Does anyone else here have ADHD?

[PEZGolf]

WOW. This thread has lead to a very thorough and interesting discussion. I have one question: back in time---20 or more years ago, before medication was prescribed for ADHD, what did the people who had it do? Did they just cope and cause anguish on the part of their parents?

[Ian]

just like anything else before medication was invented. they learned to live with it i guess.


I have ADD but it doesent bother me too much in school and i focus well on the golf course.
Im not sure about ADHD but i find ADD only affects things you really dont like doing/ get bored at

i find myself never bored on the golf course which is why it doesent affect me there.

[cocky_watchman]

Re. Differences between US and UK.

Well Ive been over to the US 4 times. California twice, St Louis and Virginia.

I have to say I found it much more friendly and less stressful than here! I think you are right that US are much happier to pop meds and the doctors prescribe it. A lot of people over here are horrified that young kids are put on 'powerful' mind altering drugs with what seems a simple diagnosis.

And yeah, we get road rage. We get shootings. This city swims in drugs, crime etc.

Its just the same essentialy. I found US people much more civil and friendly. But sometimes a little over the top and possibly phoney-waiters kissing your ass for tips just drives me crackers! The pace of life didnt seem any faster. US definitely work longer hours-although not nec harder!

I think the main question is whether kids are brought up different early on. Are they pushed more, stressed more etc.

[PEZGolf]

Re. Differences between US and UK.

Thanks for the post. I remember what it was like when I was in high school. Most of the students were not under great stress. I put pressure on myself to achieve high grades, but my parents did not harp on it. They let me know what had to be done and left it to me to choose if I wanted to put in the effort to do well.

Our son graduated from high school in 1999 and our daughter in 2002. We did not put a great deal of pressure on them, and they did not act stressed. College was different for both of them, but they did well. However, I have seen some of their friends put under great pressure. This area may not be representative of the US, however. We live in a small village (8,400 people) in a fairly rural setting. I never heard of ADHD until about 1990, when my wife told me that I definitely showed the symptoms. Around 1994, I read that Payne Stewart said that he had it, and he had trouble staying focused on the golf course, and he made a living being a tournament golfer! From what I have read, ADHD can be a real problem for some children, especially in elementary school. They can literally drive their teachers crazy trying to get them to "sit still and learn".