All I wanted was to be normal…

[shutterbug55]

… now I have yet ANOTHER condition to cope with.

There is just so much information coming in from too many sources, and it seems like the only thing they can agree on, is that I am somehow “blessed”? This set off my BS-O-Meeter. If it is so great, how come so many areas of my life are pock-marked with smoking craters?

It was actually the Craters that got me to seek some help. I live in the Seattle area, and I am trying to figure out what to do next.

OH! and hello everyone.

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[Anonymous]

Hi S..bug55…… “how come so many areas of my life are pock-marked with smoking craters”….impossible to say really. A person’s life can go off the rails or soar for so many different reasons….. the permutations and combinations are astronomical!!! I don’t know how to begin to respond ……….. I do know that I am one of those who terms how my brain functions as a “gift”….but that is for me…. it has brought so much in my life….. I can’t imagine being any other way I don’t profess to know what is right for you…. or your set of circumstance….sorry.

I do understand, not everything under the sun works for everybody in the same way…….. so many elements enter into the equation. Suffice to say you are having a hard go of it…. this is not a bad place to share it if that is what you need to do. There are folks here from all walks of life, with all sorts of perceptions of where they are at, where they have been, and where they are going……… it is safe here to share and seek information.

I don’t know if that helps…

toofat

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[Anonymous]

I have to agree with toofat. I love my brain! It certainly keeps my life interesting. Sure, sometimes I look at others who just seem to be sailing along through life and think- Wow! Why can’t I fly through my life with everything going along so smoothly?? But of course, then I realize that ‘smoothly’ is all just an illusion.

I don’t think there is a soul out there who manages to go through life without running into rough spots or who doesn’t have bad things happen to them. (Afterall, they say the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence!)

I’m sure that I tend to look at things from a positive perspective and that helps me out ‘loads’! :o)

I’ve had some trying times and the best thing that helped me was to share with others who could understand some of what I was going through- friends! We’re here and we do understand. We’re here to support one another!

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[shutterbug55]

I got hit with a double whammy: I have Dyslexia, which I have known about since I started high school.

Right now I am going through testing and evaluation, which is VERY frustrating to me. I am most of the way through the evaluation for ADHD. The results of that testing is giving every indication that I have both ADHD and Dyslexia. I would much rather fast forward to where we look at treatment.

I always wanted to be able to make high scores on my tests, and now that I did, these aren’t the tests I wanted to have high scores. Go figure.

It sounds like you guys are pretty far along in the process. Hopefully I will be there soon.

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[Anonymous]

Hi sb55…….. we are all as different a raindrops…… Some folks have many issues associated with the way their process(s), random visualiziation does not seem to sit well with them, it seems it brings a struggle to their plate…. there can be issues of hyper focus….distraction….. impulsive, compulsive behaviors…. social issues, that list is not exhaustive. These behaviors may be impediments for some….. other aspects gifts for others….. and, theyare not always present for everybody….. and may be more or less present and or intense depend on the individual. Once one factors in nature and nurture, health diet etc etc… to the equation…… my god….. So, no the criteria and impact are very very different for many many people.

So….. it may be that what somebody sees as a gift that has afforded them a tremendous advantage in life…… to yet another…. it is a hindrance at best, and an affliction at worst that must managed in various manners….. counseling, medication… meditation…… or how ever they determine is the best method to make their life rich.

So it seems we run the gamut…. no different than any other demographic on this planet, we just happen to have random visualizing brain processing rather than linear/concrete brain processing.

From my perspective (mine and mine alone) we are “Different not Less”……. and I would not trade sides (if I could)….. my brain, has as I said, has been my “boon”. However, that aside…the best thing I ever did (ADD or otherwise) was educate myself and I did this years and years ago…….. long before ADD was even thought to carry on to adulthood. I read and studied all perspectives or learnings…..also I educated myself on the human condition, how we develop and mature from babies to adults…. outside of the ADD discussion and found way more there than I did within the ADD context. That’s just me though…I find people infinitely fascinating.

Anyway…… welcome a-board!!!

toofat

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[shutterbug55]

TF,

I am very new to this whole thing, so my chest is still tight and I am in the “OMG what do I do now?!?!” phase. My councelor and I are researching specialists in the area (SEATTLE) who know more about ADD than she does.

Thank you for your words. I have a way’s to go before I get to thinking this is a boon. I am educating myself, and surrounding myself with people who know FAR more than I do about ADD.

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[Anonymous]

Hey SB55……. I feel your “OMG what do I do now”. Can I share this….(this is just my perspective)… having been determined to have a brain that works in the random/visualizing mode, what people tend to label as ADD. This learning is not (for me) a diagnosis …….. but a level understanding that I am grateful for. It helps me understand who I am…….. which I find critical to living a full life, aware…no matter who we are.

Diagnosis is defined as “the act or process of identifying or determining the nature and cause of a disease or injury through evaluation”.

Learning is defined as “the act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill. Knowledge or skill gained through schooling or study.

I don’t believe I have an injury nor a disease……. I feel this position “diagnosis” is debilitating (just my opinion) and creates a negative position for the perspective holder…. hard to move forward from. “Learning”….yes… I can use that !!!!

So having said that…..I see “learning” that my brain works in a particular mode is an understanding of how I absorb, process, retain and regurgitate information in my world…. it is also critical in developing perspective. This next bit is also true for me…..I have never come across anybody ever…. who is perfect, or perfectly competent. I have worked with and met people from all walks of life, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds…all share ONE common trait….. they are not perfect. So…… I wonder if there is not an fallacy that folks fall into that says “I must be perfectly competent, and successful before I can view myself with a positive self image and high self esteem???? It may be…. that that distorted fallacy can be very destructive to one’s self, and provide an unnecessary and negative distortion to one’s perspective going forward???

Anyway…. just rambling…. but I do think (as you mentioned) reaching out to people can be “learning”….and key to “understanding” which (to me) are critical elements…… not to just us…. but to all folks, in order to develop a full rich life and direction.

Good on you SB55………

toofat

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[trashman]

Great ranbling Toofat, I think you are right . I am on a high ind my mind about what the future can bring so today and right now things are looking up. some times it wouldbe so much easyer if I could keep my brain on the upside.

having said that again it is so great reading all of these post .I am always amazed that I am lucky tobe in such a smart and insightfull group. so thanks again for sharing. if I could give back this joy I get then I hope you all have a smile on your face and joy inyour hearts.

thanks trashman

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[Anonymous]

Try not to view it all as so much of a curse. Dr. Hallowell has ADHD and Dyslexia. His explanations gave me so much hope.

http://www.drhallowell.com/meet-dr-hallowell/

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[Anonymous]

I really don’t understand how ADD can be a giftl I’ve heard Dr. Hallowell and I still don’t get it. Could someone please explain this to me?

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[trashman]

oh . mrsharrypotter when I am in my adhd fram of mind its like the hole world (and I know I used the wrong spelling for hole can’t think of the right one). ok back to my story I always think it is so very up beat true and honest that the people that I am dealing with seem to get cot t up in the excitement. its not all bad ,like if we are at a comunity culb working anong a group of voluntieers. it’s amazing how much a group can get done if they all get upbeat and happy to be there. because a lot of them showed up because they have too , not because they were thinking they had nothing else to do. so now the thing is are there areas that you have done things in your life that you now your add was helpfull. I have a little problem thinking if I am not making money with it then Iam not being succesfull. this is not true if you are in a happy place and you like what youare doing then I would say you are more succsesfull then a lot of other people in the world today. so you have to ask what makes you happy and how do you get there. when you do that you will be more sucssesfull. I now for me cherring you on and at a latter time hearing about your chooses and the things you choose that bring you joy makes me fell verry sucssesfull. and yes the spelling is poor but all i hope that you stll get some hope and joy and a chance to see the true you and then just let your self live in your gifts. I have never made any money from my gift bu I think I have help a lot of peole be happy for a little while. so to end my rant I think your gifts are part of your whole being so look inside your self.

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[Anonymous]

I don’t know if there are any areas where my ADD was helpful. I don’t know how it helps. I am very good at teaching music to children and to people in general, but I can’t see any connection there. I really appreciate your answer. You reminded me that I have one thing that makes me really happy. I think I want to know what the “gift” and how I can use it better.. Right now, I feel like most of my life is like a mine field and no matter how carefully I walk through it I face humiliation on a regular basis. The idea of “seeing the humor” wears pretty thin sometimes.

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[laddybug3]

I am in one of my moods to; just warning you. Yesterday, I was in the car with my mom. It was one of my moments when the world is going great then smack. She was looking at the girl scouts and then looked at me. When I was younger I hated crafts and now I love them. Anyway she was telling me she had a memory of when I was younger how I complained girl scouts seemed stupid or retarded. (It was a time when students started calling me stupid, retarded (was new), or dumb.) I went on all they do is crafts and that any normal person seemed to be doing crafts. She laughed because I enjoy crafts now, even if it still takes forever, and I have to do one craft at a time, because I won’t finish it.

Anyway, I remember wanting to be normal. To be honest, I think normal is just a number, one that I will never reach. The number is always changing too. Something, I also decided when I was in high school. Oh man, I said a lot of things. Like: You will always be working and when you retire you will be too old to do things: like climb trees at least once a day, swing on swings, jump over logs, play in the mud, and just do it because you can.

I do have a Learning Disability, but I always forget what it is. Blame it on the ADD, like that song, but can’t remember what it is.

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[trashman]

MRSHARRYPOTTER I have the greatest memorys of when I was young singing songs I learned in school and church. when I start thinking back and feeling old . one of the best memories is the songs i learned as a boy. so remember that the those people will not forget you . you are very lucky. if they are loving there lessons now , they will be even better when they think back on that time spent with you.

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[Author]

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