> "Growing up, ADHD was my biggest enemy in life and I didn't even realize it."
That corresponds to what many ADHD adults have experienced. Based on what I've observed among ADHD patients, early response to treatment is a reason for optimism. Chances are ongoing treatment will support continued improvement for months if not years. And not just the patient but also the person's family and beyond. Differences in outcomes are decidedly non-trivial.
One interesting idea I've read is that life long treatment might enable long lasting behavioural and even physical changes in the brain that makes functioning easier when unmedicated.
Basically, meds set you on a healthy path that might lessen the effects of the disorder.
I can't speak to the neurology of it, but I could see that being the case. Forming habits & routines + making lifestyle changes are almost certainly easier when medicated for ADHD. If you engrain those changes into yourself long enough, I bet they would stick after you're off medication as well.
I definitely found I could decrease my dose after a few years because I had developed habits while on it that I never could have without. It's not magic, but I'm in a much better place now.
That corresponds to what many ADHD adults have experienced. Based on what I've observed among ADHD patients, early response to treatment is a reason for optimism. Chances are ongoing treatment will support continued improvement for months if not years. And not just the patient but also the person's family and beyond. Differences in outcomes are decidedly non-trivial.