The Gift of ADD?? | ADHD Information
Hi all,Just wondering, loads of ADD sites that I come accross seem to say that having ADD is a gift, wish it felt like it. They say that ADD people are more creative and have more unique ideas etc etc, I can kind of see that in my self but the problem is I cant concentrate hard enough to bring out the idea, it's like there, but I can't express it.
do these gifts actually exist??? If they exist, what are they???
Do I dare answer this without sounding like a complete maniac .
ADHD for me Unmedicated (if that is what I have, and I am starting to question it may be something else) is like being in a complete fog most of the time.
But whilst in that fog, I seem to be able to perceive underlying things. The unsaid stuff in a conversation, the body language of my children is clearer, but unfortunately my imagination gets out of control and I become obsessive, disorganised, lethargic, overwhelmed, confused. I seem to become super sensitive to things, sounds, light, emotions. Thoughts become larger! I seem to see how lots of things relate to one thing, become extremely laterally minded.
Medicated, These feelings are still there but not as huge or all encompassing.
I can pick a liar immediately
I can read the emotions behind words and get to the problem quickly
I dont see things as they are presented, I see things as they are.
I am extremely empathetic and can solve a problem even before others realise it is a problem
Does any of this make sense or am I truely a maniac
If you are I am.
I can never really epress myself through words but what you said was what I was trying to but into words, Thanks! Sounds a lot like myself for sure. People always say that I seem to be empathitic and am kind of the unoficial councelor for my friends. Instead of writing it all again, please go back and read "good points and hints" on the parents board. You might agree and see how this is such a gift. Also on that board you'll hear from many adults with ADHD who are very successful because of it, not in spite of it. [QUOTE=Rae70]
Do I dare answer this without sounding like a complete maniac 
.
ADHD for me Unmedicated (if that is what I have, and I am starting to question it may be something else) is like being in a complete fog most of the time.
But whilst in that fog, I seem to be able to perceive underlying things. The unsaid stuff in a conversation, the body language of my children is clearer, but unfortunately my imagination gets out of control and I become obsessive, disorganised, lethargic, overwhelmed, confused. I seem to become super sensitive to things, sounds, light, emotions. Thoughts become larger! I seem to see how lots of things relate to one thing, become extremely laterally minded.
Medicated, These feelings are still there but not as huge or all encompassing.
I can pick a liar immediately
I can read the emotions behind words and get to the problem quickly
I dont see things as they are presented, I see things as they are.
I am extremely empathetic and can solve a problem even before others realise it is a problem
Does any of this make sense or am I truely a maniac
Some of these things could be characteristic of ADHD, but some may not. Most of these things you are talking about are tied to personality type. I've been researching personality types and also it's correlation to ADHD. Some say that they shouldn't be related, but I think there has to be some coupling.
Anyway, my point is that some of the things you listed could be exclusive to you and not generalizable to all ADHDers. However, I have read some studies that say ADHDers have, on average, a higher IQ than the general population. I'm not sure if that makes up for the "drawbacks" of ADHD, but it sure gives us an edge.
>>> Lee <<<<
I definately don't see ADHD as a gift. It is a disorder that I have to deal with and I do deal with it every minute of everyday. I think people try to fool themselves and give ADHD happy characteristics to make it seem worthwhile and not so bad.
I've heard so many "positives" of ADHD like Intelligence and creativity. Those are not part of the disorder they are part of the person. There are millions of intelligent, creative people without ADHD just like there are sufferers that have those characteristics.
If I didn't have ADHD would I not be intelligent. I seriously doubt it.
I think if there is any connection it is more likely that this disorder affects intelligent/creative people more often then it effects our less inteligent/creative peers.
Many diseases/ disorders favor certain types of people, we see it all the time. For example Hepatitis B is found in Asian Americans more often than any other nationality. Fibromyalgia is 5x more prevalent in women then in men and Legionnaire's Disease is much more common in men than in women. Of course all ethnicities and both sexes suffer from the above problems certain types of people are more often effected.
We would never say that Hepatitis B made the sufferer Asian or Fibromyalgia made the patient female just because most of the sufferers fit that description, so why do we do it for ADHD.
I think it's an insult for people to say that ADHD makes them or their children more intelligent, creative, or caring then others. If you really do think that way how will you react when we finally have a cure for this disorder. If ADHD made your child smart will curing him make him stupid. You can all see how rediculous that sounds.
Yes definately be proud that you or your children are sweet, smart and creative but credit those characteristics to them not to the disorder.
Well my friends - if it is personality - Mine is "my cup is always half full".
I like it that way - ADHD or not. Mood swings or not, Confusion or Not, Making a mess of my life or not.
It all really does not matter that much - I am just living my life to the best of my ability with the best intentions I can have.
So regardless of the current situation - or any situation, it is just transient, tomorrow I will be onto something else and believing that will work.
Now that is ADHD gifted. Utter faith in Everything! 
Back to the original topic, I believe that add is a type of gift, so to say, that is still premature and underdeveloped.
Look what Robin Williams did with it!
He is always hyperactive, even still in his adult life, and frequently used cocaine back in the 70's and 80's.
What really sets into our minds is whether or not we should be self medicating, or have a doctor give us what we initially thought we needed.
To answer this post though, I have to say that it is about finding yourself, who you are. You have to think aside from the disability to appreciate what you ARE good at, or talented in.
I hope this post doesn't offend anyone.
-Atom
[QUOTE=Susicia]Hi all,
Just wondering, loads of ADD sites that I come accross seem to say that having ADD is a gift, wish it felt like it. They say that ADD people are more creative and have more unique ideas etc etc, I can kind of see that in my self but the problem is I cant concentrate hard enough to bring out the idea, it's like there, but I can't express it.
do these gifts actually exist??? If they exist, what are they???[/QUOTE]
That's EXACTLY how I feel. I'm sick of people who say ADD is a gift. That is a load of f-ing crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't concentrate long enough to express my ideas. I think I would be
MORE creative if I didn't have ADD symptoms. ADD is a CURSE! scarygreengiant38527.7307175926
scarygreengiant, It is good to have a vent isnt it ! Hope those feelings dont last forever for you. There are many years to go for you in life, and at some stage you are going to have to accept ADD and learn to LIKE it - because it is a large part of WHO you are.
You cant escape yourself, so it is better to treat onesself like a friend.
But sheesh, you're entitled to feel sorry for yourself occassionally.
But for us more positive ADHDers - Life aint that bad.
ADHD perhaps not sure never tested. I could never work well in school I would take a test at home pass with an A go to school the next day fail badly with an F. Because this was a problem my whole life I hardly went to school. I use to go to homeroom sign in and leave for my first year of JR high. We moved to PA back when I was 13 I think I was put in 7th grade for 2 weeks then got in a fight and went to a place called ARC for 10 months was in 9th grade there. Then it was time to leave the program. I was put in 10 for a month then pushed to 11th where I got into one fight and quit school. I tried many times to get my GED but never finished that goal cause I was pregnant with my first kid in 96 tried again after reading a lot on the net and playing many games on the net. I went for the pre test about a year ago was passing with a score of 3000 but was told I still needed to up my score money became an issue and guess what no GED still to date. They only thing I work best at is my kids they are my whole life no one else matters most of the time but them. I spend all my time trying to protect them and make sure they never want for anything that there is little time for hubby or myself for that matter. Everyone comes to me when they need money, food, advise ect.... So I'm in debt tired 20 pounds overweight and I harldy eat get that one lol. Lost my thought cause I had to vent a bit I guess not sure what I even wrote anymore. Thanks for the ears. It is a really interesting Article, but what interests me is that he was a drug user and an alcoholic and he is also against medicating our children. I wonder if the writer of this articles considers that he may not have self medicated if he was properly medicated as a young person.Hey, I get where you guys are coming from. Damn lack of concentration. I don't view my ADHD as a gift but I don't view it as a disability. I am definetely creative though. I have always been described as someone who thinks "outside of the box" and that helps out coming up with solutions in engineering. The design is easy, the mundane work is what kills me. Last wednesday I was diagnosed with it (at the age of 21) and I was very negative about it. I know why I couldn't do some tasks before and I at least know some techniques that will help. I'm stuck with this so I might as well view it as something positive, no point in getting stressed out over something else. I've completely changed perspectives with in a week thanks to some helpful people responding to my questions and frustrations. No one is alone on this.Hadd@eircom.comhttp://www.resultsproject.net/The_positives_of_ADD.html
After getting completley p******d off with all the "positivies" of Add being declared everywhere with no actual positives, I found this site where it actually was written about someone who had Add, about what it's really like rather then someone saying "try harder". It really makes you feel better and hopefull. hope you guys read it.
Aslo half way down the page you come to a link called 50 or so great things about Add. tis good
thanks for your time
sorry, ignore that address at the top. the message i wrote was originally on Micro Word so I copied it here. Just remembered, I wrote an email address that i wanted into it.....I forgot to take it out before i posted and I also forgot I even "had" that email address......Ok ADHD is a disorder, not a gift. I mean people even call it a disorder.
If people told me i was super-creative or something because of it i would
laugh my ass off. Mainly because i'm not.
But I don't really think its a bad thing either. Yeah you have it, so what?
Was there ever a time when you didn't have it? So you have
problems. Does giving it a name really make any difference? In a sense
giving it a name helps because you now you know how to deal better.
In the end ADHD isn't good or bad. Its just thereOur sons gifts our art/music.rshnADD is very hard to correctly diagnose. Without concrete evidence, only what the patient describes, doctors began writing Rxs left and right. Anyone given adderall or concerta would notice an improvement in their performance at work or school, so theres just no consistency in ADD diagnosis.