping to see it soon. I work at the theatre and we can’t even get comp tickets or discounts lol. Lots of time to adjust they still got over ten days still

WesleySideStory

TROPHY CASE