Why I am glad to have ADHD
As any of you who know me can attest. I am the poster child for ADHD medication. I show every symptom of it. Never once have I been prescribed (nor would I ever take) medication for my condition. It was that condition that got me where I am today. I stumbled on this article which talks about us people who have it might be good to have around. Interesting read, especially when you consider how many zillions of kids are put on Ritalin these days.
http://articles.health.msn.com/id/100110773
And unfortunately, there are too many sites like this http://www.helpforadd.com/over.htm which all say ‘put the kids on drugs. Sorry, I disagree. But then again, I only achieved a Ph.D. at age 25, so I must be screwed up in the head. I can’t concentrate, easily distracted, full of creativity. You should see me teach my college students!!
Drugs for kids with ADHD seems so big brother-esqe. If the kid is easily distracted in class it might be because they are bored, not because they can’t sit still. I am SO glad I grew up in a time where I was just classified as ‘hyper’ and people just accepted it.
December 13th, 2005 at 2:09 am
Hello and thankyou for the kind email,
Even though I am not ADHD, I have an ongoing affair with the Pharmacutical Industry. I think the one most alarming trend is the perpetuation of the “Magic Bullet” philosophy. Simply stated is that we surrender ourselves to the idea that medication is the “cure” I was able to read some of your credentials and as a Doctor I assume you have witness this at least once. I believe that while medication can enhance life, I think it remains the choices of a human being that enhances our lives to the greatest degree. I am also alamed at the idea that by taking medication that it relieves our reponsibilites to make wise health choice. My Father suffered from that fallacy, after his daily shot of insulin he would go out and treat himself to that little debby cake and mountain dew. I get the question quite frequently about how I manage depression and what medication I take for it. I usually contain my laughter as I answer with “clean living and pure thoughts” While they laugh, there is such a profound truth to such a silly notion. My health is maintained in the choices and not dependant on medication. I think we tend to surrender to the supposed salvation of a pill and surrender responsibility of our health decisions as well. I am glad there is those in the medical community that embrace personal responsibility, It’s quite refreshing. I love the blog and look forward to talking to you further. I don’t post at ENTP.org due to philisohical differences but would love to keep in contact with you.
Cheers,
MButterman
December 13th, 2005 at 6:15 am
I have never been a huge fan of chemical treatment of socially related ills. I rarely take any medication at all, only for infections or when I am seriously (deathly?) sick.
I subscribe to the idea that humans survived a while without them and were generally happy. I _CHOOSE_ to be happy. I do not suffer from depression, but that does not mean shitty things don’t happen to me. They do, but I choose to not let them get me depressed. It might be a Taoist philosophy, I don’t know, but it keeps my blood pressure low.
I agree regarding people who take the drugs so they can have a loosey-goosy lifestyle. I see that all the time. I like the natural drugs that our body creates. The happy drug I take is the natural endorphins I get when I go running. That is some good stuff.
December 13th, 2005 at 11:24 am
Hi Doc,
I totally agree, Like you I would rather be a participant in life as opposed to being a spectator. Unfortunatly there was a time when I lent myself to 5 kinds of medications and equalling about 20 odd pills per day to treat an emotional disorder. I have since learned that education breeds avocacy and once I taught myself about my diagnosis and it’s treatment options, I learned that activity, exercise and diet eliminated about 95% of the medications I was taking. I was at a rather stout 425 lbs and once I did something as simple as walk for about 15 minutes a day, I have dropped over 200 pounds. Replaced my chocolate bar with a serving of fresh fruit. I has been the simple exchange of a bad habit for a good one that has produced the most profound results. Yes Doc. shitty things do happen but I think we tend to frame it as a problem and inherently dob’t like solving them What if we could frame it as an oppertunity for growth? What do ya know about that, we have transformed this issue to something that we will gain something from instead of something we just endure. I finally discovered that I would sit in front of computer and go to forums like ENTP for validation of how important I was, that is my job and the only way I get good at it is practice. It seemed to me when there was that attachment to the ENTP moniker, it implied a set of behaviors that I found distastful. I enjoy being an ENTP but I think it doesn’t place me above another human being so I left to discover what I defined an ENTP to myself. I got tired of ready made definitions. The body is such a complex machine but the care and feeding instructions are quite simple. I have this distant relative that has been a smoker for 20 years and her lungs had hardened due to it. She now has oxygen, steroids and other treatments for survival. When her husband inquired of her physician about her smoking he replied that since her time was limited, she might as well enjoy her cigarettes. Damn, I was floored when I first heard this story. It also is sad that after this habit has taken most of her useful life away, she still would enjoy it. Yep, that is a sad but true tale of destructive dedication but I think it hits your point home. Take care Doc,
AMB,
MButterman
December 14th, 2005 at 5:48 am
I read an article in Time about ritalin and the most disturbing of facts is that this is a poplar drug for the black market. A student would purchase these pills, crush them to a fine powder and snort it like coke. This whole Ritalin thing is getting way scary.
All My Best Doc,
Merrill