I love films. Is this normal for someone with ADD?

[Toadoftoadhall]

I am seeing a consultant atm to find out if I have add. The add nurse thinks I have but I need to see the chief consultant on 2nd August to get my diagnosis. I have no trouble watching films (in fact I love them). Is this a sign that I may no have add? Toadoftoadhall.

[roxygirl]

I think I have add as well and I do enjoy watching movies. But being able to sit through an entire movie doesn't mean that you don't have add. Add has many symptoms and it may come out in different areas. I am sure the therpyist will confirm if you have add or not.

[CheekyMonkey]

There is no "normal" here.

[BR549]

Being able to concentrate on something you enjoy doing isn't an indication that you don't have ADHD. You're providing stimulation by doing something you like.

I love watching movies. I have no trouble paying attention as long as I like the movie I'm watching. I can't just sit down and enjoy any movie.

[Vector]

No, it is for me impossible even with ritalin to concentrate for 90 minutes.

Maybe it sounds strange but an average plot/story line is for me difficult to follow if it is stretched over such a long period of time, may brain needs to have it presented in a much and much faster pace than that.

I tend to forget characters, names etc. very quickly, this also makes it difficult to follow a long streched story.

[Flory]

i suck at sit down activities films or anything more than soundbite. clip type stuff is agonising for me to watch...not necessarily indicative of adhd though...

[keliza]

I am able to sit through movies no problem as long as they are interesting and engaging. If I am not enjoying the movie, however, that's a completely different story. I had to watch Citizen Kane for a class once, and good Lord it took me probably 5 hours to watch the whole thing just because I kept having to pause it, get up, go do something else, come back, watch a little more... etc. But when I'm interested and engaged, it's like I hyperfocus and I can watch hours of TV or movies in a row.

[spunkysmum]

Originally Posted by keliza

I am able to sit through movies no problem as long as they are interesting and engaging. If I am not enjoying the movie, however, that's a completely different story. I had to watch Citizen Kane for a class once, and good Lord it took me probably 5 hours to watch the whole thing just because I kept having to pause it, get up, go do something else, come back, watch a little more... etc. But when I'm interested and engaged, it's like I hyperfocus and I can watch hours of TV or movies in a row.

I find I prefer programming/movies with commercial breaks. Saves me the trouble of pausing. LOL.

[ADDinHDefgHi?!]

I love movies but I can't watch them unless they hook me. Basically a movie has to be really good otherwise I'll just use it as background noise at home. I do really love films though, the great films though. Mediocre films sometimes are good but that's beside the point.

With ADHD you're usually able to concentrate on anything that interests you, so liking movies doesn't mean you don't have ADHD. It's the bigger picture of your symptoms that will lead to an accurate diagnosis.

[CheekyMonkey]

I like movies so much that sometimes I watch them a second time without realizing I've already seen it.

[Conman]

...im a movie junky. particularly horror movies (only stuff that's old, most new **** sucks). comedy movies are always in my list.

[avjgirsijdhtjhs]

ADD\ADHD is a horrible name for the disorder.

Since you like films so much, check out the vids at CADDAC.ca and watch the vids by (Russell) Barkley. Or YouTube of course, but a lot of those are excerpts from the CADDAC vids with him.

Click on the red circled stuff at the bottom for more vids.

[fracturedstory]

I love movies too and some I can follow. I can understand and notice more on medication though. But still you can still have ADHD and be able to sit through a movie. Some days I get lucky and others I jiggle around on my seat to see if that helps concentration, or I might just zone out at times.

[CheekyMonkey]

My dogs refuse to sit with me during movies because I move around so much. They abandon me for my much more still-bodied husband.

[fracturedstory]

Originally Posted by CheekyMonkey

My dogs refuse to sit with me during movies because I move around so much. They abandon me for my much more still-bodied husband.

So does mine. The cats however give me that look like I committed the most heinous crime, yet they just dig their claws deeper and stay.