Attention Deficit Disorder: a discussion

ADD/ADHD or Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder is a fairly common though very misunderstood type of condition of the human brain. It is not easy for common people to discern a ADDer. It is an inherited neurobiological abnormality. 

These people have a technical bent of mind and a high percentage of people in High tech industry such as Web design, IT, entrepreneurs, marketing,media etc have symptoms of ADD. People often misunderstand a diagnosis of ADD as an illness or as a problem. However, I am going to list the benefit that this unique wiring of brain provides. The following has been adapted from a post by Pete Quily, who is himself an ADDer and loves to talk about it. And so am I.

1. Ability to Hyperfocus

Hours of full engagement and concentration on a task, 'IF' you find it interesting enough. When immersed in such a task, time and space don't matter. 

2. Rapid Fire Mind

The brain processes information at very high speeds. You can do things in minutes that take other people hours to complete. Downside if you are in a slow system.

3. Multitasking

An ADDer has the ability to focus at multiple tasks at will. You would be able to switch between tasks with ease. Especially when the tasks lead to a certain common end goal.

4. High Stamina

In mental sense, an ADDer is able to keep going on a project, if it is interesting. Long hours are never a problem. 

5. Highly Creative

Thinking out of the box comes naturally to ADDers. Since you take in information at a much higher rate than a normal person, you get distracted easily. Also, ADDers pay attention to detail and are likely to view a problem from different angles and can come up with many possible solutions. Such people like to choose the road less traveled and 

6. Quick Learner

If a subject is interesting enough, it takes a fraction of the time compared to peers to understand a concept. After all, symptoms of ADD appear mostly when you are bored. Boring tasks can crash an ADDer, rendering him ineffective.

7. Awareness of the Environment

An ADDer is constantly looking for details in his surroundings and finds information that others tend to miss. Allows you to see problems before they arise, and also opportunities.

8. Great in a Crisis

If the situation is intense, normal people feel matters slipping out of their hands, count on ADDers. You can work much more effectively than others in a chaotic environment. You thrive on stimulation and are intuitive, think ahead of the game and very resourceful.

9. Risk Taker

Impulsive, more willing to take risks. You believe in fast, shallow analysis and act while the opportunity is still hot. Due to special wiring in the brain, your shallow analysis is more often the correct one.

 

The benefits come with their own downsides, such as:

1. You don't usually overestimate themselves, telling people exactly "who they are". This results in people misunderstanding you as a bragger or someone with low self worth.
2. ADDers have difficulty with absolute authority (authority without explanation or choice). Often termed as Difficult-to-Handle kids
3. You will simply refuse to do certain repetitive or boring things (such as waiting for turn). Gets bored very easily. You get frustrated with systems that are ritual oriented or don't require creative thought.
4. Tend to leave a lot of projects unfinished. ADDers get bored very easily, so if a job gets boring, you leave it there. One of the reasons why they don't always become very successful.
5. You seem to find better or different way of doing things, often turn out to be the "system busters".
6. ADDers seem antisocial and shy unless they are with someone of their own kind. You hate social chitchat, which are a waste of time . Often have difficulty with schooling.
7. Sometimes you get insightful and appear to be spiritual or philosophical, often wondering why others don't share thoughts that come so easily to you.
8. ADDers have great difficulty in remembering details that they can easily find elsewhere. Your wiring simply chooses to erase the non essential details which clutter the brain of normal people. Difficulty in remembering dates, faces, phone numbers, rote answers to textbook questions are a common occurrence.
9. People with ADD and a high IQ are most prone to be misunderstood because they can mask their social behavior with the help of high IQ. Many such people will probably never know the reason of their sloppy work, missed deadlines, creative spell followed by long unproductive periods, and stubbornness.

 

If you think you are an ADDer, you are not a psycho or mentally ill. Meet a psychiatrist to confirm your condition and choose the way of life that you feel good with. After all, it is a gift.

Some ADDers, who made it large:

Tommy Hilfiger

Will Smith

Tom Cruise

Jim Carey

Steven Spielberg

Walt disney

Pablo Picasso

Thomas Edison

Albert Einstein