I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago about the various kinds of crutches people can use to get through life — using behavior like the cast you’d put on a broken limb. Just as you have to remove the cast from the limb and strengthen your muscles, you have to remove the emotional casts so you can be a contributing person.
As I talk with friends and associates who have ADD I’m seeing a trend — there are those who deny their ADD’s impacts on their lives and those who deal with their ADD. Is you ADD a crutch that keeps you from growing, something you can hide behind and use to justify your shortcomings? Or, is your ADD diagnosis a way to face the facts and let that knowledge be motivation for you to grow and overcome?
Another crutch I see some people with ADD try to use is thinking that getting medicated will be all they need. Yes, there are some types and degrees of ADD that benefit tremendously from medications. The meds calm the brain enough for the person to function. Be aware, though, that it takes more than meds to be a fully functioning citizen. With the meds the person with a strong intention can manage their ADD symptoms.They can build a structure with rules and guidelines for better living, rather than playing Calvin Ball with their lives.
People with ADD have wonderful strengths, strengths they owe it to themselves to acknowledge and utilize. They also have some challenging hurdles they owe it to themselves to learn to clear. When you manage your ADD you live to your fullest. What a treat! What a joy.
Please. Don’t shrug your ADD off. Don’t turn a blind eye to it. Learn to deal with all its aspects.