This thought came up as I was playing tennis rather poorly today, as I had a large trouble focusing on actually playing. For a sidenote, I'm not diagnosed but I do believe I have most of the symptoms, so don't be surprised if this isn't like how it occurs to you.

So anyway, if someone without ADD would want you to explain how ADD feels like, I have an example that could work: imagine a television show that focuses on a certain character. You know how sometimes when they have the main character play sports or do something important, they have a bit of a monologue beforehand blurring out all the other background activities, but as soon something jarrs their attention they go back to focusing on whatever task they have on hand. However, at least for me, you never get that impetus to focus: you're always stuck in a monologue, and no matter how hard you try you just can't seem to clear your mind enough to focus.

For instance, in tennis I could try until my mind bleeds to focus on my tennis racket and how it should hit the ball, but all I will end up doing is thinking about, oh, maybe something else I could be doing or, even worse and more common, about why I cannot focus on playing. And no matter what, I can never get my head back into the game.

So anyway, does anyone else feel like that is how ADD affects them?

yep, it's like that..

I have most trouble listening and understanding people...It's like they slowly start talking in a differnent language, one which I have no idea of I try so hard to listen, that I am spending all my time telling myself to listen, I miss the complete point anyway!!...or I hear a distracting sound, like a clock ticking, or something whirring, and that sound gets louder and louder and I can't hear anything else, no matter how hard I try..
But, the medication helps a huge amount with that :-)

For instance, in tennis I could try until my mind bleeds to focus on my tennis racket and how it should hit the ball, but all I will end up doing is thinking about, oh, maybe something else I could be doing or, even worse and more common, about why I cannot focus on playing. And no matter what, I can never get my head back into the game.


Daydreaming about being caught daydreaming [about being caught daydreaming [about being caught daydreaming [......]]] is my favorite. It usually happens right after being caught daydreaming. Yes, I think you're on the ball (no pun intended).

So thaaaat's why I could never learn to play tennis! ;)

I had the same trouble with softball as a kid - I'd space out in the field and not notice balls coming by. The only ball I caught was an accident. I was standing with my glove pointed upward and a pop fly landed in it. I was so surprised! Even worse, I'd space out when at bat and never noticed when the pitch had been thrown. My mom said I actually swung the bat maybe 2 or 3 times the entire season - oops!

Tink

It's not that you have no focus, but rather that you can't control what you focus on. If something interests me, I can't help it- I think about it constantly, whatever that is. If nothing currently interests me, however, my brain wanders and I can't correct it.

Another way I try to describe it is with respect to common associations we make. Normal people possess "filters" and are able to block out information from their daily lives that seem unimportant or irrelevant. ADD folks, however, are unable to do that and often come up with what seem to be really bizarre answers to questions but are perfectly natural to them. I'd argue that they have no control over that, either.

Growing up, I was famous for coming up with answers in class that seemed off the wall or crazy, earning me the reputation as the class whack-o. It was a bit like if my instructor asked me to tell them how to fix their car, I'd respond with a book on the history of the automobile. Really, I had no control over it.

check out this thread:

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21320

My husband told me his brain is like a file cabinent. I replied, "If a normal person's brain is like a file cabinent, then my brain is a pile of papers, some crimpled, some torn, definitely not organized, and when asked to remember something I'm just moving the papers around-- it's like finding a needle in a haystack! I only see the top two papers- meaning I only remember what is at the top of my brain and sometimes even that slips to the bottom of the pile." :)

Jen

My husband told me his brain is like a file cabinent. I replied, "If a normal person's brain is like a file cabinent, then my brain is a pile of papers, some crimpled, some torn, definitely not organized, and when asked to remember something I'm just moving the papers around-- it's like finding a needle in a haystack! I only see the top two papers- meaning I only remember what is at the top of my brain and sometimes even that slips to the bottom of the pile." :)

Jensomeone keeps turning a fan on mine

He has the remote to my brain and keeps switching the channels without my permission. My meds block his signal but the remote I have is the old cheesy kind that has to go up through all the channels to get the right one. The Gremlin has some high-powered multi-buttoned mega-remote and never gets near enough for me to throttle him.

DH's words:

"Ok this is my spin on it. You are like a flashlight, the type that can narrow the beam when the end is twisted. Sometimes, to me, you look like somebody twisted the end way to much, trying to get a wider angle of light and instead went too far and now the light is too diffuse to see anything at all.
And if I am understanding you here, then hyperfocus is when the beam is so narrow that all you can see is that tiny area of light.
NonADDers have selfregulating flashlights, and you don't, and the medicine lets you "see", provides proper lighting but you don't know what to make of what you see then because you are so used to inconsistant lighting."

It's not that you have no focus, but rather that you can't control what you focus on. If something interests me, I can't help it- I think about it constantly, whatever that is. If nothing currently interests me, however, my brain wanders and I can't correct it.

Another way I try to describe it is with respect to common associations we make. Normal people possess "filters" and are able to block out information from their daily lives that seem unimportant or irrelevant. ADD folks, however, are unable to do that and often come up with what seem to be really bizarre answers to questions but are perfectly natural to them. I'd argue that they have no control over that, either.

Growing up, I was famous for coming up with answers in class that seemed off the wall or crazy, earning me the reputation as the class whack-o. It was a bit like if my instructor asked me to tell them how to fix their car, I'd respond with a book on the history of the automobile. Really, I had no control over it.This is so very true!!! I can completely relate to this. For example, someone could be talking about a new red shirt that was just purchased. While that person is talking, I might start to think of the purchases I need to make. The store that I need to purchase things from is right down the street from my house, so I could probably stop there to grab a bite to eat. On my way to the house maybe I should stop at the neighbors, because I know they have a new dog. Oh wait - I should feed my own dog while I am at the house. Then I might remember that the dog has to have a new leash, because he broke his last one. Maybe I'll go shopping for a new leash! By the time I can focus on the conversation again, all I can think of is the new leash I have to get! The person I am engaged in the conversation with cannot possibly understand how I got from "new red shirt" to dog leash, but it would make perfect sense to me! I am the queen of associations (self-proclaimed, of course:D).