Gift of ADD

by Cheryl
(San Francisco)

I used to consider ADD a shameful thing... consider myself stupid. I've recently come to see it as a personality type, a particular special neurological make up... I work as a therapist and i 'know' in a different way.. there are many ways of 'knowing'... i believe add people have a different way of absorbing information... almost like a psychic intuition... we piece information differently... that's why we are the biggest innovators, creators, dreamers, problem solvers... our vulnerabilities are getting through tasks... we have brilliant ideas but don't have the attention span or the concentration to finish... hence, i grew up with a sense of missed opportunity... so many ideas and dreams... i think creative ADD spirits have a specific role in society...if we are given the right tools, our gifts- instead of our vulnerabilities- will bloom.

Many of us, have landed in prison systems, drug addiction, suffer from mood issues, low self-worth.... but you know, we didn't get the right environment to nurture our intuitive, sensitive, innovative, imaginative spirits... we get a reputation for being 'stupid' but so many of us compensate with incredibly high alternative intelligences... when i got a full and complete test, they discovered my IQ level was 148... partial or bad intelligent testing does not give clinicians and educators the full picture. i was not educated in a way that matched my learning style.... so i under achieved.... now that i know my ADD better... i use my intuition to attain and integrate knowledge... build fun and creative relationships...friendships

today i work as an expressive art therapist and i integrate the work with psychodynamic-cognitive therapy....my add sensitivity and intuition helps me help others... i think i found a way to use my gifts and have found people like coaches and mentors to support my weaknesses...