The ADHD Brain: With Too Much Shrinkage

Parker, you continue to prove how little you've read my blog, or understood what I've written. Please provide a link where I project my experience with ADD onto unipolar and bipolar depression, or where I confuse ADD with Depression. You seem to excel at making assumptions about me that are not only hurtful, but regrettably ignorant. It's truly a shame.

As for me, I have both ADHD *AND* Depression. I don't project one onto the other. They are separate issues that I deal with. Treating both conditions with medication damaged me neurologically 15 years ago. I am an American on disability and have been disabled since I was 25. I struggle with Depression and, thanks to the meds, Chronic Motor Tic Disorder, each and every day of my life.

The Depression I can manage and keep from significantly impacting my life, though days like today are difficult. I usually just have to ride it out. Sometimes ADHD can trigger Depression as in the case of Depression After Success (when an ADHD mind comes out of hyperfocus). Sometimes Depression can worsen ADHD by adding to the mental fog, but the only person confused about how I deal with the two issues is you.

How you can take a silly ADHD moment (i.e. the example Therese claims is evidence of my brain shrinkage. Thanks, Therese! :p) into an opportunity for ad hominem attacks is beyond me. I often will do silly things to lift my spirits when Depression is overwhelming. You should try it sometime. You sound like you're overly grumpy. Be sure to visit my blog and leave a link to the photo if you decide to join in the fun.

Margaret, it is an interesting paradox that speed class ADHD medications have a seemingly opposite affect on the ADHD mind. The best way I've heard it explained to me is that the medication, such as Ritalin, cranks up the ADHD mind as well, but in this case the impulse center, which usually mishandles impulse control, benefits from the increased activity can finally compensate for the ADHD. The effect is behavior that outwardly slows down, though internally the mind is racing along at a hefty clip.

Andrea, would you please follow the link of the photo above and post information on Glyconutrition? I'm sure your heart pales at clicking on the face of an Adult with ADHD so demented as I, but rest assured that my mother still loves me and my wife of 19 years found the photo quite funny. Well, funny looking at any rate. ;) A quick browse over at Google for Glyconutrition shows an awful lot of snake oil salesman. I'm sure my readers would love to benefit from the research of bona fide links you have done. Or you can contact me via email. There is a link on the sidebar of my blog. I agree that it is a terrible thing to teach ADHD children that they are broken. I am helping my own ADHD daughter to like herself and to control herself. ADHD can be an asset if we learn coping strategies that prevent its detriments from destroying our lives. Great comment.

Tina, I haven't actually heard that before, but I can see how it could happen in some individuals. For me Ritalin and its ilk didn't lead me to drug usage because Ritalin had no high for me. It worked for a while, and eventually stopped working (which led me to new medicines as an adult that damaged me), but never promoted recreational drug usage. Obviously, I can only speak for myself. Do you feel Ritalin influenced your boy? If so, I'm sorry to hear that and I'm glad he's doing better.

Therese, brain shrinkage? Now really. LOL My elastic face has nothing to do with ADHD. But I'm afraid my compulsion to be silly in front of a camera does. Sometimes I am thankful for my ADHD because it has helped me with my Depression due to these impulsive silly moments I have. My mother was less than enthusiastic about it, especially during family portraits. ;)

~Douglas
☆ The Splintered Mind - Overcoming Neurological Disabilities With Lots Of Humor And Attitude

PS -- Since you have said I disrespected you for not calling you "Douglas" in the past, might I remind you that my first name is "Larry," for future reference.

Douglas:

I was a journalist for years. You have the First Amendment right to chase people you don't like just because they disagree with you to "ream" them (which you most certainly did) on any Web site you want, this one or otherwise.

I just consider it extremely strange behavior for a mainstream, recognized blogger. Honestly, don't you have better things to do? (And -- though yes, I know you and Therese have had a colloquy on this point -- shouldn't a certain amount of emotional immunity to criticism come with the territory of blogging?)

THOSE were the motives I was criticizing. NOT the motives of how you (it seems understandably) came to your views about medication, etc., much as I disagree with them.

On another point, I said "Cootey" on second reference because Therese had already supplied the "Douglas" on first reference. Sheesh.

BTW, I wasn't at all making fun of your picture. It was cute, actually.

What it did, though, was REMIND me of the issue differences I have with you, and I made a link in my mind between your views and those of Charles Barber (whom I have discussed ad infinitum on here). And thus, I wrote about the comparison, however ill-founded you find it.

Or does the First Amendment only apply to you?

PS -- We've been through this virus argument before. Splintered Mind crashes my computer at home, EVERY TIME, for whatever reason. It doesn't on my work computer, however. So I now have access, theoretically.

But of course, at this stage, you're not exactly the most welcoming blog host in any case, are you?