ADHD describes me well, although I often say I am ATEDD (Attention To Everything Distraction Disorder). My son Casey also has characteristics of ADHD, probably a stronger identification than mine. His impulsiveness has resulted in removal from several day-care facilities, isolation in high school, firing from jobs. He describes himself as bi-polar. I think the distinction is subjective. My assessment is when you are ADHD you are often reprimanded, and eventually you imagine yourself as more than ADHD, perhaps something we call bi-polar. He has threatened suicide lately. I have tried to contact counselors with experience in ADHD and bi-polar persons but it seems everyone is completed booked. I am despondent trying to help him. He does not seek help because his enthusiastic moments lull him into self-aggrandizement although he has indicated that he will go with me to counseling if can arrange it. ADHD expression has many different outcome trajectories. I have only one friend from high school that I still communicate, now every Sunday for hours. He had the highest IQ (186) in the US when we were in high school. He had National Science Foundation grants in junior high school. Everybody assumed he would become a renowned scientist. He chose medicine like his father and brother; he was an emergency room doctor for his long career. He attributes his success to his ADHD: it gave him the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and to act decisively and quickly under difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances. We muse at how he was such a successful student in high school when my ADHD made it so difficult to learn. I attended Miss Lee's Primary school in the 1st grade, a famous private school for advance placement. My tuition was paid by our lesbian neighbors who saw some inexplicable potential; the school administered an IQ exam before I was admitted (156). In the second grade I returned to public school. I did not have academic success until I was forced into the military in the Vietnam era because I was failing in college. In the military I somehow 'woke up' and excelled in college. My son started reading at one year old. He was evaluated when he was young (IQ 142) and was advance to the second grade from kindergarten. He showed signs of brilliance but had disruptive behaviors all through high school He followed a similar pattern to me but was not able to 'wake up' when left home for college. He also has maternal uncles and half-maternal brothers who have similar problems. I will try to share Hartmann ADHD articles if my son is receptive. Thanks for the insights.
Love this analysis; thank you so much for sharing!
ADHD describes me well, although I often say I am ATEDD (Attention To Everything Distraction Disorder). My son Casey also has characteristics of ADHD, probably a stronger identification than mine. His impulsiveness has resulted in removal from several day-care facilities, isolation in high school, firing from jobs. He describes himself as bi-polar. I think the distinction is subjective. My assessment is when you are ADHD you are often reprimanded, and eventually you imagine yourself as more than ADHD, perhaps something we call bi-polar. He has threatened suicide lately. I have tried to contact counselors with experience in ADHD and bi-polar persons but it seems everyone is completed booked. I am despondent trying to help him. He does not seek help because his enthusiastic moments lull him into self-aggrandizement although he has indicated that he will go with me to counseling if can arrange it. ADHD expression has many different outcome trajectories. I have only one friend from high school that I still communicate, now every Sunday for hours. He had the highest IQ (186) in the US when we were in high school. He had National Science Foundation grants in junior high school. Everybody assumed he would become a renowned scientist. He chose medicine like his father and brother; he was an emergency room doctor for his long career. He attributes his success to his ADHD: it gave him the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and to act decisively and quickly under difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances. We muse at how he was such a successful student in high school when my ADHD made it so difficult to learn. I attended Miss Lee's Primary school in the 1st grade, a famous private school for advance placement. My tuition was paid by our lesbian neighbors who saw some inexplicable potential; the school administered an IQ exam before I was admitted (156). In the second grade I returned to public school. I did not have academic success until I was forced into the military in the Vietnam era because I was failing in college. In the military I somehow 'woke up' and excelled in college. My son started reading at one year old. He was evaluated when he was young (IQ 142) and was advance to the second grade from kindergarten. He showed signs of brilliance but had disruptive behaviors all through high school He followed a similar pattern to me but was not able to 'wake up' when left home for college. He also has maternal uncles and half-maternal brothers who have similar problems. I will try to share Hartmann ADHD articles if my son is receptive. Thanks for the insights.