Does ADHD even Exist?? I have it and I'm flummoxed.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/experts/exist.html

The above article about ADHD brings into question commonly held notions about this supposed Learning Disability<< a term I've always rebelled against.

Am I, an ADD kid, expected to believe that I have an attention Deficit when I can stare at a computer screen ALL damn day and not blink??

For me having been diagnosed early on with ADD, I found myself using it as a crutch that hindered my development more than this label ever helped. Sure I could use extended-time during tests but I never wanted to be considered slow. For Pete's sake, I got a 1440 on the SATs and I never used the extended time at all, and this was back when 1600 was the highest. Not bad, right?? In fact, I never even looked over my previous work. So don't hold any typos against me, I've got ADD after all. LOL!

No. I never believed in using weakenesses as a crutch. Nor did I ever believe that taking a pill could cure me of something that was just part of me from the get go. I was, am, and will always be Hyperactive and will always struggle with focus and attention.

I can say to all of you struggling with the same, or with kids who are driving you nuts, that as an adult, I still feel contempt at the way my friends, family, teachers, administrators and doctors treated me and all took part in encouraging me to take my prescribed drugs, which BY THE WAY, were Adderol an amphetamine and Ritalin a methylphenidate.

These drugs made me a zombie, reduced my levels of energy, and destroyed my stomach lining causing severe pain and ulcers which only went away after I discontinued my medication. Which, I did secretly because when I talked to the doctors, they'd just prescribe a different one, and I knew I just had to get off of them. So, I did what any daft young innovator would do and I pretended to take the pills. It worked. After 3 months of faking it, while trying my hardest at paying attention and doing what I needed to in school, I told my mom.

At first, she wasn't happy. Although, being the clever young chap I was, I asked her this question first before I told her. "So mom, have you seen improvement in my behavior recently." To which she replied, "Honey, you have been doing much better, I'm so proud of you!"

Smitten with satisfaction I told her. Finally, she conceded, maybe I shouldn't be on the meds. So that's how I saved my stomach, which still to this day has some serious issues going on. IBS, Mono, Chronic Fatigue, etc. they couldn't do what I could at 11, which was, identify the source of my illness, and fix it.

Though this experience jaded me for the rest of my life with most authority figures, whereby I question EVERYTHING, I can capitulate to the fact that it was a formative experience that set in motion the rest of my life.

Now I work for The Empowered Learning Transformation Centers, where we build the ability to learn through sensory-motor integration techniques coupled with visual processing exercises. My favorite part is actually the Learning Strategies portion of the classes where we literally provide students with the very best approaches to learning and retention. I'd like to add that I was a student of Empowered Learning 15 years ago and have been working with them in one way or another since then.

I've got a simple motto: "Stick with what works."

Check out our website for more info!
http://eltcenters.com/

FYI - we offer FREE SCREENING to those interested in learning what their own strengths and weaknesses are.

I hope you find your way as I found mine. We can help.


All the best,
Jack J O'Brien