tell me what is great about having ADD? | ADHD Information

If you're trying to do the same things in the same way as someone who does not have ADD/ADHD, you're right. There's nothing good about it.

People with ADD/ADHD have different strengths and talents, just as other people do. The problem is that for a big chunk of the early part of our lives, we are forced to function in an education system that was not designed to play to our strengths. This beats us down until we're convinced there is something wrong with us.

However, in other situations, we excel. For example, as entrepreneurs people with ADD/ADHD succeed at a much higher rate than "regular" people. (See my post in "What Kind of jobs do you have." We are often creative, optimistic, and intelligent. However, lots of people without ADD/ADHD have those qualities as well. Where we differ is in our ability to become passionate about something and hyperfocus so that we can accomplish amazing things.

If you don't find any advantages to having ADD/ADHD, then you are making the mistake (and this mistake is not exclusive to people with ADD/ADHD) of trying to "fit in" and do what is expected instead of figuring out what YOU really want to do and what you are good at, and then spend your energy doing that.

Just a thought.

i posted in the virtues thread too. lift your chin up girl!Lots of things. I listed them as a reply to the thread "Ahh the virtues of ADD'

Well, if you're always constantly only looking at the negatives of ADD you'll never find the answers you'll need to climb out of that huge hole you're in.

Like I said in the other thread, think of your ADD as
having this cable tv box that never seems to work right. All your other friends have this cable box and have no problems whatsoever. But you have this magical antenna that will occasionally pick up stations from other parts of the world and best of all you have access to free porn, but you can never seem to get the prefect reception.

The first thing you might want to do is list all your strengths and weaknesses.

Remember the old saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"?

ADHD or not, it is completely your choice whether you focus on the negative aspects of your life (many of which probably have to do with ADHD) or your own talents and great qualities. That's the difference between people who see the "upside" to ADHD and people who don't.

Don't get me wrong - I don't blame you - I know EXACTLY how you feel and ADHD is a frustrating thing to live with at times. But we are all unique... try this on for size:

I view my ADHD as a *very* special connection to my childhood. I realized this because of the meds. I feel very grown up, focused, non-impulsive and responsible while the Ritalin is doing its thing... but when it wears off or I take a holiday from it, suddenly I'm "lost" again in a space where the adult isn't really watching and I am impulsive, playful, creative and I don't care if the dryer is full of unpaid bills .

The key is management: You MUST manage your symptoms most of the time in order to end the frustration and anxiety. Then maybe you'll have a clearer view of the upside to being distractible, unfocused and irresponsible. But most of all, try to think of the great things about yourself - not just the problems. It's an important part of the process. ADHD can result in events that will hurt your self-esteem - so don't forget to accentuate the great things about your brain as well!

all the best

There's tons of reading about the positive side of adhd out there. Here
are some links for a start. I would have to go back in my amazon reading
history to get the names of books, but I will if someone wants me too.
&n bsp;

http://adhd.kids.tripod.com/50great.html

http://
va.essortm ent.com/informationona_rcqu.htm

http://www.cw.bc.ca/adhd/positiveAspects.asp

http://
borntoexplore.org/addquo~1.htm

This last one has quotes by a lot of authors who write about adhd. Quite a
few of these are on audio tape. Good to have in the car. nickled&dimed38369.7841203704

you need to think out of the box, most adhders have more creativness, loving spirits, others have high IQs once they have the adhd undercontrol to a point my son has severe adhd but is so smart when he trys... on the other hand i too start things and end up strating something new adn go back to the other thing back adn forth until i am so confused there is a lot of neg. things with undiag. and uncontroled adhd that i can see why you are so down but the pos. is os wonderful when it is somewhat controlled and you find ways and tricks to deal with it.

keep your head high and it will get better

i've been reading several topics that people are saying how great it is to have ADD...how intelligent they are, have high IQ's, did wonderful in school, love music (most ADD'ers do?)???

i just dont get it? what is so wonderful about having ADD? when things are constantly left unfinished, the house never or rarely gets cleaned, laundry sits in the washer/dryer for days on end, bills go unpaid, thoughts get lost or confused, errands never get completed, people think you are a scattered brain, your IQ is normal, you do not "love" music but listen to the radio as much as anyone else, maybe even less as at times i leave my radio off and enjoy the solitude.

someone please tell me what is so great about all this? am i missing something here? i am not stupid but i failed school from as far back as i can remember, never "loved" music, am not gifted with anything that i know of yet, i can hyper focus on the puter all day if i wanted to, but to me that is a distraction and not a blessing in disguise as i get even less done so i have my hubby take this lap top to work with him and bring it home later.

so what gives, someone tell me why is this a good thing?