Friday, April 28, 2006

Brush Up on Your ADDer Knowledge

Attention Deficit Disorder is very, VERY, misunderstood.
Here are some ADD facts/characteristics taken from Adders.org. Every person is different, and the ADD manifests itself differently in everyone (ie. some people are hyper, other daydreamers, some both etc)
Please take note of #51, the bain if ADDer existance.

1) Impatient, and restless. The restlessness is a symptom of hyperactivity disorder which is often, but not always, associated with ADHD.

2) Poor listening skills.

3) Difficulty with boring tasks, such as balancing a cheque book. That doesn't mean that it's tough to do, but that they often choose not to do it due to boredom.

4) Often have "an inordinate craving for sugar."

5) Easily distracted—constantly monitor the scene—notice everything going on around them. (Make good detectives.)

6) Short, but extraordinarily intense, attention span—not definable in minutes, hours or months. While their attention span, or the time something keeps their interest, is typically short, they can totally absorb themselves in a project that interests them. (Usually called "hyperfocus".)

7) Often have difficulty holding jobs for extended periods of time. This can be due to symptoms of ADHD: Boredom—quit or fired due to a lack of social skills, such as being too direct or having a short temper. Or the tendency of ADHDers to just quit, even if they have nothing else awaiting them. (Impulsive.)

8)Disorganization. Their desks, homes, bedrooms often look as if a bomb went off.

9) Make snap decisions. (Impulsive)

10) Flitting from project to project.

11) They have an exaggerated sense of urgency when on a task, and boredom when they feel as if there's nothing to do.

12) Often report multiple marriages or extremely intense, but short relationships.

13) Extremely prone to drug and alcohol abuse. (As well as other addictions such as food and sex.)

14) Extremely independent—prefer to think for themselves—don't take direction well - can be extremely defensive.

15) Often go to store for milk, bread, and eggs and come home without them (or with a new car).

16) ADHD kids often are TV addicts and don't enjoy reading. If they enjoy reading, they must be very interested in the subject.

17) Tend to daydream more than other people.

18) Often fail or have poor grades in school, even though they're often considered intelligent, gifted, or genius.

19) May be prone to depression.

20) Have strong swings of emotion and conviction.

21) Make faster decisions than "normal" people.

22) They are frequently the spark plugs of society—the movers and shakers.

23) It's estimated that as many of 90 percent of the people in American prisons are ADHD.

24) It is estimated that over 50 percent of the worlds most successful entrepreneurs are ADHD. A large percentage of the world's geniuses are ADHD.

25) Many of America's founding fathers had ADHD.

26) They are impatient and get frustrated easily.

27) They don't suffer fools gladly—very blunt—very direct—wear their emotions on their sleeves—don't beat around the bush - notorious for critical and stinging comments. (Part of the lack of social skills and impulsiveness.)

28) Live for today—seldom concerned with the future—rarely have savings accounts.

29) Very flexible & open minded—can change strategy on a moments notice—extremely quick thinkers.

30) Often considered extremely funny.

31) ADHD kids tend to get in a lot of trouble.

32) Often have incredible bursts of energy, usually followed by periods of very low energy.

33) Usually don't enjoy games such as chess, preferring games that allow them to go for the jugular vs. long strategy.

34) Not afraid of risks, make great military officers. (Patton is believed to have been ADHD.)

35) Hard on themselves and others.

36) Have broad based interests and voracious curiosity.

37) They tend to get creative and find new ways of doing things.

38) Great at coming up with ideas for new businesses, even starting them, but not running them.

39) Extremely creative individuals - Often charge off in new directions. (Suspected ADHDer Thomas Edison was notorious for "going off in 10,000 different directions.")

40) Hyperactivity is often present and may show itself in fast talking, fast walking, fidgeting etc.

41) Their tendency to get bored easily, combined with a low frustration level, quick temper, and impulsive behavior is the reason they usually can't hold a job for long. They often quit a job even though they don't have another one lined up.

42) They aren't motivated by the expectations of parents, teachers or bosses. But if something interests them, a book, a new career, a new relationship, they, much more than other people, will become totally absorbed in them.

43) Because their minds "zap" from item to item, they often find solutions to things that can't be handled by "normal" people. Einstein (a suspected ADHDer who failed math and dropped out of high school) got his theory of relativity in a "flash of insight."

44) Have difficulty thinking in linear ways - they think in random ways - while both types may arrive at the same answer to a problem, the ADHDer often uses strange, creative, ingenious methods of getting to the answer.

45) Tend to start projects but never finish.

46) Tend to interrupt people a lot—often don't allow people to finish sentences.

47) (A quote from a well-respected high school teacher "Every time I've come across a suicidal adolescent, it's been a very bright, or gifted, or genius child with ADHD. They can't handle the dichotomy of knowing they're brilliant, yet unable to handle schoolwork."

48) Often feel as if they're in a fog. It's related to the mental state right before sleep. They are in an "open", and therefore distractible, state of consciousness.

49) Often have problems in life due to a low self-esteem from their failure in youth.

50) Often capable of doing more than one thing at a time—function better under pressure.

51) "People who make faulty assumptions about them don't realize the incredible, tremendous effort they have to expend just to keep these problems in check."

52) "ADHD brains and neurosystems are just wired differently."

53) When studying, their brains are often moving too fast to catch important things.

54) ADHD seems to improve with age, but never goes away.

55) Being diagnosed is often a life changing experience.

56) "Adulthood is a challenge. They are functional-dysfunctionals capable of disaster or hitting the jackpot."

57) They're animated—high strung—persuasive—visionaries.

58) Depending on the individual's outlook, ADHD can be severely disabling or a blessing.

59) Like fingerprints, no two ADHDers are alike.

60) Their unique mental abilities make them more likely to excel at certain careers: Sales, detective work, entrepreneurs, and—pay close attention editors—writers! (Just to name a few.)

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