posted
…Says the guy who knows nothing about either disorder. Most people on Hatrack seem to have one of the two, and I would be surprised if there wasn’t a high correlation between internet use and having one of those two. I’m pretty sure I’ve always been one, but it never bothered me and I didn’t have to deal with medication or serious behavior issues so I didn’t much care.
But lately I think “it” whatever “it” is, is getting worse. I’ve stopped watching movies for the most part, because I find them too slow. I’ve always multi-tasked, but when I sit down to eat (which I do with something else going on since I no longer eat with anyone) I find that music by itself, or any movie simply doesn’t move fast enough or take up enough of my attention. So lately I’ve moved into watching TV shows I have on DVD, much more fast paced. But even then my attention wanders and I do stuff like read, eat and watch TV at the same time. It seems like this type of thing has got to be either ADD or ADHD but I know nothing about either. And if it is, what can one do about it? I mean it’s not like it’s ruining my life or anything, but if I do have something classified as a “disorder” I’d at least like to know about it.
posted
To determine if it is or not, go to your general practitioner. They can give you some tests to see if you have it. I talked to my family doctor about it, and she tests people for it all the time.
She said most people that she tests/suspects they may have/had it fall into one of three categories. One is that they had it as kids, and it dissapears as they get older. The second group have it, and they have developed strategies and entered occupations where they deal with it. The third group have it interfere with their lives, and it's the third group that benefit most from help. That third group often self-medicate with things like the uber-caffenieted coffee to help them pay attention.
So, long story short: you can't self-diagnose, but your doctor can, and they do it all the time. If they don't, they can direct you to someone who does.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
Hmmm, I don't have a doctor, or rather I'm sure I do as a student, I just have no clue who they are or where they are or how to go about seeing them. But then is the general idea that if it's not causing problems as far you know it's probably not someting that needs to be dealt with? I realize you said specifically one can't self-diagnose but assuming that this is the case ...
posted
I'd say that regardless of how the medical community might label what you have going on, Hobbes, it's only a disorder if it's getting in the way of you being able to function in the way you'd otherwise be functioning, and you're unhappy with that fact.
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posted
I have it, and I do self medicate with caffeine. It really works. I also avoid all food dyes. Whether or not you have ADHD, that's good for you. I can't sit and watch a movie either. I honestly beleive there is a correlation between ADHD and high intelligence.
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posted
I don't think I have ADD (at least, the psychologist I've been seeing has never brought it up) but my mind jumps from thing to thing very quickly and tends to wander when whatever I'm doing isn't interesting enough.
Anyone else have problems when their brain isn't stimulated enough? Anyone have trouble falling asleep at night because they can't shut their brain down?
Hobbes, I second the idea to see a GP or a mental health professional if you think you have a disorder that's interfering with your life. Ever since I started taking anti-depressants, my life has been really different. I'm not saying you have to take drugs or anything, but just talking to someone about this can help you devise strategies for coping.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote: Hmmm, I don't have a doctor, or rather I'm sure I do as a student, I just have no clue who they are or where they are or how to go about seeing them.
It's like you don't even care about your own health. You probably walked by the place all the time last year.
posted
I've never needed to see a doctor, I mean I wass aware of PUSH (in the dorms you can garuntee at least one refrence to PUSH every night from Thursday to Sunday for alchool poising) I just never tried to figure out where it was [EDIT: scratch that, I actually did know where it was, well until I forgot over summer break...], or how to get appointments with doctors.
Thanks for the link though, and go them! Cyling saftey!
posted
I knew a child psychologist when we were overseas, (we were the only members of our church there) and he mentioned that the diagnosis criteria for ADD/ADHD are highly subjective. Which is not to say that some people don't definitely suffer with it. Just that if a child psychologist says that, I don't know that I'd trust a GP to diagnose it, especially when they are probably going to do so based on your own report of your symptoms. GPs who put people on psychiatric drugs with no therapy and minimal monitoring bug me. [/rant]
quote: Anyone have trouble falling asleep at night because they can't shut their brain down?
Yes, but I've learned some meditation and concentration techniques that are pretty effective for me. Then again, I don't think I have ADD. I have Obsessive Compulsive tendencies, but I've lately come to think of it less as a disorder.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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There's a new biological test for AD/HD that is much more objective than the rating scales normally employed by doctors. It's an EEG, only takes about an hour. I'm not sure how old they test on, but I think you'd still fall in the age range.
I don't remember where in Colorado your parents live, but I know there are facilities in Colorado Springs and I think Denver, and possibly a few other cities (the company, Lexicor is based both in Colorado and Georgia, but there are places that have the equipment in other parts of the country as well. New Jersey comes to mind, but won't help you. ). You can probably find more information on Lexicor's website, www.lexicor.com.Posts: 3801 | Registered: Jan 2000
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Hobbes, whatever it is, I hope you find out soon.
Can I ask a general ADD/ADHD question? Why does seemingly everyone think they have it? I read during commercial breaks (and during a sitcom if it's slow) and also while I eat, but it's never worried me. I have a sister who can't stand to just sit down and watch a movie; she has to be moving constantly. I've told this to people before, and their reaction is most always that it must be something, you know? I've always thought that having ADD/ADHD meant that you weren't capable of concentrating on a task or literally sitting still. It seems like that if you're sad (it's not normal!) and you must be depressed, and if you're active (it's not normal!) then you must have ADD. Are we becoming complacent with our labels or are there truly more people with disorders these days?
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I read, eat and listen to music at the same time. Or I'll read while playing a video game. I also cannot stand boredome. Does that mean I have ADHD?
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Hobbes, I forgot to mention - I have found in my own life that oftentimes when I go through phases of needing to do several things at once it is an outward manifestation of some kind of anxiety. Have you tried meditation? Many times it has helped me slow down the pace.
quote:Anyone else have problems when their brain isn't stimulated enough? Anyone have trouble falling asleep at night because they can't shut their brain down?
oh, yeah. Definitely. I have a hard time falling asleep after work. I work evenings and get home between after 10:30 p.m. usually.
And, I sometimes get real drowsy at work so I log into Hatrack and read some posts, then I'm okay for awhile.
I almost can't eat unless I have a book or something to read.
And caffeine is the monkey on my back. Naps are my friend. (staying up til 2 a.m., getting up at 6 a.m. to get kids off to school, then back to bed for a couple of hours - bad sleep cycle)
Posts: 2034 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Nah, the shows have gotten extremely hard to pay attention to. It's pretty much all "nothing happening", BOOM (which is another "nothing happening"), "nothing happening", BOOM (which is another "nothing happening"), etc...
Pretty much don't have to pay any attention to the dialogue: ain't nothin' memorable gonna be said, ain't nothin' deeply revealing about the plot or characters gonna be revealed. Same with the background, action, and acting.
There was a time when writers had a life first, from which they learned about things both academicly and from experience, had a base from which to write out of.
Now, it's the same ol' same ol' from autocannibalism. Journalists learn from journalism class, and nothing else. Comic book writers and artists learn from reading comic books, and nothing else. The scifi writers learn from reading and watching scifi, and nothing else. One could go through all the genres with pretty much the same results. Sitcom writers learn from watching sitcoms, and nothing else. Playwrights learn from reading plays, watching plays, and nothing else. Actors learn from watching actors, and nothing else. Directors learn from watching the work of other directors, and nothing else.
So the products they put out ain't ever nothin' except a rehash of the same ol' same ol' that we've seen a gazillion times before. So we just wander about doin' stuff until a moment pops up that catches our attention, realize it ain't gonna be anything new, then go back to wandering about. Even in theaters, our minds go drifting: sometimes to other things; sometimes to watching the actors rather than the characters; sometimes to picking apart the stunts rather than being captured by the action.
Naturally, there are exceptions. But let's face it, they are extremely rare.
posted
I have an idea on how these disorders are caused, a bit wacky... But I blame early childhood shows like sesame street...
Seriously, with how often the subject is changing on the TV, it can get a person to adapt on things happening faster, and then, they just can't stay tuned into the things that don't change easily...
Anywho, that's why I've almost given up on TV, mainly movies for me. (Though, I enjoy a few shows every now and then...)
I don't have either, but I have had my share of odd things, some of which I'm still fighting.
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posted
The idea that inability to enjoy TV constitutes a disorder strikes me as very funny this morning. Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Hobbes, Some non-psychological advice. The idea that we can't control our minds just by willing it so is an affront to the way most Westerners see the world, but it is nonetheless true. Before delving into ADHD stuff, why not give meditation a try? I've found that consistently practicing Zen meditation has led me to a much greater control over my mind and also made me realize how little control I started out with.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
I'm aware of some of the basics of general meditation, and I've done it on occasion. But what makes Zen meditation, "Zen" meditation? Any good links? What type of process do you use for this?
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I started with a book called something like A Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism, which was actually a pretty good introduction. I combined this with improv prep exercises from Viola Spolin's book Improvisation for the Theater which also were directed towards controlling the consciouness. After a while, I started going to a Zen Buddhist temple as a guest and asked for some instruction. They were very helpful.
I haven't been particularly dedicated to it, but I try to take 15 minutes a day and, depending on my mood, achieve mindlessness (not thinking of anything), directed focus (thinking of one thing to exclusion of all others), or what I call creation (not really Buddhist, more improv, where you going beyond visualization and into actually seeing, touching, tasting, feeling, etc. objects that you want).
It's hard to explain these things as, per doctrine, words don't really convey the real meaning. Also, I'm nowhere near where I'd need to be to be anyone's guide in this.
A good starting exercise is to get into a comfortable, but not slumping position (lotus is really good, but if you aren't flexible enough for lotus, then a lotus-approximate with your legs crossed over each other but not tucked in like in lotus works pretty well too) and focus on just counting to a number (one - pause - two - pause, etc.), starting over each time you have an extraneous thought. If you're being honest, this will likely be very frustrating at first, but with practice it becomes much easier.
edit: The initial stages of meditation seem to me to be pretty similar no matter what the flavor. Zen practice has a focus on both mindlessness and a non-dialetic approach to contradiction, which I find very appealing. However, I also enjoy non-selfconscious creation and the particular form of actionless action from Chuang Tzu-style Daoism, whcih isn't really a big thing in Zen, so I appreciate improv. There's a very big overlap in the basics of these though, and there's many more resources for Zen meditation.
posted
I had a really weird idea about meditation from when I was growing up and we had some neighbors, who were great friends, who were adherents of Transcendental Meditation. It seemed very formalized and not too accessible, in addition to seeming a religious tradition in it's own right. Looking back, I realize this wasn't the case. I remember now them talking about teaching their youngsters to meditate by going on walks.
My current understanding of meditation includes simply listening, being receptive, and appreciating. It is possible to have this about an object, especially a natural one, and to see oneself as an object of nature. Eventually to see one's own mind as an object in nature, and not the identification of self that Western thought so often considers it to be. It is likely you often meditate and don't realize it.
It may seem to the critical mind that meditative traditions make an enemy of the mind or the body, but really it is just resting these things, and embracing other elements of the self. It creates space in the consciousness.
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posted
I've found that my mediation is largely at odds with what I think is my western orientation towards the world. Western outlooks tend to be more goal oriented (as opposed to the idea of actionless action, which I still don't really grok yet), have a much stronger emphasis on subject/object boundaries (and also be much more nomethetic than ideographic), be more individualistic and thus outwardly aggressive, and have a harder time accepting both contradiction and uncertainty. This might be just my own experience, but were I giving advice, which I guess I am, I'd tell people that these are areas they are likely to run into resistances in.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Hobbes I was diagnosed about a year ago, and in fact I was shocked with the dx. I never had trouble in school, and could "pay attention" to just about anything.
But my therapist convinced me to take a couple of general screening tests, and on one I checked off 17 characteristics. The list was of over 50, so I figured it didn't mean anything. Then I read that anything over 8 was a cause for concern about ADD!
The next step was a psychiatrist to talk about medication, she prescribed a 10 day medication trial and it was like turning on a light switch - the difference was immediate and very noticeable.
Learning I had ADD and dealing with it has been a huge eye opener for me - it explains sooo much, and has really helped me get ahold of the problems I used to have with depression.
If you have any reason to suspect ADD, I'd definitely talk to a professional. Because if you do have it, getting it diagnosed and treated can make a world of difference in your life.
posted
"Meditate" is often used in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints but it is kind of assumed that everyone knows what it means. I guess it kind of goes with the ideas of prayer, pondering, and revelation. A lot of the paradoxes of Christianity aren't penetrable to reason: You must lose your life to gain it. The greatest is the servant of all. The last shall be first and the first shall be last.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
I had a long post typed out which my computer ate, but the gist of it was while some people truly need to be treated for ADHD or depression, I also think there are many people in the US who are on drugs and do not need to be.
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