Different viewpoints
Many of you do see ADD ADHD as a gift, and you focus on the benefits. I think focusing on the positives is a good strategy. I guess I take the positives for granted and focus on trying to find strategies to help cope with the negatives. Or at least I try to focus.
from Scott:
“I consider ADD a gift at least for me. It helps me see different perspectives, come up with twisty connections for things “Normal” people wouldn’t consider connected, helps me get interested in all sorts of cool things and see how other people can enjoy those things. I love it when I get hyperfocused on a project and dealing with ADD has helped me find yet one more reason I need to get regular exercise”
from Homey:
“I agree – it’s not a gift. I’d much rather NOT have it or have the option, like you said, of returning it! But it is what it is. I guess thinking of it as a gift makes it less offensive and easier to swallow.”
from Livelife:
“The only time my ADHD is a gift is when I become microfocused on something that I actually need to get done! That rarely happens. Usually I microfocus on whatever shiny thing is most entertaining at the moment.”
from D K powell:
“I DO see my ADHD as a gift but that’s because it enables me to work at very high speed and have interests in many, many fascinating subject (several of which gave me a wonderfully varied career as a teacher…….if you could give me a pill to make it go away I wouldn’t take it. I love my ADHD – its the best present life/God/fate ever gave me :)”
from Gail:
“… Not sure about ADHD being a gift. On the days when life does not go as planned, such as forgetting an important task, I am reminded (again and again) that I have to take extra measures to survive in the world. Perhaps ADHD is a gift when you actively participate in surving the common everyday events?”
from Sarah-louise:
“… gifts are supposed to be nice surprises. it’s not a gift when you have to find good out of something with is a problem most of the time.”
from me: the gifts include creativity, wide range of interest, ability to hyperfocus, thinking outside the box, and not always being constrained to act like other people do.
I hope to comment a little bit more on these gifts next time.
Doug
Question O the Day:
Are there two sides to the question of whether there are two sides to every question?
The original post: Benefits of ADD ADHD
Why I have trouble keeping up with the blogs.
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If you look for ‘positives of ADHD’ and ‘advantages’ in Google, you will find 150 wonderful traits that people with ADHD may have! A great year of flourish and success to you, Doug, and everyone here!
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After talking to a close friend about this whole gift thing and saying I would gladly lose my depression, she (who also struggles with depression even more than I do) said that the depression gives us compassion. I think that is true for ADD and all sorts of other things that we struggle with. A Priest once told me to be thankful for the things that go “wrong” as well as the things that go “right”. That is a very difficult one for me, but it really helps me to see that things do turn around and some things that seemed very “wrong” eventually turn and blossom in ways I could never have imagined. A crazy metaphor for this is I have been practicing running barefoot on gravel to help my running form (which has always been lousy) become smooth and learn not to pound. Who in their right mind would look for sharp gravel when barefoot? It has helped so much though! Go figure.
Thank you Doug for a great blog!
All the best,
Scott
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Scott – thank you for great comments!
Yes, I’ve seen many things that I thought were really bad turn out to have been blessings in disguise. Or at least to work out okay in the end. My ADD has not been one of those yet.
Depression maybe teaches compassion, after it is over. Usually when we’re depressed, we are miserable and pretty much focused on ourselves and our misery, and not compassionate at all.
barefoot on gravel?
Wow! Good for you.
Thank you for commenting.
Doug
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Love the running on gravel example, Scott. I do agree that having ADD/ADHD (or anything difficult) helps us to be more compassionate. The people who don’t seem to have many issues don’t tend to be very understanding of those who do. I came across someone like that recently and was amazed at how little compassion she had.
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