AD/HD

[Kariah]

Ok, people ask me about this so here are a few facts I have found in books/internet. (this is more so I'm not explaining all the time) I will mostly write the textbook or internet defanition and also how this affects me.

[Kariah]

Forgetful/forgetfulness

Being forgetful (from a textbookon AD/HD
A lot of people with AD/HD tend to loose their keys, forget appointments and get lost.

My examples
1. Unless I'm reminded I regularly forget appointments, I have to be told on the day or most of the time I don't remember it at all.

2. I say I'll take things to school, have them ready to take untill the very last minute then just walk out of the door without them, (eg folder, CD's, comics, belts etc)

3. I keep my keys in my bag at all times otherwise I loose them easily.

4. Bobble, my bobble goes missing more times than a child trying to run away from home, I'm always loosing it.

5. Homework diary, if it's not with my homework I don't remember it, I leave it in lessons especially if I have to leave for appointments.

[Kariah]

Focusing

Being able to focus well on some things and not on others textbook example
This is one of the most confusing aspects of inattention in AD/HD. Many people think that just because a person can consentrate on something, she/he must be able to consentrate on everything if she/he just tries hard enough. This is not the case for people with AD/HD.

For example, the co-author (of the textbook) recently worked with a 9-year-old boy who couldn't stay on task at school. He often stared out of the window, spaced our, and sometimes almost dosed off. At home, whenever he had to do homework, he had the same difficulties. However, if you gave him a model rocket to build or a book about rockets, he was in his elementand could often focus for hours. In fact, he would get so engrossed that he often forgot to eat or go to the bathroom.

Some people with AD/HD claim that they don't have the condition because they can focus "as long as it's something I'm interested in." The criterion for AD/HD isn't about being unable to focus ever; insted, it's about not having control over when and how this focusing happens.

My examples

1. Lets start with maths, I was doing coursework last week for maths, I took my time and was a bit behind, I just couldn't find the motivation. I was looking out of the window, taking time to draw graphs. I wanted to go outside, I couldn't focus on my swork. At one point I went into a daydream and missed part of what my teacher was saying (I must talk to her about that cause I have some unfinished and she told me to go up at lunch)

2. I can't consentrate on cleaning homework for long and often do it at the last minute or late at night but I can consentrate on drawing or the computer for hours.

(I'll type some more on this later)

[Kariah]

Being easily distracted/ losing track of thoughts (spacing out)

Being easily distracted by your own thoughts textbook example
For many people with AD/HD, it's common to have a series of unrelated thoughs flowing through their minds. Many people think of this as "daydreaming."

My examples

1. I "daydream" everyday at some point, people try talking to me and it takes a while for me to even notice their taking to me because as ma says "I'm off in another world."

Losing track of your thoughts (spacing out)
An extention of being easily distracted is spacing out. This is common with AD/HD, it seems like they have gaps in their awareness.

My examples

1. I just aren't always aware of things (last year I was almot run over by 9 cars and 2 buses just because I didn't even realise that they where there, I wasn't aware of them.

[Kariah]

Being late

Being late textbook example
Because many people with AD/HD have trouble organising their time, they are often late for appointments. Sometimes they are purposely early everywhere they go because they know they have a tendancy to be late.

My examples

1. School. I normally get there either just before or just after the bell, very rarely am I early.

2. Psycologists/ occupation therapists. I always just make it to these appointments at the last minute or late.

[SymbolicMyth]

Well, I get a few of those symptoms, but in my case it's just me being a moron rather than AD/HD.
But it sucks when you have it, because everyone pigeonholes you.

[Kariah]

Yeh well I think I can seee why people are sturing things now. (not saying though)

[SymbolicMyth]

Hm. Well, bad luck to you if people are stirring. That sucks.

[Kariah]

I just don't care anymore, I know that I was diagnosed by a professional and that nobody is as good as them. Not even if they'd read all the books on my problems in the world.

[nathan]

Ive heard (from desperate housewives{ god is gabrielle fit in that}) that if a person without adhd takes the medication for it then it has the opposite effect on them and they have lots of energy and can go without sleep for days. Whether its true or not i don't know. Hey steph maybe you can give me some so i can try it.(jokes)lol

[Kariah]

I know, if you take the medication (which I choose not to) it's a type of drug that would make a normal person hyperactive but a hyperactive person normal.

[Kariah]

Theres a new type of drug with a different affect now but I'm still not going to try it, my psycologist gave me the option last week but I declined.