Posted by IsoM on October 11, 2002, at 2:27:36
In reply to Re: any websites about natural treatments for A.D. » IsoM, posted by viridis on October 10, 2002, at 12:08:21
Actually, I should have mentioned that both hardwire & chemical problems are probably responsible for ADD. And there may be much more that's not understood either. I'm sure levels of diff neurotransmitters may be 'abnormal' with those with ADD as compared to 'normal' people. But there's also evidence that people with ADD have lower metabolic activity in certain parts of the brain while doing various mental tasks as compared with those without ADD. There seems to be slight variations in different brain structures too. Not enough is known to really comment on the significance of that yet.
Speaking as someone with ADD, nothing I do, nor any medication I take, has ever made it easier for me to do certain tasks. My understanding & comprehension of difficult & involved concepts is lightning fast & very good. But I cannot, for the life of me, handle or manipulate more than a few "items" in my mind at one time. Lists of ideas or items of any sort are easily shuffled & dropped mentally. I need to visually lay out lists in front of me to work through a problem.
One example is that of a new & complex mathematical problem worked out on a board for a class to follow. I would follow with ease & see where it would lead to, being able to draw conclusions about the results to the delight of my professor. But then when a similar problem would be written out to solve, I couldn't remember the steps in the right order to solve it - there needed to be a 'list' of steps. I needed to have the list of steps beside me till the steps were worn deep into my memory.
Even in small mundane matters, I'm troubled by lists. If I need to buy any more than three items (max) from a store, I need to write it down. Inevitably, I'll remember two or three & forget the others. I cannot keep track of a list of tasks of almost anything to be done without having to write it down. Even now, after having developed excellent coping skills to deal with ADD, I cannot overcome that problem. Evidence of a type of hardwire difference in my brain, I believe. It's something that many with ADD have.
poster:IsoM
thread:122401
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021006/msgs/123192.html