Hi. :)

I have been diagnosed with ADHD, and my doctor said to me that I should find out what my natural talents were and try and follow them. I think that his advice was because I feel very disengaged with things and spend my time not doing very much and basically just browsing the web and watching television. I'm on some antidepressants though, so my Doctor said to try and do without the drugs as long as I can. Which I can understand and agree with.

My question is this - How can I locate my natural/innate talent/s? I'm not really sure what process I should follow. Has anyone here been in a similar situation and found theirs? I would really like to hear from you.

Thank you all.

:)Welcome aboard...enjoy your stay...maybe a little more info would be helpful to us...

How long have you been diagnosed, what adhd medications have you tried,

This info if you choose to share, will probably get more responses.

Please keep us posted...we care:)

Hi

I haven't been diagnosed very long, only a few months. No medications as yet, but my doc is trying to use them as a last resort. I'm not really sure what else I can say, I feel that I have always had hyperactive traits and can/could never sit still very long. It's a relief to find out that I actually have something tangible and it's not something my mind has invented.

It won't be an easy task - You'll have to try all sorts of various subjects to see what you are interested in and then narrow in from there.

For me I need variety, occaisional excitement and more variety!!!!

for me bartending was the answer!!

Never know what Is going to happen next. forces you to pay attention!

Ps made lots more money than i did as a social worker lol!

Not for everyone though! You must like dealing with people, enjoy variety and not be too judgemental of people.

I was made for it (only have a drink occaisionally)

I know several add folks who have found there niche in this job.

kattsqueen

Oh yeah some thing else I wanted to add

It was a quirk that I ever started working as a bartender!
At the time i was working as a part time cook after quiting a social work job where i was working 70 hrs a week for 40 hours pay of eight dollars and hour and i was failing miserably again.

I was kind of shy and really didnt know anybody in the little town i lived in.
went down to the little tavern restaraunt and was chatting with the bar owner bartender about my part time job as a cook (I did well there too) just not enough to pay my bills! Never even crossed my mind to ask for a job there.

A couple hours later came a knock at my door. There was a gentleman at my door in his bib overalls who looked familiar to me but i couldnt place him. I opened the door and he asked me If I would like to worK as a bartender at his and his wifes bar. He was there at the bar when I was yakking with his wife.. I thought about it plentu of experience with the cooking working with nuts and alcoholics Immediatly I knew it was for me! Before she passed away the barowner told me I was the only bar tender she ever hired that she could ever trust and never had any complaints about. I still miss her deeply and I continue to work there albeit only part time I am so greatfull that job helped me get my children raised and today it gives me something to look forward to.

kattsq

PS. I started that very afternoon and wouldnt change any of it for the world!!

Excellent suggestion by your doc -

I just copied and pasted this from a website I found when I googled "how to find your natural talents" only because I was having trouble getting my thoughts together on this and wording it simply, but this is basically what I wanted to say:

"First, note what you do that seems especially easy and natural. This is an indication of a special talent, or the aptitude for developing such a talent.

Also begin to notice what you’re doing when time just seems to “fly by.” Such “time distortion” often occurs when we are engaged in an activity we have a passionate and natural love for.

Finally, notice the activities you do just for the sensation of fulfillment and satisfaction.

These activities are clues to your unique natural talent. Your greatest personal potential lies here.

Here’s a Possible Strategy
Imagine if you could spend your time just doing something that’s easy, makes time fly, and makes you feel happy and fulfilled.

Does that sound like a more satisfying life than struggling to become an accountant if you’re naturally an artist? Or struggling to become an artist if you’re really a natural mechanical engineer or inventor?"

What is difficult is really the simplicity of it - it's like searching for something we think is out there somewhere, but it's right there inside of you. Even what seem to be the smallest things we enjoy and take for granted can be clues.

Me for example - I love time spent to myself. I typically feel more energized after spending time alone. I'm a dreamer, I've always enjoyed working with my hands. I've always been a visual person and a visual learner, kinesthetic also. And an observer - I would see things in ways that others didn't/couldn't. I always thought this meant that something was wrong with me, and I felt pretty alone about that, but I seemed to have a knack for putting together things that were visually interesting and composing things whether it was flower arrangments or helping a friend choose fabrics for pillows. Others seemed to ask my opinions often in things relating to the senses especially visual things.

Interior design maybe? No, because I don't like being dependent on others for getting my job done. I'm not a coordinator, and it just seemed I wanted something where I wouldn't be limited by what others wanted. So that was out. I used to dream of what it would be to be an artist, a painter maybe. But the thought of having to continually come up with new ideas and be creative all the time sounded terrifying and horrible. Besides that, how on earth would I actually make that happen? I knew nothing about business, especially the art business.

Long story short, guess what? A few years ago I started putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and now I'm a painter. And because this is my calling, I'm given all the creativity I need to do my job. As a painter I'm a small business owner, and it's not easy work, but it's rewarding work. I make a lot less money than if I were an interior designer (I went to school for that twenty five years ago - and knew I'd hate it, but I have great respect for those who do it) but I'd rather be making less money and be happy than be living the alternative.

There were countless details to add to this story, little things that were clues - things I was drawn to, others lives that I was drawn to, they all came together and pointed me in this direction when I was willing to look at them as a package.

Personality testing can also be helpful, it was helpful for me.

You are going to have to just try a lot of things and find the ones that come easy to you, don't bore the socks off of you, and you can maintain an interest in for more than five minutes. That being said start cheap, there's nothing worse than raising the credit limit when trying to find things you may like, be good at or actually finish! I have a sewing machine, Kindle 2, extensive library, Green activisit items, dying houseplants, and kitchen appliances out the "whazoo" from all of my attempts:) I've pretty much found my niche at work but my home life sounds pretty much like your's (Computer and tv) because I haven't found a hobby I have any natural talent in.

When I was diagnosed (at age 22) in 1972 with Minimal Brain Damage (MBD)= ADHD

Combined type (today), I also took some aptitude tests. What they showed were

natural aptitudes for me in Clinical Psychology ( epsecially with kids), and being a

Teacher. At the time , all I could think of was "What if I was a substitute? Those people

don't make enough money." That was based on my behavior whenever we had a sub...lol.

It took me longer to accomplish my goal, as I wasn't a psych major. I worked a year and

spent an extra year taking psych classes to get caught up.But it definately worked out.

I've now been at my present position 25 + yrs now and still love what I do.

Today, I recommend aptitude testing for all the older adolescents & young adults I see.

If you go into something that you're naturally talented in, you'll be more successful and

have more fun doing it.

This is an excellent question and I appreciate your raising it. Good Luck.

tc

mctavish23

(Robert)

I would love to see a thread where we could all discuss our sucesses in life maybe it is here some where but i havent found it yet

How bout you mctavish?

Thankyou to all who replied. I'm going to post a quick question, but I have a bigger post saved to respond further to all who replied.

mctavish23 - Do you recommmend any tests that I could look into/do? It would really help me out I think. Thanks.

Long story short, guess what? A few years ago I started putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and now I'm a painter.

Hi, for better understanding it would be nice if you could clarify: artist painter or a trade - i.e. painting pictures or buildings?

Hi, for better understanding it would be nice if you could clarify: artist painter or a trade - i.e. painting pictures or buildings?


Artist painter. I used to paint houses for a living which was a tiny bit satisfying - I like having a brush in my hand.

mctavish, I appreciate your info as well.

It's been ages since I've looked at individual tests for aptitude, as we don't give those.

I believe the state Work Force Center here in Mn does though.

The 3 that I remember are:

1)Strong Vocational Interest Test

2) Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory

3) Edwards Personal Preference Schedule


There are a great many more.

These are simply the one's I took about 36 yrs ago.

Suffice to say, they've been around a while, which is usually a good thing.

As with anything else, be wary of internet tests.


tc

mctavish23

(Robert)

Artist painter. I used to paint houses for a living which was a tiny bit satisfying - I like having a brush in my hand.

Thanks, I now get the message in your post, seems I'll have to make a similar decision in the next future too.

There is an awesome book aww crap let me google it...A whole new mind by Daniel Pink. It is extremely interesting and well written and funny. It deals with his theory that in the future American jobs will be mostly right brain type jobs or to put it another way jobs that require things computers robots and uncreative type people can't do and jobs that can't be outsourced. I reccomend it here because there are excercises for people who may consider themselves uncreative and it helps you to start being more creative person and trying new things.
Get it read it.