I’ve been really down over the last few years, since I found out that I was “diagnosed” with ADD. The medicine I was taking (Concerta; I’ve actually started taking it again after a recent visit to the pediatrician—yes—I’m 17) didn’t seem to be working, and all the therapy my wonderful parents were having me do wasn’t working, either.
I was discouraged because people would make fun of me for saying I had it, even when I asked them to take me seriously, and because it obviously made it extremely hard for me to concentrate on anything I wasn’t interested in—math and science, particularly this last year, have been hard.
However, I’ve been feeling a lot better lately, because I’ve realized that a) I’m not the only one and b) there’re things I can actually do about it! I’m on a new diet, although dieting has always been a struggle for me because it’s so long-term, and if I can do this, I honestly think I can do anything (except maybe fly).
So, I’d like to present to you all my list, which contains things people usually think of as negative in ADDers—but which I turn into positives. Because they are.
Note: this may sound egotistic, but I encourage you to make a similar list. I’ll read it all.
Calire’s List of Positives
1. my daydreaming: gives me excellent ideas for stories and poems, allows me to think about things.
2. my oversensitivity: makes me a compassionate and loving friend, a good listener, and a generous and kind spirit.
3. my impulsiveness: gives a literally “fresh” perspective on everything and stops me from being overcautious in situations where decisions have to be made.
4. my easily-boredom: stops me from being too committed or “clingy” towards something/someone I shouldn’t be.
Feel free to add to this—the list isn’t close to being finished, but I’m getting bored already and I’m going to go have lunch. :D My main point is to say that we’re all exceptionally good people, in different ways, and ADD doesn’t stop that fact from being true. I know that although people sterotype ADD people in a certain negative light, I still rock socks.
- cth
