Why My ADHD is a Gift, Not a Handicap

[JoeB]

You said privately right? See, with most oral tests the teachers do in class. They do them very fast. So, it goes like this. At least in my experience.

Number one, who invented the nickelodeon? 30 seconds later

Number two, what was the 3rd Amendment? 25 seconds later

And then so on. So, you had no time to think and no time to go back and do it. Then the teachers would say, well alright pass up the papers. And then boom, I got bad grades and everyone I knew got bad one's too. Yet, I knew the material. If it was written down for me, I'd have a much longer time to see it and then think. If was not timed, then I'd be even better. I'm willing to bet, in the environment I just described, your daughter may struggle. The good thing now is that people understand ADHD more in school systems. At least up to the point to when they throw the kid to special ed for things like tests.

I'd do great myself if I was given a test like your daughter. More time to think about one answer as opposed to 3 or 4 at a time from what a teacher would give an entire class.

[JoeB]

Trust me, if you met me, you'd know I had it. I have a version of ADHD called ADD. Which is pretty much the same thing with a few differences. The thing ADD has is that it makes the brain hyperactive. Therefore, you'd still have ADHD. Later on in life I noticed that I had difficulties with things, but I didn't let it hold me back.

I think it's complete BS to say, "if you don't feel impaired by your symptoms, you don't have ADHD". Because, for me, I don't let my symptoms get me down. I get past them and have learned to control them. But I still have ADHD. So, your theory there would be wrong for me at least. Feeling impaired is all in how much you allow something to be. Being impaired is something you cannot control at times.

Trust me however, that I could care less that I have certain symptoms. Those things actually help me long term. Along with all the other stuff ADHD gives me.

I really hate the aspect of people who want to talk down about ADHD, as if people still wanna push it into a corner away from everything else. I will not be pushed into a corner....not again. Why would I allow something that is so special, so wonderful, to be talked down? Sure, ADHD DOES have drawbacks. I am not saying it doesn't. But it's up to the person to get past those and then truly target their gift. Until you do that, you'll be handicapped, sure. I was able to do all of this without medication. Not saying people shouldn't use it. But, I'm also not saying people have to use it, to actually do great things.

[Dizfriz]

ADHD as a gift.

The thing is that there is no evidence that ADHDers are any more creative or intelligent than those who are not ADHD.

If you have a talent at something then you have a talent at something and many ADHDers have many talents. Now ADHD can affect the expression of those talents but not determine them. I say this in the sense that there is little evidence supporting the idea of ADHD being a gift or bestowing any talents on the individual. I wish there were but alas.

Josh stated:

I think different on this. I think my ADHD is a gift because it allows me to be 200% better at the things i love like art at the cost of lack on interest in the things i do not enjoy

If i did not have ADHD i believe i would not be the artist i am today. Nor would i be as artistic at the way I see life.

My question is how do you know? If you are ADHD then you have always been ADHD. You really have nothing to compare it to, no before and after.


This comes up from time to time and I really don't have a problem with someone believing it but the simple fact is that, at least to date, there is little or no evidence for the idea of ADHD as a gift-just the opposite.

The current theory describes ADHD as follows:

AD/HD is not a pathology, it’s a trait. There is an AD/HD trait in the population. It’s called self-control, and AD/HD represents the lower end of that trait. Just as dyslexia is not a category, but is simply the lower end of the distribution of phonologic awareness and decoding. And just as mental retardation is the lower end of the distribution of IQ in the population, AD/HD is just the lower end of a normal Bell Curve for self-control in the population. It’s not like pregnancy, not something you have or you don’t. It’s a continuum. And they happen to occupy the extreme end of the continuum of a normal trait.

http://www.greatschools.org/pdfs/220...f?date=4-12-05 Page 30

A significant deficit of self control/self regulation is not, at least in my mind, any kind of gift. By definition it is a disorder which means that there must be a clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning stemming from the symptoms otherwise it cannot be diagnosed.

I truly wish it were different but ADHD is part of the human condition that must be dealt with to minimize harmful effects. It is no more a gift than dyslexia or mental retardation (from above) could be considered a gift.


Just my thoughts,

Dizfriz

[spunkysmum]

I definitely understand the tendency to try to find the positives in anything, since that is my own tendency - however, there is definitely a danger in denying the drawbacks to having ADHD.

For one thing, it is difficult enough to get others to accept that our various "shortcomings" are the result of a very real disorder and not entirely our fault. Trying to sell ADHD as entirely a gift and not a disability can only work against us and make life even more difficult for those ADHDers whose case is so severe that some days they can't find any positives.

Furthermore, as others have no doubt already pointed out, it is not always easy to definitively attribute personal gifts to ADHD. There are plenty of gifted people who happen to have ADHD, with no real proof that the former is attributable to the latter. I do happen to have a variety of personal gifts and talents along with a high IQ and a good deal of common sense, but it is doubtful that ADHD is the source of all these.

The times when I feel most positive about my ADHD - are the days when I am properly medicated. And I would not be properly medicated if I had not acknowledged, along with my medical providers, that my ADHD is a disability, one that I need help with in order to function optimally. Had I refused to acknowledge this in the first place, today I would most likely still be on a rickety treadmill, getting nowhere fast, and keeping up a positive attitude would be wearing mighty thin by now.

[Luvmybully]

Originally Posted by JoeB

You said privately right? See, with most oral tests the teachers do in class. They do them very fast. So, it goes like this. At least in my experience.

Number one, who invented the nickelodeon? 30 seconds later

Number two, what was the 3rd Amendment? 25 seconds later

And then so on. So, you had no time to think and no time to go back and do it. Then the teachers would say, well alright pass up the papers. And then boom, I got bad grades and everyone I knew got bad one's too. Yet, I knew the material. If it was written down for me, I'd have a much longer time to see it and then think. If was not timed, then I'd be even better. I'm willing to bet, in the environment I just described, your daughter may struggle. The good thing now is that people understand ADHD more in school systems. At least up to the point to when they throw the kid to special ed for things like tests.

I'd do great myself if I was given a test like your daughter. More time to think about one answer as opposed to 3 or 4 at a time from what a teacher would give an entire class.

For my daughter it was the writing that was the problem. She NEEDS to verbalize it. My husband does much better with oral presentations vs having to write them down also. It has nothing to do with time. She was not given extra time to think about the answers, she was expected to say it immediately, which she could. (this was a private school, they don't have special ed)

Having the information written down vs having a teacher ask the questions out loud was not much better for her. She has a difficult time transferring information from her brain to the paper. This is not a gift, it is a hindrance.

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by JoeB

Trust me, if you met me, you'd know I had it. I have a version of ADHD called ADD. Which is pretty much the same thing with a few differences. The thing ADD has is that it makes the brain hyperactive. Therefore, you'd still have ADHD. Later on in life I noticed that I had difficulties with things, but I didn't let it hold me back.

I think it's complete BS to say, "if you don't feel impaired by your symptoms, you don't have ADHD". Because, for me, I don't let my symptoms get me down. I get past them and have learned to control them. But I still have ADHD. So, your theory there would be wrong for me at least. Feeling impaired is all in how much you allow something to be. Being impaired is something you cannot control at times.

Trust me however, that I could care less that I have certain symptoms. Those things actually help me long term. Along with all the other stuff ADHD gives me.

I really hate the aspect of people who want to talk down about ADHD, as if people still wanna push it into a corner away from everything else. I will not be pushed into a corner....not again. Why would I allow something that is so special, so wonderful, to be talked down? Sure, ADHD DOES have drawbacks. I am not saying it doesn't. But it's up to the person to get past those and then truly target their gift. Until you do that, you'll be handicapped, sure. I was able to do all of this without medication. Not saying people shouldn't use it. But, I'm also not saying people have to use it, to actually do great things.

There are no "versions " of adhd. Its adhd /PI or combined. Saying you have ADD is not accurate. Assuming ADD is its own diagnosis which it is not, then lacking the H part would mean you're less hyperactive not more. This applies both physically and mentally. Once again, Its wonderful thar you can see they positives but for a large majority there are very few positives and a whole lot of negatives. This would explain the use of the word "disorder ".

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by JoeB

Trust me, if you met me, you'd know I had it. I have a version of ADHD called ADD. Which is pretty much the same thing with a few differences. The thing ADD has is that it makes the brain hyperactive. Therefore, you'd still have ADHD. Later on in life I noticed that I had difficulties with things, but I didn't let it hold me back.

I think it's complete BS to say, "if you don't feel impaired by your symptoms, you don't have ADHD". Because, for me, I don't let my symptoms get me down. I get past them and have learned to control them. But I still have ADHD. So, your theory there would be wrong for me at least. Feeling impaired is all in how much you allow something to be. Being impaired is something you cannot control at times.

Trust me however, that I could care less that I have certain symptoms. Those things actually help me long term. Along with all the other stuff ADHD gives me.

I really hate the aspect of people who want to talk down about ADHD, as if people still wanna push it into a corner away from everything else. I will not be pushed into a corner....not again. Why would I allow something that is so special, so wonderful, to be talked down? Sure, ADHD DOES have drawbacks. I am not saying it doesn't. But it's up to the person to get past those and then truly target their gift. Until you do that, you'll be handicapped, sure. I was able to do all of this without medication. Not saying people shouldn't use it. But, I'm also not saying people have to use it, to actually do great things.

Of course people with ADHD can do great things.

Like Luvmybully points out though,

people with ADHD generally have to work much harder to do those things.



One more time ... ADHD is a spectrum disorder.

Some have it very very bad and ... some don't.

Some have a more difficult time than others.

Of course I don't know how bad your ADHD has made your life,

but it seems like you're saying that if you can overcome it

everyone else should be able to do too.

For some, it may not be possible.

May be because they don't have support or accomodations,

may be you did have those.



There is a difference between "feeling" ADHD causes impairments,

and acknowledging that it really does cause impairments.

If it doesn't cause any impairments, then it's considered sub-threshold and

generally not diagnosed in that person.

That has nothing to do with 'perspective' or 'negativity.'



For myself, I rather resent being told that it's all my attitude or my perspective

that causes ADHD to be an impairment for me.

I went to school in the 50's and 60's - before almost anyone knew anything

about ADHD. I didn't have the perspective that I had a condition that made me impaired.

I simply WAS impaired.

I was not able to find any ways to cope or compensate or 'learn to control it.'

I'm glad you were able to do that. Not everybody with ADHD can do that eh?

[Luvmybully]

Originally Posted by JoeB

Trust me, if you met me, you'd know I had it. I have a version of ADHD called ADD. Which is pretty much the same thing with a few differences. The thing ADD has is that it makes the brain hyperactive. Therefore, you'd still have ADHD. Later on in life I noticed that I had difficulties with things, but I didn't let it hold me back.

I think it's complete BS to say, "if you don't feel impaired by your symptoms, you don't have ADHD". Because, for me, I don't let my symptoms get me down. I get past them and have learned to control them. But I still have ADHD. So, your theory there would be wrong for me at least. Feeling impaired is all in how much you allow something to be. Being impaired is something you cannot control at times.

Trust me however, that I could care less that I have certain symptoms. Those things actually help me long term. Along with all the other stuff ADHD gives me.

I really hate the aspect of people who want to talk down about ADHD, as if people still wanna push it into a corner away from everything else. I will not be pushed into a corner....not again. Why would I allow something that is so special, so wonderful, to be talked down? Sure, ADHD DOES have drawbacks. I am not saying it doesn't. But it's up to the person to get past those and then truly target their gift. Until you do that, you'll be handicapped, sure. I was able to do all of this without medication. Not saying people shouldn't use it. But, I'm also not saying people have to use it, to actually do great things.

You speak of choosing to control your symptoms, or having a particular set of symptoms that have some benefit to you.

ADHD is not a personal choice.

People who have lost their jobs or have ruined their finances or have hurt relationships with their loved ones are not willfully choosing to "allow" their adhd symptoms to be present.

It has nothing to do with willpower or intelligence or superhero strengths. It has to do with severity.

If you have adhd and you have NO impairing symptoms, you are LUCKY to have it so mild. Not everyone is so lucky.

[yellowflowers]

A part of me wants to embrace how positive you feel about yourself, your life, your what sounds like a fabulous brain. But maybe its my mood tonight, but I can't help feeling very irritate by your posts.

Please speak only for yourself, not for others... it makes me thing you struggle with theory of mind? Other people are not all the same as you. Other people have separate brains to yours and also have had very different experiences. If-I-can-do-something-then-others can shows a scary lack of insight.

Another think that makes me suspect you don't really get others are NOT YOU, is I suspect you posted all this thinking that because you thought it was great others would. I wonder did it cross youre mind at all how declaring your success/fantastic abilities on a forum full of people struggling with major life issues might impact them?

I haven't the patience to tear apart your arguments. Wish I did, I know the things I'd like to say, but forming them into coherent passage? .... thats just not happening without effort I suspect you can't imagine.

It seems to my one think your implying is that a struggle with adhd is due to one's 'attitude'. Think positive! Turn it to your advantage! This sickens me. This is the rubbish ppl with physical/psychological/learning problems face every day. It is HIGHLY prejudiced and only increases the stigma people with such difficulties face.

You posts are probably well wishing.... but wow, they really lack insight. I'm not going to go into the difficulties adhd has made for my, all you need to do is have a quick look around this forum and will get some glimpse of the pain people are in and have been in due to there adhd.

May be then you might get some idea of why your posts are getting a bad reaction.

[amberwillow]

Ditto what yellowflowers said.

I have had such a hard time dealing with how to respond in a considered, respectful post that I simply have had to refrain.

My normal setting is positive and I have been blessed with gifts that I love about myself, but ADHD is not one of them.

My sense of humour allows me to enjoy the pickles that ADHD lands me in, but ADHD is not responsible for my dry wit.

I have an over developed capacity for empathy, also unrelated to my ADHD... But boy does it get a workout dealing with my spouse, children and friends and their ADHD struggles.

Good luck to you, YOU are not ME.

[GreatArtistJosh]

But honestly, some people would love to have the energy and dedication, i have.... If ADHD is just a way to look at life it definitely has given me the strength and energy to be the best person i am today....

If i wasn't ADHD then I believe i would be a simpleton like the rest of the world, and nobody would remember my name. Just work a normal job and not have to motivation too do the things i love.... I would do the things that society tells me too love....

And I love Life!!!

[Beekeeper]

Okay, I'm annoyed enough by this that I have to speak up again.

Scroll down if you want me to get to the point. I'm going on a rant.....

To put things in perspective: I'm 34. I'm recently diagnosed. I'm smart. Creative. Relatively successful, in that I make enough to get by and my husband makes more than enough to get by. I was never rich, and we sure aren't now, but I really don't want for much. We own a gorgeous home outright, and don't have credit cards (mostly because I can't be trusted with them) but we live within our means very comfortably most of the time.

BUT! All my life, I wondered why I wasn't like most other people. Things other people seemed to do effortlessly were a struggle for me. I really didn't notice until I was forced to be an adult (my personal circumstances delayed the necessity of having to really be responsible until I was about 25 or so) how much of an impact this (until recently undiagnosed or even suspected) disorder had on my life.

Yeah, I creatively coped with it, maybe better than most. I did okay. But I always felt like I could do better. And as a kid, just about everyone managed to tell me that I could do better at one point or another. But I just limped along, thinking that I was just lazy or unmotivated or _________ (insert whatever slight you'd like here). When I went to college, I threw myself into it. I hyperfocused. Nothing else existed outside of school at that time in my life. Ask any of my ex-professors, I was a dream student. I came out of college with honors, awards, and even Highest Achievement.

Am I proud of that? Absolutely. Years later, all my tassels and medals still hang proudly in my office. But get this...somehow I never got a copy of my diploma. (I should put that on my to-do list.) Knowing what I know now, that sounds very ADHD....lol.

Anyway. It took the bottom falling out for me to go back to therapy. My life was falling apart, and it was all because of me. Thank god for my therapist, that was when the lightbulb went off. She made me research, and got me in to see a great pdoc who specializes in ADHD.

/rant

I guess my point is (sorry for the longwinded rant for those feeling incapable of reading today), that it was awesome for me to learn that I'm not lazy, or unmotivated or whatever. I've tried to be a "better person/employee/wife/insert other here" but I've never been able to do it, until now. Even without the meds right yet, it helps to KNOW.

If it were all about attitude, I'd have done just what I did with school. And lord knows I spent the last five years trying with a vengeance, and it got me nowhere. For those that can overcome their impairment by will alone, good for them but I'm guessing it's not the majority of us. It sure isn't in my case.

[tudorose]

The problem with announcing on the forum that ADHD is a gift is that it doesn't acknowledge the REAL difficulties that people with ADHD face on a daily basis. Hence everyone's reaction to you. Also, don't assume we're naieve and stupid - as Abi said, state your sources. There are a lot here with degrees and post graduate degrees so write for that audience rather than as if you were writing for a tabloid magazine.

[Assumption]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

But get this...somehow I never got a copy of my diploma. (I should put that on my to-do list.) Knowing what I know now, that sounds very ADHD....lol.

HAHA! I was awarded an A+ for my Master's Thesis but am still "eligible to graduate" after 4 years. I haven't gotten around to actually graduating, I think. Actually, now I'm not sure... did I or didn't I? I'll have to ask my wife...

[kilted_scotsman]

Lets get one thing straight...

ADD stands for Attention Deficit DISORDER.....

the disorder part means.... in the definition of the old DSM IV, that the person was affected negatively in some significant part of their life.....

therefore.... to be diagnosed ADD/ADHD/ADHD-PI one has to have a "problem" in some important part of ones life..... at the time of diagnosis (often at school)

this doesn't mean that one can't overcome it with meds or other mindful/change of lifestyle techniques......or by escaping the school environment. (which accounts for the old chestnut that ADHD disappears at the end of adolescence)

however in such circumstances one would not meet the diagnostic criteria if retested, but one would (probably) still have the neurochemical difference.

The OP may think ADD is a gift.... possibly some bits of the ADD brain function "better" than an NT brain.... in specific circumstances... and if one can make a fulfilling life out of those circumstances all power to your elbow....

but it's worth remembering that stepping outside of that envelope will result in the disorder coming to the fore again.

Thus ADDers can go from being well integrated and fulfilled... to having their life fall apart through something as simple as a change of line manager or job role.

The OP indicates we just need to "target our gift".... that means

a) finding it..... which is often a lifetimes work in itself, given the self esteem issues and troubled backgrounds ADDers often have

b) being able to use that gift in the place one finds oneself....

c) being able to remain in the place where the gift can be used.

Even if one gets through (a) and (b)..... (c) is the real tough one.....

because the ADD "gift" is rarely relational.... and to remain in a "place" requires interactions with other people.... which is rarely an ADDers strong point......

in fact... the OP has managed to pretty effectively annoy a number of people here ... a trait that would seem to indicate that the gifted life he currently enjoys might not last into the longer term.

kilted