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ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is an emotional problem. Several treatment options are available for this disorder such as medication, social skill training, behavior treatment and psychotherapy etc. ADHD is another name of ADD. Symptoms of <A HREF=http://www.troubledteensearch.com/>ADD/ADHD </A>can be easily identified.
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I am a 30 yr old male who has been treated for ADD since i was 6 yrs old. My parents enrolled me in the public school system where i had continuous problems. Eventually my grandparents pulled me out and put me in a private academy. When starting a private school i excelled tremendously but really never fit in. Lucky i live in Asheville NC where my Dr at the time was Olson Huff, apparently he was one of the first pioniers in the field of ADD. I dont remember everything but i do remember taking lots an lots of tests growing up. It was very confusing to me because i was told ADD was a learning disability, which in fact was the exact oppisite for me. I had a extremly high IQ for such a young kid, all school work came very easy to me, almost like i already knew it. Many other kids who had ADD had problems passing and doing well in school, where as for me i ended up skiping grades. I continued in a private school until the 10th grade when i swithed to a public school after my grandparents died. It was almost a joke, i was so far ahead in my studies i ended up taking college level classes and alot of teacher aide credits. I never had to do my homework or study, just read the book, it was like i taught myself highschool. I often slept in class and still made A's. What was so confusing is numerous friends had ADD and barely passed. After school instead of going to college i went from job to job and girl to girl. Noted that i quit taking my Ritlen in the 10 th grade but didnt really notice it. after a while I started partying and forgot all about making something of myself. After 5 or 6 yrs of this i met a girl and ended up getting her pregnant, I had always been told i could be anything i wanted since i was so smart, but when i finally tried to start being responsible my life fell apart. I couldnt accomplish anything, it seemed i was an incompitant loser. I ended up going to the Dr to be treated for depression after our first child but things got worse, until I mentioned i was treated for ADD as a child. After confirming this with medical records he put me on Adderall and told me i had a rare form of ADD which was not a disability but an advantage and i should never have stopped taking my meds. No one ever sat down with me and explained me to me. Now i try every day to get back the 7 or 8 yrs i wondered aimlessly though life. Its so hard to have a Dr tell you that you could be teaching at a major university, but you cant deal or handle every day life. If there is someone out there who can explain the difference in the form of ADD i have, and how to cope with it I would greatly appriciate it. It seems though one little piece of the puzzel is missing, but i dont know which picture it belongs to, or even what the piece is.
Mike 30yr Male Asheville NC
Michael
Thank you for sharing your story. Maybe because you have such high intelligience, you never really noticed the symptoms of ADHD because you did not need to study or focus in order to learn. The high intelligence helped you to compensate. Therefore, lack of focus and concentration never became an issue for you.
However, once you entered the adult world, it seems you were not able to focus on goals in order to achieve what you wanted to. (Or maybe you never were able to determine what you wanted to do with your life.) Either way, here you are now, not knowing what direction to take.
You may want to consider working with a coach, someone who can work with you to set goals in your life. You can find out more about coaching at:
As far as the years you have "lost", if you change your thinking to these years being a learning experience and reflect on what you learned because of these experiences, they are no longer "lost" years but experiences you can grow from and learn from in order to do more in life now. All our experiences, both good and bad, shape who we are today. They help us to discover what we want and what we don't want and help us to look forward to the future. Using these "lost" years in this way reshapes them and helps you to move to the future rather than feeling guilty about the past.
You don't really mention how you feel the Adderal is working now and whether you have been able to begin getting your life together. Please let me know and keep me posted. If you need to know where to find coaches that specialize in ADHD, let me know.
Eileen
Dear Mike,
Hi, I just happened to see your comment while researching on ADHD. I am working in Asheville with ADD and ADHD adults and students, teaching the Transcendental Meditation technique. There is quite a bit of scientific research on the benefits of TM for improving memory, focus, while reducing depression, hyper-activity, stress and anxiety. Unlike other meditations, TM doesn't require concentration or even sitting still. The effortless practice of TM allows the brain to become more orderly and coherent in its functioning, according to published scientific research. When you strengthen your mind from within, and reduce stress, it helps you meet the challenges head on without getting overwhelmed. You could check out our website www.meditationasheville.blogspot.com for introductory lecture schedule, or see what other doctors say at www.doctorsontm.com. Best wishes, Jeanne
Mike,
Thanks for this question. I've have worked with ADD for several years and I have to confess that I've not heard of this 'rare' form of ADD. While there are a few new subtypes of AD/HD, I'm not sure your profile is consistent to the subtype(s).
It is true that years ago AD/HD was considered to be a developmental disorder and school systems often referred to AD/HD as a learning disabilty which allowed the school to offer services and accommodations. In fact, I worked with Dr. Olsen Huff during the early 80's. Over the years we've learned a great deal about AD/HD including how it presents in adults vs childhood. It wasn't until the mid-1990's that we recognized AD/HD as a condition in adults.
Above average intelligence can be a great asset for children during their school years as they adapt and cope with their AD/HD and learning issues. It appears that you did very well. However, AD/HD can be a greater challenge in the life of adults and often presents significant challenges to career, romantic & social relationships, and personal management of time, finances and life in general.
You may consider a combination of effective pharmaceutical treatment and behavioral treatment. It's very important to monitor your Adderall closely with your physician to achieve what I refer to as the effective 'therapeutic level'. For behavioral treatment you may consider a trained ADD Coach by refering to the ADHD Coaches Organization at www.adhdcoaches.org . Your ADD Coach can assist you to become clear of your goals, learn specific skills to address your ADD challenges, explore your 'missing piece, and achieve success in your life. Most research supports that the most effective treatment for ADD is the combination of pharmaceutical and behavioral treatment.
Good luck,
CoachRudy Rodriguez - Asheville, NC
You might try Transcendental Meditation. Scientific Research shows that it improves memory, focus, comprehension and relieves stress and anxiety. Unlike other meditations, it doesn't require concentrating or even sitting still. It is easy and effortless and has a track record of success with helping ADHD students and adults. Research shows it directly effects the pre-frontal cortex of the brain creating greater orderliness in brain activity so vital for those suffering from ADHD.
I am actually researching my disorder to make a speech. I am a thirteen year old boy in eigth grade attending all high school classes including electives. I beileve that I have read elsewhere that someone diagnosed with ADD is six times more likely to have other disorders. I believe that I have a light case of OCD and strong bipolar on top of ADD. I am not a bad person, but I have been arrested, suspended, and sent to an alternative schooling facility two different times. I have had strong thoughts of dropping out and suicide. I don't understand it myself why I did all of the things I have done. When I was arrested it was because I called the officer an innapropriate word. That was after he let me go, but the way in which he treated me insisted he had strong belief I was unintelligent. I was jumping out of bushes and scareing people.(a group of six of my friends were nearby laughing) I was polite to the officer and appologised for my actions. He had called me retarded and stupid repeatedly and said "get the hell out of here" while he pushed me away.(this angered me greatly, for I am in no way retarded nor stupid. I was also very sincere in my apology) At school the majority of the kids say I am immature, and I know I am. I have met people like me and become friends with them, two of which I am really good friends with.(one is male and the other is a girl that i have been dating for seven months) She has the same procrastination problems as me. I excell mainly in math, second reading and third science. Sometimes I wonder how my life would be like if I didn't have ADD. I have dreams to become a well known architect. But all of my dreams of success are slowly slipping away because of my condition.
As much as you hate to hear it, you're only in 8th grade. I'll be 19 in August, and I've got the same disorder. The best you can do, if you're not planning on seeking some sort of help, is defy it. If you really want to excell as much as you say, then do it. You're the only one in control of your ADD. Focus on your strong points and try to keep up with your weaker ones. Both of my brothers (ages 24 and 8) have ADHD. It's not something easily dealt with, but it's also not life-threatening. As for having other disorders? Don't jump to conclusions. You're growing up and nothing makes sense. Everyone hits that point sometime. In and out of schools, getting in trouble all the time, limited number of friends... it's all about how you're applying your abilities. In the end, it's still your mind and you still have the final say.
ADD is just a medical term marketed to lazy parents who do not feel like or do not have time to rear their children...same goes for adults...who just can not grow up...its the same thing as picking up a rotisserie chicken from your local market...instead of cooking one yourself...what a shame...but hey keep putting yourselves and your kids on drugs that have worse side effects then hyperactivity...do some research...get off your butts and parent your kids you losers...add is a figment of your imagination...i wonder what disease they will come up with next...
ADD's never been considered a disease. I agree there seems to be an outbreak in people claiming to have an attention span disorder, but the fact remains there are people who actually do. ADD's not a medical term, it's not marketed, and it's got nothing to do with the laziness of parents. Kids with ADD aren't that different from kids without, their brains just aren't getting as much stimulation as it thinks it needs. If there's anything to 'blame', it would be the overstimulation children are gettting at a young age.
I started not to answer this reply, but could not resist as I am a grandparent of a grandson with ADHD. I will tell you that my daughter, her husband, myself and our extended family are not lazy people and I resent that this was said. We have dealt with this disorder since he was diagnosed with ADHD. You have no business commenting since you do not know what you are talking about. My grandson is on medication that has helped but continues to struggle in social situations and school. He is in a special program, outside the public school he was attending, and is doing much better. This has not been easy for any of us and I think you need to get educated. Enough said because I think you are an idiot.
I somewhat agree with your opinion in a very disturbing kind of way. I am a 23 year-old-mother/wife, but also a victim of ADD. I am on the fense about it, and most of the time disagree with medicating kids to treat it. It has it's pros and cons. Adderall is actually an amphetamine, and I will admit addictive. Bascially cocaine in the form of a pill. The upside is...I went from being an 8th grade drop-out to a college student 6 years later while having made Presidents List (straight A's) 4/4 semesters that I've attended thus far. Not only has it helped me concentrate more, but I went from being 210 lbs. to 160 lbs.
I was never treated w/ ADD until 1 month prior to me starting college (January 2010). I can actually sit still and soak up what is being taught. I wasn't "dumb" when I was in grade school, but I just got caught up in the teenage lifestyle of not giving a **** about anyone/anything. I don't give Adderall all of the credit for my excelling in college, but also my 3 yr-old-son and all of the responsibilities that came with settling down and being the mother and wife that a woman is supposed to be. I plan to hopefully stop taking my medicine when I graduate, but as I mentioned before, it is somewhat addictive. I've gone a few days without taking my medication, and I stayed sleepy and zoned-out...lazy, no energy, wanted to eat ALL day long and get absolutely nothing accompolished. I didn't understand anything that anyone was saying because my mind just couldn't keep up. I started taking my medication, and it cured me.
However, I will say that since taking the medication, my stress/anxiety has increased dramatically, memory-loss has been an issue, and it seems that I tend to get overwhelmed a lot more often. Especially what I think about all of the school assignments, and other daily responsibilities in life that requires my immediate attention. I don't think children should be treated through medication, but as for adults, I think we are free to make any decisions that we feel comfortable with. I am NOT a lazy parent, in fact, I breathe for my son. We have such a loving, and close relationship that I wouldn't trade for the world. So before you come off so confident in your opinion, I think that you should look at the sitituation on the outside of the box...and in another person's point-of-view!
Brittany
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This information was very helpful to me in my research on ADD/ADHD.
Thank you.
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