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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cybercafe on May 14, 2003, at 19:44:57
hey guys here are some symptoms, does it sound like mild or severe ADD to you?
- can't stand waiting at lights, waiting for the bus, waiting in line, long bus/car rides
- fidget a lot
- totally unable to hold down a job
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 14, 2003, at 23:57:24
In reply to is my ADD mild or severe?, posted by cybercafe on May 14, 2003, at 19:44:57
Cybercafe,
I'm not a doc, but it sounds severe -- esp. the not being able to hold down a job part, if it's ADD that's holding you back. The only important symptoms to me are the ones that effect work, relationships, and school. Not holding down a job is a biggie.
what do _you_ think?
books
Posted by cybercafe on May 15, 2003, at 0:53:21
In reply to Re: is my ADD mild or severe? » cybercafe, posted by bookgurl99 on May 14, 2003, at 23:57:24
> I'm not a doc, but it sounds severe -- esp. the not being able to hold down a job part, if it's ADD that's holding you back. The only important symptoms to me are the ones that effect work, relationships, and school. Not holding down a job is a biggie.
thanks for replying, much appreciated :)
so there are a lot of ADDers who can actually work? wow...
>
> what do _you_ think?that i'm going to need a lot more ritalin :)
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 15, 2003, at 3:27:10
In reply to Re: is my ADD mild or severe?, posted by cybercafe on May 15, 2003, at 0:53:21
>
> so there are a lot of ADDers who can actually work? wow...
>
hey, how are they gonna pay for all their toys and ritalin?jk.
i actually work with a few ADD folks who are really good employees. i work at a relay service for deaf, hard of hearing, and speech disabled people. ADD folks seem to have been good at interpreting speech disabled callers; I think because it requires the ability to focus and then switch gears quickly.
our new 'lead operator' is an unmedicated guy with ADD (he decided to quit ritalin as an adult). the position requires him to respond quickly to any of the 100 people working at any one time -- and to move around almost constantly. who else could do it? :D
Posted by jemma on May 15, 2003, at 13:16:43
In reply to is my ADD mild or severe?, posted by cybercafe on May 14, 2003, at 19:44:57
I would say that not being able to hold down a job renders your ADD pretty severe. Perhaps you need to find a line of work that uses your ADD. Creative, think-on-your-feet jobs seems to work the best - the film business, for example, is full of ADDers. ADDers have a capacity for hyperfocusing that can offset the distractiblity. Routine and boredom are the killers, at least for me.
- Jemma
Posted by cybercafe on May 15, 2003, at 17:59:10
In reply to Re: is my ADD mild or severe?, posted by jemma on May 15, 2003, at 13:16:43
> I would say that not being able to hold down a job renders your ADD pretty severe. Perhaps you need to find a line of work that uses your ADD. Creative, think-on-your-feet jobs seems to work the best - the film business, for example, is full of ADDers. ADDers have a capacity for hyperfocusing that can offset the distractiblity. Routine and boredom are the killers, at least for me.
>hi jemma, thanks for replying...
what would you consider to be mild, or less severe symptoms of ADD?
Posted by jemma on May 16, 2003, at 10:51:52
In reply to Re: is my ADD mild or severe?, posted by cybercafe on May 15, 2003, at 17:59:10
Milder symptoms include distractability; difficulty reading and staying on-task; impatience with line-ups, waiting, etc; mild mood swings; maybe some clumsiness; a tendency to stop and start things, and to leave things unfinished; and a tendency toward self-medicating with resulting substance abuse. All the same symptoms as severe ADD, but not so severe as to prevent holding down a job or being in relationships.
There's an excellent book called Driven to Distraction by a Dr. Halliwell that goes into the symptoms in great detail. I highly recommend it.
- Jemma
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 18, 2003, at 15:01:08
In reply to Re: is my ADD mild or severe?, posted by jemma on May 16, 2003, at 10:51:52
> There's an excellent book called Driven to Distraction by a Dr. Halliwell that goes into the symptoms in great detail. I highly recommend it.
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
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