[That Guy with ADHD]

I have to admit that I learn best when I use a hands on approach too.  I’m impressed with your broad skill set and admittedly a bit jealous.  I enjoy drafting designs for things even though I know I will never build them (like kayaks, catamarans, travel trailers, active and passive solar collectors, and wind turbines, to name a few).  With my ADHD, however, I rarely have the ability to keep focused on a project long enough to see it through.  I have a garage full of bits and pieces of projects that I started over 30 years ago and have just gotten around to parting with them.  If I resign myself to just the engineering and design work I don’t have to commit any real capital (unless I get impulsive and bring home another crappy travel trailer to rebuild, or in reality have it sit untouched on my driveway for months until I finally sell it).  I am in the process of decluttering to reduce my many points of distraction so if anyone needs a Cello (my 2005 project), an ocilloscope (a 1995 project), or an Arduino (a 2015 project) you know where to find me! 😀

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Sounds like a great way to practice mindfulness!  I wish I could see a sample of your work😀

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Hello MoonMommy3,

I’m sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your daughter.  Teenagers can be challenging at the best of times.  Throw ADHD into the mix and it certainly can make things worse.

I understand from some that medication can become inaffective over time and that a dose change or medication change may be necessary.  You might want to start with her physician about that.

Since being recently diagnosed at the age of 53 I can look back at my teenage years and see how the untreated ADHD affected me and my family.  Being “told” to do something was like Kryptonite for me.  The more “help” I received the more distractions I would find to the point that I would get nothing done.  I ended up cramming an entire school project or exam prep into a single evening or weekend.  With a tight deadline like that I could hyperfocus and actually achieve some successful results.  Over time I would develop some coping strategies  that worked for me and my family learned to remind me of appointments, assignments, exams rather than forcing me to sit down and do it.  Since being diagnosed I have done my share of learning and one thing that stands out is not to tell a person they need to do something but to simply give them a gentle reminder.  Rather than saying “You have an exam on Tuesday so you’d better study or you’re going to get an F” you could simply ask “Don’t you have an exam on Tuesday?  What’s it about again?”.  For me the threat of the first version would send me into an uncomfortable anxiety and a million thoughts would go through my head but not one of them on the upcomming test.  The latter example would simply remind me of my schedule and make me think about the topic which often (but not always) kickstarted me into a study session.  While no two people with ADHD will share the same results as I had my readings seem to indicate that it works for many.

Your daughter may also be suffering from comorbid disorders like depression and anxiety which can throw other issues into the mix.  A big one for me (and still is) is having a low self esteem.  Often forgetting or losing things, getting low marks, struggling to stay focused, and making simple mistakes makes me think of myself as a loser at times and it is almost impossible for me to stay focused then.  The best solution to a low self esteem is “Success”.  Reminders of when she does something well and fewer reminders of when she doesn’t make the grade can go a long way to improving self esteem and, along with it, any associated anxiety and depression.  While having a clean room can be helpful for someone with ADHD (less clutter to distract us) I am a believer in giving kids their space.  In my opinion forcing her to clean “her” room and taking away privilages until she does will just become another distraction.  Others on the forum may argue with me on this point but while I didn’t consider myself a messy kid I learned to appreciate a clean “clutter free” environment to live in (there are fewer distractions in a clean simple uncluttered space).

Things to consider might be Cognative Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which in my area is free for group sessions.  Also, coaching has been a very effective method of ADHD therapy.  It provides the participant with practical life skills and backs them up with a person who holds you accountable for them.  While I personally can’t afford coaching at this time I am looking forward to taking it when My situation changes.

Oh my, it’s late.  I need to stop rambling and go to bed.  These are just “my” opinions which may or may not be shared by others in the forum.  Perhaps they can comment on their own situations if they think it would benefit the discussion.  Feel free to ask me anything and I will do my best to answer your questions to the best of my ability.

Kind Regards

That Guy with ADD

 

 

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Hi gardenspirit,

I too am starting an Adderall generic and was prescribed the identical dosage by my psychiatrist.  Don’t be worried about taking medication.  They are well tested. As for the insomnia that seems to be my natural state.  While I haven’t tried doing it yet I have heard of some physicians who prescribed their patients a stimulant closer to bedtime to help focus their minds and allow them to sleep.  You may want to discuss that with your doctor.

I do have to say that I am jealous.  I have yet to find a medication that will give me the results you are getting.

Best of luck with your medication and insomnia!

That Guy With ADD

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Hi Scovelme,

I think you should assume that You have it and begin doing what You can for yourself.  There are several things you can do such as getting excersize, eating more protein, taking suppliments like those with Omega 3 and vitamins, and learning mindfulness excersizes (meditation).  Also, simplify your life.  You can start by decluttering your personal space.  Try not to take on any new projects (especially if you haven’t finished the last one you started).  Many health regions also offer free sessions you can take to learn more about diet and excersize, minfulness, anxiety and depression, cognative behavioural therapy, anger management, etc.  It helps to get yourself educated.  My library offers a lot of resources on ADHD in the form of books (and for me audio books and videos because I have poor reading comprehension).  I’m going to check out my local ADHD support group next week to see what they offer.

I wish you all the best

That Guy with ADHD

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[That Guy with ADHD]

I’m the same way and as I get older it seems to be getting worse.  At 53 I was just diagnosed.  I am very forgetful.  I can remember some trivial things while other important things get lost in the mayhem in my mind.  Lately there have been so many distractions that I can’t focus on anything long enough to process it.  I am not on a medication that works for me at the moment but am hoping that something will help me focus so I can store a bit more necessary information.

Best Regards

That Guy with ADHD

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Hello DizzyTuber,

What you said sounds surprisingly familiar.  While it’s not enough for a diagnosis it may be worth getting your doctor involved.  ADHD seems to go hand in hand with many other disorders like depression, anxiety, fatigue, dyslexia, etc. that it’s not surprising to hear that you have several diagnosis.  Get an official diagnosis and then  get treatment.

Best Regards

That Guy with ADHD

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[That Guy with ADHD]

That’s an excellent strategy seanmacky.  I will have to give that a try.

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Thanks for the warning BuxomDiva.  I have spent some money on impulse too but haven’t fallen into the Facebook trap.  They sure make it easy to buy and hard to keep track of.

Regards

That Guy With ADD

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[That Guy with ADHD]

You brought up a bunch of things that were not relevant. You started the “argument” that it could never be Asperger’s. (No, I started the debate that it could be ADHD.  I never denied that it wasn’t a trait associated with Asperger’s. That being said the thread is about interupting people, not incessant talking.)

I gave you the references. Read, rather than skipping over what I said. (Along with referencing Jung you included references to several studies, not one of which can be verified.  Without verification you come across less like a health care professional citing research and more like Donald Trump crying wire tap)

You probably run this same pattern talking. You don’t want to hear what the other people have to say, just about making your point and getting a response. I see it all the time with our clients. (And rather than debate you choose to throw insults.  Very professional)

I have a list of 100 of the most common words people with AD/HD use to describe how they feel. NONE of them are hard wired. (Again you cite facts but offer no way for the reader to verify them)

No symptoms of AD/HD are emotional.(agreed)
Emotions are BEHAVIORS are INDICATORS only, not symptoms. They are in the process of revising the DSM right now to revise the portions about ADHD.(also agreed but unless you claim to know what the changes to the DSM are that fact is irrelevant)
A thermometer measures the temperature of a body, but does not say the root of the problem. An elevated temperature is an indicator, but not the problem.     (The body does not learn to raise the temperature in response to a problem.  It is an automatic response due to some stimulus.  Much like the need to interupt is a response to the lack of Dopamine in the brain affecting Executive functions.)
We adopt our psychology from the people around us during that time. IT IS LEARNED. We make the interpretations of our world. Our dark side (negative emotions) is created by repressed feelings about…fill in the blank. Just read Carl Jung. I don’t have to prove him.  (There are debates in psychology all the time.  If you are Jungian you say it’s learned behaviour but as you yourself pointed out not everything is learned.   And look back.  I never disputed Jung’s theory that emotional behaviour is caused by previous stimuli.  I only said that interupting is not an emotional behaviour for some people with ADHD.)

Someone with AD/HD that is shaking or wiggling their leg…that is an indicator of an emotional disconnect.  Distraction…an indicator of natural brain function, seeking answers or data and the block…that is an indicator of an emotional disconnect.  Hyperfocus to the point of being harmful…that is an indicator of an emotional disconnect. (Conventional ADHD theory would argue that point.  But you did say that there is no Fact in science so I could be persuaded if I only had the evidence…  Oh yea, I don’t have anything but research I got from reputable sources like TotallyADD.com and books by researchers like Dr. Amen)

Demonstrating this is rather simple. Each time something happens like interrupting, inserting yourself into a conversation or being rude, the question to ask is “What am I feeling right now?” (This is the exact same question most good psychologists ask during a session. Feelings are INDICATORS.)        (I don’t FEEL anything when my mind splinters thoughts into thousands of fragments.  It just does.  And my body has moved uncontrolable since I was in the crib and it is never associated with emotions, it just does it.)

I have our university research we did on the disconnects that occur. (Again you talk about your research but give the reader no opportunity to verify what your saying Donald)

Should you really think the is BS. My wife, spends her days as a psychologist & expert in AD/HD, breaking the bad habits created by TEACHERS in children with ADHD.  (You keep mentioning your wife’s credentials like she will add credibility to your arguments.  I don’t even know who you are or that you even have a wife so her expertise is irrelevant here, isn’t it.  Having said that I will not argue the fact that schools have been using a model of education that is detrimental to people with ADHD)

I really don’t care what some pop-culture doctor says about ADHD (why do you consider  Dr. Amen to be less than the research physician that he is?  Is it because he has published his research?  Well, all I can say is that it is more than I can say about you because I’ve never had the opportunity to read anything you have published on the subject if, in fact, you have published anything at all.)

I see it every day up close. I have also seen adults BREAK these patterns and get complete command of their ADHD.  (Again you talk about your work as if you have the cure for ADHD but give the reader no opportunity to verify what you’re saying Donald)

I really don’t need to prove anything, what I say is common in psychology. I don’t need to show research. I guess I could paste in all the writings of Freud or Jung or you could read up on it yourself.  (Again I never questioned the work of Jung although there are many that do.  While the works of Jung and Freud are a matter of public record they are a hotly debated pair.  Maybe my problem is my unquenchable desire to sleep with my mother?  Yes, there are some valid points to their research but Jung was also a believer in astrology which was discredited by the psychological community.  You did mention that there is no fact in science and that is especially true in the field of psychology.  Until such time as they are proven wrong I choose to rely on the research presented by a community of psychological health care professionals rather than the unsubstantiated  claims of one person on a public forum.)

Unless you choose to Insult me some more I have nothing further to contribute to this debate but to say “Good Day to you Sir”.

That Guy with ADD

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Firstly, no-one is talking about emotionally driven bad behaviour.  The initial post spoke about simply interupting people which is an known trait of people with ADHD.

Secondly,  while I agree that there is new research going on all the time you speak as if your hypothesis is the only valid one (despite all of the current beliefs) yet you provide no research evidence to back it up other than to say that some research has been done.  If you believe in what you say provide links to your research so that we can educate ourselves.  Who knows, you may convince me.

I’m realy not trying to pick a fight but rather to carry on a meaningful debate.  I stand on the side of the current understanding of the disorder.  Your position is lacking credible evidence and I challenge you to direct the readers to the works you are citing.

Regards

Richard, That Guy with ADHD

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[That Guy with ADHD]

With all due respect I think the current research would disagree with your hypothesis.  Dr. Daniel Amen’s research, amoung many others, has shown that the depleted dopamine levels in the ADHD brain affect the executive function which control our ability to resist the urge to speak our minds.  He shows how the brain is “Hard Wired” in such a way to cause the symptoms.  The idea that ADHD behaviour is due to some unresolved childhood issue has been debunked by the psychological community long ago.  DSM 5 acknowledges this fact.  The hosts of this website created an excellent documentary called “ADD And Loving It” which outlines the current beliefs outlined by the psychological community.  I encourage you to watch it and create a thread discussing your research and how and why it differs from the rest of your peers.

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Are you kidding me?  Excessive talking is a big symptom of ADHD.  There is an enormous pressure to speak.  At times it can be uncontrolable and you end up injecting yourself into a conversation with complete strangers telling them all kinds of personal things you never wanted to have people know.  It’s something that happens so quickly that it’s often over before you realize it.  Watch ADD and Loving It.  They talk about it in there.

 

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[That Guy with ADHD]

Hi Sinilind,

I’m sorry you are having a tough time with your boyfriend.  Ultimately it is his decision to accept that he might be ADHD.  If he doesn’t I think you have to ask yourself if how he is now is something you can accept.  That being said there are things you can do to help his ADHD symptoms like creating a higher protien diet, reduction of simple carbohydrates like sugar and white bread, a good night sleep, and decluttering.  Also, there is nothing better for his self esteem than success so point out when he has done something you like and hold off on the critisism when he struggles.

best of luck

That Guy

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[That Guy with ADHD]

I do consider myself fortunate that I have a doctor who believes in ADHD.  I had been so worried that I would come up against the same thing you are going through.  I was prepared to “go it alone” if necessary and start treating myself.  I am doing that now, actually, by cutting down on my caffeine, eating an ADD friendly died, taking suppliments, getting more active…  I don’t think you can go wrong with doing that.  Along with my counciling for depression I’m also trying to do some reading about ADHD but for me that is a big problem.  I have trouble reading so I find it hard to get anything from a book.

I wish you all the best in your search for an understanding and knowledgeable doctor.  Maybe someone who is just starting their practice?  Mine is relatively new and she’s very keen to help me.

Richard

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