Pensees: ADHD Awareness Day (yesterday)

And they say some pastors don’t have a sense of humor. This helped me start my day off with a laugh, oh, and a cup of chai tea, and a phone conversation, and e-mail and…

Q: How many ADHD kids does it take to change a light bulb?

A: “Hey! Wanna go ride bikes?”

That was hilarious…..but I will not be surprised if someone from the ADHD community is critical…that would happen to you….

Do you need a therapist? Sounds like you have ADHD.

I’ve just had a similar morning here at work…come to think of it, all of my days at work seem to parallel your commentary-although different activities. Since I am a nurse at a Long Term Care facility, i’ll spare the details. Thanks for the laugh!!!

not funny. just plain not funny.
what part of this cruel, sarcastic attempt at being funny is “speaking the truth in love”?
ADD/ADHD is a medical condition, more specifically a neurological condition. ADHD patients have been observed to have a smaller cerebellum (which controls sensory perception, muscle movements, and ATTENTION) than those without the condition.
Would you make fun of someone on Diabetes Awareness day by saying that you were going to celebrate with chocolate cake and ice cream?
NO, and along the same lines, your post about a frantic half-task day wasted on ADHD awareness day, is immature and in poor taste at best.
You don’t know what it’s like to have turn in an unfinished test because you just stared at it for a large portion of the class period, even though teacher after teacher have said you are the brightest kid in class. Or before I was diagnosed, when my father put me to bed, turned out my light, and told me not to turn it back on. I turned it on again less than a minute later because I LITERALLY FORGOT that I was told not to.
I am a fan of your blog, and of your ministry for many reasons. One being your gift with words and the fact that you are interested more in Christ’s opinion on the issues of life and faith, instead of other men’s.
Please stick to that.
-David H

You called it, Mel. He makes fun of HIMSELF and in less than 3 hours he’s offended someone. :-)

Funny, funny, funny, funny, funny.

David,

First of all, I’m the kind of guy that IF I was officially diagnosed ADHD, I would entertain myself and others with much self-deprecating humor so I really don’t sympathize with your wailing. Lighten up.

Secondly, I am not going to enter into a debate about the medicality of ADHD (I actually buy into it), but we live in a day when everything is “medical” including certain vices. So, while I may readily admit a medically-induced proclivity to excessive normal behavior (inattention, fidgetiness, forgetfulness, and sense of overwhelm), I still will not yield to Medecine the final authority on how to deal with normal human behavior.

Exhibit A: From ADHD.COM the answer to the question, “How do I manage my adult ADD?”

Does the prospect of getting things done often feel like climbing Mount Everest? There is a way to beat the mountain. Work with your condition, not against it. If you find yourself feeling that your life is full of things you “ought to” or “should” do, it might be time for some re-evaluation. Ask yourself the following questions:

* Does this task really need to be part of my life or am I doing it to please other people?
* Is there someone who could do this for me?
* Can I make this task more interesting? If so, how?

Somebody who can help you address these questions is a lifestyle coach. An Adult ADD lifestyle coach will guide you, encourage you, and help you make the proper changes to help you help yourself overcome the challenges of Adult ADD.

There are several things you can do to achieve your goals and objectives in many aspects of your life, including at home, at work, and with family and relationships.

I have not yet received my Ph.D in Pyschatric Health, but I dare say, country preacher that I am, I could have thunk that all up by my lonesome. I actually feel sorry for people that have to go to ADHD.COM to get what seems to me to be common sense. Or maybe common sense isn’t so common anymore. Not one of the initial responses to the “medical” problem is a medical solution. And that’s pretty standard for much of what I have read on ADD or ADHD, etc.

I grant that sometimes medication may be necessary. Granted, granted, granted. In your case that may be a fact. But many people are excusing wasted living under the conscience-numbing opiate of medicalization.

Oh, I remember my third point. I got this from a great anthology of superior literature, “The Reader’s Digest.” It seems that, according to the geniuses behind this great literary art form, laughter is the best medecine.

I buy into that. Sometimes. Certainly at least when the “disease” is not life threatening and can be helped by a pill and some old-fashioned discipline.

Laugh, people. Laugh.

Robert P. Bixby
Ph. D, Common Sense
(Offering free sessions as “lifestyle coach” whenever I get around to it)

I have a daughter who is hard-of-hearing (wears hearing aids) has SID (sensory integration dysfunction) as well as a learning disability. She has taken all of these challenges that God has given to her and used them as tools to be a witness and example to others of her faith in Christ. She also has a wonderful sense of humor and is able to…..yes…laugh at herself and see the bright side of her challenges that God has given to her in this world. I work in a world that many people see as very depressing and who wants to work with “people who are old, has Alzheimers, or are waiting to die”. Well, I see my ministry as caring, dignified and giving my residents a little light during this last journey they are on. But, without a sense of humor and being able to laugh as situations you find yourself in…..yes it would be depressing and hopeless. We do not “make fun” of our daughter, nor do we “make fun” of the residents we lovingly take care of….we thank God for every situation, challenge that he hands us and pray for Grace and Mercy to cont. on our pilgrim journey to Heaven. Our daughter has been a blessing to people we couldn’t even begin to reach because she is challenged by her “disabilities—(for want of a better word- she says she is not “disabled”.)She is able to say “I understand, I know where you are coming from.”….because she is there..-But, she is able to see humor in life situations, which enables her to focus on her ministry. She does have to work harder than others in college..yes, she has “been there” when she has no clue what the teacher is talking about..but she has a trust in God that is strentghened because of her greater need.

Your daughter is a beautiful example of sound biblical thinking, a good sense of humor, and the determination to be a true disciple inspite of her difficulties. I have always admired her for that and it is no wonder she seems to have more friends than anyone I have ever met. I count myself among the elite many. She is truly an overcomer. Excellent point, Bev.

Well, Pastor…..I told you so……I’ve always wanted to say that to someone.
I have been sick and sitting around all day. This was the best entertainment ever! Thanks!
Oh, I’m another friend of the deaf, SID, LD girl! She is awesome and we always have great laughs together!

I am the dysfunctional “daughter and friend” that everyone is talking about. Yes, I love laughing at myself, its so much fun! Pastor and Mom thank you for your kind words. I feel so loved!!

well, i happen to be a badge-bearing member of the adhd community. (i think.) and extremely up in arms. but can i still come over to your house for supper tonight? soup! i wouldn’t miss it! hurray! will we be riding bikes? i think your comment code is fixed, by the way. hurray! did you ever publish the draft entry started yesterday? well, i’m off to pack and repack all my belongings and wash some of them in between writing some devotionals and remembering where my bike actually is right now.

I have worked in several public schools and seen child after child go to the office to get their Ritalin. It saddened me to think that many of those kids were misdiagnosed and will now be dependent on a medication that does nothing for them (it does work for those kids who do truly need it). I will say that, granted, it is a serious illness and it is real; but unfortunately, our society is also undisciplined and many teachers and parents do not want to deal with undisciplined children in their classrooms or homes so their first instinct is to send them to the school therapist and be tested for ADHD instead of assuming that they are kids and therefore hyper (especially in the younder grades).
I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. It has always been somewhat difficult for me to stay on task and I can be easily distracted. When my mom told me a few years ago about that diagnosis, I was so thankful that my dad refused the drug and taught me discipline instead. I was able to accomplish high school and college without ever knowing that I “had it”.

Funny rabbit trail thought, speaking of Barb… remember that time we were all having dinner and you refused to help wash dishes “because you were deaf.” Nice try, too bad it didn’t work.

Also, Pastor, most people don’t volunteer for your life coaching: you just sit them down and hand it out. Very effective, I must say from personal experience.

Actually laughing out loud right now!… I LOVE these people!