NationStates Jolt Archive

OK, so I'm a week late, but I think this US Senate Resolution is worth sharing to clear up some myths about ADD:

RESOLUTION

Designating September 14, 2005, as ‘‘National Attention
Deficit Disorder Awareness Day’’.

Whereas Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (also known as AD/HD or ADD),
is a chronic neurobiological disorder, affecting both children and adults, that can significantly
interfere with an individual’s ability to regulate activity level, inhibit behavior, and attend
to tasks in developmentally appropriate ways;

Whereas AD/HD can cause devastating consequences, including failure in school
and the workplace, antisocial behavior, encounters with the justice system,
interpersonal difficulties, and substance abuse;

Whereas AD/HD, the most extensively studied mental disorder in children, affects an estimated
3 percent to 7 percent (2,000,000) of young school-age children and an estimated
4 percent (8,000,000) of adults across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines;

Whereas scientific studies clearly indicate that AD/HD runs in families and suggest that genetic inheritance is an important risk factor, with between 10 and 35 percent of children
with AD/HD having a first-degree relative with past or present AD/HD, and with approximately
50 percent of parents who had AD/HD having a child with the disorder;

Whereas despite the serious consequences that can manifest in the family and life experiences
of an individual with AD/HD, studies indicate that less than 85 percent of adults with the disorder
are diagnosed and less than one-half of children and adults with the disorder are receiving treatment;

Whereas poor and minority communities are particularly underserved by AD/HD resources;

Whereas the Surgeon General, the American Medical Association
(AMA), the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry (AACAP), the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute
of Mental Health, among others, recognize the need for proper diagnosis, education,
and treatment of AD/HD;

Whereas the lack of public knowledge and understanding
of the disorder play a significant role in the overwhelming numbers of undiagnosed and untreated cases of AD/HD, and the dissemination of inaccurate, misleading information contributes to the obstacles preventing diagnosis and treatment of the disorder;

Whereas lack of knowledge, combined with the issue of stigma associated with AD/HD,
has a particularly detrimental effect on the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD;

Whereas there
is a need to educate health care professionals, employers, and educators about the disorder
and a need for well-trained mental health professionals capable of conducting proper diagnosis
and treatment activities; and

Whereas studies by the National Institute of Mental Health
and others consistently reveal that through proper and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment,
the symptoms of AD/HD can be substantially decreased and quality of life for the individual
can be improved: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) designates September 14, 2005, as ‘‘National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day’’;
(2) recognizes Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) as a major public health concern;
(3) encourages all people of the United States to find out more about AD/HD and its supporting mental health services, and to seek the appropriate treatment and support, if necessary;
(4) expresses the sense of the Senate that the Federal Government has a responsibility to–
(A) endeavor to raise public awareness about AD/HD; and
(B) continue to consider ways to improve access to, and the quality of, mental health services
dedicated to the purpose of improving the quality of life for children and adults with AD/HD; and
(5) calls on Federal, State and local administrators and the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate programs and activities.

Also, here a couple fact sheets:
AD/HD Fact Sheet (http://www.add.org/articles/factsheet.html)
What's it like to have AD/HD? (http://www.add.org/articles/whats_it_like.html)
Myths About ADD/ADHD (http://www.add.org/articles/myth.html)
Successful People with Learning Disabilities and/or AD/HD, (http://www.schwablearning.org/Articles.asp?r=258&g=3&d=2)

oh interesting. I think I have ADD but I don't want to spend the money to find out.

what were we talking about again?

i'm physically incapable of responding to this without making a joke.

...what a good cause, i'll cellebrate the day by HEY, LOOK! A PUPPY!

Wait our Senate actually pass- hey, I want ice cream!

That's way too much text. You can't possibly expect me to read all o.... whatever...

I live in a small rural community, and I notice that some parents don't know about ADD and possible treatments. Lack of education and possibly other reasons.

A question: what role do educators play in getting a child referred for diagnosis? Do they discuss the possibility of ADD with the parents, or can they refer the child directly to a physician, or both?

Teachers may notice the symptoms of ADD before the parents do.

It's a pity they didn't mark the event by forcing Tom Cruise back onto his medication, really...

There are a lot of misconceptions about ADD. I, for one, didn't realize until about a year ago that adults could have it. I found out they could when I was diagnosed with it.

A few other things I've learned about ADD on the way: For one thing, it's badly misnamed. It often doesn't involve a deficit of attention at all - it's more of an inability to choose where to focus one's attention. I've always had an incredibly long attention span for things that interest me, and will often become so intently focused on something that I lose all track of time, or appetite, or physical discomfort, and resent being distracted from what I'm doing. The flip side of that is that I can't focus for very long on anything that bores me.

This turns out to be one of the classic signs of ADD - this alternation between an unfocused, incredibly distractable state, and "hyperfocus", in which it's almost impossible to distract someone. The "hyperfocus" turned out to be incredibly useful in my chosen profession of computer programming - I'm noted for my ability to tune out everything but the specific software problem at hand, and keep at it until I found a solution. At times I've stayed focused on something for so long that, when I finally solve the problem, I suddenly realize that it's 3 AM, I'm hungry, my back hurts, my eyes are burning from staring at a computer monitor for too long, and I desperately need to go to the bathroom. But the problem will be solved. :D

So in some ways ADD isn't really a disorder either. At times it can be quite useful. People with ADD are often noted to be very creative people who can come up with some unexpected but brilliant solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

One therapist I talked to spoke of ADD as a "hunter's brain". What she meant by this is that the "distractable" state is like a hunter looking around for signs of an animal to track, shifting focus from one possible sign to another until he recognizes something trackable. Then the hunter shifts into "hyperfocus", literally like a dog on a scent, focused intently on the signs he is tracking until he reaches his quarry.

Once I thought about this metaphor for ADD, I started to suspect that it may be more than just a simple metaphor - it might explain the existence of ADD in the first place, because it's an ideal state of mind for someone in a hunter-gatherer society. And since, until comparatively recently in our evolution, we all were hunter-gatherers, it would have been an evolutionary advantage. It's only in our technological society that it's a maladaptation.

So, in summary, there's nothing wrong with people with ADD. It's just that our civilization is not well-adapted to us. :D

There is actually a pretty sure fire way to diagnose if you have ADD. "Do you find yourself watching TV and reading a book (pleasure reading, not studying) at the same time?" If yes, almost a deffinate case. :cool:

Good for the Senate. About time we had an awareness day for those of US with add/adhd.

There is actually a pretty sure fire way to diagnose if you have ADD. "Do you find yourself watching TV and reading a book (pleasure reading, not studying) at the same time?" If yes, almost a deffinate case. :cool:
What's about plus playing computer games and trying to get my work done?

There are a lot of misconceptions about ADD. I, for one, didn't realize until about a year ago that adults could have it. I found out they could when I was diagnosed with it.

A few other things I've learned about ADD on the way: For one thing, it's badly misnamed. It often doesn't involve a deficit of attention at all - it's more of an inability to choose where to focus one's attention. I've always had an incredibly long attention span for things that interest me, and will often become so intently focused on something that I lose all track of time, or appetite, or physical discomfort, and resent being distracted from what I'm doing. The flip side of that is that I can't focus for very long on anything that bores me.

This turns out to be one of the classic signs of ADD - this alternation between an unfocused, incredibly distractable state, and "hyperfocus", in which it's almost impossible to distract someone. The "hyperfocus" turned out to be incredibly useful in my chosen profession of computer programming - I'm noted for my ability to tune out everything but the specific software problem at hand, and keep at it until I found a solution. At times I've stayed focused on something for so long that, when I finally solve the problem, I suddenly realize that it's 3 AM, I'm hungry, my back hurts, my eyes are burning from staring at a computer monitor for too long, and I desperately need to go to the bathroom. But the problem will be solved. :D

So in some ways ADD isn't really a disorder either. At times it can be quite useful. People with ADD are often noted to be very creative people who can come up with some unexpected but brilliant solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

One therapist I talked to spoke of ADD as a "hunter's brain". What she meant by this is that the "distractable" state is like a hunter looking around for signs of an animal to track, shifting focus from one possible sign to another until he recognizes something trackable. Then the hunter shifts into "hyperfocus", literally like a dog on a scent, focused intently on the signs he is tracking until he reaches his quarry.

Once I thought about this metaphor for ADD, I started to suspect that it may be more than just a simple metaphor - it might explain the existence of ADD in the first place, because it's an ideal state of mind for someone in a hunter-gatherer society. And since, until comparatively recently in our evolution, we all were hunter-gatherers, it would have been an evolutionary advantage. It's only in our technological society that it's a maladaptation.

So, in summary, there's nothing wrong with people with ADD. It's just that our civilization is not well-adapted to us. :D

Interesting point of view. Slightly off topic: I'm a hunter and I've spent most of my life honing skills in subsistence hunting and fishing. I spend a lot of time in the woods, both in my profession as a forester and as a hunter.

I have long tried to describe to less experienced people one of the most important skills to acquire, exactly what you describe so well as the "hunter's brain". You hit it spot on, I'm going to remember your definition for later use.

Like yourself, I find my ability to concentrate so intense that physical pain, exhaustion, hunger, and thirst are barely noticeable. After a near-death from exhaustion and hypothermia I have taken to forcing myself to stop and analyze my physical condition, eat and drink on the principle of it rather than from desire.

Suppose that at age 51, I were to seek medical advice, and the doctor diagnosed ADD and prescribed medication. Would I lose this ability to focus intently? This disorder (and if I were inclined to diagnose myself I suspect I might have ADD) is considered a handicap to many, but as you suggest can be useful.

I'm not inclined to seek medical advice - hell, I've coped this long - but I am curious whether the medications available would work to my detriment vis-a-vis hunting.

incidentaly (and speaking as someone diagnosed with this farce) More american children are diagnosed ADD than there are people with ADD in the entire rest of the world. And to combat ADD in America children are given depressants (its better than it used to be, I was 'treated' with ritlin, the drug nine of out ten crack addicts agrees; tastes just like crack) ADD is the new depression and (whatever drug you get for ADD nowaydays) the new Valium. While infact these disorders exist, and the treatments proscribed are effective treatments, they are also 'feel good' drugs, and the disorders are vastly over diagnosed in America. People who Really have ADD are those nightmare kids that you have to babysit and their parent has to explain that they're 'special' because they act like obersized toddlers, running everywhere, eating or destroying everything they can get their hands on or mouth around not even capable of sitting still (not just not wanting to sit still, actually not capable) Those are kids who really have ADD, A kid who doesn't do his school work, is constantly day dreaming and wanting to do something else, hats not ADD, thats being a kid, when was the last YOU wanted to pay attention in class or do your work? some upbringings just encourage some kids to act on that desire, whether their parents realize it or not.
SO the real 'Awarenes' that should be promoted for ADD awareness day is the 'awareness' that American doctors will diagnose what ever's popular so long as they get paid and the person paying (the parent) gets what they want.
</soapbox>

Mondoth,

I can tell you that it isn't a farce. I have it and I can tell you it isn't fun at all. Especially what happened yesterday. It took me all day to calm down because I got revved up. When I get reved up, I have a hard time calming down.

Don't tell me its a farce because its not.

People who Really have ADD are those nightmare kids that you have to babysit and their parent has to explain that they're 'special' because they act like obersized toddlers, running everywhere, eating or destroying everything they can get their hands on or mouth around not even capable of sitting still (not just not wanting to sit still, actually not capable)

This is such a load of crock. I never once was told that I was special nor did I act like an obersized toddler. You sir need to get yourself informed on precisely what ADD/ADHD really is.

I demand an apology!

Those are kids who really have ADD, A kid who doesn't do his school work, is constantly day dreaming and wanting to do something else, hats not ADD, thats being a kid, when was the last YOU wanted to pay attention in class or do your work? some upbringings just encourage some kids to act on that desire, whether their parents realize it or not.

Read up on ADD/ADHD. Apparently you know nothing about it.

And to combat ADD in America children are given depressants (its better than it used to be, I was 'treated' with ritlin, the drug nine of out ten crack addicts agrees; tastes just like crack)
Pure, unadulterated bullshit. Anyone with the least amount of knowledge on the subject would know that ADD and ADHD are treated with stimulants, not depressants. Of course, you couldn't be bothered to do any research. It might take time away from your spewing of self-righteous shit.

Edit: Oh, and regarding your implication that depression is a fake illness, how dare you. How fucking dare you.

Pure, unadulterated bullshit. Anyone with the least amount of knowledge on the subject would know that ADD and ADHD are treated with stimulants, not depressants. Of course, you couldn't be bothered to do any research. It might take time away from your spewing of self-righteous shit.

Well said CthulhuFhtagn! You are right that its treated with stimulants. Unfortunately for me, it made it worse for me so I had to stop taking medication for it!

Corneliu - besides the normal issues of ADD, do you also have the ability to concentrate intensely when you choose to?

I was interested in what a previous poster mentioned, that ADD may be beneficial in some cases - more so in ancient times, perhaps. Is your condition a complete handicap, or are there any positives?

Corneliu - besides the normal issues of ADD, do you also have the ability to concentrate intensely when you choose to?

No I don't. It is rare that I can concentrate intensely. I literally have to force myself to do everything.

I was interested in what a previous poster mentioned, that ADD may be beneficial in some cases - more so in ancient times, perhaps. Is your condition a complete handicap, or are there any positives?

To be honest, I don't know. I am under the American Disabilities Act from my understanding. As for the positives, the only thing I can think of is that it made me hustle more when I was playing sports as I had an avenue to channel it to activities.

Corneliu - Thanks. If you don't mind answering, do you take meds and to what degree do help you? Do you know how well they help others, and are the same meds used for adults as for youth (my understanding is that Ritalin is used only pre-adolescent, but I am truly uninformed)?

Corneliu - Thanks. If you don't mind answering, do you take meds and to what degree do help you?

Nah, I don't mind answering questions. Its been awhile since I talked about it too so you have to bear with me.

At one point, yes I was on medication but due to my motabolism, it made it far worse than it was when I wasn't medicated. After awhile, even my parents couldn't live with me and they took me off the medication that I was on. It didn't help me at all.

Do you know how well they help others, and are the same meds used for adults as for youth (my understanding is that Ritalin is used only pre-adolescent, but I am truly uninformed)?

The only other person (at the time) that had it, spaced out when he was on retilin. I don't know how well it helped him though unfortunately.

Of course this was when I was back in the 5th to an early part of 6th grade. After that, I was no longer on medication.

However, I am looking into Stratera I believe the name is. It is supposed to help those adults with ADD/ADHD. However, I need to talk to my primary care doc about it first.

incidentaly (and speaking as someone diagnosed with this farce) More american children are diagnosed ADD than there are people with ADD in the entire rest of the world. And to combat ADD in America children are given depressants (its better than it used to be, I was 'treated' with ritlin, the drug nine of out ten crack addicts agrees; tastes just like crack) ADD is the new depression and (whatever drug you get for ADD nowaydays) the new Valium. While infact these disorders exist, and the treatments proscribed are effective treatments, they are also 'feel good' drugs, and the disorders are vastly over diagnosed in America. People who Really have ADD are those nightmare kids that you have to babysit and their parent has to explain that they're 'special' because they act like obersized toddlers, running everywhere, eating or destroying everything they can get their hands on or mouth around not even capable of sitting still (not just not wanting to sit still, actually not capable) Those are kids who really have ADD, A kid who doesn't do his school work, is constantly day dreaming and wanting to do something else, hats not ADD, thats being a kid, when was the last YOU wanted to pay attention in class or do your work? some upbringings just encourage some kids to act on that desire, whether their parents realize it or not.
SO the real 'Awarenes' that should be promoted for ADD awareness day is the 'awareness' that American doctors will diagnose what ever's popular so long as they get paid and the person paying (the parent) gets what they want.
</soapbox>

I'm sorry but you have no idea what you are talking about.

Among other things Ritalin is a stimulant, it only calms those with ADD. (Amphetamines have a reverse reaction with those with ADD).

There is no evidence to support your thesis that ADD is significantly overly diagnosed. To the contrary the evidence is that it is still underdiagnosed.

You might have noted that the Senate correctly cited the the Surgeon General, the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute of Mental Health, among others, that recognize ADD is a serious, underdiagnosed problem.

With all due respect, I'll take their authority, the medical research, and my own experience over your soapbox rant.

You repeat almost every false myth about ADD. You are exhibit 1 as to why more awareness is needed.

BTW, here are more links:
Myths & Misunderstandings (http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/myths)
The Science of AD/HD (http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/science)

Pure, unadulterated bullshit. Anyone with the least amount of knowledge on the subject would know that ADD and ADHD are treated with stimulants, not depressants. Of course, you couldn't be bothered to do any research. It might take time away from your spewing of self-righteous shit.

Edit: Oh, and regarding your implication that depression is a fake illness, how dare you. How fucking dare you.

Well said on both counts.

As someone with both ADD and depression, I am appalled at the ignorance.

Corneliu - besides the normal issues of ADD, do you also have the ability to concentrate intensely when you choose to?

I was interested in what a previous poster mentioned, that ADD may be beneficial in some cases - more so in ancient times, perhaps. Is your condition a complete handicap, or are there any positives?

In my experience, I also have times when I hyperfocus -- but not just whenever I choose to do so.

Sometimes it can be beneficial -- if I hyperfocus on something I need to read or a writing project, but it can also be harmful -- if I can't unfocus long enough to finish the project on time or a hyperfocus on a video game, etc.

Lack of focus can also be beneficial at times.

Still, my life is much, much better when I am on medicine that minimizes my symptoms. Although there are some positives, they are outweighed by the negatives.

Corneliu - Thanks. If you don't mind answering, do you take meds and to what degree do help you? Do you know how well they help others, and are the same meds used for adults as for youth (my understanding is that Ritalin is used only pre-adolescent, but I am truly uninformed)?

Different people with ADD/ADHD react differently to different meds.

Most meds start out as for children only and only slowly get approval for treatment of adults. Many insurance companies like to take the position that meds aren't needed beyond 18.

I am 36. I wasn't diagnosed until a few years ago.

Stimulants are the primary medication that helps my ADD. I currently take high doses of Dexedrine for my ADD. (Which, as I noted earlier, calms me down and doesn't give me a "high" or stimulate me.) They help quite a lot. I'd say 60-70%.

Some antidepressants and other psychopharmaceuticals also can help ADD. Some of the meds I was taking for depression and anxiety were helping my ADD before I even knew I had it.

You don't want to know the full list of meds I take.

You didn't ask me, but I'll try to answer this also, though my symptoms have lessened considerably with age (or perhaps I've learned to deal with them somewhat) and I now take medications -- Concerta and Focalin -- only in situations that call for a good deal of concentration.

Corneliu - besides the normal issues of ADD, do you also have the ability to concentrate intensely when you choose to?

I've noticed that, when I do manage to direct my full attention to a task, I'm difficult to distract, but it's not as simple as just choosing to concentrate intensely. It generally only happens when I've been working on something for several minutes without interruptions.

I was interested in what a previous poster mentioned, that ADD may be beneficial in some cases - more so in ancient times, perhaps. Is your condition a complete handicap, or are there any positives?

Corneliu is correct in stating that people with ADD are protected under the Disabilities Act. I'm pretty sure I could have taken the SAT with no time limit, or at least a longer time limit had I so chosen. I decided not to, partly because it would have been marked on my test (though this is no longer the case), and partly because my condition wasn't bad enough that I really needed the extra time.

On the other hand, there are benefits to the condition for many people. My dad was never diagnosed with it, but was successful enough that he was able to retire early. Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin, has ADHD, and he's about as successful as you can get. I personally find that I'm a more effective multi-tasker than most people, and that I'm also able to solve problems in ways others wouldn't think of.

I like the South Park method for curing ADD - in the Ritalin - Ritalout episode with Phil Collins etc

"SIT DOWN AND STUDY!" ----- Whack --- *child starts crying*
"SIT DOWN AND STUDY!" ------ *child starts reading* ---ADD cured!

Interesting point of view. Slightly off topic: I'm a hunter and I've spent most of my life honing skills in subsistence hunting and fishing. I spend a lot of time in the woods, both in my profession as a forester and as a hunter.

I have long tried to describe to less experienced people one of the most important skills to acquire, exactly what you describe so well as the "hunter's brain". You hit it spot on, I'm going to remember your definition for later use.

Like yourself, I find my ability to concentrate so intense that physical pain, exhaustion, hunger, and thirst are barely noticeable. After a near-death from exhaustion and hypothermia I have taken to forcing myself to stop and analyze my physical condition, eat and drink on the principle of it rather than from desire.

Suppose that at age 51, I were to seek medical advice, and the doctor diagnosed ADD and prescribed medication. Would I lose this ability to focus intently? This disorder (and if I were inclined to diagnose myself I suspect I might have ADD) is considered a handicap to many, but as you suggest can be useful.

I'm not inclined to seek medical advice - hell, I've coped this long - but I am curious whether the medications available would work to my detriment vis-a-vis hunting.

I've found that, far from being a detriment, the two medications I'm on actually improve my ability to focus. I take Wellbutrin (a mild antidepressant which also works well on ADD - and also, interestingly, is used as an anti-smoking drug, not that I needed it for that) and Focalin (a stimulant). Wellbutrin helped to deal with the "distractable" phase; I find it far easier to deal with things that used to bore me to death. And Focalin helps regulate the "hyperfocus"; I can still enter that state, but I'm able to retain more awareness of other things going on around me without letting them distract me. So I still get most of the benefit of ADD, and far less of the detriments.

Incidentally, there are a couple of other areas where ADD has been noted to be an advantage. A surprising number of corporate CEOs have mild ADD; it seems to help them juggle the many tasks that someone in that position must do. And many adults with ADD work amazingly well with children, especially children's sports coaches. (Who knew that ADD would benefit a Little League coach? :D)

So don't be afraid of the medication. I was diagnosed at 38, and treatment over the last year has definitely improved my life. My wife has noticed a major difference also, especially after I started taking Focalin. And I'm finally finishing some of those projects I'm always starting!

:p