by John Head
old male who was diagnosed with ADD in May of 95 by a psychologist, here in Denver who also has ADD.
Prior to being diagnosed with ADD, I experienced a lot of symptoms
of ADD and always knew I was different in one way or another, but
continued on into life, not knowing where it would lead me.
I had really no ambitions and got into a lot of arguments with my
father, for example- he used to say to me often, "why do you forget the
things that I tell you?"
To this day my father still has a hard time understanding what ADD
is all about, because he chooses not to listen, which is fine, it
doesn't bother me and I don't expect people to go out of their way to
learn about ADD, if they don't want to.
As a adult with ADD, I hold no grudges against anyone, even the
Denver media who has written several newspaper articles, stating that
Ritalin is just a kids drug and is being given out by the bushels.
That's fine, they can say anything they want, but I know that it works
and what they usually say is incorrect.
It is probably a reporter who received a message from his boss
stating that if they don't find a interesting topic to stir up
controversy they will lose their job. So they pick on us, I laugh and
just walk away knowing that they have no one else to pick on.
Today, I am taking Ritalin on a regular basis and it has changed my
life DRAMATICALLY, I am now a senior at Metropolitan State College in
Denver, I have a GPA of 3.2 and plan on graduating with my BA in
criminal justice around spring of 99.
Upon completing my BA, I plan on attending University of Colorado
at Denver, where I will be working on my Masters in criminal justice
administration. (have to pass the tests first)
I strongly believe that you have to have the will to succeed and
take ADD one day at a time or it will hurt you emotionally. For example,
when I first became aware that I had ADD, I had a hard time dealing with
it. I began getting really depressed, thinking to myself, life would be
better if it never existed. But over time, I became more confident in
myself and today I don't care if people think that I am different.
What matters is that I continue to have a positive attitude and say to
myself,"I WILL NEVER QUIT UNTIL THE DAY I DIE!!"
I have been teased and provoked, but I realize now that what they
feel is their problem, not mine!