I'm 34 and I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 8. I was on meds from then through school and they did help me quite a bit. I stopped taking them in my 20's and then tried Adderall XR in 2008. It worked very well for me, but I was getting flack for taking it as a Soldier, so I stopped and started using caffeine to self medicate.
Caffeine gave me migraines, so I had to back off. I still use it on occasion for certain projects, but I don't ever drink enough to allow it to build up in my system.
Adderall XR was great for me. My son, who also has ADHD, takes Vyvanse and Intuniv with great success. He tried Adderall XR and had bad side effects.
You just have to start somewhere when it comes to the drugs, and recognize that it may not be the drug for you. Be open-minded.
Also, stop trying to be "normal." Make goals for what you want to do and come up with innovative ways to get it done. Use the calendar and reminders on your phone. Be consistent each day.
Good luck to you. ADHD really isn't awful once you've learned how to work with it.