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Post by petra on Jan 10, 2015 2:30:30 GMT
I'd be really interested to hear people's thoughts on this. I'm only too familiar with our struggles, but what are the positives? What are the areas we are naturally stronger in than NT's?
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Post by Bee on Jan 10, 2015 5:12:37 GMT
I think we are often good at what we do.. Like we have a specialist subject and we're pretty spectacular at it.
A friend of mine with suspected ADHD builds computers. He loves computers and tech etc. - It baffles me completely. The telephone is still a wonder to me lol.
Another ADHDer I know is a fitness fanatic. She competes in body building competitions and the like.
I think the hyperfocus lends itself to this.
I suppose we're pretty good at learning certain things as well. - Apparently I was an exceptionally quick learner when I started driving.
I'll be back when I think of some more! It's def easier to complain than be positive!
XxBeexX
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Post by blaze on Jan 10, 2015 7:57:11 GMT
Nd strengths I identify with are creativity, creative problem solving/thinking outside the box, i can allways see the otger perspective, Increased empathy, hyperfocus lends itself to enthisiasm/passion in my experience, I also find adhd impulsivity/playfulness is helpful when it comes to parenting, I allways find silly playing easy and natural (strange to think but lots of people actualy dont know how to play with kids) and i find my adhd/high sensitivity means im v instictive/intuative with the kids feelings, I also find im able to go with the flow because im not stuck oon things being tidy etc and my adhd stubborness is def what got me through labour and breastfeeding twins when everyone around me gave up quickly with their singletons
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Post by Bee on Jan 10, 2015 8:26:18 GMT
I expect all of the rumination and excessive thinking we do means that at least SOME of our actions are well thought out and measured. Spontaneous and completely NOT thought out or measured trips just 'cuz I fancy it are fun! "I've got a hankering for seein' the sea!" Get in the car then! The possible link to ADHD and higher intelligence has got to be a good thing! I enjoy slipping into my own little world. I find the real world too stressful! Better to go back in time to that lovely walk around the lake, or how thoughtful that birthday present was, or what the devil I'm going to have for tea..
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Post by grim on Jan 10, 2015 11:24:42 GMT
Hyperfocus and the ability to think really fast...especially when it's something you find interesting.
I had two theory exams at college just before xmas (multiple choice)
We were allowed 1 hour for each exam,i completed both in 14 minutes and scored 92.5% and 95%
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2015 17:22:37 GMT
My favourite thing in the world is to go on holiday with no firm plans and just go with the flow, exploring new things. My absolute most delightful holiday experiences are those times when I have wandered off down a back street and suddenly had the spine-tingling sensation of realising that I am totally and utterly lost and have no idea what is going to happen next. I've had such amazing times, tipping a caretaker to let me climb up to the minaret of a little mosque at dawn in Cairo, eating fabulous tapas in a very very "local" back street in Barcelona, even simple things like finding a new-to-me little antique shop in the next town to my home with exactly the thing I have been looking for for one of my many projects and hobbies. Those moments don't happen often but they wouldn't happen at all if I had gone out with a plan and a focus, and the memories last a lifetime.
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Post by manson88 on Jan 10, 2015 19:33:28 GMT
I'm sorry to say that I can't see a positive side of Adhd. Some of you may know I'm not DX yet. But currently working towards a 2nd diagnosis.
It has prevented me from getting a proper education & a job with quality prospects..
It's something that has always been there is going to be there for ever as well..
It's like sometimes the weather ;you can tolerate it & get by then there's days it's doom and gloom and there is no end to it
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Post by petra on Jan 11, 2015 2:26:10 GMT
There's some really good answers here and food for thought! I'm at a place where I really want to find my strengths and learn and understand how my brain works so I can use it to best effect. I discovered adhd 2 years ago in February - what a roller coaster ride it has been! But I'm so pleased I made the journey because now I find myself in a completely different place with new vistas and horizons. I think we all (adhd'ers!) have amazing qualities. It's just that they can get buried beneath our lives and struggles and we lose sight of them/ can't see them at all! It's so easy to only see our (many!) deficiencies - especially living in a world which seems tailor made for NT's. I think if I was given 100 years to practice, I still wouldn't be able to function anything like an NT. So, I'm not going to try! There is a basic level of functioning I need to attain and be able to sustain - but only basic - the rest of the time I want to spend being me and being/doing what I'm good at. manson88 - I don't think I can see much positive in what to date living with Adhd has brought me - the longest ever car crash I think! I'm talking about the unique strengths/ abilities/ qualities we do have as adhd'ers. I know you a bit and I know you have lots!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2015 14:17:26 GMT
I think that it is important to remember we all have individual strengths regardless of adhd and not everything about us is defined by this thing we have in common. I put my love of being lost, thirst for new discoveries down to adhd though because it it the flip side of the low tolerance for boredom.
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Post by blaze on Jan 13, 2015 13:44:10 GMT
agree with this
I hate to be lost, I find my adhd means I cant read maps, remember instructions etc and I panic if its not smwhere familar. Personaly I have reasons for hating being lost that have nothing to do with adhd also.
I prefer to look at the spectrum to strengths assosiate with nuerodiversity because while theres sm I identify with strongly theres others that are my weaknesses (i dont understand anything to do with technology for example) yet I have gd social skills and communication skills whivh are smtimes a weakness for others with nd conditions. Theres also otger strengths I know I have that maybe tied inti nd but not a direct result of my brains miss wiring.
quote author="@pelargonium" source="/post/86086/thread" timestamp="1421072246"]I think that it is important to remember we all have individual strengths regardless of adhd and not everything about us is defined by this thing we have in common. I put my love of being lost, thirst for new discoveries down to adhd though because it it the flip side of the low tolerance for boredom. [/quote]
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Post by Babble on Jan 13, 2015 15:17:24 GMT
People at work have recently been telling me that I'm really efficient (my incredulous expression has been getting a workout the past few weeks). I think they think that because I do tend to work fast (and therefore make silly mistakes... and run out of stuff to do by about lunch time so my manager quite often makes snide remarks about how she's swamped and I'm not doing anything). Also because I have to do an assigned task as soon as its been given to me, otherwise I forget and get utterly distracted doing whatever else I'm doing. So yes, its the first time I've felt that there's something positive about being an ADHD-er, which makes a nice change
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Post by blaze on Jan 14, 2015 9:33:58 GMT
Yeah efficancy at work was another one for me, had four key clients to everyone elses one or two +allways ended up doing the summarys and minutes for our mdt meetings, wish I cd replicate that at hm!!!
Honesty is another one, while being gullable as a kid caused big problems as an adult its helped, sus I worked witg trusted me easily cause its pretty obvious I cant sliw down enough to fabricate untruths. And iv been the whistle blower in a couple of serious situations where others have been too scared, and personaly I think thats important, speakibg up if smthings wrong and sus are at risk. I know my regional manager appruciated it, and while a couple of staff members obviously didnt the rest of the team was glad it got sorted (one confessed afterwards she told me because she knew I cdnt keep quiet about it)
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aardvark
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Post by aardvark on Jan 21, 2015 14:33:50 GMT
We're all probably different, but I think my ADHD is the reason I'm fitter than most people my age, and don't tend to gain weight easily. Whenever I go to work or lectures, I'm always running late so have to walk super fast or run. That and I can't keep still even when I'm supposed to be sat at my desk working. When I deliberately go for a run, I always go as fast as I can, otherwise I get bored. I've been told that apparently the usual advice is to run at a pace you can still hold a conversation at. I tried that once and didn't get the same level of increased brain power I normally feel after a good run! My previous manager also appreciated how fast I worked which was good because she stopped other managers stealing me to work on the checkouts. Can't stand being sat/stood in the same place hours on end. I definitely agree that we're good at thinking outside of the box. I reckon it's because we regularly have to do this to compensate for the sometimes silly situations we get ourselves into!
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luddite
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I'm tired and I want to go to bed, but will do housework instead. Yeeaah, definitely housework.
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Post by luddite on Jan 23, 2015 19:40:12 GMT
Don't know about anyone else, but I spend most days scanning the environment, so I tend to spot things that other people wouldn't. Latest one is a bit of the roof of our barn that was just about to fall down!
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drd4
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Post by drd4 on Jan 29, 2015 2:55:26 GMT
I'd be really interested to hear people's thoughts on this. I'm only too familiar with our struggles, but what are the positives? What are the areas we are naturally stronger in than NT's? I was just looking at this model. I quite like the positive spin Andrew puts on it. Integrated Model of ADHD - Andrew Lewis DISCLAIMER I have met him a couple of times, I am not promoting his business nor am I a client.
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