So I got diagnosed with ADD. Am I trendy or what?!?

[Armstead]

I was going to a clinical nurse psychologist recently for some treatment for a periodic case of depression.

After a few meetings she decided that it may be Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). My initial response was "Oh Jeeze. What a crock," because that seems to be one of those trendy all-purpose diagnosis things.

But she discussed it with a shrink, I took somne tests and the profile fits me to a Tee.

So, trendy or not, I'm now an ADD poster child I guess.

Actually, finding out is a relief. It does make some things that I have always found baffling make sense. Some contradictory characteristics about myself that seemed paradoxical for a long time are actually consistent with its' symptoms.

So maybe I should have an ADD coming out party or something. I can serve Ritalin cocktails....Okay just kidding.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has had this diagnosis, and what your experience has been.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Welcome to the 00's...you're WITH IT now :-)

Well actually you're not...well actually first you are then you're not..then you are again, but not for long and there you go....


On a more serious note, the way I approach that info is more of an "if you can empower yourself and do something with it" then it is a useful diagnosis...sort of thing.

Either way...I've missed you...and I hope you not only got the insight but are feeling better and feeling that there are some things you CAN do something about.

Hugs, Armstead

[Armstead]

3. It's hip to be ADD

I've mentioned it to a couple of friends who have said they have throught that they had it....groan.

But for me it really does fit. And, yes, realizing that is actually empowering. Not to use it as an excuse, but understanding it and figuring out how to work around it and better knowing what's going on with my grasshopper brain and why....Or something like that.

Of course I can also use it to say "I really should mow the lawn but I can't because my ADD is kicking in."....Just kidding.

[Angelus]

2. Hey...welcome to the club.

I've been a member for 20 years.

[Armstead]

10. Well I wish I'd gotten it figured out 20 years ago

Would have helped answer a lot of questions whilst still young...Oh well.

[Radical Activist]

15. I wonder how much better I would have done in school

if someone had figured it out at an early age. At the same time I worry that I may have been put on drugs I didn't need at a young age. I'm not sure if it was better that I found out as an adult or not.

[SOteric]

4. If this is

diagnosis will somehow help you in the long run, then I'm happy for you.

I suppose there's perhaps a sense of peace in knowing that there are somatic reasons behind one's idiosynchrasies.

Good to see you again, anyway. :hi:

[Armstead]

6. Somocentricity

"I suppose there's perhaps a sense of peace in knowing that there are somatic reasons behind one's idiosynchrasies."

Well i can't attribute all of my idiosynchrasies on ADD. Some of it is just my idiosynchratic nature too, above and beyond brain chemistry. :+

Anyhow, good to see you 2.

[Madrone]

5. What are some of the things that "tee" you in the profile?

I'm especially curious, as I am very paradoxical, and very perplexed by it.

[Armstead]

8. Like being both too unfocused and too focused

I can get lost in concentration on unimportant things for hours, but at otehr times can't focus on anything. That is part of it.

Best thing to do if you're curious is to see someone and get checked out. It's kind oif a complicated thing, but it is also specific enough in its patterns that someone who knows what they're doing can recognize and diagnose fairly easily.

[Armstead]

9. Double posted

Dupe

[aquart]

7. You're in shock, hon.

Even though it's good to have an answer, you still don't have a solution.

And you're rocked.

Be on the watch for retreat. Sometimes people withdraw from friends and relationships because suddenly they perceive a wall between themselves and NORMAL. I did and didn't know it till I heard someone else describe it.

Someone has just told you that you have a defect. A birth defect. You were born with it and it makes you separate.

And you can tell yourself it's nothing like being told you have something fatal but at some point, maybe many points, you're going to cry your heart out.

And that, love, is normal.

You can email me if you have any questions, I'm about to zonk out for the night.

[Radical Activist]

13. Gosh that's depressing

No I never thought about it that way much but now I feel like getting seriously drunk and crying myself to sleep.

but don't worry I'll get over it. hehe ;)

[aquart]

20. Well, I knew everyone else would give the upside.

Which would make it really scary when the rest of it kicked in.

[Armstead]

22. Thanks for the offer

Thanks for the e-mail offer. I'll keep it in mind, as I am interested in learning more.

I don't think I was really shocked, thouhg, as I've always known something was a bit "off" in my wiring but wasn't able to figure out what it was. So this was more like an "aha" moment, but not surprising.

(Not that I'm all THAT off. I'm reasonably normal in many ways. Heh-heh.)

[Radical Activist]

11. Hey me too!

I was diagnosed last year. Suddenly my entire educational and professional career made sense. It was such a tremendous help to understand myself better and stop beating myself up over it.

I tried medication for a while but didn't like the side effects. That's a very personal decision though. I think simply understanding it and finding different ways of dealing with it has been most helpful for me. There are a number of good books on ADD for adults and it helped me a lot to read one called "Driven to Distraction." Its broken up into short sections for people like me who read a few pages and then wander off...

[FDRrocks]

12. Man, you need ADHD to ride with the cool crowd...

Damn dude. Are you even popping Paxil like Tic Tacs yet?

[aquart]

18. That's just for boys.

[Radical Activist]

14. Try working on a campaign

I've often joked since my diagnosis that anyone wanting to work on a major election campaign should at least have symptons of borderline ADD as a job requirement. The work is so hectic and fast paced that having ADD can actually be a good thing. For me it helps to accept how you are, realize that it can be a good thing in some ways, and structure your life in a way that ADD can be a benefit instead of holding you back all the time.

[Armstead]

16. Actually my career is perfect for ADD -- A journalist

Long before this ever came up, I did notice that my chosen profession is a classic ADD style job. I write articles, get immersed in something and move on to the next one....I've occasionally thought of writing a book, but it takes too long. :crazy:

[Radical Activist]

17. That's good news

I never thought of journalism in that way, but it makes sense. I bet working under pressure and having a regular deadline plays into it as well. Do you find you often have trouble getting stories done on time, or does the pressure of the deadline focus your work?

[Armstead]

21. Yep. Deadlines too

I always put it off until the last minute, and then race frantoicvally to get it done on time...Oh that good old adrenline rush.

[aquart]

19. Theatre, too.

[put out]

23. Positive Things About ADD

Sensitive

Empathetic with the feelings of others

Feels things deeply

Creative in nature (including problem solving)

Inventive

Often sees things from a unique perspective

Great at finding things that are lost (money on the ground or people in a crowd)

Perceptually acute

Stand-up comic

Spontaneous

Fun

Energetic

Open and unsecretive

Eager for acceptance and willing to work for it

Responsive to positive reinforcement

Doesn't harbor resentment

Quick if they like what they are doing

Difficult to fool

Looks past surface appearance to the core of people, situations, and issues

Down to earth

Good networker

Sees unique relationships between people and things

Cross disciplinary and interdisciplinary

Less likely to get in a rut or go stale

Original, with a sense of humor

Observant

Loyal

Intense when interested in something or someone

More likely to do things because they want to than because they should, thus often wholehearted in efforts.



Hope this is helpful; I have found it to be, especially with a new diagnosis. It's from Gerri Harvey's School Nurse Perspectives.

[Forkboy]

24. I suspect I am as well

Too many of the characteristics I've read about fit me (like ALL of them).

One of these days I'll have the money to find out :)

[drumwolf]

25. question

what particular treatment have you been prescribed? anything in particular? meds, etc?

[Armstead]

26. Meds if I want them

I got a prescription for Ritalin, though suggested that I only take when situation warrents it, like when I need to focus.

I'd rather not use meds regularly, but am trying it on that limited basis to see if it helps on that basis.

The counsellor also loaned me some books to both better understand it, and also has strategies for dealing with it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Yeah, just the other day I was saying to myself,

"That Armstead! He's SOOO trendy!" :-)