Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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March 2, 2008

Do You Think You Have ADD? Should You Tell Anyone?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 11:11 am

Do You Know or Are You Wondering?

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In 1965, there were no gifted kids, no kids with behavioral disabilities. They were just smart kids, dumb kids, and kids who got in trouble a lot. ADD was only heard of during that hour or two that we spent doing Math.

Now we hear about ADD — Attention Deficit Disorder — often and in many contexts. Now the problem is that the what we know isn’t necessarily accurate. Bad information gets in the way of good things happening.

I’d rather understand myself and be understood by others.

Accurate information makes life easier. Here’s a great example of how getting past that information barrier changed a life in the most dramatic way.

Dear Friends,

Last night I finally got up the nerve to “out” myself as having been officially diagnosed with ADD last year. I was so nervous about it because of how controversial and laden with stigmas the label of ADD is. — How I Survived My Life with Undiagnosed Adult ADD and Learned to THRIVE!

I’ve had a lot of time to go round and round about how it was possible for me to have ADD since prior to becoming a professional organizer and ADD specialist I had some of the same misconceptions about ADD that a lot of people do. For example:

People with ADD:

  • - never finish anything
  • - are unreliable
  • - can’t sit still
  • - can’t focus on anything
  • - can’t listen and always interrupt
  • - are reckless and in trouble all the time
  • - don’t care how their behavior affects others
  • - are losers

etc. etc.

What I have learned was that ADD is much less obvious than that. It’s kind of like having back pain, you can’t see it, but it sure makes it hard for you to walk. But you find a way to do it anyway. You may not know that people have it unless they complain about it, or don’t try to compensate for it.

ADD can be harnessed and channeled. For me it was a very privately painful struggle that I worked very hard to conceal and minimize the impact on others. Not knowing why everything seemed to be so much harder for me than for other people, I often wondered if something was wrong with me, but I chalked it up to my creative personality type and persisted in trying to overcome.

It’s amazing to me how many people thought everything I was able to achieve came easily. In fact, it didn’t and still doesn’t. For almost everything I do finish, I probably have at least 2 unfinished projects, and countless ideas for projects I have to keep saying no to in order to focus. It’s soooo exhausting at times.

When I read, I reread every paragraph several times. It’s takes me many hours to finish a book, and even to read all my email. When I type I usually have to retype at least half of my words and sentences due to transposing words and letters. It’s takes me at least an hour for every blog post and sometimes over 4 hours. This email just took me about an hour and a half to write. That’s why I can’t always respond to all my email. I would never leave the computer if I did.

People in my life I’ve shared this with actually don’t believe I have ADD because they think all people with ADD are total messes. It’s so not true. I work with so many gifted and productive ADDers who cry at night like I did.

It was written by my friend and hero, Ariane. Read her story of finding out about her ADD.

With information and tasks to complete coming at us from every direction, it’s easy for us to think that we might even have it ourselves. To get more information, check out these resources.

PsychCentral Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) Test

ADDitude Magazine

What’s It Like To Have ADD? by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.

Attention Deficit Disorder Association

WebMD ADD&ADHD Health Center

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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18 Comments to “Do You Think You Have ADD? Should You Tell Anyone?”

  1. March 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
    Lin said

    Liz, this is great information, as I’ve known several people who have been diagnosed with ADD prematurely and later learned their difficulties were from other causes.

    Children seem to be “diagnosed” rather quickly and rather prematurely (in my opinion) just because they are running, jumping and doing what kids do. Doing what they’re supposed to do as kids.

    It seems to me that the stigma attached to people having ADD is pretty harsh, as many if not most are able to function quite well in life, even if some things take a little more time. Some of my own posts take me a couple/few hours too, because of doing a lot of research on the topic, so I don’t see that as a disadvantage at all, but providing readers quality content.

    Thank you for sharing this information and providing those links for people to educate themselves about ADD, and hopefully the poor stigma attached will be reduced.

  2. March 2nd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Lin!
    The more we talk about something, the less it becomes “wrong.” I believe that ADD is another way of processing information — one that outstrips what we think of as “normal brain functioning” in many ways.

    We all have thinking circumstances that overwhelm us . . . some find challenging word problems their issue, some find discriminating musical sounds problematic, some find listening to me talk on and on a pain. :)

  3. March 2nd, 2008 at 11:05 pm
    Mother Earth said

    I have heard many lectures on this topic, and I think the very very best comment one dr said was to celebrate the brilliance, the creativity and the uniqueness of these individuals. This could not be more true. I have found that the many ADD children and families I have worked with who want a non-drug approach, are just remarkable!

    Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan
    http://www.bestwellnessconsultant.com

  4. March 3rd, 2008 at 2:47 am
    Joanna Young said

    Ariane is one of my heroines too. I am so proud of her for sharing her story in this way, and helping others to learn from her experience. She’s a blogging superstar :-)

    Joanna

  5. March 3rd, 2008 at 5:36 am
    Alex Shalman said

    Hi everyone. I consider myself to be a very compassionate person, so I don’t want my next words to be interpreted as being mean. However, the whole list of things you described under “People with ADD” describes someone that is either undisciplined, or unfocused. Two things that you need to work hard to develop. If you just consider hey, I have ADD, so now I don’t have to focus as hard, it’s just an excuse.

    In today’s world I think TV, media, advertisements and the type of food that we consume all contributes to our lack of ability to focus. So yes, perhaps there is an inability or deficit in attention.

    The way to cure this isn’t ritalin or adderall, or excuses… it’s stop watching and flipping through TV, stop with the magazines that you flip through (and I’m not talking to anyone in particular here) to look at pictures… instead silence your mind by practicing meditation, eat food that is healther for your mind, exercise frequently, and learn to focus by putting the butt to the seat and sticking to things until they get finished.

    That always get rid of my ADD, when I think I have it. I think we all suffer from “I’m too tired, I can’t focus right now” from time to time. I don’t think it’s something that one should feel bad about, or feel like an outcast because of. I don’t even think there should be a label such as ADD.

    Anyway, this is just my opinion, I could be wrong, I often am. I’d like to hear what you think…

  6. March 3rd, 2008 at 5:53 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karen!
    I’ve worked with kids who had ADD and kids who’ve been misdiagnosed — including my own. The tragedy is the latter. I’ve seen meds help kids who could find no other way to connect with other kids and themselves. I’ve seen kids connect with the help of their own inner strength and serious support from people around them.

    The real need is to keep everyone part of the world and feeling they can reach their potential and purpose. Each of us has something unique to offer. Everyone brings their own bit of brilliance. :)

  7. March 3rd, 2008 at 5:55 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Joanna!
    Yeah, there are so many with ADD who could use her experience to know they can get to where she has.

  8. March 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Alex,
    I’m surprised at your response.

    You ask what I think. Here you go. I don’t think what you said sounds mean. It sounds wildly uniformed. I reflects far more on you than the folks who have been diagnosed with ADD.

    What you “think” doesn’t matter if you haven’t bothered to find out the facts.

  9. March 3rd, 2008 at 7:18 am
    Lin said

    Alex, all I can say is Wow. Wildly uninformed is the least I could say.

    While I personally do not have ADD, I have very close association with people to do, and you are way off on your description of those with ADD.

    As I mentioned in the comment above, I do believe that children are often “diagnosed” with ADD prematurely, but there are many people (children and adults alike) that are provided immense help by prescription medications. It is not just a matter of eating a healthy diet, far from it.

    It is NOT a matter of turning off the television and just “focus by putting the butt to the seat and sticking to things until they get finished”. It’s disappointing to read such a comment from someone I read regularly.

  10. March 3rd, 2008 at 7:50 am
    Alex Shalman said

    I’m not going to lie, I haven’t read all the scientific studies behind ADD. Just some. Like I said, I do not claim to be the know all be all, I’m just stating one perspective.

    From my experience, yes, things I have seen with my own eyes, people abuse ADD medication. You might not know the degree to which this is a common thing now for college students. So maybe I’ll focus my ‘rant’ in that direction. A lot of the people I have seen are ’self-diagnosed’ for ADD, and would accomplish the ‘required results’ by training their mind instead of relying on medication alone.

    No need to turn on me here, everyone has an opinion and perspective based on their own experience. I do not mean to generalize everyone, but everyone I have seen falls into this category.

  11. March 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 am
    Kusani said

    Good morning, folks!

    Though I respectfully disagree with Alex, it’s wonderful to see Liz and plenty of her readers treating the matter of ADD with grace and heart. Most people I know dismiss it as a false diagnosis of a hyperactive kid or an unfocused adult, something that is a behavioral issue, instead of a neurochemical one. (Yes, I myself am ADD.)

    For the benefit of Alex and those may’ve not read as much as I have, allow me to summarize in my own words what ADD is: An ADD person has lower densities of dopamine and norepinephrine, two brain neurotransmitters. Stimulants block reabsorption or increase the release of those neurotransmitters. In other words, the ADD/ADHD brain uses a stimulant (anywhere from caffeine to prescription medication) to reach a functional equivalent of a “normal” human brain. Able to focus, follow-through, think clearly.

    It’s a very disorienting thing, actually, if you’re ADD and haven’t had a stimulant like that in a while - everything slows down, shuts down, and suddenly the mind is a simplistic, centered place to be. No half-dozen or more trains of thoughts zigzagging everywhere, tugging at the focal point of the attention span, dragging off bits and pieces of attention to hold hostage until enough time or energy is spent to satisfy that train - at which point, there are three and four and more thoughts clamoring for attention. (Disclosure: I’m not on meds for ADD. However, I do have caffeine from time to time, and it has that effect. I imagine meds are similar, but more powerful and long-lasting.)

    In any case, stimulant medication is beneficial to some people with ADD. Some others, like myself, have never tried the medication, simply because we’ve developed our own sorts of coping mechanisms. ADD isn’t a curse, it’s just another quirk of the body and psyche that one learns to live with - sometimes with meds, sometimes without. And yes, a lot of kids and adults are misdiagnosed, but that doesn’t mean ADD itself doesn’t exist or is a farce.

    Well, I’m rambling, but there’s my two cents. =)

  12. March 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
    Alex Shalman said

    Hi Kusani, thanks for bringing a more scientific view to our conversation, I always find that refreshing. I’m also very impressed that you took a more natural way (your “coping mechanism”) for dealing with the issue. It seems like having such a coping mechanism would be more work than taking a pill.

    The way I personally look at it is like this. When you have to work hard at something, and you finally achieve it, you gain a MUCH higher level of pleasure as your celebrate your success. All things that are instant gratification in our life cannot possibly compare. They’re all on the lowest level of pleasure.

    I can see how someone might not be in a position where they can “afford” to pass up this ‘instant relief’ from the pain of ADD. I’m not here to judge anyone, I love all of you, and think you’re all awesome! =)

  13. March 3rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
    Barbara Rozgonyi said

    Ariane’s story is so touching. I think she should try voice recognition software and video email.

    To add another ADD/ADHD resource:
    http://drhandelman.com/relevant-links.php

    Kenny is an ADD/ADHD doctor in Canada, a blogger and my former mastermind group leader. He’s a brilliant guy, both from the medical and marketing perspectives.

    In this post, he writes about what it feels like to be judged when you have ADD/ADHD:
    http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-parenting-it-feels-awful-to-be-judged/
    Read the comments to get a parent’s perspective.

    Also, here’s a link to a UCLA study published in January 2008:
    http://www.news-medical.net/?id=34668
    “A new UCLA study shows that only about half of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, exhibit the cognitive defects commonly associated with the condition.
    The study also found that in populations where medication is rarely prescribed to treat ADHD [Finland], the prevalence and symptoms of the disorder are roughly equivalent to populations in which medication is widely used.”

  14. March 3rd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Thanks so much, Barbara, for bringing both information and perspective. The links are so valuable to anyone with an open mind who wants to learn more.

    That study is particularly interesting to me. I’ve often wondered how those particular numbers might actually fall out.

  15. March 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
    Ariane Benefit said

    Liz,

    Thank you so much for your posting of my email to you and opening up debate. It’s so heartwarming and encouraging to read the comments and discussion here!

    I can understand Alex’s position, but I would like to respectfully offer my counter-perspective. There are many people who “don’t believe in ADD” or who don’t think medication should be used to relieve painful symptoms - but I’m not one of them. When I have back pain, I take Motrin. Maybe it’s “the easy way out” and struggling with the pain would be more “character building”, but honestly, I don’t believe that. I do not value my accomplishments less because I had help. I much prefer the sense of pride I take in achievement to the self-berating I put myself through because I didn’t produce as much as I know am capable of, or because I had to cancel an appointment because I wasn’t up to it.

    I decided to use the medication because it dramatically enhances my ability to be more consistent and not have to fear making plans and make up excuses because inside “I’m not sure I’ll be up to it.”

    I feel much more like I can live up to my promises and to my true potential, whereas my whole life I felt that I was not even close to living up to my potential as compared to others who have similar skills and intelligence. It was not an occasional feeling. It was incredibly agonizing and isolating. I’m talking about severe depressions and many, many emotional crisis events.

    Therapy helped me cope better but it didn’t change the underlying problem - which I now understand is brain chemistry. Understanding what it is NOT an excuse in anyway…but it does help me understand the criteria I need to use to design unique systems and strategies for managing my life and productivity. The medication helps me actually follow through on my decisions and systems.

    It essentially increases my ability to apply my skills more consistently and lead a life with more normal ups and downs. It’s not a cure. It’s a tool to help me have a far better quality of life. Computers do the same thing for me. Is there anything wrong with that? If I had diabetes, would it be wrong to have insulin?

    Granted. There are people who abuse the medications. There are people who abuse everything under the sun. People drive recklessly. Should we outlaw cars and make people walk everywhere? Maybe we should, but I’m not ready for that.

    Yes, kids are being misdiagnosed - but the answer is not to give up - the answer is to improve the methodologies for diagnosing - perhaps even require second opinions.

    I could go on and on, but I won’t. I’ve got to go and get things done! : )

    Thanks again Liz! You are AWESOME!!!! I truly hope that one day I will get to spend some quality time with you!

  16. March 5th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Ariane!
    You are the definition of awesome!

    I’ve worked with kids who were miserable because they didn’t know what was wrong with they. I’ve worked with adults who felt they didn’t belong on the planet. It was easy to identify — I used to be one of them.

    Being someone who’s brain doesn’t take in the world the same way isn’t a problem . . . it’s like being left-handed. We learn to navigate the world in ways that folks who don’t have to don’t learn to.

    Ariane, I would consider it a pleasure to spend ANY time with you.

    You are one fascinating human being. What more could the world want from a person?

  17. March 7th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
    gary said

    ADD is a developmental disorder but not a disease and I think that coming to terms with its symptoms (particularly if ADD is not outgrown towards adulthood) and the limitations that can ensue from its manifest will help the person with ADD re-channel his energies to endeavors that would work well despite his condition. You could also consider ADD as a gift , knowing how talented and brilliant some of them are. Luckily, we have natural remedies available to soothe its symptoms. Formulated with potent herbs such as the Centella Asiatica, these herbal remedies help enhance blood flow to the brain to improve mental functioning–including concentration, focus and memory.

  18. April 19th, 2008 at 6:03 am
    Qua said

    So annoying… I wish it were that easy to just sit down. I just want to say very rude words but will refrain from doing so. No, no don’t let the rude words come out.
    I was born not in the West, and I spent the first couple of years of my life eating NATURAL food. No pop tarts or Western food loaded with preservatives etc. I didn’t even like chocolate. I rarely watched TV, seeing as we didn’t have one and there were only two channels, and ran around most of the day. Very healthy. I’m gifted and female so I was okay till puberty. The ADD was always there but I wasn’t disruptive, and I HAD a good memory almost photographic so I was able to remember things without ever studying. Then my memory went and it’s been crap since then. And even when I do have my memory, it was harder holding so much information. I SURE AS HELL HAVEN’T OUTGROWN IT. (I’m 28 by the way) It affects my work, my social life, my relationships,everything, even my hobbies. I used to hyperfocus sometimes and now even that is going.

    CAFFEINE does s* for me, the one thing that’s ever done something (it’s not a miracle drug but I wish I had had it when I was younger, it would have helped) is Ritalin and/or Concerta. I passed my driving test last year, and if it wasn’t for taking Concerta, while studying I wouln’t have passed on the first try. It MADE me do stuff. I actually sat down and really studied for the first time in more than 20 years. For me, it’s good for studying and just sitting down when I have to, but the rest of my life, forget about it. I really don’t see this as a gift, after more than 25 years with it, I’m tired of hippies and all these people trying to tell me it doesn’t exist and that they knew somebody who took the excretions of a Bolivian tree frog which cured them. Everybody is different. The drugs, there will be people who abuse anything, even vitamins. I’m the last person to become a drug abuser. Most of the ADD/ADHD people I know won’t abuse the drug cause for one we are often too forgetful to keep it up constantly

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