I have read over the forums quite a bit, and used the search for this topic. It wa never directly asked, but at the same time fit into many "Have you ever...?" categories. So, I am making a new post of it and hope thats ok.

Question:
Do you tend to have a habit of over-examining your surroundings at all times?

This is a very very interesting (imo) habit of mine, and it never fails. Some might consider it a paranoia of a sort, but I absolutely love it and call it a gift. I suppose the reason I ask here, is to see if it's by chance ADD related or a genuine personal trait of my own. Either way works, it would be cool to see others that do this though.

To explain better, here is an example:

I walk out of my house in the afternoon, usually to my g/f walking in from work (she arrives home, at the time I'm leaving). Having not exited my house all morning, and walking directly to her from the door, she can ask "So, whats around us?".

Without a second glance or thought, I can name a very accurate count (not always perfect) of the amount of cars, people, and animals in seeing distance on our street (outsite of course). I can also name anything thats not in it's normal area, or any inconsistency with the way the street is normally seen.

I do this in shopping malls, restruants, etc... It's a sub-conscience process, since I don't purposely look around and start counting everytime I enter a new area. But, generally it doesn't matter where I am, I can name an uncanny amount of detail about what surrounds me in numbers, and sometimes by color.

I do this while I'm driving also, as far as over-knowledge of my surrounds. Though, I hope this doesn't account for the spaced-out periods I come across while driving also. Where I'm driving, then go off thinking about something, then back to driving but haven already driven a few blocks. Thats for another post... lol

Hmmm. I can do this... I don't because my brain is usually crowded with other things... Do you do it by catagorizing the objects in several different ways then combining them into a count from memory? Or do you count them on the spot?

I do this with people. I always check out every person (scanning) in my immediate area and I remember them as a context taged by a face and a predominant color they are wearing. I also remember the context where they were standing.

I recognize people all of the time due to this.

I can count after the fact as well. I am unable to count at the time...not enough focus.

I sometimes overprocess things. People with ADD do this often. After a while you learn how to moderate the tendency. I sometimes stop what I am doing and try to take in evrything in my surroundings. I think "normal" people do that too.

A tendency to look over your surroundings AND overprocess could make me rather uncomfotable. I'm glad I don't do that. I can se how some ADDer's might though.

I am hypersensitive to my senses, (hearing in particular), so my surroundings sometimes can get my attention in a big way. Sometimes it is unpleasant, even painful.

Furthermore, if I have something that I am concerned about or am hyperfocused on I can end up obsessing on it for a while and sometimes make myself feel miserable in the process.

The thing that helps me with that is to identify the stressful item and deal with it rationally, so that I understand it and it is then no longer worrysome to me.


Me :D



I have read over the forums quite a bit, and used the search for this topic. It wa never directly asked, but at the same time fit into many "Have you ever...?" categories. So, I am making a new post of it and hope thats ok.

Question:
Do you tend to have a habit of over-examining your surroundings at all times?

This is a very very interesting (imo) habit of mine, and it never fails. Some might consider it a paranoia of a sort, but I absolutely love it and call it a gift. I suppose the reason I ask here, is to see if it's by chance ADD related or a genuine personal trait of my own. Either way works, it would be cool to see others that do this though.

To explain better, here is an example:

I walk out of my house in the afternoon, usually to my g/f walking in from work (she arrives home, at the time I'm leaving). Having not exited my house all morning, and walking directly to her from the door, she can ask "So, whats around us?".

Without a second glance or thought, I can name a very accurate count (not always perfect) of the amount of cars, people, and animals in seeing distance on our street (outsite of course). I can also name anything thats not in it's normal area, or any inconsistency with the way the street is normally seen.

I do this in shopping malls, restruants, etc... It's a sub-conscience process, since I don't purposely look around and start counting everytime I enter a new area. But, generally it doesn't matter where I am, I can name an uncanny amount of detail about what surrounds me in numbers, and sometimes by color.

I do this while I'm driving also, as far as over-knowledge of my surrounds. Though, I hope this doesn't account for the spaced-out periods I come across while driving also. Where I'm driving, then go off thinking about something, then back to driving but haven already driven a few blocks. Thats for another post... lol

I do this quite often..I think I take in many more objects than *normal* people and to a point remember them. I am always saying "did you see bla bla" and noone ever knows what Im talking about. I also take mental notes on things being in their usual places, and I spot things far faster than others. For example, last night my best friend and I were in my car and I spotted a fire truck and had moved over and stopped before she had even realized there was a truck. My other ADHD friend does this a huge amount too.

I enjoy it and it actually makes me feel safer driving knowing that I will always know whats around me, even when I do zone out, though I can never remember the surroundings when im not mentally there. The only part I don't like it how I may be aware of too many things and they become startling. For example, if a shadow goes past me, a small bug flies by, a light flashes in the distance, I hear a noise down the street...most 'normal' people would not even notice but it all catches my attention and, being esp. sensitive to loud noises, many of these things can become startling. My other ADHD friend and I are always randomly jumping or screaming and noone ever knows what were scared of.

I'm a scanner, adhd. I can visually look a room over and photographically recall it when I leave.

When I am out in a crowd, as at a festival or in a shopping mall, I almost get overwhelmed from all of the "everything". I can't sleep at night from all of the thoughts and visual stimuli swimming around in my mind.

I also recall very acurately one on one conversations and the clothing that all the people are wearing at a cocktail party and all of the artwork in a gallery.

My husband, on the other hand is distracted by every little thing to the point of not being able to remember what was said or only being able to remember one or two things in a room. He is inattentive add.

He has an acute awareness of direction which is wonderful because I am always lost.
I suppose that is his choice of hyperfocus.

I am too busy noticing the potholes in the road or the bunnies in the sky, which ain't good when you realize you have passed your turn for the second time.:faint:

If I buy something new for the house, put it in plain view, and do not point it out, he may not notice it for weeks. This can be a good thing if I have been a little impulsive on a shopping trip. :D


~gourmet~

Thats funny..I am inattentive add and I am a mix of you and your husband. I scan everything, catch every bit of stimuli, but I can never remember what anyone is wearing or remember what was said because I am so easily distracted, and my sense of direction is non-existant.

Depends on what mood I am in if a am bored a usally notice the most minute insectficant (spelling?) things. But when am excited I couldn't care less for ,y surroundings.

I tend to notice things like what earrings someine is wearing ...seemingly insignificant details...& be able to tell them the next time I see them. I guess I do it with other stuff to .

Without thinking, I pay very close attention to what others are feeling, expressions, and seem to understand what they are thinking. (Intuition probably) I also appear to take a quick picture of the situation, but can not remember detail unless it has to do with numbers specifically.

Ken

Oh yeah, I very quickly pick up on how people seem to be feeling and thinking..and I am very impacted by how others feel while I am speaking to them so I always remember how they were the time before and compare it each time I see them. I dont really care what others think, but I find how uninhibited or reserved I am at any given time depends largly on the emotions of the crowd.

I had new client the other day & could tell almost right away that we didn't hit it off. I would be surprised if she came back .

I am too busy noticing the potholes in the road or the bunnies in the sky, which ain't good when you realize you have passed your turn for the second time.:faint:


This is me exactly! I notice everything but somehow miss what I am looking for.

This is me exactly! I notice everything but somehow miss what I am looking for.



sounds familar! I think this is similar to what my parents used to say to me....
"If it was a snake it would jump up & bite you!"