Re: Could I have ADHD Inattentive?

[Anonymous]

What you said fits me almost perfectly, and I am 70.

You are lucky to be 14 in 2012. When I was your age, people just thought I was strange, and my parents thought I was lazy. “If you’d just try harder, or have more self-discipline,” they’d say.l

I agree that you don’t want to use ADD as a crutch. But I do think knowing you have it is very helpful.

Definitely, think of ADD as both a problem AND an asset. Think of yourself as a thoroughbred racehorse. You may be prone to injuries, or need expensive feed. But given the right race, boy, can you run fast! So, put yourself in the right environment, and give yourself the feed you need, do your best, and you will win those races.

You can turn ADD into an asset. Despite having extreme ADD, I’ve been a relatively high achiever. I was a successful photographer. I just wrote a mystery novel, Prey for Zion, under the pen name of E.D.MacDavey. It’s available on Kindle Books via Amazon. It features a hero with ADD named Max.

If ADD creates problems for you, think of ways you can train yourself to improve. When I say train, I mean creating HABITS. Since you are young, it’s possible to train yourself. Here’s an example of habits, not necessarily the ones for you.

Set aside certain times of the day or certain days of the week for certain activities or tasks. For example, when you get up, immediately put a half hour into the most important task for the day.

Figure out what helps you get to bed at a regular time. Exercise will probably help, so make exercise a habit. Maybe it would be listening to an Ipod. Or a novel on tape. Whatever it is, use it to help you establish regular bedtime and getting up. Sleep problems will compound your ADD, so try to get a handle on regular sleep.

I find visual things very stimulating, and it sounds like you do also. So, it’s important to avoid visual things before bedtime. Don’t go near the computer or internet or TV after a certain time at night.

In other words, the conventional habits that most people use to cope may not apply to you. So you have to figure out and ingrain new habits that work for you.

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