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Sep 21·edited Sep 21Liked by Thom Hartmann

I was diagnosed ADHD/Gifted at the age of 10 in 1965. I was able to put it together as an adult from long ago, but distinct memories, particularly of the session where I was tested by an elementary school principal. Also memory of overhearing my mother say "My kid isn't hyperactive." I was chunky and un-athletic. I was often described as 'lazy.'

It was all in my head, literally. I was denied stimulant medication. Then we moved to a different school system that totally dismissed my special needs. I wound up getting a degree in engineering nearly twenty years after barely graduating from high school.

At a community college I failed trigonometry, to later retake it and ace it. On the second attempt I had one of my episodes of hyperfocus. This was aided by a teacher who graded on weekly quizzes. In math classes it is sometimes customary to assign homework of odd numbered exercises at the end of each chapter. Every friday before the quiz I arrived about an hour early to a quiet corner on campus and did the even numbered exercises, go to class an ace the quiz.

It didn't occur to me that my issues were ADHD until about the time I transferred to the State U. My parents, mostly my mother, thought they were protecting me by keeping these things from me.

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I was diagnosed as ADHD at the age of 39 years and had suffered from it for years all through school . I was also tested for aptitude and was designated gifted . I went to summer school for talented and gifted kids where I learned I had a ‘mental block against mathematics ‘.

This determination helped me to avoid any achievement in Math at all . I did struggle with algebra but I think it was a complicating factor to have heard that statement . I failed algebra 2 times then went to summer school for it and passed it but it wasn’t till I went to Nursing School that I began to understand it . When applied to pharmacology it made sense to me, finally .

I’m now eligible to collect SS retirement and I’m medicated for ADHD and I still struggle with motivation, especially for routine boring but necessary tasks . I get overwhelmed easily and have to be careful with caffeine intake . It calms me down but also masks clarity .

One of my daughters is ADHD as well . Still struggles she’s in her late 30’s now . She was a good student and very bright . Organization is not her best skill , nor mine . It’s hard not to get frustrated with myself at times. I have to be very careful to try and focus on small tasks within a job . I’d much rather go for the immediate benefit from having it done . Than from doing it .

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