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ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 3:17:58 AM

ldya

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Joined: 12/31/2006
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Over the last year or so I have noticed a trend as I get to know fellow kinksters better. I am not trying to make general or blanket statements here. As a matter of fact, I was rather surprised by it myself.

Having some tendencies of my own towards Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and having conversationally discussed it at events and whatnot, I am finding that a large portion of people who are in this lifestyle have been diagnosed with it. It got me to thinking, so at a munch I casually brought the subject up, and found that that over half the people at the table I was at had been diagnosed at some point (either in childhood or adulthood). Obviously we all had different severities of the disorder, some were medicated for it, others not.

It makes me wonder, is there some aspect of this lifestyle that may draw people with ADD, or perhaps the other way around? Or is it just a trend towards the medical community giving a blanket diagnosis (remember when it was first named? It seemed like everyone you knew had it)? Perhaps I am oversensitive to it due to the fact that it is a personal concern of mine. Just wanted to hear what others might have to say about it.

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 3:26:00 AM

breatheasone

Posts: 4004
Joined: 7/14/2007
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Hey!...I don't have AD...**Ooo LOOK! a squirrel!**

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Post #: 2

RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 3:27:09 AM

TotalState

Posts: 278
Joined: 9/3/2007
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I think it may be mostly due to the fact that ADD is the "hot new psychological problem" of today, and it's being rather overdiagnosed, meaning that there are a lot of false positives out there. Or as you say, a blanket diagnosis for any number of actual problems.

The bdsm community doesn't strike me as having any more medical (mental or physical) problems than are found anywhere else. The internet is notorious for giving the wrong impression about this as well - people with problems are more vocal about them than they would be in person.

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 4:09:59 AM

AtlantaMistress

Posts: 276
Joined: 6/14/2007
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ldya

Over the last year or so I have noticed a trend as I get to know fellow kinksters better. I am not trying to make general or blanket statements here. As a matter of fact, I was rather surprised by it myself.

Having some tendencies of my own towards Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and having conversationally discussed it at events and whatnot, I am finding that a large portion of people who are in this lifestyle have been diagnosed with it. It got me to thinking, so at a munch I casually brought the subject up, and found that that over half the people at the table I was at had been diagnosed at some point (either in childhood or adulthood). Obviously we all had different severities of the disorder, some were medicated for it, others not.

It makes me wonder, is there some aspect of this lifestyle that may draw people with ADD, or perhaps the other way around? Or is it just a trend towards the medical community giving a blanket diagnosis (remember when it was first named? It seemed like everyone you knew had it)? Perhaps I am oversensitive to it due to the fact that it is a personal concern of mine. Just wanted to hear what others might have to say about it.

Actually, I think there are several factors - including the overdiagnosis, but, there is a correlation between ADD and higher intelligence. I have a daughter that had a lot of behavior problems in school and was diagnosed ADD, ODD, OCD...when the reality of it is that she has a genious IQ, and was B-A-D. I refused to put her on medicine, worked with a behavior counselor, and now (granted- years later and a lot of work) she is doing great.

Recently getting out into the community, I have met some very intelligent people - and I would think that in looking at a group such as those at a munch this would be especially true since they are the interested in increasing their knowledge and experience by networking with others. Don't get me wrong - I am certainly not making a blanket statement either, but it just doesn't at all surprise me that among a group of intelligent articulate open minded people, you would find many who had been diagnosed with ADD.

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 4:24:59 AM

DesFIP

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Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
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Maybe the correlation isn't between people who do wiitwd and ADD/ADHD but between people who need the constant stimulation and therefore don't stay at home doing it privately but need to be going out all the time, and therefore are a larger percentage of munch population?

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 4:34:25 AM

CatWhoWalksAlone

Posts: 29
Joined: 11/19/2007
From: Greensboro, NC
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quote:

ORIGINAL: TotalState
I think it may be mostly due to the fact that ADD is the "hot new psychological problem" of today, and it's being rather overdiagnosed, meaning that there are a lot of false positives out there. Or as you say, a blanket diagnosis for any number of actual problems.

First, we all had depression. Then it was bipolar, and every other person was being diagnosed with that. Now it's ADD. I agree that it's being overdiagnosed in children, but I also think there's a reason for that; all young animals have zounds of energy, and in today's society children are being raised sedentary. When I was a child, I played all day in the orchards and swung from trees, and raced my bike at high speeds over empty fields. We all did. We burned off that excess energy, and slept like proverbial logs at night. We also got 3 reasonably square meals a day; a meal at McDonalds was as special as a meal at Pizza Hut or dinner at Carrow's. Donuts were something special Mom got from a bakery on the occasional Sunday morning.

Which isn't to say kids back then didn't have ADD; just that kids these days are more likely to be hyperactive, because they lack that physical outlet. And I'm not meaning this in any critical sense to the parents, either; it's no longer SAFE to let your kids roam the woods and fields like I did in my youth :(

I was diagnosed 4 months ago as having ADD; in fact, my physician told me that my childhood was a "textbook case." I can't begin to describe the *relief* that I felt on hearing that. I know you're thinking... "Huh?" The thing is... I always thought I was just defective. Lacking in... I don't know, moral fiber or strength of character, you know? I was BAD. But now, I wasn't bad, I had something wrong, that could be fixed with the proper medication, and then I could be "normal" like everyone else.... I could be functional, and life would be ... you know.... normal! No more struggling from day to day just to stay on top of things. No more working from dawn to midnight, 7 days a week, to get 30 hours worth of work done. For a few months on Adderall, I actually had days off! I remember my first evening free, when I got my work done by 5 p.m., and by 8 I was actually sitting here thinking of logging in and doing a few more reports, because I didn't know what to do with myself with all the free time on my hands! LOL. I had not just one, but BOTH days off in a row... for the first time in years! I had extra money, and bought a really hot "Ms Claus" outfit to wear to La Fortress at Christmas; I got my first (and second!) dragontails, lol, and took some trips down to CAPEX in Raleigh and T3 in Columbia.

Then when I took this to the V.A. so I could get the (very expensive) Adderall through them, they refused to recognize the diagnosis. I couldn't have ADD, they said, because I had not been diagnosed in childhood. HUH?? Didn't they ever hear of MIS-diagnosis?? Fact is, I was never diagnosed with anything at all in childhood, because everyone assumed that I was just stupid (including my father). Then as an adult, when my difficulty functioning became apparent, I was diagnosed for years and years as depression. I *knew* it wasn't depression, but everyone said it was, and no one looked further. Half an hour of conversation with a counselor and Bam! a diagnosis of depression was made, antidepressants prescribed, and that was that. Funnily enough, the doctor who finally DID listen to me, back in September of last year, I had only asked for some antidepressants because life was getting away from me again! Goddess bless him forever and ever.

I AM able to function, btw. Despite everything, I have had a good career for 21 years, raised a bright and beautiful daughter on my own (now graduating from college this May as an art major!!!), have just bought my first home, and am both out and active in the local Lifestyle community. Oh... and far from being stupid, I'm a member of Mensa, as well as Romance Writers of America with one published novel and 3 more completed manuscripts under my belt. But every day has been a struggle. Sometimes I failed. Sometimes I succeeded. Just the fact that I'm still here, and in a nice home and not out on the streets is a gynormous success, and there are still days I want to throw the towel in, when it's almost too much effort to keep up the attempt/illusion of being successful. But... today isn't that day, so let's celebrate! Girl Scout cookies, yeayyyyyyyyyyyy!

< Message edited by CatWhoWalksAlone -- 2/11/2008 4:47:35 AM >

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Post #: 6

RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 4:39:09 AM

squeak

Posts: 16
Joined: 5/30/2005
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Well, as an undiagnosed person afflicted with ADD (trust me, I may have never seen a psychologist, but my pet can attest to it from first hand experience), it can be very frustrating. I have to exude a concious effort to not get distrated in the beginning of a scene.

Back to the original question, for me at least, I think the appeal of the Lifestyle is how many different avenues you can explore. you can easily switch between different forms of play ("Oooo, I'll tweak your nipples...wait,on your knees...wait, take my strapn, fucker...hehe") and it almost caters to my ADDness (yes, that is a term I made up cause I'm special)

However, on the flip side of that, while giving me the ability to have my mind jump from one thing to another, it also gives me one central thing to focus on, this beautiful boy or girl before me. :)

Just my 0.02 :)

(in reply to DesFIP)

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 5:48:29 AM

SimplyMichael

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AD/HD is the more current term for what used to be labled ADD and it isn't a "myth", brain scans and chemical tests show clear differences in the brain.

I have a vary narrowly focused case, my working memory is almost non existant, some portions are in the bottom 2 and 9 percentiles of humanity and considering humanity that is some fucked up shit!

My cognitive functions are at the opposite end of the spectrum and so I have been able to compensate for many things but remembering names is a nightmare.

However, KNOWING what the problem is has allowed me to make progress on dealing with it. I don't try and remember stuff anymore, I have a planner and I write everything down. If I don't have it with me, I don't commit to doing anything.

What I love are people wearing glasses who think that AD/HD is a natural condition and shouldn't be treated as a disability!

(in reply to squeak)

Post #: 8

RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 6:15:34 AM

LadyPact

Posts: 32566
Status: offline

My current sub is ADHD. He was not diagnosed until he was an adult. Then again, it wouldn't have been possible to get the correct diagnosis as a child because it wasn't recognized then. (Simply) Michael is completely correct about the medical tests available today to prove the validity of the condition.

I wouldn't venture to say if there was a 'large portion' of the people in the lifestyle being ADD/ADHD. However, there have been some threads in the past that have been on the subject. You might find it interesting to read what a search of the term will bring up.

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 6:29:54 AM

toservez

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From: All over now in Minnesota
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As I type there are six responses that I think are all excellent in my view which might be the first for any messages board I have ever read.

My .02 is that while I will defend quite hard mental conditions and I do not at all dismissive of this being a true condition it is my belief that for some reason while almost all other mental conditions are treated with a negative stigma for some reason this one has become fashionable throughout society.

Of course there are legit people with this in the life just because we are normal human beings with the same scope of problems but I severely doubt we are more susceptible to it. As a doctor at work said to me “There is not being able to focus and not trying to focus”. There just are many people today full of stimulants and accustomed to instant gratification that just have forgotten how to focus and many of those types have latched on to this condition as an excuse.

As Michael pointed out it is not a myth at the same time self diagnoses is not something to take too seriously as well.

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(in reply to ldya)

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 6:31:04 AM

ExSteelAgain

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From: Georgia
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I don’t have it and used to be fairly skeptical, but I have read much about the condition and have changed my view. Those with the disorder to the extent they have behavioral problems such as bouncing from job to job and being unable to do mundane tasks in spite of accomplishing incredible tasks at times will show brain scan abnormalities that indicate problems with prefrontal cortex glucose metabolism.

It does affect a large part of the population with some estimates saying 5%. Personal productivity coaches deal with the problem by having the person recognize the symptoms and teaching techniques to focus the creative energy into necessary tasks and emphasizing the importance of the ordinary tasks that will make or break you with most jobs. Michael mentions using a planner and writing everything down as one way he deals with the disorder.

Interestingly, enough I have read research of alcoholics also having an impaired cortical glucose metabolism. The scans indicate the abnormality stays even after detoxification and has led some to believe the disorder was a factor in the alcohol addiction.

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 7:08:30 AM

MusicalBoredom

Posts: 620
Joined: 5/8/2007
From: Louisiana/New York
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I think "over diagnosed" and "real" are not mutually exclusive. I my opinion both apply here. As far as there being a lot of people in this area that show those signs it might be true but I'm not sure which leads to or is related to which. The people that I know in R/L in the scene or even just in the "head space" tend to be people that have made some commitment to step outside of the bounds of what is considered average and to pursue something that is exciting or feels good to them. (We can be a little hedonistic at times.) Maybe I have ADHD or maybe I'm just an adrenaline junkie or maybe I'm just a hedonist. Who knows?

And Michael...I belong to the same "poor memorization yet fairly good cognitive skills" club.

D

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Post #: 12

RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 7:14:38 AM

Leatherist

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I have had women approach me in the past who had add. The main reason they seemed to want structure and a D/s thing, was that they kept having the roof fall in on them-unable to really lead functional lives. So they felt that having a master to micromange them would solve thier problems.

I told them that therapy and medication would be a better choice.

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 9:13:38 AM

BossyShoeBitch

Posts: 3931
Joined: 1/13/2007
From: South Florida
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quote:

ORIGINAL: AtlantaMistress

Actually, I think there are several factors - including the overdiagnosis, but, there is a correlation between ADD and higher intelligence. I have a daughter that had a lot of behavior problems in school and was diagnosed ADD, ODD, OCD...when the reality of it is that she has a genious IQ, and was B-A-D. I refused to put her on medicine, worked with a behavior counselor, and now (granted- years later and a lot of work) she is doing great.

I would love to hear more about that AM. It is so glaringly apparent that my oldest has ADD as well and while I am quick to put myself on all sorts of medication, I want to avoid medicating her if at all possible...

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 10:32:07 AM

batshalom

Posts: 1990
Joined: 9/17/2007
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ldya

It makes me wonder, is there some aspect of this lifestyle that may draw people with ADD, or perhaps the other way around? Or is it just a trend towards the medical community giving a blanket diagnosis (remember when it was first named? It seemed like everyone you knew had it)?

I don't have an exact answer but something to keep in mind is that correlation does not imply causation. In this case, it's not the strength of the correlation that's questionable - it's the nature.

Take, for example, a Taiwanese study in which researchers wanted to find correlates indicating use of birth control. The VERY strongest correlation was that people who had more electrical appliances were the ones who most often used birth control. Does that mean that blenders cause people to use birth control? Of course not - there are all kinds of variables that would explain this strong correlation. It is an interesting idea you propose but I strongly suspect that the two are related indirectly.

(in reply to ldya)

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 1:18:55 PM

xonemasterx

Posts: 59
Joined: 1/4/2005
From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Status: offline

My feeling and belief is that the lifestyle that brings us here, provides us with the use and coordination of most of our senses at one time.

People with ADD (myself included) are capable of incredible focus, especially when it involves most of our sensory input. It is a purer method of self medication. And way more fun.

I had most success in my remedial eduction in a system that did call on me to use my senses versus rote learning. I believe Montessori does this to some degree these days.

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 1:26:32 PM

CuriousLord

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quote:

ORIGINAL: CatWhoWalksAlone

First, we all had depression. Then it was bipolar, and every other person was being diagnosed with that. Now it's ADD.

I had depression. Then I was bipolar. And now I'm ADD.

Funny thing is that, even though I feel the same way, I'm no longer depressed or bipolar. :P

(in reply to CatWhoWalksAlone)

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 1:31:39 PM

LaTigresse

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Joined: 1/15/2006
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Well I am not depressed, almost never really. Totally not bipolar. I have the attention span of a gnat and like Michael really lousy memory. I am terrible with names and god forbid I ever have to go back to school and take a boring class involving any sort of memorization.

BUT I multi-task like you would not believe!

All of the above is why you see me here at this time of day on a work day!

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 1:33:47 PM

xonemasterx

Posts: 59
Joined: 1/4/2005
From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Status: offline

Oh Crap! Work! I knew I forgot something.

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RE: ADD and the lifestyle? - 2/11/2008 2:48:17 PM

SimplyMichael

Posts: 7229
Joined: 1/7/2007
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That is the shiniest god damn picture ever!!!! Woman, I don't need medicine to focus on you! WOW!!!!

<wipes the drool from his chin>

Dammit though, I have no idea what the hell I was working on....arg!

(in reply to BossyShoeBitch)

Post #: 20

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