Posted by JohnX2 on March 10, 2002, at 20:57:14
In reply to Re: ADD tests » JohnX2, posted by IsoM on March 10, 2002, at 20:08:04
How about this:Small Talk:
I suck at small talk. HATE IT. bores me
to death at times. I just don't do it. My mind is
blank. I'm a wallflower.But, in an interview setting....
I am absolutely charming! (because I gotta be, so it just happens and I can't explain it??).
Small talk....no problemo!
Hobbies:Find 1, BEAT IT TO DEATH. Have to learn it inside out.
Must master every little iota of it. Can't let other things get in
my way in the mean time. Once I hit the terminal, I drop it like a rock.This depression thing is an example.... Hmm. These psychotropic drugs do interesting
things to me, I wonder why....study it to death. Soon I'll drop it and never look at it
again. (Hopefully I'll feel well).This has happened with many other things. Computers, job, golf, stock market, school
Sometimes I revisit these things....But I almost *always* complete what I am doing.
I don't just get bored and leave things hanging.
If I think somethings boring, then i don't get involved with it.
I finish what I started.What my life doesn't have is BALANCE.
Does that mean anything?
As far as the bipolar goes, there's no doubt in
my mind I've had hypomania. I've always wondered
about the ADD though. My caffeine addiction (like
drinking 2 cases diet coke day) has always been a source of question: am I self medicating
ADD, or am I fueling hypomania, or am I medicating
depression? Well, I can function fully without caffeine,
I know because I have quit caffeine. I am not dysfunctional
in anyway. What happens is if I take caffeine after
being off it for more than 2 weeks, just 1 sip
will make me immensely euphoric, and then I just get
back on the caffeine train. Seems more an addiction to
fuel hypomania?I was listening to a doctor who specializes in addiction
science and he was commenting that in adults addiction to
psychostimulants generally manifests symptoms of ADD,
particulartly people who abuse cocaine or speed. What do
you think of that statement?-John
> "...name the months backwards - passed
> count backwards from 100 subtracting 7 - passed
> listed fruits, changes subject, asked me to list fruits. I named the fruits - passed"
>
> Phew! Such piddley little tests - that's not anything to do with ADD. It's the old idea that people with ADD can't focus - yes, we CAN focus & can focus very well, thank you, but not consistently. A better test is one that checks the ability of a person to focus when there's something new & exciting and when it's dull & boring. The differences between the ability to focus in diff situations show more. People with ADD 'tend' to show a far greater difference of response & focus between the two conditions, whereas normal people will be more focused during something exciting but the diff is so great.
>
> I know a doctor testing whether you can name months backwards, etc doesn't really seem exciting, but it's something new & your brain suddenly charges up in anticipation.
>
> I hate to admit it but your problem with fiction is one I have too. If I really am enjoying the book, I'll even make my own notes on characters so I can flip back to see who's who. If I put a book down for a few days, I might as well forget it.
>
> I really don't think there's anything one can do to increase their working RAM - it's probably hard-wired in. But I think we can put forth a lot of effort into constantly practicing & using it to keep it in top shape. Like a scrawny little guy who works out regularly, lots of weights & fewer reps. He'll develop more muscle mass but he'll never be an Arnold Schwartzenegger. We've got to use it or lose it with our working RAM, as much as I hate forcing it.
>
> And yes, John, you sound far more ADD to me than bipolar but heck, I'm not trained at that sort of thing. Are you always on the lookout for new things (not all of these new things have to be macho or dangerous - for me, it's new mental stimulation) & new ideas to try? After exploring these ideas thoroughly, do you find you'll start losing interest in them? They don't seem as fun as before? That's a typical ADD trait, though maybe not all share it.
poster:JohnX2
thread:97292
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97402.html