3rd May 2005
I will try to contain as much substance as possible as it may help people. I was just a month ago told that I demonstrate symtoms of ADD
Personal History:
22 Year old athletic (Army National Guard 5 years) male who was a little troublesome in school. I was (still am) very angry and bitter. I am an avid golfer (~18 Handicap) and I exercise 4-5 times a week. I take vitamins and healthy supplements.
School History:
From a child until 6th grade model student (I even won a bike for being a "model citizen). First year in middle school received first Fs and it got progressively worst after that. Multiple IQ and knowledge tests proved I was above average intelligence (I think about 116 when I was 12, 130 now) By 12th grade I wanted to drop out (mother WOULD NOT LET ME--Good mother). She got me a home tutor who nursed me through it. I had kept telling her for years I just could not focus during school, but she never believed me until now. She believes me now because of all my actions concerning helping myself become successful
1st semester in college 3.9 GPA (should have been a 4.0). Grades declined after that until I was mobilized a year and a half ago.
Counseling history:
I was counseled for almost 2 consecutive years from when I was 18 until 20. I have also been counseled currently for almost a year. I made the decision on my own because I wanted to know why I was so intensely angry and bitter. I was, and still am, so tired of everybody in my life telling me how brilliant I am and how I am not living up to my potential. I also had anxiety attacks (off and on) and have not been able to sleep unmedicated since I was 12. I have gone through weeks without meds to assure myself I am not dependant every now and then.
Needless to say after everything I have done in the last 4 years including many years of counseling and trying about every medication for anxiety and depression on the market. Effexor, Zoloft, Valium, Prozac, Celexa, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, Buspirone. More recently Strattera (WHICH IS GARBAGE). Most of these medications gave me worst anxiety, kept me up all night, and made me very angry. I am currently taking Concerta with little side effects and much improved focus.
The lesson here is that not everybody has these problems when they are a child. I understand under the definition of the diagnosis for ADD is says you must demonstrate the symtoms before a certain age to qualify. The truth is the most intelligent people in this world know little about how the brain really works and how to diagnose disorders. I may not have ADD under the current understanding of the "biological" manifestation of the disorder, but I may have it under the stipulation that environmental factors can contribute to this disorder. I believe it can be a learned behavior through coping mechanisms.
Something to ponder. Thanks for listening,
Mark
Personal History:
22 Year old athletic (Army National Guard 5 years) male who was a little troublesome in school. I was (still am) very angry and bitter. I am an avid golfer (~18 Handicap) and I exercise 4-5 times a week. I take vitamins and healthy supplements.
School History:
From a child until 6th grade model student (I even won a bike for being a "model citizen). First year in middle school received first Fs and it got progressively worst after that. Multiple IQ and knowledge tests proved I was above average intelligence (I think about 116 when I was 12, 130 now) By 12th grade I wanted to drop out (mother WOULD NOT LET ME--Good mother). She got me a home tutor who nursed me through it. I had kept telling her for years I just could not focus during school, but she never believed me until now. She believes me now because of all my actions concerning helping myself become successful
1st semester in college 3.9 GPA (should have been a 4.0). Grades declined after that until I was mobilized a year and a half ago.
Counseling history:
I was counseled for almost 2 consecutive years from when I was 18 until 20. I have also been counseled currently for almost a year. I made the decision on my own because I wanted to know why I was so intensely angry and bitter. I was, and still am, so tired of everybody in my life telling me how brilliant I am and how I am not living up to my potential. I also had anxiety attacks (off and on) and have not been able to sleep unmedicated since I was 12. I have gone through weeks without meds to assure myself I am not dependant every now and then.
Needless to say after everything I have done in the last 4 years including many years of counseling and trying about every medication for anxiety and depression on the market. Effexor, Zoloft, Valium, Prozac, Celexa, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, Buspirone. More recently Strattera (WHICH IS GARBAGE). Most of these medications gave me worst anxiety, kept me up all night, and made me very angry. I am currently taking Concerta with little side effects and much improved focus.
The lesson here is that not everybody has these problems when they are a child. I understand under the definition of the diagnosis for ADD is says you must demonstrate the symtoms before a certain age to qualify. The truth is the most intelligent people in this world know little about how the brain really works and how to diagnose disorders. I may not have ADD under the current understanding of the "biological" manifestation of the disorder, but I may have it under the stipulation that environmental factors can contribute to this disorder. I believe it can be a learned behavior through coping mechanisms.
Something to ponder. Thanks for listening,
Mark