You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!: The Classic Self-Help Book for Adults With Attention Deficit Disorder Read Online Free PDF Page A

about our behavior, even whenwe think we have a good handle on it. Second, it points out that hyperactivity can manifest itself in more subtle ways than physical overactivity.
    These subtle behaviors reflect the generalized restlessness and impatience many of us experience. We may have learned to stop sky diving from the top bunk and snowboarding down the banister, but we might still feel uncomfortable when we have to sitstill. So we fidget, tap our fingers or twirl our hair. Relaxing can be impossible, so we might take on numerous hobbies, work second jobs or run marathons on the weekend.
    There is a final thing we should mention. Hyperactivity can be either a deficit or an asset, depending on the quality of the behavior. If the activity is purposeful, hyperactivity can help us get more accomplished.
    Some researchershave studied hyperactive individuals who don’t have any of the other symptoms of ADD. These folk are extremely active but don’t seem to have problems with attention, mood swings or any of the other roadblocks that interfere with productivity. The issue for hyperactive ADD adults is that much of their activity is dysregulated, random and unproductive.
    But … Why??
    ADDers are curious folk. Theyare rarely able to let anything go by without asking, “But why?” You may be asking this question about your symptoms. “I am inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive— but why do I have this baffling disorder?” If we could give you a tidy answer to your question, researchers would herald our discovery. Since no one knows for sure what causes ADD, the best we can do is examine possibilities.
    To getstarted, you’ll need a crash course in the Neurology of the Brain and the Central Nervous System. Don’t close the book yet! We promise to make this as painless as possible. But it’s difficult to understand ADD without knowing some of the “whys” of the disorder. Why is your ADD different from each of ours? Why do your symptoms seem to change so much? Why do your symptoms sometimes cause little orno problem? Without some basic knowledge, it’s easy to assume that this disorder is your fault. So, here goes.
    Research Tools
    As knowledge about ADD has grown, research has increasingly focused on the possibility that the ADD brain and central nervous system are somehow wired differently. Testing some of the theories is tricky because researchers can’t open up an ADDer’s skull to study his brain!Even if they could, it would be nearly impossible to isolate and examine a particular chemical or a specific portion of the brain. The human brain is simply too complex, with many interrelated parts.
    Instead, scientists are using sophisticated imaging devices to scan the brain. Brain Imaging is a promising technique that has provided some information about the differences in ADD brains. MRIsproduce clear and detailed pictures of brain structures, while PET scans allow us to observe blood flow or metabolism in any part of the brain when a person is active. The SPECT scan is similar to the PET scan except that the SPECT scan generates images of a person at rest. Generally, these imaging methods are not used as diagnostic tools, although Dr. Daniel Amen has done pioneering work using SPECTin his clinical practice.
    Scientists also use drug responses to study brain activity indirectly. They know that certain drugs increase the quantity of neurotransmitters in the brain. A positive drug response suggests an insufficiency of the neurochemical affected by the particular drug.
    How does this fit into the theories about the possible causes of ADD? Let’s take that crash course in neurologyto get a better understanding of the “why’s” of your disorder.
    The Basics of Neurology
    The brain and other parts of the central nervous system (CNS) function as a wonderful and intricate Command Center. This command center coordinates all systems of the human body through a messenger system. It sends messages and receives those sent