What the hell is ADD?

Philosophy Forums Psychology and Mind
1

Here’s something I wrote about it, any critics are entirely welcome:

What the hell is ADD?

In the middle of a wintry Far East afternoon, I had concluded dispatching exposes for the publication I was writing for at that time. From a mysterious yet profitable motivation, I delved into ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) research records, and it immediately sensed I was gazing at my very own account. In spite of that (conceivably because of that), I promptly wrapped up the matter and, ostensibly, moved on.

The truth is, ADD is a continual feature (feature, not hitch) wordlessly breeding inside humanity. Like a silhouette, it saunters alongside the creature, often from an early age onwards, and is impinged on by a mixture of peripheral supplementary minutiae (e.g. nourishment, heritable outlook, emotional steadiness).

Since inattentive muddle sorting is a rather vast concern from judge mental adults, ADD is frequently misdirected towards hyperactivity. Even if in certain cases those two circumstances are attached, drawing too deep conclusions is unreservedly precarious for this specific situation.

Nevertheless, many of those low discipline performances aren’t necessarily linked with attention deficit. Educators and parents from time to time seem to overlook people experiencing actual symptoms, for instance, restlessness (which doesn’t embody ultimate verification on its own right whatsoever).

On the other hand, sometimes civilization itself discards ADD “suffers” due to the mainstream factor, essential component of human usual judgemental approach: dissimilar connotes off beam. It’s significant to uncurl the fact that ADD is a rather unwarranted portrayal in the first place.

Together with the diagnosis ambiguity, partially incited because the condition varies from one individual to another, some critics have even trimmed it down as a mercantile swindle or an instructive apology. Hectic populations believe ADD to be a hoax that has encouraged sales of Methylphenidate and other amphetamines.

Alcoholism, addiction or unipolar depression portray several of the regular predisposition roots, still it’s not possible to mark absolutes because the symptoms and milieu constantly diverge in every personality.

Diagnosis presents itself as a quite delicate matter, but usually the analysis is focused on twitchy, attention and hyperactivity. Insomnia is fairly widespread yet neither restricted nor authoritative evidence.

Instead of considering attention deficit a crisis or disorder, society should realise that it’s simply a condition, with pros and cons, and even if it’s not present in a majority, it’s not a justification for it to be labelled as a syndrome.

Strong features of ADD people include the scope of accomplishing levels ahead of the average; likewise, inventiveness can be boosted up easier as well as the sophisticated proficiency to allow a hazard dynamic but efficiently stand up to the circumstance.

Even so, it’s not unerringly a skeleton in the cupboard that the condition’s liable to be a key source of professional and social boundaries, for a vast majority of career choices, economic and communal ranks and related standard elements are progressively more aimed towards public embracing the fine archetypal designation of being “normal”.

As there’s no accurate inference concerning a large fragment of unreciprocated queries about ADD, there’s nothing left to strive for other than carry on exploring it as much as possible, not intending to find a “cure”, since it’s not an infection, but as an alternative, offering broad mindedness an opportunity to acknowledge and value its representatives.

Sometimes what we tend to label self defence is nothing but shortage of the common sense. ADD people are different, but still humans. There are undoubtedly advantages and disadvantages, but neither the first ought to be disregarded nor the latter shall be hyped.

Even if this dissertation wasn’t made up by a mental health connoisseur whatsoever, it’s intended to endow with a heartening suggestion to every person having ADD for some extent: it’s not incorrect having it, not a crime or sin. It’s utterly knotty being an ADD bloke or chapess, but it’s by the same token startling.

2

You said it, its an ambiguous diagnosis.

Just another gimmick to keep the modern psychologist’s pocket full of money.

I was reading the “Real Frank Zappa Book” the other day and there was a chapter in there where Frank was explaining how many laws are created simply to keep money in the lawyers pocket. He said that along with the many new law school graduates and private practices, there had to be new laws in place so they’d have something to do. For example, spitting on the side-walk is illegal here. Come on, a monkey knows better than that. That’s just something to give a lawyer a client, hence, more money. See, many laws aren’t created out of necessity, but rather to keep lawyers busy.

3

I hope this helps

I had the diagnosis in the late 1970s because I was having trouble in school. At this time there were 3 other kids who were simmiarly diagnosed. I was able to to learn what was taught well enough but while doing essentially the same math problem over and over I was overwhemed by the feeling that the situation was stupid, pointless, tedious, and insulting. I would read a textbook almost from front to back (in every non-mathematical class) in the first few weeks after I recieved it and ace every test. Homework, rarely got done though.

Now, I do have trouble keeping things organised so I suppose that “disorder” is an appropos term in my case. Ritalin helped alot but I decided that the constant high heart rate and the extreme mood drops that happened when I forgot to take it outwighed the benifits of constant strong stimulant use.

On the whole I fit the general profile of an add person:

*I’d so very much rather be exploring something new than sticking to the same old routiene. When I say “rather” I mean it with the same strength that I’d rather eat more than once a week than poke a hot iron in my nose

  • I cannot stand cognitive tedium very long. I don’t mean I get mildly uncomfortable and would rather be doing something else, it becomes a sort of threat response “I gotta get out of here before I fall prey to an tragic fate” level of uncomfortable.

  • I can however perform a repetitive motor task that does not require my full attention. My thinking mind goes elswhere and has fun while part of my attention just watches over to make sure I keep doing whatever.
    I can do the dishes for hours but not simple arithemetic for very long at all since I have to give it my full attention.

  • I think in seemingly non-linear ways. If you put me in a room full of the sort of people who could not be considered ADD, I would seem to be jumping from topic to topic and very much unable to stay with the flow of the conversation most of the time. However, an ADD person and I can have a perfectly coherent and enjoyable time seeing many topics as either connected or esentially the same on some level.

While I am not physically hyperactive, my brain jumps from place to place. I am faced with the option of adapting my lifestyle to fit my temperment: keeping multiple projects open an jumping from one to another often, sometimes delving into a particularly interesting one for hours or trying again and again to make myself do what I absolutely hate because it is considered healthy and normal to do so.

4

ert,

First of all, I love your name “ert.” So appropo, I think. I have ADD too and so does my son. I think that it runs in families and to call it a “gimmick” (as in detrops estimation) is flip. I see a connection to artistic types with eccentric personalities. Almost all of the men in my band have it - and musicians are known for a one track-at-a-time mind. Artists of any kind tend to be more focused intensively on what they are doing to the frustration of the outside world. The medication makes you feel awful, not to mention, if you have ADD, most likely you will forget to take it. :astonished: I think schools do not adapt themselves to the arts to those who have strong right-brains. Many of these students are left in the dark to feel stupid and do not get the educational support that they need. I am rambling to a new topic, but ADD is real, very frustrating, but also very managable when you learn to adapt to your environment. I am still on the fence about medication… and refused to give it to my eight-year-old. He is now 23 and goes on and off it on his own as needed.

I have decided to remain scattered. Part of the endearing charm, you know. :wink:

5

I was diagnosed with ADD, as was my sister well over 2 decades ago. I took meds for awhile, but got sick of the nervous shakes and insomnia from ritalin, so I took myself off it, and i’m doing just fine, thanks.

However - I think that largely, it is a poor excuse for a disorder. People get bored - and boredom is probably one of the worst hells imaginable.

I am not saying that ADD doesn’t exist and there are not people that require medication (I’m not qualified to say that, in any case). I do say that many people are overdiagnosed, don’t need medication, and just need some help with either motivation or those around them need to realize they are quite intelligent and get bored very fast.

If I had been more motivated in high school i may have paid more attention - it is difficult though when the faculty teaches the median (or worse, lowest 10%) in the advanced classes!

IMHO, there is a twisted trend in our culture in which people wear their (real or not) disorders as a badge of pride - I think it is both disgusting and depressing that people use a psycholgical diagnosis as a -prime- identifying factor for who they are (I think it is even worse than those persons who draw their identity solely from their jobs).

This isn’t restricted solely to ADD or ADHD, of course - who hasn’t run into at least one “oh my god I am bipolar!” drama queen?

DSM-IV criteria follow for information’s sake.
[size=75]
The DSM-IV criteria for ADHD: (both inattentive and hyperactive types)

Either (1) or (2)

(1). 6 (or more) of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

Inattention

(a) often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
(b) often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
(c) often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
(d) often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish
schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behaviour or failure to understand instructions)
(e) often has difficulty organising tasks and activities
(f) often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework).
(g) often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)
(h) is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
(i) is often forgetful in daily activities

(2) 6 (or more) of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level

Hyperactivity

(a) often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
(b) often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
(c) often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
(d) often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
(e) is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”
(f) often talks excessively

Impulsivity

(g) often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
(h) often has difficulty awaiting turn
(i) often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g. butts into conversations or games)

B. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age 7 years.

C. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school [or work] and at home).

D. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.

E. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder)

314.01 ADHD, Combined Type - if both A1 and A2 for at least 6 months
314.00 ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type
314.01 ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type[/size]

6

ph0rk,

Thank you for listing those. I agree that using it as an excuse is troublesome and that the meds are awful. It becomes: what started first - the chicken or the egg. Is the lack of motivation from the ADD or has the ADD label itself given me a reason to be unmotivated?

I am hyper… highly motivated, but very manic in my focus making me very productive and useless at the same time. My productivity level is beyond most (if I choose to focus). So for me it is more about hyper-focusing than the hyperactivity associated with ADHD. I dunno… but it is a bitch to live with nevrtheless.

7

Interesting, everyone who responded has A.D.D. - including me. More interesting though, what Bessy said about hating the medication:

I have always found this an amusing attribute of A.D.D. I can’t stand the medication and I don’t take it anymore. Though now I do not care so much for academics, I have become intensely interested in music. But what to do with my pills? Sell em! It’s amazing how much people like those damn capsules. Unfortunadamente, I don’t really profit cuz I can only get my meds every once in a while, but it does pay for a big juicy burger or a fat sack of herb.[/b]

8

Keep with the music. It beats the heck outa meds any day. :wink:

9

How about discrimination and disadvantages when officaly diagnosed with ad(h)d?
Don’t you get rejected if they somehow find out with for example job interviews? They can judge you as some kind of chaotic retard.

I’m asking because if I read the list which Pork posted, I have to say that all the symptoms with no exception are strongly present in me. Especially the ‘Inattention’ characteristics.

For a few months I’m thinking to make an appointment with my physcian to talk about it and maybe to get diagnosed with ad(h)d.

But for now I’m still hesitated and trying to let things go in other directions with fierce attemps of self discipline. I mean, I’m a believer of that you can change some of your (bad) habbits with forceing yourself into other behaviour. The brain is a flexible dynamic system and can be altered a little bit fysicaly and therefore also mentally. By trying to get rid of some mental blokades (mostly fears) you can change some little accents in your personal behaviour which can lead to some big changes.

But I have to say that my attempts are not very constant yet and I have different amounts of succes. It takes a lot of patience and energy. It’s alway a pain in the *** that you have yourself as your worst enemy. It’s like shadow boxing.

m.

10

May I ask if there is anything that you really do enjoy and can focus on, even if it is some kind of hobby.

11

I find much pleasure in my work as an artist and designer (there we go again; a creative person… :wink: ). But I’m having a hard time to get myself a living with that. That’s not because I’am not talented (Although, I hope so) enough but at this moment I rarely come to making something because I have a lot of neglected administrative work which takes me a lòòòng time to finish.

I see a lot of other people/friends/colleauges with ad(h)d symptoms. What is the overall percentage of people who somehow have add-like symptoms?