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| More EssaysI am fully aware that some of my views expressed in my essays have, in the past, caused considerable reaction – both positive and negative. I am firmly of the belief however that I have something positive to contribute to sufferers of ADD and those who care for them and about them. I would encourage you to read my essays in their entirety remembering all the time that my aim is to help by offering my views.
I believe that the only difference between ADD and a mood like shyness is that we call the ADD person mentally disordered. We would never call a shy person mentally disordered even though shyness can be a real and difficult problem. Check out this analogy:
ADD is a "mood" in which someone has a difficult time staying focused. One solution is to become a compulsive goal setter with long term plans, things to do lists, etc. Unfortunately most people in the world spend very little time actually setting goals. Then of those who do make plans, most never consciously do anything to achieve those goals. But we can not label unfocused people as disordered because 95% of the world is unfocused.
Solving the problems apparent in people labeled ADD are not easy. Setting goals and even taking drugs like Ritalin may help, but calling this common struggle of self control a "mental disorder" is a negative misclassification of normal people struggling with common difficult problems.
(The essay above was written by someone who told me that my opinions can be good if they were presented properly. Beware: The essay's below are written in my typically inflamatory tone! If anyone can write an essay that you think I will agree with, please email me and we may post it.)