ADHD- Adrenalin and similarities to Stimulant Medication

December 2005 - Volume II - Issue XII

ADHD - Adrenalin & Similarities to Stimulant Medication

Statement: My intent in this newsletter is to express as quickly as possible my own beliefs and opinions on matters. I have no problems with people who disagree with my opinion and have even been swayed to rethink my position from time to time. We are still taking book orders for my new book "ADHD and The Criminal Justice System" and you can get my author's discount from the http://www.addcorridorcoaching.com/book.asp

The first ADHD poster a positive approach to ADHD is also available at this web site http://www.addcorridorcoaching.com/poster.asp

Read past issues of newsletters at this link http://www.addcorridorcoaching.com/newsletters.asp

NEWSLETTER:

While on the Sheriff's Department for 17 years and having undiagnosed ADHD, I often found myself getting involved in two other employees dispute and ending having both of them turn against me and being on the receiving end of both their attacks. Maybe some of you can relate to this problem. In my case this had been a life long problem and I always wondered how I had gotten myself embroiled in other peoples business. I also had a tendency to blurt out opinions or express some thought that was either rude, unnecessary or hurtful. Being the apologetic, people pleaser that I was, I always seemed able to mend the fences and patch things up quickly. Looking back I now realize my ADHD, like most of yours, provides you with some gifts or talents that are useful and some that you would love to throw out with the weekly trash.

I was always kind of a fast talker, not in terms of trying to deceive others, but rather the rate and speed at which I talked was faster than it should have been. I guess that was my hyperactivity showing itself. By now you are probably asking yourself what all of this has got to do with similarities between Adrenalin and Stimulant medication? I will explain.

As you know many people with ADHD are attracted to high stimulus activities and careers such as emergency room medicine, military, paramedics, fire and even police officers. Unfortunately a formal ADHD diagnosis in some of these fields while actively employed could be problematic. But, the fact remains that the variety, unpredictability and lack of routine days appeals to our sense of adventure.

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In my own case and only years later after getting diagnosed with ADHD did I realize something very important. I had been told on many occasions at the scene of fatality accidents, and other high stress emergency matters that I seemed to be a lot calmer than my co-workers had anticipated me being. It seemed that my speech was calmer and slower and more directed. I seemed to think more clearly and react more appropriately. I actually remember thinking during these times that I was more effective too. The fact that others noticed it too was somewhat of a surprise to me. It was only after I had started Ritalin in 1996 and had been on it for months that I noticed the similarities I felt to those old exciting incidents experienced while working on the Sheriff's Department.

I then realized that what probably was happening back then was that my body was involuntarily producing adrenalin and that forced chemical and blood circulation to areas of my body, most noticeably my brain and sped up brain functioning much like stimulant medication does for those of us with ADHD. My brain operated more efficiently and I calmed down, and performed better, much like I do when I take my medicine. If you have read my letters before or seen the cover of my book you know I like the analogy of a spinning toy TOP. When it is spinning slower it wobbles and wanders around on the floor or table in random directions. But grab the spindle and pump it up and down and the top speeds up and straightens up and spins with almost no noticeable movement from its place on the floor or table. It is operating at peak effeminacy and continues to do so till the speed wears down and it starts slowing down again.

To summarize an ADHD person taking stimulants gets a similar result as people who get a adrenalin rush. Adrenalin is natures way of making us operate at our peak efficiency in times of emergency or high stress. Stimulants mimic this activity in those of us with ADHD and allows us to operate more effectively in our day to day functions.

The TOP analogy is a great way to explain to non-believers or skeptics why doctors give a stimulant medication to someone who has hyperactive tendencies. Most people would think it would make a hyperactive person even more hyperactive. I used to think this way. In reality it speeds up our brain and body metabolism and helps bring our lives into balance.

Hope all of you have a happy and successful 2006. Happy New Year

Talk to you next month

Patrick Hurley
addcorridorcoach@aol.com

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