Read Online You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!: The Classic Self-Help Book for Adults With Attention Deficit Disorder by Kate Kelly, Peggy Ramundo - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kate Kelly, Peggy Ramundo
Tags: General, Psychology, Self-Help, Personal Growth, Health & Fitness, Diseases, Nervous System (Incl. Brain), Mental Health
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—focusing on one part of the vast array of information that bombards our senses. This is just thefirst step in processing information, however.
We also have trouble with the second step, selective intention —selecting one response from a variety of possible action choices. Melvin D. Levine, M.D., examines the interplay of selective intention and selective attention in his book Developmental Variation and Learning Disorders . He makes the point that it’s rare to find a person who has difficultywith attention without also having difficulty with intention, or action.
When your teacher complained that you weren’t paying attention, was he observing the neurological process in your brain? Of course not! He was observing behavior. Your action—lookingout the window rather than at your math book—resulted from listening to the blue jay instead of your teacher.
The action part of attentiondepends on balancing the forces of action, facilitation , and inaction, inhibition . The brain needs to facilitate, or support, helpful actions while it inhibits, or blocks, the harmful ones. Many of the differences unique to an ADDer result from an imbalance in this area. When he should be in his inaction mode, he blurts out a hasty, sloppy response he should have inhibited. When he should be inhis action mode, he fails to answer a question he should have facilitated.
In tennis, facilitation helps him react quickly to return a shot and inhibition prevents him from reacting too quickly and moving when he should be waiting. A bad game of tennis is one thing, but social errors pack a bigger punch.
Disinhibition causes many of the social problems an ADDer experiences. He says things heshouldn’t say, interrupts conversations and intrudes on a friend’s personal space. Because he has trouble slowing down enough to stop and think, he may not even realize his mistake. Sometimes he may realize it but is too embarrassed to apologize.
Failure to restrain or inhibit can cause problems far more serious than a social faux pas. An ADDer tends to react quickly and intensely to his impulses.He may strike out at his children or let loose a stream of verbal abuse. Arguments with his spouse can quickly get out of hand as he says things in the heat of the moment only to regret them later.
He doesn’t mean to lash out and is ashamed of his behavior. The hasty words or actions were neither planned nor intended.
If behavior is judged by intentions, we ADDers are
blameless—we didn’t mean it!
While it’s true that we’re not calculating criminals, we need to look beyond good intentions. These impulsive words or actions can impact relationships and psyches. We have to consider the impact of our behavior on other people, especially our loved ones.
A failure to inhibit one’s words isn’t always a negative quality—an ability to say just about anything can come in handy. Talking aboutpersonal experiences and problems can open doors for others to share confidences. Most people are enormously relieved to discover that others share their fears and insecurities. The mushrooming number of support groups is evidence of this need to share and be intimate. Many people seem to be starved for connections to others.
People laugh when the truth is exaggerated, twisted or expanded tothe level of absurdity. An ADDer who doesn’t inhibit the flow of his thoughts can dream up outrageously funny things to say—things that others wouldn’t dare to utter! If he can learn to monitor himself sufficiently to keep from stepping over the line into offensiveness, he can contribute a sparkling sense of humor.
The Supersonic Brain
Stated simply, the ADD brain goes fast! Although we’ve listedit separately, the supersonic brain is closely related to the action/ inaction balance.
An ADDer’s altered cognitive tempo can translate into unmonitored rapid-fire speech. Without pausing for breath, he may prevent someone else from getting a word in edgewise. Handwriting
We also have trouble with the second step, selective intention —selecting one response from a variety of possible action choices. Melvin D. Levine, M.D., examines the interplay of selective intention and selective attention in his book Developmental Variation and Learning Disorders . He makes the point that it’s rare to find a person who has difficultywith attention without also having difficulty with intention, or action.
When your teacher complained that you weren’t paying attention, was he observing the neurological process in your brain? Of course not! He was observing behavior. Your action—lookingout the window rather than at your math book—resulted from listening to the blue jay instead of your teacher.
The action part of attentiondepends on balancing the forces of action, facilitation , and inaction, inhibition . The brain needs to facilitate, or support, helpful actions while it inhibits, or blocks, the harmful ones. Many of the differences unique to an ADDer result from an imbalance in this area. When he should be in his inaction mode, he blurts out a hasty, sloppy response he should have inhibited. When he should be inhis action mode, he fails to answer a question he should have facilitated.
In tennis, facilitation helps him react quickly to return a shot and inhibition prevents him from reacting too quickly and moving when he should be waiting. A bad game of tennis is one thing, but social errors pack a bigger punch.
Disinhibition causes many of the social problems an ADDer experiences. He says things heshouldn’t say, interrupts conversations and intrudes on a friend’s personal space. Because he has trouble slowing down enough to stop and think, he may not even realize his mistake. Sometimes he may realize it but is too embarrassed to apologize.
Failure to restrain or inhibit can cause problems far more serious than a social faux pas. An ADDer tends to react quickly and intensely to his impulses.He may strike out at his children or let loose a stream of verbal abuse. Arguments with his spouse can quickly get out of hand as he says things in the heat of the moment only to regret them later.
He doesn’t mean to lash out and is ashamed of his behavior. The hasty words or actions were neither planned nor intended.
If behavior is judged by intentions, we ADDers are
blameless—we didn’t mean it!
While it’s true that we’re not calculating criminals, we need to look beyond good intentions. These impulsive words or actions can impact relationships and psyches. We have to consider the impact of our behavior on other people, especially our loved ones.
A failure to inhibit one’s words isn’t always a negative quality—an ability to say just about anything can come in handy. Talking aboutpersonal experiences and problems can open doors for others to share confidences. Most people are enormously relieved to discover that others share their fears and insecurities. The mushrooming number of support groups is evidence of this need to share and be intimate. Many people seem to be starved for connections to others.
People laugh when the truth is exaggerated, twisted or expanded tothe level of absurdity. An ADDer who doesn’t inhibit the flow of his thoughts can dream up outrageously funny things to say—things that others wouldn’t dare to utter! If he can learn to monitor himself sufficiently to keep from stepping over the line into offensiveness, he can contribute a sparkling sense of humor.
The Supersonic Brain
Stated simply, the ADD brain goes fast! Although we’ve listedit separately, the supersonic brain is closely related to the action/ inaction balance.
An ADDer’s altered cognitive tempo can translate into unmonitored rapid-fire speech. Without pausing for breath, he may prevent someone else from getting a word in edgewise. Handwriting
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