Re: Can we stop being negative?

[Bibliophile]

I totally agree with you, Wgreen. I find little positive in my inability to stay on task, listen to others effectively (unless I am truly interested in what they are saying) or for any length of time, or repeating tasks day in and day out (which is required in most jobs). This schism in ADHD outlook makes me wonder if it is a case of people with varying levels of impairments describing their own situation. Sure someone with just a little inattention and with a laissez-affaire lifestyle may say their ADHD has made themselves more bohemian and creative, while another sufferer who cannot finish a book or television programme as it is too hard to sustain interest or focus or who is completely worn out by spending time in a club or party because of the overabundance of stimuli will say it is crippling and something they really wish they didn’t have. We must also remember that people with ADHD are notoriously poor at self assessment so there is also the denial aspect to the overly positive approach.

There is nothing wrong with positive thinking or saying “I can do good” or “I am creative” but there is something wrong with attributing that ability to achieve with a cognitive impairment. I think many of us achieve in spite of our ADHD, not because of it. There are of course some professional exceptions, but they are not the norm.

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