Anyone care to finish the sentence?

If I didn't have ADD I would....

have learned how to do so many more things---like how to play a musical instrument, for one.

I would do everything, from work to loving my family, much, much, much better. And enjoy doing it.

how about would *haves*...

i would have graduated with a degree in molecular biology.
i would have immediately gone to graduate school.
i wouldn't have given up my piano playing.
i would have enjoyed my college experience
i wouldn't have lost so many friends those few years i did.
i would have enjoyed interacting with children when i was a kid.
i would have learned, rather than learned to guess, while in grade school.

now for the actual question, "if i didn't have add i would..."
be less nervous
be more satisfied with life
be a better friend
not second guess myself
feel in control of myself
not feel life was inherently chaotic

kay.

be without some of my greatest strengths and talents....

I'd have my degree in media and communications.

I'd have never met my perfect match and I wouldn't have the 2 beautiful kids I have now. And nothing would make me do a second take.

There's a good and bad response to the question.

If I didn't have AD/HD I would be quite simply... not me.

the confience to do what needs to be done

Miserable

this said. i guess i am who i am.. and i just wouldn't be the same if it wasn't a little unusual.. or something. the problems only seem to arise when i'm dealing with something academic or emotionally sensitive.

how about would *haves*...

i would have graduated with a degree in molecular biology.
i would have immediately gone to graduate school.
i wouldn't have given up my piano playing.
i would have enjoyed my college experience
i wouldn't have lost so many friends those few years i did.
i would have enjoyed interacting with children when i was a kid.
i would have learned, rather than learned to guess, while in grade school.

now for the actual question, "if i didn't have add i would..."
be less nervous
be more satisfied with life
be a better friend
not second guess myself
feel in control of myself
not feel life was inherently chaotic

kay.

I just knew that indomitable ADD optimisim would surface! Yes, ADD has caused me to have quite an adventurous life. I've gone places and experienced things I never would have had I not been blessed with a "hey, look at that...!" brain. I'm grateful for that, to be sure.

Some days, the glass is half empty, some days, half full. ADD or not, I suppose.

I was watching American Idol last night, vicariously living through the joy they're experiencing by expressing their talents, and feeling wistfully like ADD has kept me from doing the same (not singing necessarily:)---mainly because of being ashamed of not learning as quickly as others, not "getting things" the first time, etc.

So yes, let me have it with your "positive" slants on ADD!

Sandi

If I didn't have adhd I wouldn't be me.

I started to write something but started feeling bummed out at all the "should have dones"
But I have to agree with the other poster that I did achieve a marriage with the most incredible woman in the world and two of the brightest, cutest, and loving children in the world (Leah 14 and Ryan 9)

I'm 55 and only found out about a year ago that there's a reason I've struggled and worked hard all my life only to have people tell me that I could do so much more if only I would apply myself or work harder. Sheesh. However, now that I know what the deal is, I'm learning coping techniques and taking supplements that are helping immensely, and I bought a hand drum and joined a drum circle! I'm having a marvelous time learning how to "play an instrument" for the first time... at my age! WOOT for me.

If I didn't have adhd I wouldn't be me.
and we would not want it any other way!!!

...and love your name, by the way! I love to read good news. Drumming sounds like fun. I've often wanted to take tambourine "lessons'...haha! Yeah, I'm so rhythym challenged, I'd need lessons!

Sandi

blushing...aw thanks, Minn.

I cannot imagine what it is like not to have ADHD. I was at my psych and he was talking about how is ADHD patients find it hard to block out a waterfall he has in his office. My response was "Yeah, it is really loud!" He looked at me and said he was able to drown it out and could not hear it...

I definitely think life would be easier if I did not have ADHD, I would have more friends and would not have to struggle so much for what I do have. Hopefully I will get to the point other people are with acceptance and not wanting to get rid of their ADHD, I know I am just not there yet. :(

I would not have gained so much (self)knowledge and wisdom as I have now.

Get my dictation done on time?

I think I would be steamlined and boring.... but, I'd probably sleep better.

I wouldn't be so gosh darn cute. :D
...or quirky...or fun...

Instead...
I would be organized. (highly overrated)
I would be/have been a good student. (eh, everything I need to know I learned in Harry Potter or from showtunes)

I would be motivated (that sounds good, but I like being cute better).

If I didn't have ADD I ....I probably WOULDN'T have

:stood on the nail poking up from a plank of wood to see if it would *go through my shoe* (yes, it did and it did embedd in my foot)

: poked a gazillion holes in the arm of my parent's new couch with a pin, without even realizing I was making a lovely flower picture out of holes

:turned the wrong valve off on the gas heater, causing a lovely fire in the middle of the loungeroom

:set fire to our local bush a gazillion times

:carefully peeled my bedroom wallpaper off

:driven around and around a round-a-bout until I ran out of petrol

LOL and the list goes on..and on..and on..

see, my childhood would have been boring ;-)

If I didn't have ADD I ....I probably WOULDN'T have

:stood on the nail poking up from a plank of wood to see if it would *go through my shoe* (yes, it did and it did embedd in my foot)

: poked a gazillion holes in the arm of my parent's new couch with a pin, without even realizing I was making a lovely flower picture out of holes

:turned the wrong valve off on the gas heater, causing a lovely fire in the middle of the loungeroom

:set fire to our local bush a gazillion times

:carefully peeled my bedroom wallpaper off

:driven around and around a round-a-bout until I ran out of petrol

LOL and the list goes on..and on..and on..

see, my childhood would have been boring ;-)
Oh no...don't start with the childhood memories...that could be a whole forum dedicated to these...lol!!

Putting the parked car in gear, rolling down the hill into a tree...the list goes on and on for me!! Great post!

... I would probably be in graduate school for psychology or law school at the moment, and not working in a call centre trying to sort out how my brain worksl.

But it's not alll bad :) I also wouldn't be so well read on so many topics if not for the ADD, perhaps. I have a habit of reading many books at one time, as I can't read just one straight through, I need many on the go. I'm also better at multitasking than I might be otherwise.

If I didn't have ADD I would.... be very much less of a person

Id be less kind, less generous, less positive, less quirky, less huggable, less lovable, less intelligent, less inspired, less imaginative, less other stuff

Can you see a pattern? :D

Yay, positive attitude! Okay, I'll try more along Steven's wavelength.

If I didn't have ADD, I wouldn't have such a wide variety of experiences because I wouldn't be so eager to try so many different things out :)

It's a very stupid sentence. There is no possibility to tell what would have happened if I didn't have ADD. I can only guess, not knowing what would happen.

I would fit into the mold better, but I think that's overrated anyways. I would be more responsible but I wouldn't have so much insight into myself or others.

I wouldn't have as much fun!
I wouldn't have been on all the crazy adventures I've been on!
I wouldn't be as curious about everything, and probably not know as much as I do.

... I would be more clearminded.

Correction: ... I would be MUCH MUCH MUCH more clearminded.

I would have accomplised what i wanted to today! I went to go on a Brewery tour and had to wait 15 for the tour to start. Once they anounced it was starting my firned and I looked at each other and said, yea, no, not happening. We cant do a one our tour! As I like to say, "bad ADD day!"

it's not about what if i didn't have ADD. it's about what if i never found out that it's ADD that i have!

i think probably there are all sorts of differences between people with ADD. i know that mine is associated with taking risks because otherwise life is not exciting. sometimes i win. sometimes i lose. but that's what taking risks is all about: no regrets. celebrate when things go well. suck it up when they don't.

i think if i didn't have ADD my life would have had a totally different 'focus'. so i can't imagine.

Don't know how much of this is truely ADD related.. but, I'm not sure I want to take the chance....

been able to up and leave my "loving" hubby.... (am happily divorced 4 yrs :D )
just decided that today was the day...trust me, it was a very unhealthy relationship, and myself as well as my children are better off. We (he and I) have a much better relationship now.

raised my two babies, and manage a restaurant (million dollar store and 120+ employees) without losing my mind.... and am doing a damn good job!

experience the amazing things that i have... gone the places that I have... have the memories of those spontanious, adventourus moment...

be the person that I am... and be where I am today...

No, I'm not perfect... neither is my life. Never will be, BUT... I kinda like who I am... with all my quirks :p
(Although... meds does make me like these amazing NEW qualities I see!!! I can deal with this change!!!)

If I didn't have ADD....I would be able to

live like everyone else...

have better grades...

retain information I have just been told....I have real communication trouble with my bf. I can only remember 50% of the conversation. So there's no point of having conversation. I asked him about his ex-gfs. He told me honestly. But oh...I just didn't remember afterwards...And I really didn't wanna ask again...

If I didn't have ADD, I would have gotten my act together a long time ago!

*Have a neat, clean house

*Get cards and presents to their recepient on time.

*Have my garage, files, and closets organized and accessible.

*Wouldn't have had to cancel my 4 year olds birthday party, because I didn't get it planned, the house was too messy, and I'm totally unprepared.:(

*Have a neat, clean house

*Get cards and presents to their recepient on time.

*Have my garage, files, and closets organized and accessible.

*Wouldn't have had to cancel my 4 year olds birthday party, because I didn't get it planned, the house was too messy, and I'm totally unprepared.:(

yes , and pay the bills on time
But I am me and I love me 80% of the time

... quite different ( boring ? ) with a college degree, maybe, and a cleaner domicile.

If I didn't have ADHD

I would have finished college on time and probably went on to medical school (my choice of major at the time).

I also would probably sleep better at night.

Don't think anything else would be different.

Still I plan on going back to school and finishing college eventually and probably getting some kind of graduate degree. I'm probably not going to study medicine next time though since I've lost interest in that.

ADHD might have slowed me down on the way to some of my goals but I'm way to stubborn to give up or accept the fact that there is anything I can't do.

Anyone care to finish the sentence?

If I didn't have ADD I would....

have learned how to do so many more things---like how to play a musical instrument, for one.
If I didn't have ADD I wouldn't have been able to learn 7 musical instraments in 2 years and begin teaching 4 of them to support myself..

The hyper focus of ADD is such a gift...

I would have done as well in school as my intelligence suggests I should have. I would have finished college. I wouldn't have gone back 12 times and still never finished. I probably would have gone to med school. I probably wouldn't have realized what a knack I have for computer programming. Perhaps if I get treatment, I could get an actual education in computer programming and stop feeling like I'm fooling everyone.

If i didn't have adhd i wouldn't be me....

Hi everyone. I'm newish to the forum and haven't posted in this section yet, but after reading these wonderful posts, I just had to chime in. I'm 36 and was just diagnosed with ADD almost a month ago. I'm on Focalin and it's doing SUCH a good job for me. For the first time in my life (literally) I feel like maybe I can start trying all of those things I always wished I'd done when I was younger. I don't know if I can or will follow through, but just having hope about it feels so good. :)

Let's see if I didn't have ADD I would/would-have:

Gone to college at 22 instead of 31
Written a book by now!
Learned to sing
Learned to play the sax
Learned to play the drums
Had a baby
Taken dance classes
Studied psychology instead of secretarial "stuff"


When I think about how I had so many things I wanted to do but never did them, what pops in my mind is the one and only sax lesson I had at 17. I had no idea that I had ADD, but I had horrible trouble concentrating, sitting still, being patient, etc., and so after that lesson when I realized I'd have to come for months if not years to really learn the instrument, I fled the scene and never came back. lol I regret that now, that poor impulse control and lack of patience, but at least now I know WHY I was the way I was.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for sharing and for this entire website---it feels so good to know that I'm not alone.

EnchantedMoons

Thinking back to when I was in high school choosing a career, I loved architecture and working with children. I wasn't sure which to go to college for, but education seemed to be the easier choice. Seemed like less schooling and detail work. Well, teaching is hard and not easy...but now that I am beginning to accept my ADHD, I wonder if the subconscious reason I didn't go to school for architecture was ADHD.

So, if I didn't have ADHD I may have been an architect.

drive...
and much more

hmmm....

I would have graduated last year. I would have done much better at sports. I would still have friends. I'd be able to have a girlfriend. I wouldn't be such a loser. I'd have started a career by now, and maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't be such a screw up in pretty much every facet of life.

But ADHD beats being boring, right? I'm just gonna keep telling myself..

With or without ADHD I'd be the same person. We all would. There would be small changes but nothing to make you not recognise the old you.

Look at how many people wrote something about finishing school or finishing earlier. They either still finished or still plan to. Just because some things may take longer or you hit a few bumps in the road doesn't mean you are a different person.

have money in my bank account

I would def have more money in my bank account! Less debt for sure.

I would have finished college in 4 years and probably be in a very boring job hating it.
I would probably have a clean house
I would not have met so many interesting people who have ADD.