Comments on: ADHD Beyond Gifted http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/ A Blog about Adults with Attention Surplus Condition (aka ADHD) by Adult ADHD Coach Pete Quily Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:03:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Heather http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1472176 Heather Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:06:50 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1472176 BRILLIANT! I cried. I am an adult recently diagnosed as ADD, and as a child I was "Gifted." I've been aware of my being different from the norm since as far back as I am able to remember (age 2). As a child, my intelligence was no comfort for me since socially I was ostracized, and as an adult it's only turned that into jaded bitterness and frustration. In my head I'm constantly saying "Why can't they appreciate me for what I'm worth?!!!" Since the diagnosis of ADD, I've been put on Adderall. I know the verdict is still out on diagnosing Gifted from ADD, and that many people feel the stimulant meds can waste your abilities of you are Gifted. However, sometimes it can help to be able to feel more emotionally accessible and to have that push of energy that it requires to focus on being more human around other humans. It's a learning process, and IMO, the meds are a tool (not a solution.) And once I've mastered being more human, then I can start to feel more well adjusted about being an extraordinary human. This article made me cry because it touched that part of me that I instinctually have come to lock up and protect from negative outside judgement/misunderstanding. I think it's beautiful that there is an entire culture that views and appreciates our extreme differences as valuable, special, and potent! You don't have to believe in a god, or in reincarnation to understand that, as human beings, that if we can just observe, objectively, those differences, we are all speaking the same language and we are all connected. BRILLIANT! I cried. I am an adult recently diagnosed as ADD, and as a child I was “Gifted.” I’ve been aware of my being different from the norm since as far back as I am able to remember (age 2). As a child, my intelligence was no comfort for me since socially I was ostracized, and as an adult it’s only turned that into jaded bitterness and frustration. In my head I’m constantly saying “Why can’t they appreciate me for what I’m worth?!!!” Since the diagnosis of ADD, I’ve been put on Adderall. I know the verdict is still out on diagnosing Gifted from ADD, and that many people feel the stimulant meds can waste your abilities of you are Gifted. However, sometimes it can help to be able to feel more emotionally accessible and to have that push of energy that it requires to focus on being more human around other humans. It’s a learning process, and IMO, the meds are a tool (not a solution.) And once I’ve mastered being more human, then I can start to feel more well adjusted about being an extraordinary human. This article made me cry because it touched that part of me that I instinctually have come to lock up and protect from negative outside judgement/misunderstanding. I think it’s beautiful that there is an entire culture that views and appreciates our extreme differences as valuable, special, and potent! You don’t have to believe in a god, or in reincarnation to understand that, as human beings, that if we can just observe, objectively, those differences, we are all speaking the same language and we are all connected.

]]> By: sue http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1460736 sue Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:47:46 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1460736 Well, after skimming over this article several times in search of what or who I really am, I stopped and read it through for the first time. What a revelation. I always wondered what my problem was, and it wasn't until I turned 68 that I realized it was ADD. It isn't a problem, but it is difficult for most people to understand. I have been the weird one out for most (all) of my life. But now I am beginning to feel the freedom it gives me. I will stay tuned to learn more.... Well, after skimming over this article several times in search of what or who I really am, I stopped and read it through for the first time. What a revelation. I always wondered what my problem was, and it wasn’t until I turned 68 that I realized it was ADD. It isn’t a problem, but it is difficult for most people to understand. I have been the weird one out for most (all) of my life. But now I am beginning to feel the freedom it gives me. I will stay tuned to learn more….

]]> By: Sara http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1457756 Sara Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:09:37 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1457756 Hi, this was cool. I'm glad I found that story. I think that my ADHD friends are some of the more perceptive people that I know. They frequently seem to be more perceptive and therefore have a harder time fitting into a world that doesn't recognize what they see/feel. Being ADHD myself, I think what we perceive is definetly valid >> like the energies of people, the feel of an environment, larger pictures of things. I like the quick creative unexpected ways that we get to communicate with each other, in our sillyness, in our depth, in our expressiveness. Not all ADHDers are the same, by any means, but those are some qualities that stick out. WE ROCK!! also, some of my ADHD friends are the coolest craziest people ever. they do things NO ONE ELSE WOULD EVER DREAM OF DOING. and i love them for it. they give a better perspective of what life could be like, if we loosened up a bit. Hi, this was cool. I’m glad I found that story. I think that my ADHD friends are some of the more perceptive people that I know. They frequently seem to be more perceptive and therefore have a harder time fitting into a world that doesn’t recognize what they see/feel. Being ADHD myself, I think what we perceive is definetly valid >> like the energies of people, the feel of an environment, larger pictures of things. I like the quick creative unexpected ways that we get to communicate with each other, in our sillyness, in our depth, in our expressiveness. Not all ADHDers are the same, by any means, but those are some qualities that stick out. WE ROCK!! also, some of my ADHD friends are the coolest craziest people ever. they do things NO ONE ELSE WOULD EVER DREAM OF DOING. and i love them for it. they give a better perspective of what life could be like, if we loosened up a bit.

]]> By: Andi Koski http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1455525 Andi Koski Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:41:25 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1455525 I was recently diagnosed with ADD after three years of therapy due to recovery from a domestic violence situation with my ex-husband. Apparently, I always had ADD, but managed in different ways and lived a false and stressful life. I have a great breakthrough and realized that embracing the (idea) of ADD brings me closer to my spiritual freedom and release from the torment of an abusive past. I was recently diagnosed with ADD after three years of therapy due to recovery from a domestic violence situation with my ex-husband. Apparently, I always had ADD, but managed in different ways and lived a false and stressful life. I have a great breakthrough and realized that embracing the (idea) of ADD brings me closer to my spiritual freedom and release from the torment of an abusive past.

]]> By: Maggie Mc http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1409735 Maggie Mc Wed, 09 Feb 2011 05:16:06 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1409735 This article confirms my spiritual journey I have embraced the hypothesis that I may have 'chosen' to return to earth at a specific time(astrological influences) and picked my parents and environment . Being an aquarian sunsign with a cancer moon indeed offers challenges that I have begun to accept The question is....what lessons do I have to learn here Is it to learn how to be like 'normal' people or to use spiritual insights as well as 'down to earhth' techniques to balance myself Am I a willow tree....moving with spiritual breezes this way and that,,,who just has to make sure I am firmly grounded and that my roots support me Lots of questions,,,any way,,,I resonated with this article,,,,thank you This article confirms my spiritual journey
I have embraced the hypothesis that I may have ‘chosen’ to return to earth at a specific time(astrological influences) and picked my parents and environment .
Being an aquarian sunsign with a cancer moon indeed offers challenges that I have begun to accept
The question is….what lessons do I have to learn here
Is it to learn how to be like ‘normal’ people or to use spiritual insights as well as ‘down to earhth’ techniques to balance myself

Am I a willow tree….moving with spiritual breezes this way and that,,,who just has to make sure I am firmly grounded
and that my roots support me

Lots of questions,,,any way,,,I resonated with this article,,,,thank you

]]> By: Pete Quily http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1338492 Pete Quily Sat, 12 Jun 2010 06:57:24 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1338492 Hi Lisa, I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you had time get closer to her and see all aspects of Kathy, including her good ones, which all too often many of of us often forget to notice. Hi Lisa,

I’m sorry for your loss, but I’m glad you had time get closer to her and see all aspects of Kathy, including her good ones, which all too often many of of us often forget to notice.

]]> By: Kat http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1338008 Kat Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:56:59 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1338008 Lisa, I know I speak for all of us who read Pete's blog when I say that we are saddened to hear of your loss, though I am glad that you had the time with your sister to grow closer before she moved to her next plane of existence. Cancer is a horrid disease, but the silver lining to that incredibly dark cloud was the time you did have to grow closer to her. I lost a previous husband to cancer, his was already stage 4 when it was discovered. I didn't know your sister, but I saw the wisdom in her words, as we both saw wisdom in the words Pete had shared in this blog & article. Peace, Kat Lisa,
I know I speak for all of us who read Pete’s blog when I say that we are saddened to hear of your loss, though I am glad that you had the time with your sister to grow closer before she moved to her next plane of existence.

Cancer is a horrid disease, but the silver lining to that incredibly dark cloud was the time you did have to grow closer to her. I lost a previous husband to cancer, his was already stage 4 when it was discovered. I didn’t know your sister, but I saw the wisdom in her words, as we both saw wisdom in the words Pete had shared in this blog & article.

Peace,
Kat

]]> By: Lisa http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1337668 Lisa Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:20:49 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1337668 Hello. I am the sister of Kathy Vickey, who responded to your article back in March of 2007. Kathy passed away yesterday, on June 8, 2010 as a result of advanced lung and brain cancer. She did indeed have a difficult life, not only because of ADHD, bi-polar disorder and severe depression, but especially lately as she bravely struggled through each and every day with all the symptoms of cancer. Since Kathy's diagnosis in October of 2009, we have gotten closer as sisters and I will miss her. She was incredibly brilliant and understanding. It was always amazing to me how perceptive she was with regards to people's behaviors. I couldn't hide anything from her and I believe she was an "old soul." I am so saddened by her passing, but I am so glad that she is no longer suffering. Thank you for being there for Kathy. Hello. I am the sister of Kathy Vickey, who responded to your article back in March of 2007.
Kathy passed away yesterday, on June 8, 2010 as a result of advanced lung and brain cancer. She did indeed have a difficult life, not only because of ADHD, bi-polar disorder and severe depression, but especially lately as she bravely struggled through each and every day with all the symptoms of cancer. Since Kathy’s diagnosis in October of 2009, we have gotten closer as sisters and I will miss her. She was incredibly brilliant and understanding. It was always amazing to me how perceptive she was with regards to people’s behaviors. I couldn’t hide anything from her and I believe she was an “old soul.” I am so saddened by her passing, but I am so glad that she is no longer suffering.
Thank you for being there for Kathy.

]]> By: Pete Quily http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1336572 Pete Quily Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:40:50 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1336572 You're welcome Moppie You’re welcome Moppie

]]> By: Moppie http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-beyond-gifted/comment-page-1/#comment-1336262 Moppie Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:12:47 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/10/21/adhd-gifted-creative/#comment-1336262 Wow, being recently diagnosed at 38, all I can say is thank you for helping me see that there is somwhere that my creativity, ambition, and desire to learn everything I can during my life would be welcome and cherished. I'm so glad I came across this story. Wow, being recently diagnosed at 38, all I can say is thank you for helping me see that there is somwhere that my creativity, ambition, and desire to learn everything I can during my life would be welcome and cherished. I’m so glad I came across this story.

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