So, who here's a Helen and who's a Barbara??

http://www.mental-hygiene.org/index.php/2009/02/06/bad-habits-make-barbara-cry/

This is so me (Barbara I mean). God I want to smack the narrator upside the head!

edit:oops, bad grammar.. I am ADD, but I'm glad I'm not living in the 50s.... oh those darn bad habits :-P

OMG!!!


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Oh gah.. That's terrible

Yes, I'd like to choke that narrator myself.

That is one of my biggest pet peeves. People judging other people assuming they know how to fix the problem! Unfortunately, that just makes it worse. People like Barbara, with ADD, already feel bad enough and insecure. Then to have someone else come along and point out all your failings! It's no different than someone making fun of a child who can't walk (due to a handicap) and comparing him to someone who exercises and walks just fine, and faulting him for it. Ugh!!

Makes you realize why the Bible tells us not to judge others. How much damage we can cause by our arrogance!

Yes, I'd like to choke that narrator myself.

That is one of my biggest pet peeves. People judging other people assuming they know how to fix the problem! Unfortunately, that just makes it worse. People like Barbara, with ADD, already feel bad enough and insecure. Then to have someone else come along and point out all your failings! It's no different than someone making fun of a child who can't walk (due to a handicap) and comparing him to someone who exercises and walks just fine, and faulting him for it. Ugh!!

Makes you realize why the Bible tells us not to judge others. How much damage we can cause by our arrogance!

Totally. I love how Barbara's room magically cleans itself at the end of the film. There should be a part somewhere where Barbara finds a box of old junk and loses 2 hours just rummaging through it.

It's scary how it's obviously ADD that Barabara has... especially with the not being able to follow the conversation, then launching into monologue bit.

And good habits start with a "good complexion ... That starts with soap and water"--HA! Try telling that to the average teen.

The annoying thing is that a lot of women especially still have this attitude and think it's inexcusable to be any other way but always organized.

My son said, "Wow, that place is organized." That was watching the first person.
That narrative is a nice person, isn't she? Oh goodness

That poor girl was me.

Oh.....I just wanted to hit Helen and all the other "perfect" sanctimonious girls!! .......and the narrator arggghhhhh!

If you ever wonder if we have come a long way...

I was in fourth grade when I had a teacher decide that I wasn't ladylike enough. I would sit with my knees together. Generally, that is. I tend to squirm quite a bit when I have to concentrate on anything. So after chiding me in front of the class because male students might see my underwear as I shifted about, she decided to take matters into her own hands. I was required to stay in at recess and after lunch and sit at my desk with my legs tied together at the knee. This was to remind me that my knees must always be properly crossed.

I put up with it for a couple of days, thinking that the teacher would get over herself. Then I had a conversation with Mom. The next day, I was allowed to participate in recess.

That was in 1970 or so.

helen makes me feel violent.

Oh man, and the other girls? What THE HELL???

Sometimes it is nice to be a sociopath, I'd have gone back in and started a fight.

jeez, this made me mad.

Not being a fem-bot is a BAD HABIT

I would almost call that discrimination against people with ADHD.. I have had these things happen, actually. Before I was diagnosed, I used to say I needed to use the washroom as an excuse to get up. I was then forced to stay in during recesses, and have special "Get up" cards.. I could only use 3 per day. I was given a rubber band on my wrist to snap when I felt myself driffting out of attention, and a ruler to bang when I needed to say something imediatley.. It didn't work. I shot the band at everyone and jabbed them all with my ruler. That teacher recently saw me. She asked me if my behavour had persisted, and I replied I was diagnosed with ADHD and put on a medication called Strattera.. I do a lot better now and my teachers now UNDERSTAND me. She looked shocked and I just walked away...

I would almost call that discrimination against people with ADHD.. I have had these things happen, actually. Before I was diagnosed, I used to say I needed to use the washroom as an excuse to get up. I was then forced to stay in during recesses, and have special "Get up" cards.. I could only use 3 per day. I was given a rubber band on my wrist to snap when I felt myself driffting out of attention, and a ruler to bang when I needed to say something imediatley.. It didn't work. I shot the band at everyone and jabbed them all with my ruler. That teacher recently saw me. She asked me if my behavour had persisted, and I replied I was diagnosed with ADHD and put on a medication called Strattera.. I do a lot better now and my teachers now UNDERSTAND me. She looked shocked and I just walked away...

Even more a discrimination when you consider that I was diagnosed in 1967. That particular teacher managed to tick off more parents than mine. She quit about five years later.

Behavior = rewards never worked for me. Hyperactivity was the first symptom people saw in me as a kid. I didn't have a problem with getting up and walking out of a classroom. Fortunately for my teachers, I graduated at 16.

Even more a discrimination when you consider that I was diagnosed in 1967. That particular teacher managed to tick off more parents than mine. She quit about five years later.

Behavior = rewards never worked for me. Hyperactivity was the first symptom people saw in me as a kid. I didn't have a problem with getting up and walking out of a classroom. Fortunately for my teachers, I graduated at 16.I was diagnosed this year.. I feel bad for the people that are discriminated against after their diagnosis actually.. I have that this year with one teacher that babies me. He is constantly asking how I feel, and if I can concentrate or if I need things, etc. You'd think he's helping, but he's not. He thinks because I have ADHD that I can't do anything

I was diagnosed this year.. I feel bad for the people that are discriminated against after their diagnosis actually.. I have that this year with one teacher that babies me. He is constantly asking how I feel, and if I can concentrate or if I need things, etc. You'd think he's helping, but he's not. He thinks because I have ADHD that I can't do anything

That bites. Truly. At least he's trying even if he isn't quite on the mark.

Sometimes, people just simply don't get us. Let's face it- there isn't much accurate general information out there for the layman. Heck- many of us put research professionals to shame because we are willing to dig in and learn what ADHD is and what it isn't. This teacher may just be a teachable moment. Help him to understand how he can help. He seems to want to.

That bites. Truly. At least he's trying even if he isn't quite on the mark.

Sometimes, people just simply don't get us. Let's face it- there isn't much accurate general information out there for the layman. Heck- many of us put research professionals to shame because we are willing to dig in and learn what ADHD is and what it isn't. This teacher may just be a teachable moment. Help him to understand how he can help. He seems to want to.
Yeah it does.. And I totally agree. He came up to me and said today, Goodmorning Kylee, how was your weekend? How are you feeling today? Good concentration day? He didn't say anything to anyone else.. I wish he would understand but I don't want to draw attention to myself by trying to teache him

Its pretty scary for me to watch this as I am sure it is for a lot of people.
to know that that is you and your own habits in that film and you always blamed yourself for it and never knew anything was wrong.

Yeah it does.. And I totally agree. He came up to me and said today, Goodmorning Kylee, how was your weekend? How are you feeling today? Good concentration day? He didn't say anything to anyone else.. I wish he would understand but I don't want to draw attention to myself by trying to teache him

That gets tough. You don't want to dissuade him because there is another ADDer out there for him to teach. I would guess that somewhere along the way he heard that reaching out and valuing us is a good way to get our best.

Is there a way you can have a conversation after class where it wouldn't be too obvious? Or perhaps email or write him? He sounds like he's genuine. If that's true, he'll understand and want to help.

That gets tough. You don't want to dissuade him because there is another ADDer out there for him to teach. I would guess that somewhere along the way he heard that reaching out and valuing us is a good way to get our best.

Is there a way you can have a conversation after class where it wouldn't be too obvious? Or perhaps email or write him? He sounds like he's genuine. If that's true, he'll understand and want to help.
But in reality, we are all different, and if you try to do that with me then I will completely shut down and not talk to you anymore because you're making me feel so different from everyone else. He's a new teacher.. He may never have even taught someone with ADHD before. I'm going to ask my mom what she thinks I should do, but knowing her she might go to my school and yell at him and my ADHD concellor there because she hates it when I get babied.

But in reality, we are all different, and if you try to do that with me then I will completely shut down and not talk to you anymore because you're making me feel so different from everyone else. He's a new teacher.. He may never have even taught someone with ADHD before. I'm going to ask my mom what she thinks I should do, but knowing her she might go to my school and yell at him and my ADHD concellor there because she hates it when I get babied.

If you have an ADHD counsellor available, consider using that person as a way to constructively communicate your needs to this teacher. I think you are trying really hard to value his input and still value your own legitimate desire for privacy. Nothing in the world wrong with that. I am certain that your ADHD counsellor can step in and help him to understand how he can improve your experience in his class.

I'm 44 and just recently diagnosed. I have worked all my life trying to fix my "habbits". It's hard and I don't even really know where to go from here. I'm just still mourning, I guess. I stayed with my brither a few years ago and he kept hiding things that I had left out, etc. It was soooooooo humiliating. I told him that I found out that I have ADHD recently. I don't think that he can even come close to knowing how much he humiliated me during that year. I recently was told by a "friend" that I just had too many bad "habbits". How timely for me was this post.

If you have an ADHD counsellor available, consider using that person as a way to constructively communicate your needs to this teacher. I think you are trying really hard to value his input and still value your own legitimate desire for privacy. Nothing in the world wrong with that. I am certain that your ADHD counsellor can step in and help him to understand how he can improve your experience in his class.
I could talk to him.. But I never have the time anymore. I really don't like talking to him anyway, because he taught my mom and when I tell him things he repeats them back to her. My mother doesn't believe in ADHD, so that never goes well. I guess I'll just have to live with it.. I'm currently stuck on homework from his class right now too. Figures

I'm a Barbara. I put things off, misplace stuff all the time, and I hit the snooze button. I'm almost never late, however.