Think of yourself after about eight cups of strong coffee....
(If you are ADD or ADHD, you probably feel pretty good right now...LOL...) then,
add the stereo on your favorite radio station
with the show interrupted for an "important message";
plus the TV with some show you love
and an ad for something you've been wanting to know more about;
the phone ringing
when you are expecting an important call;
the kids asking you intriguing questions;
the cat wanting to be fed;
the dogs barking with alarm;
someone you love to have visit
knocking at the door;
the stove timer going off for the gourmet meal you don't want to ruin -
all at the same time!
If you are "normal" (I really don't much like that term)...you probably feel like an ADD/ADHD person feels a lot of the time - stretched thin, pulled in every direction at once, touchy, really sensitive, easily frustrated, pins and needly....unable to focus for very long on any one thing (you might miss something else important)...ready to bounce off some walls - or in some cases, to bounce others off some walls....definitely time for a new balance.....But how?
There are behavior changes that can help a lot, like learning to say "No.", to too many tasks (Yes, you have to learn to accept that answer from yourself, too), setting up a simple schedule that you can use to check off what you do accomplish, and learning that perfection is not necessarily a virtue. Finding the strength to throw out some things is good too, but let's not ask too much right off the bat. I think the most helpful thing I learned is that, even though it may be a marvelous idea, the world won't collapse if I, personally, do not bring it to fruition. This has let me keep from even starting a slew of new projects that would otherwise be dangling around my neck like so many rotting albatros. But when the imbalance is physiological in nature, medication is sometimes warrented. That's where the drugs such as Ritalin come in.
Ritalin is used to compensate for a chemical imbalance that controls ability to deal with stimulation... it is not for "concentration" per se...though improved concentration comes from the calming effect the stimulant has on the system of people with this specific imbalance.- It, in effect, resets the balance, allowing them to avoid distraction, and therefore be less restless and figity - better able to stay on task, but not dulled down and 'drugged'. For those of us who are ADD/ADHD, the stimulant works in reverse...our naturally overstimulated state gets a calming effect, taking the jangled edge off the nerves, and allowing us to settle down and be able to do what we need to without the constant overstimulation that makes it really hard to function. The use of the drugs is not a life sentence, though. I found, that at least for me, they were of great benefit in allowing me the time and attention to learn the new behaviors needed to function comfortably, while hanging on to what I lovingly refer to as 'my sanity'. I no longer take Ritalin, or any other drugs. (actually, that is a bit of a lie...you might want to invest in ibuprophen manufacture....I suffer from a lot of back pain, and sometimes it seems that I live on the stuff..8^{...)
Ritalin is a boon in some cases, but shouldn't be carelessly flung at every patient who presents symptoms.
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