Living With ADHD and migraine headaches

Do you have ADHD? Or maybe you have ADD without hyperactivity. I do. And this is how I cope with

it and what it's like for me to live with it. Perhaps it will help you as well. My daughters have it, as

do some of my grandchildren, although one of my grandsons has Aspergers' Syndrome. His mother

tells me that many people who actually have Aspergers' are diagnosed with ADHD. My dad has

ADHD, he also has headaches all the time. My mom says it's a lot of put on, but if that were true, I

probably wouldn't have it or the headaches either. There are very few days that I don't

have headaches, and sometimes it's really bad, what I call a "headache from hell". Later, I find

there was an earthquake somewhere. Although there aren't always earthquakes or other natural

disasters. I realize it isn't normal to have headaches everyday, all day, but I often do. I have very few

pain free days. Did you know that people with ADHD also may be HFA (high functioning autism)?

They most likely are. There is research that points to that fact. I realize that people who don't

understand ADHD, and especially the people with ADHD, may see us as 'weird'. But if you stop

to learn about us, perhaps you can learn to appreciate our unique abilities, and creativities.

We are often super sensitive. Example, I smoke, and yet my sense of taste at times is so strong that it

is painful. I can often taste the different herbs and spices used for seasoning food. I find that ADHD

makes life interesting. I get bored easily, have difficulty focusing on a particular subject unless it is

really interesting to me. I don't fit in with society most of the time, my social skills are not really that

great. I feel alienated from society most of the time. I don't do very well with crowds, and yet if it's

somewhere I feel comfortable, I can be the "life of the party." I find myself way too sensitive at times,

and yet with a weird sense of humor at other times. Such as laughing at inappropriate moments,

because what I'm thinking about has nothing to do with the situation at hand. Try explaining that to

your guy while making love. It's not that I find sex boring, far from it...but it is the way my mind works. I

once solved an engineering problem while making love, of course that didn't go over to well with my

partner. LOL... I like to be both physically and mentally active, and I often have many projects going at

once. I like to read while watching a movie. I also talk during movies or other shows, which sometimes

make people angry. But the way I look at it is this, the Creators created people before people created

machines. What people have to say is more important than some show on TV, and for

those who think otherwise...maybe you need a life??? If you don't care about the way a person thinks,

or what they have to say, how can you possibly know them? In my opinion you can't. I also

have trouble understanding the English language. It's almost as if there's a universal translator within

my brain, so that by the time I ask you what you just said, I hear it again in my mind. I suppose it's just

common sense, but what do you mean when you say it? There are many meanings to most things.

For instance, "Do you want more?" OK, straightforward enough...if you're not me. But do you mean,

do I want more right now? or do I want more later? I don't always understand exactly what you mean

when you say something. And yet, at least one person has said to me "We shouldn't even be having

this discussion." I say, in regards to that, if I don't understand, then you need to explain it

to me instead of getting pissed off about it. So, yeah, we should be having this discussion. I talk

to the various Gods and Goddesses, and they take the time to answer me, so why shouldn't people?

Now, granted, they may only exist in my mind, the conversations...not the Gods and Goddesses, but

still, they do take the time to make sure I understand. So why can't you who don't understand me, and

others like me, take the time to help me understand? I think it a common courtesy. I suppose that's

why I prefer to talk to machines, nature, and I even know more people in books than in real life. While

I'm reading they are real to me. I always identify with one or more characters in books and movies. I

have a very vivid imagination. I suppose it's because they don't talk down to me, and they don't

come across as if they think I'm stupid or dumb. I'm neither, I'm actually very intelligent, with a genius

IQ...as are most people with ADHD. Speaking of boring, if I listen to music, I can even get boring

things done. It's as if the music keeps my mind occupied so the other side of my mind can actually get

something done. And I'd like to say something about my remarks on Gods and Goddesses. I am a

Pagan. According to http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary the definition is: Pronunciation:

\ pā-g n\

ˈə

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Late Latin paganus, from Latin, civilian, country dweller, from pagus

country district; akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact

Date:

14th century

1: heathen 1; especially : a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome)2: one who has little

or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods : an irreligious or hedonistic

person3: neo-pagan

pagan adjective

pa·gan·ish

\-g -nish\adjective

ə

So, yes I do believe in the various pantheons of gods and goddesses. I also believe in a Creator, the

Great Spirit of us all. I believe in Divine Will, and I believe this spark of life from the Creator resides in

us all, individually as well as collectively. OK, back to the ADHD. I'm adding these various subjects

because it's how I see things, as if all are connected, and they are how I survive, in a world that

seems at times to be less than friendly. Even other people who have ADHD are sometimes less than

kind to others like them. Sometimes these people have no idea they are exhibiting signs of ADHD. I

once met a guy like that while at a flea market, and he talked down to me, and yet he had some of the

signs of ADHD. Later he came to me to ask about overclocking a PC, but then said I probably wouldn't

know anyway. To which I replied, “Go to overclocking.com, and you can learn all you want to know

about overclocking.” Of course I knew a little about it, but I wasn't willing to tell him anything other than

where to find more information. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and

remove all doubt. “

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/29375.html

The following excerpts are taken from http://borntoexplore.org/addexp~1.htm. After each

section I will comment on how this affects me or how this is like me. I don't mind having ADHD

because it makes my life interesting. There are benefits to having ADHD. I can multitask, most

people have to use windows. The excerpts are in double quotes, while my comments are in

bold.

""The Hunter concept was created and popularized by Thom Hartmann in the 1993 book

"ADD - A Different Perception" and the follow-up book "Beyond ADD." In his book,

Hartmann theorized that ADDers were essentially left over hunters in a farmer's world.

10,000 years ago, most people would have had Hunter traits. These traits, such as

constantly scanning the environment (for prey), the ability fall into a dream-like state for

long periods (during down periods) combined with the ability to become suddenly

hyperfocused and thrive on danger and excitement (the hunt), helped these people survive.

There was no need to remain focused on boring tasks. Until the agricultural revolution, that

is, during which the farmer types outcompeted the hunter types, to the near extinction of

the Hunters. Agricultural populations wiped out Hunter populations. Farmers needed to

plan ahead and to tend their fields with care. They needed a different sort of temperament;

more of a worker-bee personality. Hunters would forget to weed, forget to plant. Hartmann

cited evidence that hunter-gatherer populations left on the planet appear to have a very

high rate of ADD traits while populations which have been long agriculturilized, like China,

have low levels of ADD traits. Hartmann's book was very radical for its time, but was well

received by many ADDers as well as some experts in the field of ADD.

In the 1990's, the Hunter isn't looking for an actual Caribou to slay. Instead, he or she is

hunting in a metaphorical sense. Hunting for excitement. Hunting for the prize: the cure for

cancer or the truth in the theory of global warming. Hunting for the mental or physical

stimulation to mimic the hunt of our ancestors. Entrepreneurs are a good example.

Schools are designed by and for Farmers, and Hunters have a very difficult time since

they are genetically designed to Hunt.""

I do like the hunt. And like the cat, after playing with my prey, I let it go. I love

individualism, and do not like to be like the rest of the pack. You can't even run your

own life, why should I let you run mine? If I want a boss, I'll hire one, and it probably

won't be you. Those are some of the quips I use when people are getting on my last

nerve. I have a lot of patience, but not with boredom or stupidity.

""The Explorer: The drive for independence, enthusiasm, imagination, originality and the

need to discover something new goes hand-in-hand with creativity and ADD.""

I fit this part of the explorer pattern. I am very creative, and always wanting to learn

a better way of doing things. I paint, draw with both pencil and charcoal. When I

drove, I did my own tune-ups. I learned how to repair many things, so I'm like a jack

(or should I say, Jane) of all trades. I enjoy doing many different things, but prefer

to either work alone or with only one or two people.

""Spatial/Visual Thinkers (or "Right-Brained")

Many ADDers, in turns out, are visual thinkers, as were some of the most important scientists and

artists of history. Along with visual thinking are other traits associated with right-brain thinking such as

intuitive and holistic thinking styles (bad with details); good puzzles solving abilities; strong visual

memories but poor verbal memories; poor handwriting or being generally uncoordinated; relative

difficulties with reading, listening or writing (compared with spatial skills); problems with sequential

thinking; disorganization; and being highly creative. In extreme cases visual thinkers may be very

dyslexic, can't tell left from right, and may have incredible spatial abilities. As children, visual thinkers

may have difficulties in school, although smart, moderately visual people may do fine. The book

"Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child" is written

by a teacher of ADD children who has found methods to help the visual thinker. I took a test in the

book and came out a "moderate" visual thinker. The methods and observations described by the

author made sense to me (and explains why my reading comprehension is better when I read faster).

In his book "In The Mind's Eye: Visual Thinkers, Gifted People With Dyslexia and Other Learning

Difficulties, Computer Images and the Ironies of Creativity", Thomas G. West argues that visual

thinking is much better at picking up patterns and concepts out of apparent chaos and is in some

ways superior to verbal thinking. He profiles people like Einstein, Edison, Faraday and Yeats who

had vivid visual modes of thought. This is a great book for anyone who is a visual thinker.""

Fits me to a T! Except for the part about details, and that depends on the subject. I do get my

left and my right mixed up, I have a very vivid imagination. I have trouble verbalizing things at

times, and can remember the definition of a word, but forget the word. I look for patterns in

everything, and can see organization in chaos.

""This is a view consistent with the "Explorer" concept. Long ago Jung formulated a complex theory

on temperament diversity which was found to be incredibly accurate and useful, even today.

Essentially, there is no one "correct" temperament, although certain temperaments may be

culturally favored. Each temperament has it's own strengths and weaknesses and it is the mixing of

all these temperaments that help a population thrive.

Jungian temperament types are defined by four opposing preferences which make up a total of

sixteen different temperaments. People within certain temperaments, especially the divergent

thinkers, are more likely to be classified ADD. Listen to this description of a normal "ESFP" from the

book "Nurture by Nature."

"While most ESFP's enjoy the social and artistic or athletic aspects of school, they may have trouble

focusing on one task for very long. They are often highly distractible and may find sitting still for more

than a few minutes to be more than they can manage. Most ESFP's seem to be in perpetual motion -

whether they are roaming around the classroom chatting with their friends, bouncing in their chairs,

or just tapping their foot on the floor. This is especially true when they are required to be quiet.

Asking them to be both silent and still for more than a very few minutes is next to

impossible...School-aged ESFPs also tend to have difficulty staying on schedule or complying with

structure of any kind."

This is a great example of how temperament researchers view such behavior as "normal" while

psychologists and teachers view it as abnormal. It is classic ADHD behavior. Yet it is to be expected

from children with a certain combination of thinking and perceiving preferences (in this case

extroversion + sensory perception + emotion based decision making + divergent thinking). President

Clinton is a classic ESFP, and debate has been raging over whether he is ADHD or not (most

ADDers think he is). I don't think our president has a brain defect - he's simply acting true to

temperament (P.S. even the zipper problems are consistent with his temperament!). He is known as

a highly divergent thinker who can see both sides of an issue and who has trouble making decisions.

And he just LOVES being at the center of attention while his speeches just seem to go on and on....

Very typical stuff for an ESFP. The very traits that help him in some regards hurt him in other ways.

All parents and teachers should read the book "Nurture by Nature" by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara

Barron-Tieger. The authors do an excellent job of describing the sixteen temperament types from

infancy through the teenage years, and teach you how to figure out your child's temperament. I

suspected my son was an ENTP, the same temperament as ADD poster-boy Thomas Edison, so

when I got the book I immediately turned to that section. I was absolutely floored at how accurate the

description was. Simply amazing! We called him "The Negotiator." The subheading for ENTP was

"Everything's Negotiable." The authors then described how ENTPs are high-energy children who are

very challenging to raise.

For adults I recommend the book "Please Understand Me" by David Keirsey. For more information

see my section on temperament, where you can take an online test to determine your type.""

I've never read these books, but I am including it because I feel misunderstood. OK, I went

there, took the test... This is how they see me...pretty much as I often see myself. The link if

you are interested in taking a test or just want to learn more about the different temperaments. • test

""Idealists, as a temperament, are passionately concerned with personal growth and

development. Idealists strive to discover who they are and how they can become their best

possible self -- always this quest for self-knowledge and self-improvement drives their

imagination. And they want to help others make the journey. Idealists are naturally drawn to

working with people, and whether in education or counseling, in social services or personnel

work, in journalism or the ministry, they are gifted at helping others find their way in life, often

inspiring them to grow as

individuals and to fulfill their potentials. Idealists are sure that friendly cooperation is the best way for

people to achieve their goals. Conflict and confrontation upset them because they seem to put up

angry barriers between people. Idealists dream of creating harmonious, even caring personal

relations, and they have a unique talent for helping people get along with each other and work

together for the good of all. Such interpersonal harmony might be a romantic ideal, but then Idealists

are incurable romantics who prefer to focus on what might be, rather than what is. The real, practical

world is only a starting place for Idealists; they believe that life is filled with possibilities waiting to be

realized, rich with meanings calling out to be understood. This idea of a mystical or spiritual dimension

to life, the "not visible" or the "not yet" that can only be known through intuition or by a leap of faith, is

far more important to Idealists than the world of material things. Highly ethical in their actions, Idealists

hold themselves to a strict standard of personal integrity. They must be true to themselves and to

others, and they can be quite hard on themselves when they are dishonest, or when they are false or

insincere. More often, however, Idealists are the very soul of kindness. Particularly in their personal

relationships, Idealists are without question filled with love and good will. They believe in giving of

themselves to help others; they cherish a few warm, sensitive friendships; they strive for a special

rapport with their children; and in marriage they wish to find a "soulmate," someone with whom they

can bond emotionally and spiritually, sharing their deepest feelings and their complex inner worlds.

Idealists are rare, making up between 20 and 25 percent of the population. But their ability to inspire

people with their enthusiasm and their idealism has given them influence far beyond their numbers.

The Four types of Idealists are: Healers (INFP) | Counselors (INFJ) | Champions (ENFP) | Teachers

(ENFJ)""

I have chosen to add the four types of Idealists, because some of you may want to know.

""Healers present a calm and serene face to the world, and can seem shy, even distant around

others. But inside they're anything but serene, having a capacity for personal caring rarely found in

the other types. Healers care deeply about the inner life of a few special persons, or about a favorite

cause in the world at large. And their great passion is to heal the conflicts that trouble individuals, or

that divide groups, and thus to bring wholeness, or health, to themselves, their loved ones, and their

community.

Healers have a profound sense of idealism that comes from a strong personal sense of right and

wrong. They conceive of the world as an ethical, honorable place, full of wondrous possibilities and

potential goods. In fact, to understand Healers, we must understand that their deep commitment to the

positive and the good is almost boundless and selfless, inspiring them to make extraordinary

sacrifices for someone or something they believe in. Set off from the rest of humanity by their privacy

and scarcity (around one percent of the population), Healers can feel even more isolated

in the purity of their idealism.

Also, Healers might well feel a sense of separation because of their often misunderstood childhood.

Healers live a fantasy-filled childhood-they are the prince or princess of fairy tales-an attitude which,

sadly, is frowned upon, or even punished, by many parents. With parents who want them to get their

head out of the clouds, Healers begin to believe they are bad to be so fanciful, so dreamy, and can

come to see themselves as ugly ducklings. In truth, they are quite OK just as they are, only different

from most others-swans reared in a family of ducks.

At work, Healers are adaptable, welcome new ideas and new information, are patient with

complicated situations, but impatient with routine details. Healers are keenly aware of people and their

feelings, and relate well with most others. Because of their deep-seated reserve, however, they can

work quite happily alone. When making decisions, Healers follow their heart not their head, which

means they can make errors of fact, but seldom of feeling. They have a natural interest in scholarly

activities and demonstrate, like the other Idealists, a remarkable facility with language. They have a

gift for interpreting stories, as well as for creating them, and thus often write in lyric, poetic fashion.

Frequently they hear a call to go forth into the world and help others, a call they seem ready to

answer, even if they must sacrifice their own comfort.""

""Counselors have an exceptionally strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others, and find great

personal fulfillment interacting with people, nurturing their personal development, guiding them to

realize their human potential. Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require

solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided

that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now

and then to recharge their batteries. Counselors are both kind and positive in their handling of others;

they are great listeners and seem naturally interested in helping people with their personal problems.

Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to work intensely with those close to them, especially on

a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes.

Counselors are scarce, little more than one percent of the population, and can be hard to get to know,

since they tend not to share their innermost thoughts or their powerful emotional reactions except with

their loved ones. They are highly private people, with an unusually rich, complicated inner life. Friends

or colleagues who have known them for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not

that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a great deal, but they have

mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.

Counselors tend to work effectively in organizations. They value staff harmony and make every effort

to help an organization run smoothly and pleasantly. They understand and use human systems

creatively, and are good at consulting and cooperating with others. As employees or employers,

Counselors are concerned with people's feelings and are able to act as a barometer of the feelings

within the

organization.

Blessed with vivid imaginations, Counselors are often seen as the most poetical of all the types, and

in fact they use a lot of poetic imagery in their everyday language. Their great talent for language-both

written and spoken-is usually directed toward communicating with people in a personalized way.

Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another's emotions or intentions-good or evil-even

before that person is aware of them. Counselors themselves can seldom tell how they came to read

others' feelings so keenly. This extreme sensitivity to others could very well be the basis of the

Counselor's remarkable ability to experience a whole array of psychic phenomena.""

""Like the other Idealists, Champions are rather rare, say two or three percent of the population, but

even more than the others they consider intense emotional experiences as being vital to a full life.

Champions have a wide range and variety of emotions, and a great passion for novelty. They see life

as an exciting drama, pregnant with possibilities for both good and evil, and they want to experience

all the meaningful events and fascinating people in the world. The most outgoing of the Idealists,

Champions often can't wait to tell others of their extraordinary experiences. Champions can be tireless

in talking with others, like fountains that bubble and splash, spilling over their own words to get it all

out. And usually this is not simple storytelling; Champions often speak (or write) in the hope of

revealing some truth about human experience, or of motivating others with their powerful convictions.

Their strong drive to speak out on issues and events, along with their boundless enthusiasm and

natural talent with language, makes them the most vivacious and inspiring of all the types.

Fiercely individualistic, Champions strive toward a kind of personal authenticity, and this intention

always to be themselves is usually quite attractive to others. At the same time, Champions have

outstanding intuitive powers and can tell what is going on inside of others, reading hidden emotions

and giving special significance to words or actions. In fact, Champions are constantly scanning the

social environment, and no intriguing character or silent motive is likely to escape their attention. Far

more than the other Idealists, Champions are keen and probing observers of the people around them,

and are capable of intense concentration on another individual. Their attention is rarely passive or

casual. On the contrary, Champions tend to be extra sensitive and alert, always ready for

emergencies, always on the lookout for what's possible.

Champions are good with people and usually have a wide range of personal relationships. They are

warm and full of energy with their friends. They are likable and at ease with colleagues, and handle

their employees or students with great skill. They are good in public and on the telephone, and are so

spontaneous and dramatic that others love to be in their company. Champions are positive,

exuberant people, and often their confidence in the goodness of life and of human nature makes

good things happen.""

""Even more than the other Idealists, Teachers have a natural talent for leading students or trainees

toward learning, or as Idealists like to think of it, they are capable of calling forth each learner's

potentials. Teachers (around two percent of the population) are able-effortlessly, it seems, and almost

endlessly-to dream up fascinating learning activities for their students to engage in. In some Teachers,

this ability to fire the imagination can amount to a kind of genius which other types find hard to

emulate. But perhaps their greatest strength lies in their belief in their students. Teachers look for the

best in their students, and communicate clearly that each one has untold potential, and this

confidence can inspire their students to grow and develop more than they ever thought possible.

In whatever field they choose, Teachers consider people their highest priority, and

they instinctively communicate personal concern and a willingness to become

involved. Warmly outgoing, and perhaps the most expressive of all the types,

Teachers are remarkably good with language, especially when communicating in

speech, face to face. And they do not hesitate to speak out and let their feelings be

known. Bubbling with enthusiasm, Teachers will voice their passions with dramatic

flourish, and can, with practice, become charismatic public speakers. This verbal

ability gives Teachers a good deal of influence in groups, and they are often asked to

take a leadership role.

Teachers like things settled and organized, and will schedule their work hours and

social engagements well ahead of time-and they are absolutely trustworthy in

honoring these commitments. Valuing as they do interpersonal cooperation and

harmonious relations, Teachers are extraordinarily tolerant of others, are easy to get

along with, and are usually popular wherever they are.

Teachers are highly sensitive to others, which is to say their intuition tends to be well

developed. Certainly their insight into themselves and others is unparalleled. Without

a doubt, they know what is going on inside themselves, and they can read other

people with uncanny accuracy. Teachers also identify with others quite easily, and

will actually find themselves picking up the characteristics, emotions, and beliefs of

those around them. Because they slip almost unconsciously into other people's skin

in this way, Teachers feel closely connected with those around them, and thus show

a sincere interest in the joys and problems of their employees, colleagues, students,

clients, and loved ones.""

This section on temperament is for your reading pleasure...interesting isn't it? lol Couldn't help

being a little humorous about it. Wouldn't even if I could, come to think of it.

""Temperament is a configuration of observable personality traits, such as habits of

communication, patterns of action, and sets of characteristic attitudes, values, and talents. It

also encompasses personal needs, the kinds of contributions that individuals make in the

workplace, and the roles they play in society. Dr. David Keirsey has identified mankind's four

basic temperaments as the Artisan, the Guardian, the Rational, and the Idealist.

Each temperament has its own unique qualities and shortcomings, strengths and challenges.

What accounts for these differences? To use the idea of Temperament most effectively, it is

important to understand that the four temperaments are not simply arbitrary collections of

characteristics, but spring from an interaction of the two basic dimensions of human behavior: our

communication and our action, our words and our deeds, or, simply, what we say and what we do.

Communication: Concrete vs. Abstract

First, people naturally think and talk about what they are interested in, and if you listen carefully to

people's conversations, you find two broad but distinct areas of subject matter.

Some people talk primarily about the external, concrete world of everyday reality: facts and figures,

work and play, home and family, news, sports and weather--all the who-whatwhen-where-and how

much's of life.

Other people talk primarily about the internal, abstract world of ideas: theories and conjectures,

dreams and philosophies, beliefs and fantasies--all the why's, if's, and whatmight-be's of life.

At times, of course, everyone addresses both sorts of topics, but in their daily lives, and for the most

part, Concrete people talk about reality, while Abstract people talk about ideas.

Action: Utilitarian vs. Cooperative

Second, at every turn people are trying to accomplish their goals, and if you watch closely how

people go about their business, you see that there are two fundamentally opposite types of action.

Some people act primarily in a utilitarian or pragmatic manner, that is, they do what gets results,

what achieves their objectives as effectively or efficiently as possible, and only afterwards do they

check to see if they are observing the rules or going through proper channels.

Other people act primarily in a cooperative or socially acceptable manner, that is, they try to do the

right thing, in keeping with agreed upon social rules, conventions, and codes of conduct, and only

later do they concern themselves with the effectiveness of their actions.

These two ways of acting can overlap, certainly, but as they lead their lives, Utilitarian people

instinctively, and for the most part, do what works, while Cooperative people do what's right.

As Concrete Cooperators, Guardians speak mostly of their duties and responsibilities, of what they

can keep an eye on and take good care of, and they're careful to obey the laws, follow the rules, and

respect the rights of others. As Abstract Cooperators, Idealists speak mostly of what they hope for and

imagine might be possible for people, and they want to act in good conscience, always trying to reach

their goals without compromising their personal code of ethics.

As Concrete Utilitarians, Artisans speak mostly about what they see right in front of them, about

what they can get their hands on, and they will do whatever works, whatever gives

them a quick, effective payoff, even if they have to bend the rules.

As Abstract Utilitarians, Rationals speak mostly of what new problems intrigue them and

what new solutions they envision, and always pragmatic, they act as efficiently as

possible to achieve their objectives, ignoring arbitrary rules and conventions if need be.""

I meet several of these traits. Even tho I'm an adult. Seems to me, from what I've read, that

many people are under the impression that you out grow ADHD. I haven't yet. My IQ is 137, I'm

very sensitive. I get bored easily, I do not like authority, I prefer to learn in my own way.

Definitely learn by doing, otherwise I do NOT retain it. Like to pace or be on the go a lot. I don't

fear death, but am very compassionate.

""Many people diagnosed as ADD are "gifted." The definition of giftedness is somewhat

arbitrary, and there are probably many kids out there who are not quite gifted but still

smarter than most of their peers. "Bright" kids may display the same behavioral traits as

gifted kids, which are strikingly similar to ADD traits (see below).

Traits of Gifted/Creative Kids (From the National Foundation for the Gifted and Creative)

A. High sensitivity

B. Excessive amounts of energy.

C. Bores easily and may appear to have a short attention span.

D. Requires emotionally stable and secure adults around him/her.

E. Will resist authority if it not democratically oriented.

F. Have preferred ways of learning; particularly in reading and mathematics.

G. May become easily frustrated because of his/her big ideas and not having the

resources or people to assist him/her in carrying these tasks to fruition.

H. Learns from an exploratory level and resists rote memory and just being a listener.

I. Cannot sit still unless absorbed in something of his/her own interest.

J. Very compassionate and has many fears such as death and loss of loved ones.

K. If they experience failure early, may give up and develop permanent learning blocks.

Note on J., I do have a fear of loss of loved ones, but on the other hand, I don't

fear death it self. Speaking of which, I once read about a tattoo on a character's

arm in a book

“Death is a door, think before you knock.” Personally, I think it one of the

greatest quotes I've read.

There are various definitions of giftedness out there, but in general a person is

considered gifted by meeting one of the following characteristics:

1. An IQ of 130 or over.

2. Aptitude or achievement in a particular subject, such as math (generally being in the 97th percentile).

3. Creative and productive thinking. ADDers are more likely to be gifted in this area than others. Characteristics include openness to experience, setting personal standards for evaluation, ability to

play with ideas, willingness to take risks, preference for complexity, tolerance for ambiguity, positive

self-image, and the ability to become submerged in a task. Students may be identified through tests like the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking or through demonstrated creative performance.

4. Leadership ability.

5. Visual and performing arts. ADDers may be over-represented in this category. 6. Psychomotor ability (seldom used).

Note on 3. above, I too, have some of these traits.

The link between ADD traits and IQ might be explained by the presence of Over-Excitabilities (OEs).

Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration suggested that people with OEs have a higher level of

potential development than others. Later research verified that OEs are related to intelligence. Over-

excitabilities include physical, imaginational, and cognitive excitabilities, all of which would lead

someone down the path to an ADD diagnosis.

Many proponents of the Gifted will say that a child with an IQ of 130 is not ADD, rather, they are

Gifted. However, the DSM IV diagnostic criteria for ADD do not exclude people who meet the

criteria due to giftedness, and gifted ADDers can experience the same problems as non-gifted

ADDers. For example, they are often underachievers and have social difficulties.""

""Creativity (a subcategory of Gifted) has been studied for some time now. Researchers have tried to

define the traits of people who are creatively gifted for years. The list of creative traits is amazingly

similar to the traits of ADD, and to some extent, Giftedness. At the same time, ADD experts began to

see that people diagnosed with ADD often were very creative. Eventually, the two lines of research

were compared and Dr. Bonnie Cramond wrote a paper called "The Coincidence of ADHD and

Creativity." People who score high in tests of creativity also show more hyperactivity than other

children. And children diagnosed with ADHD score higher on tests of creativity. There is obviously a

very large overlap between what we call ADD and creativity.

"Creative" or "Creatively Gifted" are labels applied to people who exhibit a high levels of creativity,

either through obvious talent (e.g. painting) or by testing. The Torrance Test is often used for testing

creativity. Creative people often have high IQs, but not all test in the Gifted range. Interestingly, above

IQs of 125, there is no correlation between IQ and creativity when such tests are given. In the book

"Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy," the author Robert Jourdain is surprised that famous classical

musicians had IQs less than one might think. While famous geniuses like Goethe and John Stuart Mill

had estimated IQs of about 200, historic musicians were estimated to have IQs in a relatively lower

range. Mozart was the highest at 155, Mendelssohn was 150, Handel 145, Beethoven 135, Bach 125,

Haydn 120 and Gluck 110. Note that under this study, Bach, Haydn and Gluck would not have even

been considered "Gifted." They were, however, quite obviously creative. Moreover, research on

thousands of musicians has shown that IQ is almost irrelevant to musical ability beyond a certain base

level.

The ramification is that a child may possess unrealized creative talents which are not picked up

by IQ tests. Only tests of creativity might pick up an instinct for creative thinking, and even

these tests can fail to pick up a potential Bach or Haydn. Creativity is used in many endeavors,

not just art.

The National Foundation for the Gifted and Creative have championed Creative kids for years.

The founder, Marie Friedel, says she doesn't believe in ADD. "I absolutely do not accept it...

You see, gifted children haven't been taken care of, and the creatively gifted have been

neglected even more. And they may not exhibit a high IQ. The Torrance Tests are the ones

you have to use, because those discover the child's learning preference."

The Foundation lists several creative traits which present problems for the Gifted/Creative

child. I personally identified more with this list than ADD lists.

Theoretical and abstract (Ignores stressed data in assignments. Hands in sloppy work.)

Independent, Inventive, Non-Conforming (Resists teacher chosen assignments) Sensitive

(Withdraws because of strong goal orientation, peer group criticism and rejection)

Alert, Eager (Resents periods of classroom inactivity) Intuitive (Sees conclusions without

displaying knowledge of sequential concepts) Daydreaming (Inattentive to teacher's or

classmate's comments and class discussions) Aesthetically oriented (Resists participation

of active team sports) Related Book: A.D.D. and Creativity - Tapping Your Inner Muse,

Lynn Wiess, Ph.D.""

Another, note...I also exhibit many of these traits. And I can often think with about more than

one subject at the same time without losing track of any of them, unless I'm interrupted.

""The Edison Trait: Dynamos, Discovers and Dreamers

These terms were coined by Lucy Jo Palladino in "The Edison Trait." Palladino applied the

Edison Trait to about 20% of the population, a larger group than diagnosed ADDers. However,

almost all ADDers are thought to have the Edison Trait. I would add that most people with the

Edison Trait would be at risk of being identified as ADD under certain circumstances, for

example, being forced to sit in a rigid and boring classroom with a judgmental teacher.

Pallidino divides Edison Trait people into three categories. Many ADDers would fit into more

than one category. I found these categories, and the tips and explanations which went along

with them, quite useful. I now think of my son primarily as a Discoverer, a text book example

perhaps. And I'm a Dreamer/Discoverer.

Dreamers live inside their own highly imaginative minds. They enjoy art, stories, ideas and

personal meaning. They may "have blank expressions on their faces or may look a little

dazed. Actually, they are floating through one or several ideas in another realm, a world of

their own." Dreamers often like sensory experiences and are drawn to color, texture, taste,

and sound. Many (but not all!) ADD women fit well under this category. Example: Anne

Morrow Lindbergh (writer and pilot) and Emily Dickinson (writer).

Discoverers like to experiment and to see for themselves what happens (warning: they like to

experiment with breaking rules). They are master "testers of the system" and are insistent in

their opinions, passionate, spontaneous, and often dramatic and entertaining. Independence is a

critical requirement of the Discoverer. This type may be destined for the sciences, technology or

business. Discoverers are very visual and they enjoy speed. When they find the people around

them to be boring, they try to provoke them into more interesting behavior, typically by using

humor (which can backfire, trust me). Discoverers are especially prone to hyperfocusing and

multitasking. Examples: Henry Ford, Thomas Edison (inventors and entrepreneurs).

Dynamos are those kids who are so full of energy it is a miracle they survive; "fuel-injected

speedsters." It is the incredible energy level which most separates the Discoverer from the

Dynamo. Major thrill seekers and risk takers, they jump off of roofs and may be aggressive.

They love a race or a dare and especially love speed. They seem fearless and are

impulsive. Dynamos are probably the stereotype of ADD and hyperactivity, never sitting still

and constantly getting hurt. Example: Jesse Owens (1936 winner of four Olympic Gold

Medals).""

I'm a dreamer/discoverer...but definitely not a dynamo...although I do often take chances.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. However, if not for the panic attacks, I would probably like

to do extreme sports. Oh well, can't have it all, now can we? Probably just as well...

""Over-Focused

I found this term in an article written by Charles Schwarzbeck called "Over-focused Or

Attention Deficit Disorder?"

"Five-year-old Samantha presses hard on her pencil, coloring slowly and purposefully,

stooping over her paper. She seems spellbound, showing no awareness that her

classmates are pushing and noisy, as they excitedly move toward their recess. Samantha

shows no reaction, when her teacher repeats that her drawing is complete. She doesn't

seem to care about recess.

"Samantha's teacher probably resents her. She says Samantha 'never sits when I ask her

to sit. It's like she must walk around, and keep engaging the other children. She's willing to

sit down, and pay attention, only when she's got everything completely perfect. She's got to

be 100 percent in the driver's seat.'"

"When Over-focused children finally get focused, they lock into their task, often losing track

of time, until they are finished. When they are interrupted or told to take a break, they often

become angry and upset."

"Over-focusers frequently seem restless and disorganized. Their problem is correctly

understood, however, as handicapped attention, founded upon tendencies to be overwhelmed,

and unable to relax enough to settle down and focus."

The author of this article identifies over-focusing as something completely different from

ADD. I'm not so sure, since the terms ADD and ADHD encompass a wide spectrum of

attention differences, and the author seems to have some misconceptions about ADD.

From everything I've read and based on many letters and online discussions, it seems to

me that MOST ADDers have bipolar attention traits. That is, either they aren't paying

attention or they're hyperfocusing. I would also add that gifted children very often are

perfectionists and will display such traits.""

I find this to be true for me as well. I do focus almost exclusively on a few things to the

exclusion of all else. But only in the actual doing, not in the thinking....I'm always thinking.

""Divergent and Lateral Thinkers

These terms are useful for confusing your friends. Divergent thinking is a creative style of

thinking. Instead of coming to a point or a close, your thoughts tend to branch out,

constantly exploring new avenues. These avenues may take you well into the ozone.

Divergent thinking leads to creativity. Convergent thinking leads to getting things done.

Convergent thinking: I need to make supper, but I don't have any celery. I'll go to the store

and buy some.

Divergent thinking. I need to make supper, but I don't have any - look a bird - celery.

Actually, I had some yesterday, but I ate it all with peanut butter. Why did I do that? The

peanut butter was good though, and it was that all natural kind. Surprised me. I thought it

would taste terrible. I should try some other all natural products. Like those cookies I saw in

the store last time. They were sweetened with molasses. I wonder if molasses is just as

bad as sugar. Maybe there's a website about that, perhaps if I searched under

hypoglycemia or diabetes. While I'm here, I'll check my email. Oh look, a letter from Ann!

Wow, she want's to go to Lilith Fair with me. Alright! I should get some CDs from the Lilith

Fair artists so I know what they're singing. Good idea, I'm going to the music store right

now. Wait, but I'm hungry, what do we have to eat! Oh yeah, no celery...

Lateral thinking is similar to divergent thinking. The idea is that most people think in a

sequential or serial manner. Step one, step two, step three. Lateral thinkers don't do that,

and find serial thinking dry and boring. Lateral thinkers are intuitive and often come up

with answers without knowing how they got the answer. Serial thinkers can explain each

step they took to arrive at the answer.

Both divergent and lateral thinking are associated with the right hemisphere of the brain,

while convergent and serial thinking are associated with the left hemisphere. This is why

creative people are more likely to exhibit mixed or right brain dominance than the general

population.""

OK, my thinking is definitely divergent, (I get side-tracked) as well as lateral...

(sometimes I have no idea how I came up with the answer.)Although I can backtrack a

thought to see how I arrived there, since there doesn't appear to be a connection.

After backtracking, I can see there is a connection.

Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) If you think you experience things more intensely than everyone

else, you might be a Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP. This term was coined by Elaine N. Aron,

Ph.D., in the book "The Highly Sensitive Person - How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms

You." HSPs seem to have a larger and more sensitive "antennae" for receiving information from

the world. As a result, what other people miss, the HSP may pick up immediately. You may

delight in some subtle detail that others do not even see, like dust floating in a sunbeam, but

your senses may become overwhelmed at malls or big parties.

"High levels of stimulation (e.g., a noisy classroom) will distress and exhaust HSP's sooner

than others. While some will withdraw, a significant number of boys especially will become

hyperactive." Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D., "The Highly Sensitive Person"

A less sensitive child might go to school one day and immediately begin to play, while a more

sensitive child in the same class might notice that "the teacher is in bad mood, one of the

children is looking angry, and some bags are in the corner that were not there before" and

hesitate to enter the room. Sensitivity can be good or bad, depending on the circumstances. If

a tornado is approaching, for example, a sensitive person is more likely to realize the danger

first. The artist is more likely to notice subtle aspects in a painting; the musician to really 'feel'

their music. And the student is more likely to notice the bird outside the window or be distracted

by their rich inner thoughts. Sensitivity is a trait listed for both gifted and creative children, and

a large number of ADDers describe themselves as very sensitive.

Highly sensitive people now find themselves in a very fast and noisy environment, which

tends overwhelm their finely tuned senses. A trip to the mall or grocery store may be an

assault on the senses. Although Dr. Aron believes that most HSPs are introverts, she

suggests a second type of sensitivity which I identified with immediately (as a mild extrovert).

This type of HSP would be "both very curious and very cautious, bold yet anxious, easily

bored yet easily overaroused. The optimal level of arousal is a narrow range. One could say

there is a constant power struggle..." This type of person is said to have a very strong

"pause-to-check" system as well as a strong "activation" system.

According to Dr. Aron, HSPs are more "right-brained" (less linear, more creative), often think

about their own thinking, are able to learn without being aware they have learned (intuitive),

and are deeply affected by other people's moods. HSPs are more likely to have allergies or

chemical sensitivities, less likely to get a good night of sleep, and tend to be visionaries, highly

intuitive artists or inventors, as well as conscientious, cautious, and wise people.

Bingo!!! I hate crowds, and I much prefer being a loner because I feel more at peace, and less

overwhelmed. We don't need all the noise, well....you might, I don't !!!

In this book, I am covering a lot of new material, as well as integrating some of my thoughts,

to make it easier for people to understand what it's like to live with ADHD. Then there is also

the fact that ADDers' often feel alienated, as if they are from another world or planet. I often

feel that way, and I feel as if I'm really, really lonely and sad and have an overwhelming desire to 'go home'. It is how I feel. I like the idea that I might be from somewhere else,

where my people appreciate me for me and accept me as I am. Not because they have to,

but rather, because people like me are a valuable part of society. As people with ADD and

ADHD are beginning to be accepted here. When I was in NM, I read an article about there

being many people in Silicon Valley with ADHD. Of course, now I can't find it. lol We are

needed, whether people like it or not. Because we are independent thinkers, dreamers,

healers, visionaries...as I like to put it...I always rock the boat. We are people who think

outside the box, see things differently, and march to the beat of a different drum. This world

has become so stagnant, that the people are in danger of dying...from boredom if nothing

else. Yes, people die, it's one of the hazards of living. LOL. Oh well! I don't know if this

actually helps you or not, but if you read it, you just might begin to understand me. Of

course you also need to read the other pages on my site, to get a better idea. Wishing you

well.

What are the symptoms of ADHD? This also applies to adults as well. Another thing I've

noticed is, I usually make a lot of typos, but it's because I think faster than I can type,

and my typing is somewhat slow because I am so uncoordinated.

A child with ADHD

• Makes careless mistakes or often fails to give close attention to details. • Has difficulty sustaining attention.

• Does not appear to listen. • Struggles to follow instructions.

• Loses things...lots of things.

• Often forgets daily activities. • Is easily distracted.

• Has difficulty with organization.

• Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort.

In addition the child with hyperactivity also

• Fidgets a lot and squirms in his/her seat or can incessantly kick his feet or make sounds with

tapping fingers.

• Has difficulty remaining seated. • Runs about or climbs excessively

• Acts as if driven by a motor. • Talks excessively.

• Blurts out answers

• Has difficulty waiting turns • Often interrupts or intrudes upon others.

Another thing, many adults also have ADHD. It isn't something that only kids have now. In fact, the

symptoms of ADD / ADHD typically get worse as children grow into adulthood and face life’s

increasing pressures and demands. In the 1990's a growing number of ADD experts began to view

ADD not so much as a disorder, but instead a natural condition which leaves ADDers at a

disadvantage in some common modern settings, and many positive attributes became associated with

ADD, such as creativity, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial tendencies.

But I would like to ask you to think about something. Is it such a bad thing to have ADHD? Look at

people like Einstein, Mozart, Edison and others..they were very creative. Maybe it isn't even a

disorder. Yeah it makes life hard at times, and it's an aggravation at times. It's been around since the

early 1900's. Perhaps it's something in the air, since there are so many toxins that are released into

the air, soil and water. Regardless of why we have ADHD, we have it and that's a fact. Personally, I'd

rather have it and be an individual than to be like everyone else. I am very creative, and I have many

interests. I love to learn, and I know I often take chances. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Chances

are meant to be taken.” That's another little motto I live by.

Another thing, I don't take meds, it's ok if that's what you feel you need to do, but I've been there

and done that. I choose to not take the meds.

Here's to all you ADDers' out there