You say its a chemical imbalance, but an imbalance in comparison to what? A "normal" person? This doesnt mean its wrong, or bad. Body temperature is supposed to be 98.6 degrees. But it varies from person to person. Is this bad because some people arent "normal". And your statement that it is a mental illness is completely off base. A learning disability possibly, because standards in teaching inherently work against an ADD/ADHD individual. In HS, I never did homework, rarely did good in english, but excelled in Sciences/Math classes as well as written tests. And to this day, cumbersome paperwork is still a problem for me. Illness is completely different from a personality trait.
Re:How can so many ./'ers be ADHD/ADD?
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Working with ADHD?
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· Score: 1
I would probably agree that it is overdiagnosed. I see people posting that they took a test and were declared ADD/ADHD positive. In my case (and brothers, and sisters, and fathers), the diagnosis took near a year. I think its a difference in doctors. But the computer and IT industry is an ideal workplace for ADD/ADHD people. Quick paced, always changing, and rarely a bore. Oh yeah... and we need a break from work so we post here.. hehe.. Oh, and BTW, I dont think that the medication hinders the inherent abilites that come with ADD/ADHD. I think it just makes them easier to manage.
Re:ADHD is real and it has some nice Benefits
on
Working with ADHD?
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· Score: 1
I know what you mean about the "hyperfocus". I find it in pretty much any competitive situation. Ive mostly experienced it in motorcycle roadracing. You get so wrapped up in what is going on in front of you that you ignore everything else, and I mean everything. Its a really amazing feeling. Your reflexes are sharp, your heart rate stays up, you breathe deeper, but you are perfectly relaxed. Panic situations are another time I find it beneficial. You think clearly and quickly and dont second guess yourself.
See my post below... This is exactly how it was explained to me in my youth, and it makes complete sense when you compare yourself to others.
Its not what people think...
on
Working with ADHD?
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· Score: 2, Informative
I am 24, and was diagnosed with ADHD about 9 years ago. The final diagnosis wasnt as ive read on here. It took about a year of weekly sessions to finally come to the conclusion. It was also determined that my brother, and sister were both either ADD, or ADHD (you arent both as some people on here have said they were). Sessions with my fater realized that he was probably ADD or ADHD in his youth. I didnt start taking medication right away because I didnt think I needed chemicals to be "normal". After the first few car accidents and a few speeding tickets, and barely graduating highschool (enrolled in advanced classes, teachers didnt understand why I was failing). I reviewed it all and talked to the doctor about it. He explained to me that ADD or ADHD isnt a disease, or a mental problem, but it is more of a relic from times of past. Senses and abilities that arent used in this day and age. Heightened awareness of surroundings (makes it hard to focus on tedious things), strong and very reactive mental defense mechanisms (probably why it is normally more apparent in broken homes). ADD/ADHD people tend to be very impulsive, act on instincts alone (probably why I was a very good motorcycle roadracer?). He went on to explain that its not understood, and they arent sure why some of these medications work, but the theory that I believe from my experiences is that your mind has trouble filtering out all of the senses it receives. Instead of focussing on the road, and driving, your mind hears/sees the road, the rattle in the dash, the rear-view mirror, the radio station fading out, the cell phone, the car beside you, and EVERY thing elses it receives. All at once. I dont look at it as a hinderance at all, it is one of the things that makes me ME. Intelligence is commonly associated with ADD/ADHD. As well as curiousity, awareness, spacial ability, logic thinking. I dont find any of these traits to be bad (at least in the computer world!). I do have certain special needs. I cannot be couped up in the office all day. Thats probably why the jobs that I have enjoyed the most are jobs where I work with many different people on a daily basis, and tend to be out of the office alot. I find no ill side-effects if Ritalin, I sleep well, I have a healthy appetite (man, 24, been putting on a few pounds recently:). I stopped taking it a few years back just to see what would happen. After a few months, I started getting behind on work, and totalled my car. I got back on it and havent really had a problem since. The other misconception people have about ADD/ADHD is that we are all spastic freaks. Not true, I get my bouts of hyperactivity from time to time, but im a very easy going person, nothing much really bothers me, and Im very tolerant. I still have problems getting paperwork in on time at work, and I tend to procrastinate when it comes to paying bills, and I tend to try to cut the 1.5+ hour/87 mile commute down to 1 hour or less, but I get by just fine
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You say its a chemical imbalance, but an imbalance in comparison to what? A "normal" person? This doesnt mean its wrong, or bad. Body temperature is supposed to be 98.6 degrees. But it varies from person to person. Is this bad because some people arent "normal". And your statement that it is a mental illness is completely off base. A learning disability possibly, because standards in teaching inherently work against an ADD/ADHD individual. In HS, I never did homework, rarely did good in english, but excelled in Sciences/Math classes as well as written tests. And to this day, cumbersome paperwork is still a problem for me. Illness is completely different from a personality trait.
I would probably agree that it is overdiagnosed. I see people posting that they took a test and were declared ADD/ADHD positive. In my case (and brothers, and sisters, and fathers), the diagnosis took near a year. I think its a difference in doctors. But the computer and IT industry is an ideal workplace for ADD/ADHD people. Quick paced, always changing, and rarely a bore. Oh yeah... and we need a break from work so we post here.. hehe.. Oh, and BTW, I dont think that the medication hinders the inherent abilites that come with ADD/ADHD. I think it just makes them easier to manage.
I know what you mean about the "hyperfocus". I find it in pretty much any competitive situation. Ive mostly experienced it in motorcycle roadracing. You get so wrapped up in what is going on in front of you that you ignore everything else, and I mean everything. Its a really amazing feeling. Your reflexes are sharp, your heart rate stays up, you breathe deeper, but you are perfectly relaxed. Panic situations are another time I find it beneficial. You think clearly and quickly and dont second guess yourself.
See my post below... This is exactly how it was explained to me in my youth, and it makes complete sense when you compare yourself to others.
I am 24, and was diagnosed with ADHD about 9 years ago. The final diagnosis wasnt as ive read on here. It took about a year of weekly sessions to finally come to the conclusion. It was also determined that my brother, and sister were both either ADD, or ADHD (you arent both as some people on here have said they were). Sessions with my fater realized that he was probably ADD or ADHD in his youth. I didnt start taking medication right away because I didnt think I needed chemicals to be "normal". After the first few car accidents and a few speeding tickets, and barely graduating highschool (enrolled in advanced classes, teachers didnt understand why I was failing). I reviewed it all and talked to the doctor about it. He explained to me that ADD or ADHD isnt a disease, or a mental problem, but it is more of a relic from times of past. Senses and abilities that arent used in this day and age. Heightened awareness of surroundings (makes it hard to focus on tedious things), strong and very reactive mental defense mechanisms (probably why it is normally more apparent in broken homes). ADD/ADHD people tend to be very impulsive, act on instincts alone (probably why I was a very good motorcycle roadracer?). He went on to explain that its not understood, and they arent sure why some of these medications work, but the theory that I believe from my experiences is that your mind has trouble filtering out all of the senses it receives. Instead of focussing on the road, and driving, your mind hears/sees the road, the rattle in the dash, the rear-view mirror, the radio station fading out, the cell phone, the car beside you, and EVERY thing elses it receives. All at once. I dont look at it as a hinderance at all, it is one of the things that makes me ME. Intelligence is commonly associated with ADD/ADHD. As well as curiousity, awareness, spacial ability, logic thinking. I dont find any of these traits to be bad (at least in the computer world!). I do have certain special needs. I cannot be couped up in the office all day. Thats probably why the jobs that I have enjoyed the most are jobs where I work with many different people on a daily basis, and tend to be out of the office alot. I find no ill side-effects if Ritalin, I sleep well, I have a healthy appetite (man, 24, been putting on a few pounds recently :). I stopped taking it a few years back just to see what would happen. After a few months, I started getting behind on work, and totalled my car. I got back on it and havent really had a problem since. The other misconception people have about ADD/ADHD is that we are all spastic freaks. Not true, I get my bouts of hyperactivity from time to time, but im a very easy going person, nothing much really bothers me, and Im very tolerant. I still have problems getting paperwork in on time at work, and I tend to procrastinate when it comes to paying bills, and I tend to try to cut the 1.5+ hour/87 mile commute down to 1 hour or less, but I get by just fine