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> It may be overdiagnosed in some children, but it can also be underdiagnosed. And the impact of not knowing what the hell is wrong with you is more devastating

> It may be overdiagnosed in some children, but it can also be underdiagnosed. And the impact of not knowing what the hell is wrong with you is more devastating than anything I can think of. This. I skipped three grades in elementary school and was used to thinking of myself as a prodigy, but when it came time to study things that weren't immediately interesting in University -- I kept feeling like I was fighting some "other". Hmm. I like compilers, and I've got an exam tomorrow, and I know I should study, but let's just play one more round of Unreal Tournament (and I know I'm BSing myself that it's just one more round, but F-it). When I first started ADHD meds (Dexedrine + Wellbutrin) it was like that experience where you suddenly realize that the room has gone quiet, but you don't recall precisely when. Normally, I'd have a ghostly music video running in my head just below the level of consciousness. Thoughts darting, snippets of music, visuals. All that was just gone and I was just there. Kind of like a flow state when playing sports. It was very interesting. I eventually developed side effects to the meds, and stopped taking them. In the decade since, I've been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. I'm treating that with a CPAP machine, and the results have been incredible. I can still go down research rabbit-holes, but generally have much more control over my executive functions, and I don't fall asleep at my desk every afternoon. Note that at the time of the ADHD diagnosis, I had borderline sleep apnea, not severe. So, now I don't really consider myself to have ADHD. Aside from any possibly incorrect diagnosis due to sleep apnea, I feel that it's important to go beyond labels. Identifying with a label is the first stage. Ok, now you've got an explanation, and a body of knowledge to help. But, I feel the eventual goal should be to move beyond that label. This is where the ADHD as broken leg analogy breaks down. We can't (AFAIK) heal a broken leg only with our minds, but I think we can develop enough skills and life experience to turn "you've got ADHD" into "you're creative and slightly impulsive". EDIT> One strange attentional trait that I've still got is that I hear everything. Like, I thought I had super-human hearing for a while. It's not, but it makes open-concept offices extremely annoying. Co-workers are constantly surprised that I can hear their conversations from 40 feet away.

neurostract 12y ago
> Normally, I'd have a ghostly music video running in my head just below the level of consciousness. Thoughts darting, snippets of music, visuals. All that was just gone and I was just there. Kind of like a flow state when playing sports. It was very interesting. I know what you mean. I've used the analogy of having a plethora televisions on in my brain, all tuned to different cacophonous channels with the volume to 11 and no clicker. The medication gives me a clicker, so I can turn all the ones I don't want to pay attention to off. It doesn't get rid of my distractions: it gives me agency over them. >This is where the ADHD as broken leg analogy breaks down. I don't like that analogy one bit -- it implies that something is broken in me, and once it's fixed I'll be okay after maybe some physical therapy. Something isn't /broken/, my executive functions are /impaired/. Fixing that negative brings a host of positives with it: my brain makes creative connections all the time; my problem solving abilities are fantastic (even more so now that I have agency over those abilities instead of just letting them 'percolate' while I distract myself); yes, I'm a little impulsive -- but that just keeps things interesting ;) Managed ADHD is a boon. Unmanaged, untreated, undiagnosed ADHD is crippling.
neurostract 12y ago
Came back to add: I understand what you mean about hearing everything! It's odd, because often I have to ask people to repeat themselves, but it's not because I have a hard time hearing. My 5th grade teacher even had me tested for hearing difficulties. The truth is I hear too well (even after years of death metal concerts attended sans ear protection) ... and I can't necessarily tune other stuff out (or my own thoughts) well enough to actually pay attention to what someone has said. I think it's telling that I can still hear the refresh rate on most CRTs at nearly 30 :)

neurostract 12y ago

> Normally, I'd have a ghostly music video running in my head just below the level of consciousness. Thoughts darting, snippets of music, visuals. All that was just gone and I was just there. Kind of like a flow state when playing sports. It was very interesting. I know what you mean. I've used the analogy of having a plethora televisions on in my brain, all tuned to different cacophonous channels with the volume to 11 and no clicker. The medication gives me a clicker, so I can turn all the ones I don't want to pay attention to off. It doesn't get rid of my distractions: it gives me agency over them. >This is where the ADHD as broken leg analogy breaks down. I don't like that analogy one bit -- it implies that something is broken in me, and once it's fixed I'll be okay after maybe some physical therapy. Something isn't /broken/, my executive functions are /impaired/. Fixing that negative brings a host of positives with it: my brain makes creative connections all the time; my problem solving abilities are fantastic (even more so now that I have agency over those abilities instead of just letting them 'percolate' while I distract myself); yes, I'm a little impulsive -- but that just keeps things interesting ;) Managed ADHD is a boon. Unmanaged, untreated, undiagnosed ADHD is crippling.

neurostract 12y ago

Came back to add: I understand what you mean about hearing everything! It's odd, because often I have to ask people to repeat themselves, but it's not because I have a hard time hearing. My 5th grade teacher even had me tested for hearing difficulties. The truth is I hear too well (even after years of death metal concerts attended sans ear protection) ... and I can't necessarily tune other stuff out (or my own thoughts) well enough to actually pay attention to what someone has said. I think it's telling that I can still hear the refresh rate on most CRTs at nearly 30 :)