ADD Forums - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Support and Information Resources Community

So, I've been getting upset recently. I saw this video on youtube, and have seen other AD(H)D ******** everywhere this past year...



I really personally get upset when professors/documentaries refer to living an ADD society. Honestly, it isn’t like we are not paying attention. It is more like were living in a strobe light where our attention shifts, the rest of the world happens around us still, and then we restart getting on the task.
Some people say that ADD people get bored, sure fire way to say someone does not have the condition if they ever get bored. I think the best example of how my brain works is to use a piece of popcorn as an example. I’ll include a picture of a piece of popcorn as well for you.

Let me ask you; is there anything special about this?
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/images/po...cell-phone.jpg

At the end of the day, it is popcorn-there is nothing significant about popcorn. However, to me I notice all the different colors, shapes, textures, and the different density of the actual shell and the rest of the popped kernel. Now that piece of popcorn is a very big deal.
If this popcorn was actually in front of you, you would also notice the many different scents that this popcorn has. You immediately recognize the scent of “Hey, this is edible… you eat it… the thought is no longer exist.
Though, this happens in a few short seconds, now that the popcorn is gone… All that energy thinking about something as simple as popcorn – totally wasted. There is no concept left of what that piece of popcorn was like… although I still know that popcorn existed, all the deep thoughts I had when I was thinking about it no longer exist. Just like if you were eating popcorn and saw it.

So, what is it like to study when your brain works in this way:

There are two parts of this for me.
The first one (and the most common one) would indeed be a distraction. Please note that this not simply me getting bored or even losing attention. Instead, something more interesting comes along and I have a hard time putting that aside. As with the popcorn example whatever I was doing before becomes no longer as if I was ever doing that task. Whatever I was working on before in a sense never happened.
You could also think of like starting a class. When a class starts the first 5 – 10 min can be wasted time. The more times you start your class the more period of 5 -10 min of class is wasted either reviewing material from last lectures “housekeeping like comments”, people unpacking their bags etc..
Then on top of that, with constant distractions it’s sort of like wondering through life with a strobe light. I can work somewhat normal when the light flashes on, however I totally miss everything when the light if off. I also have to spend a few seconds recognizing that I am still indeed in class. Then I need to figure out what I am supposed to be doing. Most parts of life still go on even though the strobe light is off.

My second scenario is simply frustration. In addition to being just ADD I also believe I am OCD (I refuse to be diagnosed since the stimulant medications can make the OCD symptoms worse). Part of my OCD brain function says I must do something. However, then my ADD part function of my brain overpowers and changes focus.
Case in point: Today, in one of my classes I was taking notes. My OCD side of me wanted to make sure my handwriting was perfect (and it just isn’t). However my ADD side wanted me to know why some scratch was in the wall. I start to ask myself “Did a chair hit the wall?”, “Did someone rub there backpack zipper on it by accident?”, “Was the wall scratched when they moved the furniture in the room” etc. until the next most interesting thing came along…

Oh – and then the strobe light flashes on, you and realize that you need to be taking notes or working on an in class problem, or whatever needs to be done. Then the light flashes back off, and your frustrated that something you “had a compulsion to do has been totally skipped.”

Thoughts?