Advantages of ADD in a High-Tech Career

[Jaine Perotti]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

It is this belief that makes me worry about the widespread medication of kids with the ADD or ADHD label on them.

Yet... ...I know examples of many kids that do much better in school with the meds. I also know teachers that swear by the meds.

Would I have been labeled ADD or ADHD had I grown up today? I suppose so. Would I have done better in school and perhaps avoided some painful experiences in my life had I been medicated? I suppose so. Would some important part of me been suppressed had I done so. I don't know but I think maybe yes...

As for the issue of medication, I have had several experiences with taking them.

I was first diagnosed with ADD when I was in 6th grade. The first medication that I took was called Adderall. I found that it worked phenomenally well for me. I was able to concentrate on the "important stuff" much more easily, as well as manage my time, and stay organized better. However, I was forced to discontinue taking it because it caused me to lose alot of weight. I am already very skinny (I am 17 and I weigh 100 pounds), and the appetite suppressing qualities of the medication was dangerous to me.

Since then, I have also tried taking medications such as Ritalin and Concerta. However, I found that neither of these worked as well as the Adderall had. I could hardly notice their effect. So I decided not to take any medication at all. This choice has been fine for me. But what it has meant for me is that I have had to develop alternative skills in order for me to stay on track. For example, I MAKE myself write down all of my assignments, and I MAKE myself try to budget my time and keep a clean workspace. Unless I do these things, I am truly lost.

I don't feel that taking medication "suppressed" me in any way. Even though I found that my time management and organizational skills improved, I never found myself lacking the good aspects of ADD - such as the ability to have an intense passion for the subjects that interested me. All that I found was that instead of purely focusing on the things that I loved, I was able to focus on BOTH the things that I liked and disliked, and was able to manage a balance between them better.

I am not in either camp with vouches to "medicate everyone!" or to "medicate no one!". I believe that it comes down to the individual's preference. I don't think there is any harm in experimenting with different types of medications. If the effects are not desirable, then the person can always stop. What is most important is for people to try to find the best way to deal with their ADD - whether it be through the development of techniques to deal with it, or through medication.

As I like to say, "to each, their own - whatever works best for you."

-- Jaine