Drowing in this disorder | ADHD Information

If things get tough in your job, don't you come under the Disability Discriminations Act.? If you declare it, don'y they have a duty of care towards you.

My son is employed in the UK and this is the case for him but I suppose it depends on the job and the size of the company/organisation. Many of them sign up to a Guarateed interview scheme in order that they fulfill theiranti discriminatory policy over here. You should be able to find out if this is an option for you because it must be horrendous to be constantly anxious about your employer

Why could you not change your diet by changing a few type of foods ?
Yes, add or adhd is a brain/neurological disorder. A person can show symptoms of having it because of food allergies, toxic levels of minerals in your body, misalignement in your spine, imbalances in the nervous system as well as a few other things. I have just decided to start small with trying to eliminate some of the worst considered food allergies that cause the symtoms of adhd.
What I have found with the research I have done on this issue is that drugs should be the last option, especially when the drug has a long list of side effects. Thats why my parents took me off of it as a child. An example would be that Ritalin is compared to having the same effect on the brain as Cocaine. When I get sick I have to take meds. So, I prefer an alternative approach.
Some of the worst foods that have the symptoms : cows milk, bread with glutin, especially white bread, apartame, food dyes, caffeine, preservatives and sugars found in pop, candy, junk foood, etc. Wouldn't you be lucky if this was the case for you ? This may or may not be what is causing you problems.
There are some non dietary approaches to ADD and ADHD - such as: Hair mineral analysis, Phase Contrast Microscopy Analysis (a blood analysis), chiropractic adjustments,... and the list goes on.
I reccomend that you get the book I suggested. It is very good, is only 84 pages long is easy reading and cost me only .00. Its called The ADD and ADHD Diet by Rachel Bell and Dr. Howard Peiper. Also check out the website I suggested. www.resultsproject.org. There is a lot of categories you can go to, to find information. You will have to do some research for yourself to see what works best for you.
I am just choosing to start by drinking a lot of water to get rid of toxins in my body and changing my diet to rule out any possible food allergies. Its not healthy to eat a lot of dairy products such as cheese and sour cream anyway. Then I will go from there. The website I suggested discusses some of the tests I have mentioned. I will probably try some of them also.
I noticed a significant change in the symptoms of my adhd when I started taking natural supplements. I had more energy every day and felt better. Yes, I still have the symptoms of adhd, just not as overwhelming as before. Nutrition is huge when dealing with any health issues.
Each person is different so you will have to find out what is best for you.

Thank you everyone for your support. I really appreciate the kind words and the helpful suggestions. Just like Chaz and analytical Amy I'm always thinking I did something wrong and someone is mad at me.

wifeandmum, I believe ADHD is not technically considered a disability. In the US, they sometimes choose to ignore your request for accomodation even if it is the law- unless you're visibly disabled can you really prove you have what you have and aren't just excusing incompetence? That's how many employers think about it. Another reason I hesistate to tell this man is that I'm also a student and both my teachers have ignored my accomodation request.

Also, the higher up in education you go, the less often they come across learning diabilities. Then they get nervous and feel you're just trying to get an unfair advantage over other students.

Hi. I am an adult in my mid 30's with adhd. I have had it all my life. I was put on ritalin for one year as a child. My parents didn;t like the effect it had on me so they took me off of it. They changed my diet to no sugar or dyes in my food and noticed a difference.
I have also read that someone with add or adhd should keep dairy and glutin out of their diet. Nutrition is a contributing factor in this health issue.
I totally understand what you are saying. I have great difficulty with focucing attention on one thing when there are other noises around, especially if it is a noise that irritates me, or is really distracting to me! I love life ! and do my best in dealing with the side effects with having adhd. I am determined to find ways to better myself so that I am more successful at work,in relationships with people and how I feel about myself ! You can find that peace too !

I ran into a website with lots of info. on it that is helpful for children or adults its www.resultsproject.org.

I am also reading "The ADD and ADHD Diet ! (... a look at contributing factors and natural treatments for symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity) By : Rachel Bell and Dr. Howard Pieper.

It is really good so far. Call your local health food store to see if they carry it or look online where it may be cheaper at pricegrabber.com or halfprice.com.

Good Luck !

Thank you for the suggestions, Loveforlife. I have to tell you though, with ADHD I'm not able to adhere to that strict of a diet. Someone else would have to be in charge of what I eat in order for me to change it that drastically.

Also, I question whether relieving my ADHD is just a matter of eliminating dairy and gluten. That makes it sound like it's comparable to something like lactose intolerance, when I think it is an actual brain abnormality or neurological disorder.

What is it about dairy and gluten that gives us ADHD? Is it an allergy? A toxin? These are things I question.

although Im no pro at dealing with add or adhd and am just now trying to really learn how to better cope with my shortcomings, I just wanted to reply and say hang in there. I have read what the others have said, and if anything, they have greatly helped me at least.

I have found myself in sooo many similar situations, with jobs, etc... it gets rough and tough sometimes, but sometimes you just have to speak your mind and do your best to keep on keeping on.

and as for this comment: [QUOTE=Chazinmo]

"Are they mad at me?" "If they are mad at me, they are wrong because I did nothing wrong." "What do they think I did wrong?" "Okay, how do I explain to them that what I did was not wrong?" "Oh, you mean they are not mad at me?" "Well then what is their problem?" "They have a great life, they should not be upset." etc.

[/QUOTE]

omg, that is sooooo me. I am all the time thinking that others emotions around me are a result of something I might have or might not have done..and usually get my brain in such a tizy over it all, that I wind up sitting there with a guilty feeling inside of me, even though I know I have done no wrong at all. T

hanks for the laugh, although I really must know, just how the heck did you get inside my head like that, LOL!

Amy

Hey Cheeky.

The people at your work may be just ill-informed. Or they may just be dumb-asses.

People babble about all sorts of things they know nothing about. And very few people know anything about ADD (although most people have an opinion).

shinsetu_hito has a good point. For me it is what people call mindfullness, or meditation. Meditation is also one of those things many people misunderstand. But it helps me from the standpoint of just being able to see things as they really are. To just accept the nature of things without feeling obligated to judge them or to decide if they are good or bad. If someone is upset, my natural train of thought goes something like this:

But when I am in a calm state of mindfulness, my reaction is:

"Hmmm, they seem upset. I will ask if I can help." Then even if they yell and bark at me, my thinking is: "Too bad they are so upset, I hope they feel better later". I try to be more of a "neutral observer" and try to not let my emotions get control of the situation.

Of course, I do not always practice what I preach.

I'm STILL not being treated for ADHD. They're trying to put me back on Strattera but it's taking a tremendous amount of time and paperwork to do it.

In the meantime, I'm drowning in this disorder. I am making an effort to observe how it affects me negatively and it does more than I ever knew. While everyone else can concentrate in a room full of distractions I'm fuming because I am not able to focus on the speaker when the phone's ringing, the floor above is creaking and people are clumsily walking in and out to get coffee, napkins and other stuff that could wait until the meeting is over.

I need help NOW. My therapist, psychiatrist and disability specialist don't seem especially concerned about the fact that it's taken so long. They really don't understand what it's like to have this and how much it impairs and hinders your entire life. Treatment can't be put on hold until they get their thoughts organized. I need help today, not next year. It's taken almost an entire year to actually get an MD appointment through the University.

Cheekydeeky

Not offended! Are you kidding??? I'm so glad you took the time to try to help me. Many people don't seem to really want help, they just want to be told they're right.

I also suffer from dysthimia, which makes me prone to little bouts of mild depression. That make it difficult to see anything positive. And I've tried so hard to change that and it seems to be an uphill battle. I'm not saying you're wrong. Perhaps if I focused more on positives about ADHD my dysthimia would decrease.

Also, my boss has doubts about my abilities. During the meeting, he seemed a little frusturated by my anxiety and my apparent ability to not focus very well. I know I should tell him I have ADHD but he already doesn't think much about me! And today the staff was talking about high school drop outs and he commented how many of them have bad homelifes, behavior problems, "disabilities"- disabilities???, I thought, what does that mean?

I guess I don't really know what he meant and I don't know how he'll react either but I'm scared.

cheekydeeky38371.5201273148

I detest silence, I hate everything about the countryside, I find it utterly depressing. But there was this one time I was stuck in the country visiting someone.

I took a walk and ended up by this little cow pond. The day was sunny and it was insanely quiet. As I stood there a scene implanted in my brain.

I could hear trees "swooshing," a cow was looking at me as it chewed, the cow's tail was flicking and the sound of flies was so crisp and distinct.

I can bring up that scene at anytime now to calm myself. When I feel I'm getting overloaded I drag it up. Find a place like that in your brain. I know it's become a cliché these days (as in Nemo: Find a happy place, find a happy place, find a happy place ...") But it really does work.

[QUOTE=cheekydeeky]

my boss has doubts about my abilities. During the meeting, he seemed a little frusturated by my anxiety and my apparent ability to not focus very well. I know I should tell him I have ADHD but he already doesn't think much about me! And today the staff was talking about high school drop outs and he commented how many of them have bad homelifes, behavior problems, "disabilities"- disabilities???, I thought, what does that mean?

I guess I don't really know what he meant and I don't know how he'll react either but I'm scared.

[/QUOTE]

CheekyDeeky, before you panic, "disabilities" could mean dyslexia or Down's Syndrome, etc. He was not necessarily talking about YOU! We do tend to get a little parinoid, but aas my wife constantly reminds me, "It's not ALL about YOU!"

I can understand being afraid... I've been demoted, quit before I was fired and walked out of jobs (all before I got treatment.) If you are usually afraid for your job, or about what people think of you (including your boss) then it will be very difficult for things to get better, with or without treatment.

In fact, part of your "treatment" (coping, dealing, and finally thriving) with ADD could be finding a job/career where you are accepted for who you are and they know how to take advantage of your special gifts.

I was a project manager (CAN YOU IMAGINE!) at a Web development company when I was almost fired. I mean, why would anyone think I could manage a project! But I got promoted into that job because I was good at my previous jobs. I delivered my first project late and over budget (like 2 times the cost!)

After I talked to my boss and explained about ADD, he suggested another career path (at the same company.) I had to take a demotion with a pay cut (but I did so well in the new position (an analyst who had to develop creative business ideas for clients) that my salary was higher than it was as a project manager within 3 months. I went on to be Vice President of that company.

Once the company (and I!) learned to use my ability to hyperfocus (to deliver last minute but incredibly complicated proposals) or to let my imagination fly (my boss would ask me NOT to take my Ritalin for brainstorming meetings!) I thrived. The boss was very happy (it's always better -- cheaper, safer, etc. to keep an employee you already have than to replace one.) and I was very happy.

It's scary to think about change, and it's scary to abandon the security of a job, but the saying, "better the devil you know" is really not true. If nothing else, in your spare time start looking at your options (train for something else, start your own business, etc.) Then you'll have more confidence to talk to your boss.

In my humble opinion, if you have a boss you can't talk to about this, you need a new boss no matter what.

Hi CheekyDeeky,

I bet most of us here can relate to how much you're suffering. It's hard enough coping with ADD while you ARE being treated.

I see you're a senior member so you're obviously not new to ADD... so don't take this the wrong way. If you are just venting and this post doesn't help you a bit, maybe it will help someone who's just been diagnosed. I'm not trying to make enemies.

I would suggest that while you are observing how it affects you negatively, also observe how it affects you positively. After all, your ADD is NOT going to go away just because you get treatment. (Oh, and as far as I know, there is no cure for rude people! They will still interupt the meeting with stuff that could wait! )

You probably enjoy more creativity than most people, an amazing ability to work under pressure, a good sense of humor and so on. If you focus on the negative all the while building up a head of steam over your lack of treatment, you're going to be very disappointed when your ADD isn't "cured."

I see people without ADD going through life and I think, "How boring their life must be!" Of course, they probably think I'm insane for trying to squeeze in everything I do, but when it's over, I think I'll win! Chaos is never boring... sure, when you're juggling more than humanly possible, you drop a few balls from time to time, but when you get them all up there at the same time, it's something to behold!

Maybe your doctors aren't in such a hurry because they know this is going to take a very long time (the rest of your life!) Maybe you should try to enjoy it. There are steps you can take in the meantime that don't depend on a doctor's help. Have you considered:

Joining a local support group so you can get some of this frustration off your chest? Talking to the people at work (especially your boss) about the problems they are causing you. I can't imagine you're the only person (with or without ADD) who is bothered by interuptions. Work with a coach, partner, peer with ADD, to try and find coping mechanisms that help keep your head above water.

If you already know all this and you're tired of listening to people give you their half-baked theories on how to cure all your ills, do what I do... don't pay attention!