ADHD

Distractibility/Inattentiveness = Creativity The daydreaming, distractibility, and inattentiveness which are key features in ADHD are all closely related to the individual’s creativity. These periods of "absentmindedness" are not simply mental black-outs, but rather filled with a myriad of external and internal stimuli: sounds, sensations, thoughts, smells, sights, or memories. The ADHD-ers mind happily hopscotches back and forth between internal and external sensory data to create intricate webs of unusual, exciting, novel connections. Maybe innovative, new engineering designs or strange eco-solutions to save the planet, imaginary trips to far-off lands, and extravagant plans to conquer the world or terminal diseases are all products of an active ADHD brain. Many ADHD-ers can conceive of and juggle multiple tasks as long as they have a good support network to carry out the delegated tasks. Might such artists as Salvador Dali and Picasso, Da Vinci or Van Gogh, Beethoven or Einstein, Jules Verne or Louis Pasteur be diagnosed with ADHD today? What about Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs who hire thousands of employees to make their crazy, imaginative dreams become reality?
Failure to pay attention to details/Making Careless Mistakes = Divergent Thinking Many ADHD-ers experience significant difficulties with multiple-choice test taking and retrieving rote memorization information. Yet, many do well with open-ended test questions, free recall and brainstorming tasks as well as creative writing projects (with some editing help, of course). This type of mental processing is called "divergent thinking" which allows the individual to generate multiple, creative problem-solving solutions that non-ADHD people may fail to consider. These individuals may not do well as accountants, yet shine in activities and careers that emphasize unconventional problem-solving and innovation such as software programmers or designers. The career possibilities are endless.
Hyperactivity	= high energy, tirelessness, and zest for life
	Many individuals with ADHD are outgoing, friendly, gregarious and exhibit an infectious enthusiasm that can provide the spark and spirit for a party or family gathering, a crucial company project, or to gather support and funding for important research. With guidance and support to provide structure and harness the intensity, hyperactivity can be the dynamo driving the successful athlete, scientist, business executive, etc. One might wonder if superb athletes like Carl Lewis or Magic Johnson and manic comedians like Julia Dreyfus, Robin Williams, or Jim Carrey could possibly show some ADHD traits?
Impulsivity, undiplomatic, bluntness = spontaneity and sincerity/honesty/ frankness Yes, ADHD-ers often "leap before looking and don’t stop before it’s done"—and often too late to undo the damage they inadvertently and unintentionally inflicted. Their direct, heart-felt bluntness can sting those of us who prefer indirect, politically and socially correct manners and communication styles. AND, they also can be valuable catalysts for action to those of us who complacently or timidly wait for someone else to get their hands dirty. Their openness, sarcasm and biting satire can often hold a mirror to our apathy, smugness or jadedness. Would John Lennon, Winston Churchill or George Burns, Mike Wallace, Joan Rivers or Whoopi Goldberg be interested in taking an informal ADHD screening?
Excessive talking, blurting out answers, disruptive = expressiveness, enthusiasm, challenging Without trying to minimize the frustration we feel when there is always one member of an audience or team who footnotes every comment by others, insists on speaking out of turn, or doesn’t know when to stop the monologue—there is a positive side to such behavior! Many ADHD-ers have brilliant brains and often are three steps ahead of anyone else in their thinking process. If they were to submit to social convention and not interrupt others when their ingenuity erupts they would forget the brilliant idea and thus deprive the world of potentially life-saving truths or simply enjoyable chatter. Furthermore, recent research on the concept of "eminence" showed that geniuses and highly intelligent people rarely have congenial, jovial, or humble personalities! Let’s ponder Jay Leno, Napoleon, Jack Nicholson, Nostradamus, Rosie O’Donnell, Tom Smothers, or Socrates for possible ADHD candidates, shall we?
Stubborn, headstrong, brash = courage, determination and persistence Those of us who live with ADHD or with someone who has ADHD know very well that sometimes, it almost takes a set of "jaws of life" to pry an ADHD-er away from a stimulating video game, the constant visual/ auditory onslaught of a TV, their latest obsession with a hobby or project. Without such wholehearted, singular ability to focus and tune out the rest of the world many historical, medical, and scientific breakthroughs would have never happened! Think of Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Louis Pasteur or Paul Ehrlich (who discovered the first compound to arrest syphilis), Einstein, Marie Curie, and Margaret Thatcher.
Melodramatic, emotional, extravagant = sensitivity and generosity Would gifted actors and entertainers be as fascinating and mesmerizing if they didn’t possess a highly developed degree of sensitivity that allows them to probe the breadth of their emotional scale to give us unforgettable moments with their artistry? Why do we enjoy Shaw’s "Pygmalion" if not for it’s emotional drama and extravagant, fairy tale type of story? Would Jack Nicholson, Judy Dench or Anthony Hopkins be as enigmatic and brilliant without their intense ability for melodrama? What would Cher’s extravagance be without the playfulness and spontaneity so typical of ADHD-ers?
Irresponsibility = tolerance and forgiveness Living with an ADHD-er confronts us daily with their frustrating tendency not to follow through on tasks or commitments, to forget important deadlines and anniversaries, to lose the mail or paycheck, letting the dog eat the homework, and so on. On the bright side, many of them are probably acutely aware of human foibles—very likely because they get more negative labels pinned on their lapels that most other people! Their struggle to maintain some sense of self-esteem and self-efficacy may well sensitize them to other people’s weaknesses because it is in recognizing one’s own struggle in the other human being that we learn forgiveness and tolerance! When we walk a mile in someone else’s shoes we become compassionate fellow travelers in life’s journey!
Fussy, picky = choosing carefully, discriminating No, ADHD-ers are NOT fussy eaters, overly sensitive wool-haters and picky window-shoppers! They have exquisite, self-defined style, a discriminating palate, delicate skin that picks up on minute sensory stimuli. And, they choose merchandise carefully and agonize over choices because, after all, quality is important! After all, they have heard it demanded by others about themselves forever! They might as well begin the process of quality improvement in the things that really matter to them: their food, their unique, dramatic and creative style of mixing and matching their clothes or decorating.
Lack of self-confidence = humility Our culture places great value and emphasis on building self-esteem and self-confidence and often perceives humility and authentic self-restraint as negative attributes. Clearly, feelings of shame and inadequacy need to be remedied with the help of encouragement and learning good interpersonal and time management skills to prevent further emotional pain. However, healthy self-esteem involves not only a strong I-can attitude, feeling good about one’s person as well as feeling loved and cared for by others. It entails recognizing one’s strengths and potential AS WELL AS one’s challenges and limitations. Not all of us will be brain surgeons or rocket scientists, and a realistic appraisal of our abilities is not evidence of low self-esteem, but rather an authentic, kind affirmation that we are unique, special, and capable of living up to our innate potential with the talents we have.