Sunday, February 08, 2009

So, Like, Do I have ADD?

I’m not sure how best to put this. Several years ago, my wife suggested that I have myself checked for ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). I took an online test and ended up somehow subscribing from email updates from Statera. At the time, I was also going through my Kevin Trudeau phase and I was distrustful of the pharmaceutical industry. To a point, I still am, as far as I still wonder when I hear about something, does the financial interest of the person or industry that is trying to get me to buy into something outweigh my own interests in purchasing the product or service?

In any case, any time I have ever taken an ADD test, within a book or online, I always come out very high as having it. Not ADHD, I don’t find myself hyperactive, at least not at my current weight and level (or lack of) physical activity, but I definitely come out high on having ADD.

Many bloggers joke about ADD. I stopped doing it for many years. For some reason, personality types like me tend to gravitate toward careers in computers, engineering, or programming and such. We like new, shiny things, we enjoy being able to hyperfocus on some tasks, and switch what we do from time to time. I still can’t help but wonder what life would be like if I could actually stick to something long enough to to do a decent job on it.

For those of you geeks who think you might have ADD, did you get checked out? Have you taken any medication or supplements for it? Do they help, or do you just wish you’d left things alone? For those of you who know me, do you think I might benefit from a professional analysis for this condition? Or is my currently level of interest and distraction a good match for me?

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2 comments:

Blue Wardrobe said...

Boy. The more I read this blog, the more I think we're kind of clones.
My wife is on at me to go see an ADD specialist. I score off the charts on ADD tests (again, not hyperactivity).
I keep getting a referral from my GP, and then lose the details...
...I'm also kind of worried what happens to my creativity and thinking style if they *do* solve the concentration problem.

Eric S. Mueller said...

You should read the book "This Is Your Brain on Joy" by Dr. Earl Henslin. I just finished reading it and I hope to get my review posted soon. I've been hesitant to get checked for ADD, but my wife for years has said I need to. I can obviously function and hold down a job, but I always wonder what I could get done if my focus could stay on something long enough.
From what I understand, if we're treated correctly, our creativity will be enhanced. Treatment can be as simple as getting enough sleep and eating the right supplements. I probably just need to adjust my diet to the kind of foods that my body wants. The problem is, I tend to like to eat everything that isn't good for me.