Post by misty on Jan 7, 2007 14:17:49 GMT -5
misty.................Thread Started on Apr 26, 2006, 9:55am
What's it Like to Have ADD? by Dr. Ned Hallowell
(Editor's note: This is an excellent article to pass on to family members, educators, therapists, doctors and others who just don't "get" AD/HD)
What is it like to have ADD? What is the feel of the syndrome? I have a short talk that I often give to groups as an introduction to the subjective experience of ADD and what it is like to live with it:
Attention Deficit Disorder. First of all, I resent the term. As far as I'm concerned most people have Attention Surplus Disorder. I mean, life being what it is, who can pay attention to anything for very long? Is it really a sign of mental health to be able to balance your checkbook, sit still in your chair, and never speak out of turn? As far as I can see, many people who don't have ADD are charter members of the Congenitally Boring.
What is it like to have ADD?
Buzzing. Being here and there and everywhere. Someone once said, "Time is the thing that keeps everything from happening all at once." Time parcels moments out into separate bits so that we can do one thing at a time. In ADD, this does not happen. In ADD, time collapses. Time becomes a black hole. To the person with ADD it feels as if everything is happening all at once. This creates a sense of inner turmoil or even panic. The individual loses perspective and the ability to prioritize. He or she is always on the go, trying to keep the world from caving in on top.
Read more HERE
cynthiatweedle
Misty, thanks for posting this article. It helps me to remember why I feel the way I do sometimes, like when time collapses and I feel that panicky feeling that I can't get something done on time. Nowdays I try not to schedule too much too close together so it won't give me the dreaded panicky feeling. What happens is I always think of a hundred things I need to do before hand. Actually they are usually things I don't really have to do before hand, but I think I do. The stress to get all that done is horrible. Thank goodness I am retired and am not under so much stress now.
Charlie Girl
Thats it!
When I am under a time constraint, I feel pressure to get it done and will hyperfocus or at least manage to get more done than usual.
When I have a few days to get something done, I'll either put it off and not realize I am out of time until the last minute or I'll try to do it an be distracted by any number of things.
I also have thought of adhd at times as like being at a dance where they have the flashing strobe lights and you are trying to study for a final. Sometimes, you just miss too much no matter how hard you try.
What's it Like to Have ADD? by Dr. Ned Hallowell
(Editor's note: This is an excellent article to pass on to family members, educators, therapists, doctors and others who just don't "get" AD/HD)
What is it like to have ADD? What is the feel of the syndrome? I have a short talk that I often give to groups as an introduction to the subjective experience of ADD and what it is like to live with it:
Attention Deficit Disorder. First of all, I resent the term. As far as I'm concerned most people have Attention Surplus Disorder. I mean, life being what it is, who can pay attention to anything for very long? Is it really a sign of mental health to be able to balance your checkbook, sit still in your chair, and never speak out of turn? As far as I can see, many people who don't have ADD are charter members of the Congenitally Boring.
What is it like to have ADD?
Buzzing. Being here and there and everywhere. Someone once said, "Time is the thing that keeps everything from happening all at once." Time parcels moments out into separate bits so that we can do one thing at a time. In ADD, this does not happen. In ADD, time collapses. Time becomes a black hole. To the person with ADD it feels as if everything is happening all at once. This creates a sense of inner turmoil or even panic. The individual loses perspective and the ability to prioritize. He or she is always on the go, trying to keep the world from caving in on top.
Read more HERE
cynthiatweedle
Misty, thanks for posting this article. It helps me to remember why I feel the way I do sometimes, like when time collapses and I feel that panicky feeling that I can't get something done on time. Nowdays I try not to schedule too much too close together so it won't give me the dreaded panicky feeling. What happens is I always think of a hundred things I need to do before hand. Actually they are usually things I don't really have to do before hand, but I think I do. The stress to get all that done is horrible. Thank goodness I am retired and am not under so much stress now.
Charlie Girl
Thats it!
When I am under a time constraint, I feel pressure to get it done and will hyperfocus or at least manage to get more done than usual.
When I have a few days to get something done, I'll either put it off and not realize I am out of time until the last minute or I'll try to do it an be distracted by any number of things.
I also have thought of adhd at times as like being at a dance where they have the flashing strobe lights and you are trying to study for a final. Sometimes, you just miss too much no matter how hard you try.
