durr286

I have a group of freinds who have ADD. They seem to always have some excuse for not doing something because of this disorder. For example, they will have people read books for them and give them notes because they claim they can never pay attention enough to get the information they need.

I know ADD is a disability, but is it fair for people with ADD to use this disability to get out of work?

spived2

I think a lot of it is laziness. They know they can get away with a lot because of the disorder, so they take advantage of it. Kind of like DJ Qualls from Road Trip. He had cancer when he was young and used it to get out of school all the time. It's not really fair, but most people will believe them when there lying simply because they don't have the affliction themselves and feel sorry for them. If you think they are abusing their disorder, talk to them about it and tell them it's wrong.

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Church

I have a friend with ADHD (as it is politically called now), and I know first hand that he cannot pay attention to one thing for more than 5-10 mins, no matter how interesting it is to him. I admit that the people who are claiming they can't read are just being lazy though. It is unfortunate that they have this disorder, but they can learn to budget their time wisely and get their work done differently than others would. At least that's what my friend does. He reads for about 10 mins, then watches some TV, while taking notes on what he just read. Then he reads the book some more and repeats. It takes him much longer to read a book, but he gets it done.

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Cynthetiq

right, you learn how to DEAL with things in your life, not pawn them off on other people.

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StormBerlin

What happened to people working EXTRA HARD when something is hard for them? Now they just pawn their shit off to other people cuz they can't hack it? K, then you're not gonna hack doing much more than manual labor for the rest of your life. Not much concentration needed for that.

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BoomTruck

You say that like manual labor is a bad thing.

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StormBerlin

No, but I have quite a few friends that have ADHD and they all expect to become all these hotshot people in society; all while passing their "tough" stuff off on others.

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Miserlou

I just read a few interesting notes in a book over ADD while doing some research.

Turns out their are some "good" qualities to having ADD.

People with ADD tend to procrastinate more than other people obviously, but the ADD people almost always tend to work much better and are more effecient when under pressure, sometimes almost working miracles.

The other side-effect I read was the ADD people are usually better leaders and are extremly calm and focused in times of crises and emergency. From what I remember, the way it works is that when an important crises comes up, (usually first-aid ordeals) normal people go through a systematic sequence in their brains going from the emotions "fear" and then to "crises", in which they take action upon the situation. ADD people for some reason skip the "fear" part allthogether and move directly to crises mode.

Now I always thought I lose my attention just as much as the other guy, because I always considered myself pretty effecient when it comes to getting things done. It just depends upon the situation, becuase I too get easily bored when reading (especially stuff on the internet)
I'ts just that I've noticed I've been in a few emergencies involving another victim and I always seem to be the first one to act while everyone else stands around and looks. I've also been frequently told I work best under pressure.

I'm still not going to see if I should be diagnosed for ADD. I'm still very skeptical about the disorder. I think most of the effects are average, but I do believe in the disorder.

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Halx

I've got ADHD, so I know how much of an issue it is. I had my best academic year ever as a freshman in high school. Following that, I decided that I no longer wanted to use medication as a crutch. It was a steady decline from there and I ended up dropping out of high school after the first semester of my senior year and finishing my diploma in home school. That should be a testament to the difficulties of living with such a disorder.

I have not been on any medication since and I've relatively successful at work, though I have dropped out of a serious attempt at college. Classes 3 hours at a time and ADHD are NOT a good mix.

I know that if I took medication, I could be much more successful at school and possibly have a degree by now. I'm not willing to sacrifice my personality for it.

Now, if you can get people to do shit for you, regardless of the reason, then you're set for life. Forget the moral implications. I'm the do-it-yourself kinda guy, so I don't bother to lean on the crutch of having said disorder when it comes to why I can and cannot do things. If I fail, then I'll accept that I'm just not cut out for such things and I will find success in other areas.

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Cynthetiq

It's if you can MOTIVATE people to accomplish the vision that you have.. then you are set for life.

People that use people don't last very long. People that motivate people can last forever.

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Luki

I have had ADD since I was little, I was taken off of Ritlin(sp?) about a year after they started giving it to me. I have alot of difficulty concentrating and it is often times hard to not let my mind slip from topic.

When I begin saying something I tend to ramble on like a moron until I realize what I am now talking about is different then the origanal topic. Things like that happen often.

I am often easily distracted and find myself straying from topic. I also find that I tend to be a lazy person. But I don't want others around me to know that I have ADD so I don't use it to get them to do things for me. I also don't use it to seek help like I should've for a majority of high school. Not for what others can do for me, but for ways to concetrate or stay on subject. Often times that was all I needed. But because I never sought out that kind of help I never got it and have done poorly in school.

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blindawg

Both my Girlfirend and the owner/boss where I work are ADHD.. And both are very articulate, intelligent, motivated people. I think being lazy is a personality trait, not a sickness/illness. And once someone knows they can use it as a crutch, if thats they are allowed to do, they will use it..

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Cynthetiq

any online tests to filter for predispositions of ADHD?

*edit... found one...

http://www.amenclinic.com/ac/addtests/

and surprise!

and when I took ritalin for a short period of time, the quietness of my mind was more maddening than the din. I have learned how to harness the din and the excessive thoughts that I can accomplish so much more than another person doing the same tasks.

I'm not lazy and never pawn off tasks to someone else.

World's King

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Kllr Wolf

I do have ADD, but I have learned to deal with it. Mine is not so bad as others, but it can still be a evil thing. I learned to adapt to it before it was the rage to give out drugs for it. I dont condemn the using of those drugs as they help many people, I am jsut glad I learned to deal without them. I have learned that there are certain things I can do to that does not bother it. they usually deal with things that allow the mind and body to both be active at the same time on the same thing. When I do things like that I can do them for a long time. Sometimes when I my mind ia being challenged I can concentrate longer. Of course as people around me say my mind does go off on its own vacation.

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MSD

The onset of these symptoms often become apparent later in child-hood or early adolescence. The brighter the individual, the later symptoms seem to become a problem. The symptoms must be present for at least six months and not be related to a depressive episode or the onset of marijuana usage. Using marijuana can often make a person seem as though they have ADD without hyperactivity. It is important to screen for pot usage in teen-agers or adults.

The severity of the disorder is rated as mild, moderate or severe. Even though these children have many of the same symptoms of the people with AD/HD, they are not hyperactive and may appear hypoactive. Additional symptoms for this subtype include: excessive daydreaming, frequent complaints of being bored, appearing apathetic or unmotivated, appearing frequently sluggish or slow moving or appearing spacey or internally preoccupied -- the classic "couch potato."

Most people with this form of ADD are never diagnosed. They do not exhibit enough symptoms that "grate" on the environment to cause others to seek help for them. Yet, they often experience severe disability from the disorder. Instead of help, they get labeled as willful, uninterested, or defiant.


Interesting ... I was always able to get by on intelligence, then 7th grade math was bad, 8th grade math was worse, and high school exposed me to the fact that I actually had to work to do well. I was somewhat hyper as a kid, I have lots of energy now. That last part about being lableed as uninterested, is very true. A lot of times, I just can't motivate myself to do work when there's a more enjoyable alternative available.

I also found it interesting that I may have basal ganglia problems that cause occasional anxiety and panic attacks

punx1325

I know this is a real disorder, but I think it is too over diagnosed. Hell I can go in tell a doctor I can't pay attention and have him give me pills. Well I really can't pay attention, BECAUSE I DON'T CARE!!! Apparently my sister has it, well I believe otherwise. In most cases it is just an excuse to be lazy. I have seen some cases where they really have problems, and in that case medicine along with some type of training to help deal with the problem should be given.

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World's King

I think it's great that they made a test to see if you have ADD 75 questions long. I got through the first page and went, "Fuck it... I know I have ADD."

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Mehoni

It migth be overdiagnosed where you live, but in my country it's really really hard to get a diagnose/medicine.

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Psycho Dad

Two of my sons were diagnosed with it. Looking back at some of the criteria for being diagnosed, I'd suspect that there have been millions of people throughout the ages who have had it but not diagnosed. They all made it through life somehow. :shrug:

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Xothan

I was diagnosed with ADD this past year; the doctor put me on Strattera (sp?). It helped my ability to focus in subjects I usually did poorly in such as Calculus, and for some strange reason I became obsessive about neatness; however, I became constantly lethargic and ill-tempered. As soon as I stopped taking the pills, I reverted back to good 'ol, happy-go-lucky me...I figured that if i made it 18 good years with ADD and no medicine, I didn't really need the medicine

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Cynthetiq

exactly. kudos for you in learning how to deal with your issues.

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Mehoni

I was diagnosed with ADHD and Aspergerg's Syndrome last year. I'm currently on amphetamine and it seems to help me somewhat.

I have problems with abstract thinking, concentrating on stuff I think is boring, listening to people, etc.

For example, I can't listen to audiobooks. I need to occupy myself with something.

I have no problem reading books, since reading is one of my hobbies. I read fast, 1000 pages in 4-6h.

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johnnymysto

No kidding! I was going to take it, but I answered one question, skimmed the rest, and decided I must have ADD.

Good grief.

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