The Gift of ADD

The Gift of ADD

I went from being in a Special Education program with children with Autism and severe behavioral issues, to being on the honors list in high school, and graduating from college. I was expelled out of high school for a month for an impulsive decision, but utilized this time to develop and hyper focus on my urban gardening and poetry skills. I was encouraged to not take a second language in school, because it may be “too much” for me, even though I’m now conversationally affluent in Armenian, French and Spanish. I am very energetic and prefer to be moving rather than sitting, so I’ve done teaching jobs that involved working with children. These examples reflect how I used the traits of ADD/ ADHD as skills, in order to build up my self-esteem.

At Clark University, I created a major about teaching Focusing, Mindfulness and Self-Regulation skills to students through utilizing Tai Chi, stretching and breathing techniques. Mindfulness has had an immensely positive impact on my concentration, impulsivity and emotional stability. I began to realize that my ADD/ADHD ailments, once debilitating, were directly soothed by my mindfulness practice. Mindfulness is learning to sit with your experiences, accept them and work constructively with them rather than fight with them. It’s about training your mind to be present in the moment, rather than being swept away by fantasies or impulsive behaviors.

I’ve taught Tai Chi at a Charter elementary school in the Bronx, and yoga to elementary students in Manhattan and to middle school students in Massachusetts. I’ve written an article on Education and Stress Reduction skills that were published in a book in Vietnam and an article on ADHD and alternatives to medication that was published in Tikkun Magazine.

How many times do we consider Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder as a gift verses a curse? Traits of hyperactivity, an inability to sit for extended periods of time, lack of concentration on traditional academic tasks and a wandering mind, are the most common descriptions. Yet the true question is: in what kinds of environments can people transform these traits into gifts that allow them to excel in learning, working and building their self-esteem.

ADD/ADHD has enabled me to develop a creative perspective in regards to school, work and life. I’m willing to experience my creative energy because my creativity heals myself and others. This may be scattered mental energy or hyperactive energy at other times. But learning how to use sports, writing, singing, mindfulness, supportive friends or healthy eating habits as alternatives to substances to “chill out,” has enabled me to celebrate and accept my ADD/ADHD traits. It’s about how I use this label to work for me, rather than against me.

Today, I’m teaching English in an elementary school in Martinique, and perfecting my French. It’s my gift of ADD/ADHD, that has enabled me to take the risks in doing things differently than others, and that has made all the difference.