attention, and I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a
Bachelor’s degree.
Did all my ADD symptoms go away? No, but I am working
around them and have managed to be fairly successful without
medication. Medication and behavioral modification therapy
CAN help one cope with the symptoms. Similarly, one who
watches TV all night and drinks caffeinated energy drinks
repeatedly can cope with insomnia using sleep medication. Or,
they can knock off the caffeine and read a book instead of
watching TV and not depend on the drugs. Yes, I realize that
those with ADD have documented genetic and brain
differences from the "normal" population. I will say that I
personally have suffered profoundly as a result of my
ADD. My parents took me off my medication while I was in
early elementary school and I had to deal with it. Strangely
enough, when I entered college and realized I was paying for it
out of pocket due to my abysmal high school grades, I learned
to focus and meet deadlines.
Would I be better off today if I had grown up dependent on
the drugs? Perhaps, but I would not be the person I am
today. I take exception to the idea that because I am fidgety,
easily bored, a procrastinator, have to work really hard at