Do you view ADD/ADHD as an obstacle or a gift?
Honestly, It hink it's both. Depending on what I'm attempting to accomplish, haha..
This past years I've been trying to see it like a gift. It makes me more creative and curious. It also makes me quite funny, as I'm not ashamed to do anything. You can turn ADHD into a gift, especially in this fast paced world that we are living in.
@numinous I think it's abit of both... I don't have ADHD but my brother does and at times I think it's a blessing as he does things we wouldn't be able to do and he does it with such ease but there are also times when it gets frustrating for us all and we cannot say or do anything as it's not his fault. He didn't choose to have ADHD and even though there aren't always bad moments, the bad ones can overtake the good ones.
It's certainly an obstacle for me. I am the queen of lists because if I don't then I literally get nothing done ever. It's a great laugh for my coworkers who think I'm just super forgetful but extremely frustrating for me; I'll lose lessons plans, my document blank forms that I have to use daily, even leave my phone there more often than not. My to-do lists look like step by step instructions so when I wander I'll see the list and know where I left off and exactly what needs to be done next.
Totally sounds like me! Lol@ColourfulAutumn
I see my adhd as a hard to open gift. It's difficult to carry around and can be an annoyance, but when you finally get all the layers of tough wrapping on the outside off, you find the real gift on the inside and remember why you love what's inside it. that is of course, until you close the lid and have to struggle to get it off again.
I see it as both. It makes things more challenging, but knowing what I'm dealing with, when I do succeed I feel really good about how far I've come despite my disability. I'm a very ambitious person by nature and like to be involved in anything and everything, so actually getting things complete feels so rewarding. It's also made me really good at multitasking and using my night hours since I don't sleep much. I hate the brain fogginess and I hate getting overwhelmed, but I feel looking at it positively and using it to drive me forward is better for my own mental health.
I hate it :-( Cant say I am more talented or creative than my non adhd friends - probably even less and I have to work extra hard to do whats required of me. no fun... I would love to be one of this adhd'lers who are super creative but I am not ans depression and anxiety (largely due to my adhd) made me lose all drive to even try new stuff and most of the time I cant even think if anything. bah!!
@fidgety83 I often get comments from poeple like, how did you come up with that idea, so unique, out of the box etc. it just seems normal to me. Other people see me a creative but for me it just feels normal.
It's a different way of being. If the whole world was ADHD/ADD there wouldn't be a problem. It'd be the norm. That's my problem no one gets it. It's just either not real or a problem. It's neither! It's me! It's who I am. It doesn't define me but I'm not me without it! Why does no one get that? They're so happy when I'm calm and quiet but when I act out or do something. It's like "we understand you have a problem and we want you to get better". That's the thing though. It's not a problem, it's just my nature.
I just realized I didn't answer the question. I don't want to acknowledge it as a problem but in the way out world thinks it is. Does that make sense ?
I was diagnosed with ADHD with when I was around 7 and I've been on meds since I was 9 and I'm turning 19 on Friday, when I was younger I was bubbly outgoing, a complete extrovert but after years of being told to sit down! Stop talking! Stop being so naughty! Why can't you just behave? 'Name' would you just shut up! I retreated so far into myself and now I'm depressed, anxious, introverted and emotionally in tatters....How On earth could ADHD be seen as a gift....
For most my life I've seen it as a gift, but for the last few years I've been very depressed and the ADHD is a lot stronger now and definetly an obstacle
I wasn't diagnosed til I was 34. I think it can be powerful if you know how to harness it, but a struggle when you cannot. Somethings you can do better than others, but having self awareness is key to avoid getting angry and frustrated.
