Discussion
It's not something I have had diagnosed, but I suspect I have it.
I am constantly restless, fidgeting, very easily distracted etc and it makes it very hard to focus. I have been like this all my life from school right through to today (33). I even struggle to hold conversations as my mind will wander on stupid things.
The most effective thing i find is music, unfortunately I don't really like music and anything with Lyrics starts to get repetitive too quickly and adds to the boredom, Changing tracks becomes a new distraction. That's why I only listen to movie/videogame soundtracks and classical music, Stuff that is designed to be listened to repeatedly without inducing boredom. I just keep a single earbud in at all times with the music playing. If I really need to focus, the 2nd one goes in.
I also find pressure helps. knowing a deadline or a deliverable is close helps me focus on the job but I need to have my next 5 jobs lined up too to stop me feeling relaxed and backing off.
I am constantly restless, fidgeting, very easily distracted etc and it makes it very hard to focus. I have been like this all my life from school right through to today (33). I even struggle to hold conversations as my mind will wander on stupid things.
The most effective thing i find is music, unfortunately I don't really like music and anything with Lyrics starts to get repetitive too quickly and adds to the boredom, Changing tracks becomes a new distraction. That's why I only listen to movie/videogame soundtracks and classical music, Stuff that is designed to be listened to repeatedly without inducing boredom. I just keep a single earbud in at all times with the music playing. If I really need to focus, the 2nd one goes in.
I also find pressure helps. knowing a deadline or a deliverable is close helps me focus on the job but I need to have my next 5 jobs lined up too to stop me feeling relaxed and backing off.
Exactly. Often these types of 'illnesses' (ADHD, autism etc) can be beneficial in certain roles and people can really excel.
Alternatively you can self-manage them as long as you can be able to identify the symptoms that others have identified in you. It's certainly a challenge, but once it's mastered you can really excel. It that sense, it is very much a mental illness.
Alternatively you can self-manage them as long as you can be able to identify the symptoms that others have identified in you. It's certainly a challenge, but once it's mastered you can really excel. It that sense, it is very much a mental illness.
Like many mental health "issues", diagnosis of ADHD is on a spectrum rather than being an outright yes/no question.
Everyone has different levels of attention span in different situations and in some this can be a problem (hence the word " disorder" in it's description) while in other situations it can be a positive advantage.
Recognise who you are, what your good points are and exploit them to the full. You are who you are, be proud of it.
Everyone has different levels of attention span in different situations and in some this can be a problem (hence the word " disorder" in it's description) while in other situations it can be a positive advantage.
Recognise who you are, what your good points are and exploit them to the full. You are who you are, be proud of it.
Diagnosed 20+ years ago when it was not as well known. Luckily, went on a week long residential Emotional Intelligence course undertaken by an ex-army psychiatrist. For completeness - also exhibit many OCD traits (much to my children's merriment eg will put a fingerprint mark on my freshly detailed gloss black car window pillars!)
Took me a while (years) to recognise how much the Emotional Intelligence course helped me and become successful in my career - I am a Programme Director which somehow gels well with my "condition". The logical order of delivering a mult-million pound project over months/years in a pressured environment somehow settles me and I take it in my stride whilst see how others are fazed.
I know that I still struggle somewhat with the people and the relationship element but mostly cope. Am reasonably social but wife is more accurate - "you are like a toy at gatherings, wind you up and you will talk and get on with anyone but never let anyone in".
Fundamentally believe that people with similar symptoms upon the spectrum need help - as "cannot self medicate without the tools" - once external help has helped identify coping mechanisms (eg I was taught to say how I feel in a "constructive manner" without diluting the message) the individual can be more comfortable and excel.
Took me a while (years) to recognise how much the Emotional Intelligence course helped me and become successful in my career - I am a Programme Director which somehow gels well with my "condition". The logical order of delivering a mult-million pound project over months/years in a pressured environment somehow settles me and I take it in my stride whilst see how others are fazed.
I know that I still struggle somewhat with the people and the relationship element but mostly cope. Am reasonably social but wife is more accurate - "you are like a toy at gatherings, wind you up and you will talk and get on with anyone but never let anyone in".
Fundamentally believe that people with similar symptoms upon the spectrum need help - as "cannot self medicate without the tools" - once external help has helped identify coping mechanisms (eg I was taught to say how I feel in a "constructive manner" without diluting the message) the individual can be more comfortable and excel.
I'm currently going through a process of establishing whether this is something I have, but for now we are addressing other issues such as bad sleep and stress with my Dr. I'm trying a few things to help, such as reading longer articles, books etc. As well as using things like Brain.fm
I was told a couple of years ago I was describing "the practical definition" of AD when chatting to someone (knowledgeable of this stuff). Its fairly low level, e.g. I can't read a book if the mrs has the telly on as I can't concentrate, ie either multitask or shut out the intrusion, and at work when people have a site radio it find it extremely intrusive if I'm trying to think something through.
Its handy to finally put a label on weird things you do/not like other people things, like the dyslexia/dysplasia I was diagnosed with 10 years ago, but while its unhealthy to dwell on it or join the victimhood Olympics, I find very little practical help for "low level" sufferers, or as they put it those who have found "coping mechanisms" and have jobs, lives etc. I guess it's very much a young field of research.
Its handy to finally put a label on weird things you do/not like other people things, like the dyslexia/dysplasia I was diagnosed with 10 years ago, but while its unhealthy to dwell on it or join the victimhood Olympics, I find very little practical help for "low level" sufferers, or as they put it those who have found "coping mechanisms" and have jobs, lives etc. I guess it's very much a young field of research.
Ransoman said:
It's not something I have had diagnosed, but I suspect I have it.
I am constantly restless, fidgeting, very easily distracted etc and it makes it very hard to focus. I have been like this all my life from school right through to today (33). I even struggle to hold conversations as my mind will wander on stupid things.
The most effective thing i find is music, unfortunately I don't really like music and anything with Lyrics starts to get repetitive too quickly and adds to the boredom, Changing tracks becomes a new distraction. That's why I only listen to movie/videogame soundtracks and classical music, Stuff that is designed to be listened to repeatedly without inducing boredom. I just keep a single earbud in at all times with the music playing. If I really need to focus, the 2nd one goes in.
I also find pressure helps. knowing a deadline or a deliverable is close helps me focus on the job but I need to have my next 5 jobs lined up too to stop me feeling relaxed and backing off.
Are you me? everything here rings true with me.I am constantly restless, fidgeting, very easily distracted etc and it makes it very hard to focus. I have been like this all my life from school right through to today (33). I even struggle to hold conversations as my mind will wander on stupid things.
The most effective thing i find is music, unfortunately I don't really like music and anything with Lyrics starts to get repetitive too quickly and adds to the boredom, Changing tracks becomes a new distraction. That's why I only listen to movie/videogame soundtracks and classical music, Stuff that is designed to be listened to repeatedly without inducing boredom. I just keep a single earbud in at all times with the music playing. If I really need to focus, the 2nd one goes in.
I also find pressure helps. knowing a deadline or a deliverable is close helps me focus on the job but I need to have my next 5 jobs lined up too to stop me feeling relaxed and backing off.
Out of interest, how and why did you guys get a diagnosis? how did it come about?
Just wondering because like it is said above i'm pretty sure I have it. It impacts work a little bit at the moment as I drift off in conversations and meetings and I struggle to process what someone is saying to me. It has definitely stopped me building relationships.
Is there any benefit from getting diagnosed?
sammyboy said:
Ransoman said:
It's not something I have had diagnosed, but I suspect I have it.
I am constantly restless, fidgeting, very easily distracted etc and it makes it very hard to focus. I have been like this all my life from school right through to today (33). I even struggle to hold conversations as my mind will wander on stupid things.
The most effective thing i find is music, unfortunately I don't really like music and anything with Lyrics starts to get repetitive too quickly and adds to the boredom, Changing tracks becomes a new distraction. That's why I only listen to movie/videogame soundtracks and classical music, Stuff that is designed to be listened to repeatedly without inducing boredom. I just keep a single earbud in at all times with the music playing. If I really need to focus, the 2nd one goes in.
I also find pressure helps. knowing a deadline or a deliverable is close helps me focus on the job but I need to have my next 5 jobs lined up too to stop me feeling relaxed and backing off.
Are you me? everything here rings true with me.I am constantly restless, fidgeting, very easily distracted etc and it makes it very hard to focus. I have been like this all my life from school right through to today (33). I even struggle to hold conversations as my mind will wander on stupid things.
The most effective thing i find is music, unfortunately I don't really like music and anything with Lyrics starts to get repetitive too quickly and adds to the boredom, Changing tracks becomes a new distraction. That's why I only listen to movie/videogame soundtracks and classical music, Stuff that is designed to be listened to repeatedly without inducing boredom. I just keep a single earbud in at all times with the music playing. If I really need to focus, the 2nd one goes in.
I also find pressure helps. knowing a deadline or a deliverable is close helps me focus on the job but I need to have my next 5 jobs lined up too to stop me feeling relaxed and backing off.
Out of interest, how and why did you guys get a diagnosis? how did it come about?
Just wondering because like it is said above i'm pretty sure I have it. It impacts work a little bit at the moment as I drift off in conversations and meetings and I struggle to process what someone is saying to me. It has definitely stopped me building relationships.
Is there any benefit from getting diagnosed?
I have found that in the last couple of years I have become a lot better but I think that is down to getting a job that is really challenging. I rarely get bored now but I still have to make a real effort to concentrate in meetings.
One thing I learned though, if I don't push myself, try to live with the boredom and "Settle" I can get quite bad anxiety and mild paranoia.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff