how many stages of ADD are there

I am going somewhere with this post but Im not sure where yet

Please feel free to comment any way shape or form to this

I would like as much feed back as possible

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Stage 1

Kids are born -------Undefined
Up to when they are diagnosed they are considered to be really wild kids

Stage 2 -------------Diagnosage
Once they are diagnosed in school at we will say age 6-8 then they are ADD

Stage 3 --------------Akknowalgment
once someone aknolages that they have it
Its like "ok I Have ADD"

Stage 4 ---------------Acceptance
Once someone accepts that they have it
But they dont know what to do with it

Stage 5

Learn to deal with it ----- Positive factor
Pretend it isnt a reallity ---- Negitive Factor

Now it splits and becomes two potential scenarios

Stage 7 ----- Postive

Learn to use the gifts that come with it and to cope with the faults (that society says we Have)


Stage 7 ---- Negative
Ignore the potential for disater and get kicked in the butt over and over by life

or stage 7 ----- Dark negative Criminal Acctivities ect

Pretty good Garry...I would agree with this...Just with Stage 7 I think first the negative -- and then the positive can happen right after each other....

That is first get kicked in the butt over and over and over again...(for me it was 12 million "over agains").....which is why I was fired from so many jobs...note that in "how many jobs have you been fired from" post:(.....

Then Stage 7 Positive....learn to use the gifts, etc.

But I think in between the negative and positive of stage 7 there has to be a stage where you sort of come to hate the crappy stuff and learn what your gifts are as well as get clear about your faults so as not to repeat them.

I agree with you Joan. Course I am in the transistion stage between the "sevens" Only I didn't usually get fired, I always quit right before I got fired. Not much better. Now I am deciding I am tired of the crappy, but still working on getting to the positive.

Joan i really have to go to bed grin

I will repost it all with everyones input later

right now
Bed
work
then im going to my ex Motherinlaws cottage for the weekend

as she says

she didnt divorce me

Her daughter did

how many stages of ADD are there

I am going somewhere with this post but Im not sure where yet

Please feel free to comment any way shape or form to this

I would like as much feed back as possible

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Stage 1

Kids are born -------Undefined
Up to when they are diagnosed they are considered to be really wild kids

Stage 2 -------------Diagnosage
Once they are diagnosed in school at we will say age 6-8 then they are ADD

Stage 3 --------------Akknowalgment
once someone aknolages that they have it
Its like "ok I Have ADD"

Stage 4 ---------------Acceptance
Once someone accepts that they have it
But they dont know what to do with it

Stage 5

Learn to deal with it ----- Positive factor
Pretend it isnt a reallity ---- Negitive Factor


Stage 6.1

has to be a stage where you sort of come to hate the crappy stuff and learn what your gifts are as well as get clear about your faults so as not to repeat them.

Now it splits and becomes two potential scenarios


Stage 7 ----- Postive

Learn to use the gifts that come with it and to cope with the faults (that society says we Have)


OR

Stage 7 ---- Negative
Ignore the potential for disater and get kicked in the butt over and over by life

Or

or stage 7 ----- Dark negative Criminal Acctivities ect

Works for me:)

Just providing more food for thought regarding our journeys on the ADHD road. It's a lo-o-n-ng article, and I even cut it short, but some may find it informative; others may choose to skip it. Here's a link if you'd like to mark the site to read/finish the article later:

http://www.addresources.org/newsletter_sample.php#journey

I had to begin with the stuff in italics...scroll down to the bold writing.

Sample Newsletter
Editor's Note: You may distribute this content electronically or in print if you include the following statement at the top of the article so that it is visible to all readers.

Terms of Use: This educational material is made available courtesy of the author and Attention Deficit Disorder Resources, a non-profit organization based in Tacoma, whose purpose is to help people with Attention Deficit Disorder achieve their full potential. We have numerous materials as well as a quarterly newsletter for sale. Phone: 253-759-5085
Address: ADD Resources, 223 Tacoma Av S #100, Tacoma WA 98402
E-mail: office@addresources.org; Web Site: www.addresources.org

ADDvice
A Quarterly Newsletter on Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults
Features: ADD Journey | ADD & Romantic Relationships | ADD Over-Diagnosed? | Decade of ADD

"The ADD Journey" by Cynthia Hammer, M.S.W.


The inspiration for this article and some of the information on the the journey, its stages, (stage IV is my addition), guides and fellow travelers came from the booklet, "Coaching Partners," by Lisa F. Poast, founder of the Adult ADD Association (AADDA). To receive a copy of this excellent booklet on the journey and the "how to's" of peer coaching, send a donation of $6 to AADDA, 1225 E Sunset Drive 640, Bellingham, WA 98226 or call (360) 647-6681.

Stage I: "The Journey Begins" (Diagnosis)
Relief: "Finally, an explanation!"

For many adults discovering they have ADD, usually by reading an article, a book or seeing something on television, is a very emotional moment. People at this point in time are usually very excited. They want to talk. They want to tell their story. They want to be understood now that they are starting to understand themselves. Most want to immediately seek a pro-fessional diagnosis so they can move forward with treatment.

Stage II: "Wandering in the Wilderness" (Increasing Awareness)
This stage is marked by a variety of feelings and questions.

Denial: "How do I know this is a valid disorder?"

Flickering Optimism: "Maybe there is hope."

Fear, anxiety, and more anxiety: "What if I follow through with treatment, and nothing changes? All that effort and for what?" Another failure?" "Is medication safe? If I use it, will I have to take it for the rest of my life?"

Grief, Anger, and Resentment: "Why wasn't this diagnosed and treated sooner?"

Stage III: "Up and Over the Mountain Top" (Restructuring)

At this stage the ADDult no longer puts his energy into "What might have been ...." She moves forward with her life, focusing on what works and minimizing the impact of what does not. Some ADDults go to bed in Stage II and wake up in Stage III. It is hard to predict when or why the transition occurs, but it does, and it feels good! In Stage III, ADDults feel less shame about their disorder. They feel more empowered and more comfortable with telling others about their condition. Stage III involves:

Accepting: "I'm ready to let go of the past. I want to get on with my life."

Delegating; Using Strategies and Accommodations: "Could some else more easily do this task?" "What strategies can I use, what accommodations can I request to accomplish my goals?"

Stage IV: "Enjoying the Peaceful Valley"(Self-Acceptance)

Along your journey you have enjoyed the occasional oasis...the moments when you recognize andpraise your-self for new behaviors, small accomplishments, and completed tasks. You note where you started and how far you have come. The journey has been difficult, (and often you wanted to quit or turn back), but you realized you were making progress toward your destination. By noting he oasesalong the way, you confirm for yourself that you are traveling in the right direction, on the right road.The oases keep you nourished for continued travel.

Eventually, you reach a point in your journey when you are traveling light. You no longer carrybaggage from your past. You are a seasoned traveler, good at figuring out how to pass through thisrough landscape. You are confident in your abilities and strong in your knowledge of having survived. You know your journey will get easier--that you will even start to enjoy it. You continue to journey, but now you travel without needing guides and fellow travelers. You journey down the open road of life, sometimes skipping, sometimes trudging, some-times limping, but now there is usually a song in your heart, a twinkle in your eye, and a smile on your face. It is good to notice another oasis just ahead.Your journey of life has become the adventure you have always looked for.....

There's a lot more...check out the link if your interest is piqued.... :cool:

Thanks Smooch

Thats what I was looking for

Garry

My pleasure, Garry. :) You're most welcome!

I have to agree to the stages, I went through every one of them but I'm happily at stage 7 - positive. I didn't realize this until one day I was asked by my counsilor to do a um... question and answer board with others with ADD and I was first to talk, I said basically how ADD was a positive thing in my life: I was braver and more active than others, I was able to hyperfocus into my work thus being three times as fast at drafting than others, I was able to solve drafting problems faster due to my multiple thinking ability, and that I loved my curiosity, and "need to know how something works" joys I have. I guess I was in a kinda wonderland because it wasn't until my counsilor showed me the video of the discussion and I saw others with ADD weren't so positive. Some actually hated their ADD. I was surprised. But now I understand why. We are on different levels of acceptance. Thanks, Garry and Smooch, you too Joan. :)

It all starts to make sense after you turn to the positive

My oppinion anyway

Originally posted by Garry Lawton
how many stages of ADD are there
Stage 3 --------------Akknowalgment

Stage 4 ---------------Acceptance

Stage 5

Learn to deal with it ----- Positive factor
Pretend it isnt a reallity ---- Negitive Factor

Now it splits and becomes two potential scenarios

Stage 7 ----- Postive

Learn to use the gifts that come with it and to cope with the faults (that society says we Have)


Stage 7 ---- Negative
Ignore the potential for disater and get kicked in the butt over and over by life



I must be in stage 6, the lost stage.

It reminds me of the 12 step story...

Three frogs were sitting on a log in the forest. One decided to jump off. How many frogs were on the log?

3

He just decided to jump, he didn't DO IT yet.

Have i learned how to del with ADHD. I think so. It still keeps not HAPPENING.

It feels like a Twilight zone story!

Whaqt do you mean , yyou havent learned to deal with it

your the only one who noticed that there was no stage 6

The lost stage

that really deserves some consideration

I am an exception finder par excellance.

I am still execution impaired. Action on explicit priorities impaired.

Scope non-normal... vastly larger scope or vastly smaller scope.

I am initiator prolific, completor impaired.

... and I saw others with ADD weren't so positive. Some actually hated their ADD. I was surprised. But now I understand why. We are on different levels of acceptance.
Don't forget, environment makes a difference too. Some people just don't have the same opportunities that lead them to a positive frame of mind.

Some people with ADD really screw their lives up to the point where I'm sure they feel they can't reconcile what they've lost.

I like your stages of ADD I am working on stage four, acceptance.

I don't like being ADD, and I'm only 18....then again, I ignored it for a long time. And here I am, sitting in my own filth...I can't even deal with it when I know I have it...geeze...and here I am worrying. Zoloft needs to work faster. Ugh.

I think my biological father has a.d.d. Its just a suspicion me and my mom have, hes also a native painter and from what i am told is really quite talented at his work. She tells he was a laid back kind of guy, maybe inattentive? I am type 2