A.D.D. and diving...

Hmmm, with the risk of being somewhat controversial, is it Attention Deficit Disorder, or the more commonly diagnosed and over medicated Anti Discipline Disorder?

I have met some people who have the real deal, and I would not recomend they do anything that requires concentration. My BFF (can't believe I used that term ) was diagnosed years back, at the start of this new craze. He had trouble in school, which got much worse with his "diagnosis", couldn't study or even pay attention to the teacher for a whole class. He had a problem dont you know.

Yet he'll watch every pitch of a 3+ hour baseball game, play Playstation for hours, read every letter of every page of a book or magazine on fishing, and stare at the tip of his fishing rod all night in freezing weather waiting for a twitch.

Personally for my money with this type of ADD a boot in the arse is more effective than a shot in the arm, or a pill down the throat. And I think this is by far the most common type of ADD, and these people shouldn't have much problem diving, because they can concentrate just fine on whatever they want to.

These are un-qualified opinions, and I am not saying anybody on this board falls into any catagory, just what I have observed in the people I know personally. YMMV.

Flame on

First off there is NO FLAMING on this site. If we can't discuss a topic openly and objectively then it will be removed however NO ONE GETS FLAMED ON THIS SITE FOR A LEGITIMATE OPINION!

Now having said that you do espouse one of the issues with ADHD...the person can focus on INTERESTING things for hours...even lose sight of how long they have focused on it...i.e. hyperfocus but they can not stay on task for things that are boring, repetitive or they see no value in. However they can usually stay on task for a given period of time and if this time is used wisely they can be successful.

In fact a study was done that showed that an extremely high number of people with ADHD are airline pilots because there is so much going on that they can 'hyper focus' and stay on task easily and do a better job than many pilots without ADHD.

For example. I know a child with ADHD who has an attention span of about 15 minutes. So the mother has set up a routine where they work on a subject for 15 minutes and then change when the timer goes off indicating that 15 minutes has passed. Sometimes the child stays on one topic a bit longer but usually they switch off and can do a cycle of homework that encompasses all their subjects. I knew several college students that grew up the same way and while they no longer needed the timer, they used the same cycle in school to get thru college with nearly straight A's. Of course they did it 15-20 minutes at a time but they did it.

I know others with ADHD who use exercise to calm the mind and allow for greater focus when doing tasks they do not want to do. Or they switch to a physical task so they are not overloading the computer or brain related tasks and they do just fine. They also do extremely well in jobs that have a lot of action or change pace a lot such as customer service or sales.

I read about a parent that made a deal with thier child that said he could do anything he wanted for 30 minutes ie. play games, watch tv or stare into space but then he had to do homework for 30 minutes. Then he could switch back. The child would get so frustrated when the tv program was interrupted or his game ended in the middle that he started to finish his homework first so he would not have his fun time interrupted. He learned to stay on task for a better reward. That is not to say that meds would not have helped but certainly coping mechanisms such as these are invaluable.

So yes I think people with ADHD can be great scuba divers as they can hyperfocus on things that hold thier attention. But the disability is real and while creativity including a possible boot in the butt can be helpful, working with the disorder is very important and that means coping mechanisms and understanding the disorder rather than just medicating it. But that is true for everything.

I am ADHD and have no issues focusing on diving including planning and executing deep dives, wreck dives, cavern dives, decompression dives...etc.

It is my opinion that each person is different and to generalize that ADD and diving doesn't mix or someone who is ADD shouldn't dive would be inappropriate. ADD doesn't mean you are scatter brained and can't focus on anything ever. There are varying levels of ADD, and situational circumstances, and not everyone reacts the same every time in each situation. ADD, as currently defined, is a highly subjective description, not a specific disease. An excellent alternate look at what is ADD and ADHD is on the Born to Explore site here.

Some people simply aren't fit to dive. Some people intellectually don't understand diving and would not make safe divers. Some people deal with panic issues that may not be worked through that could prevent them from diving. I could go on as there are many things that could restrict someone from becoming certified and enjoying the sport of diving, but in my opinion very few can be determined as absolute blanketly. It is a case by case basis that must be determined by an individual and his or her physician (in some cases).

WOW! I would have never known it to either dive with you or work with you. You are one of the MOST organized people I know and you certainly stay on task better than almost anyone I know. You certainly focus on divng and excell in it...as you do everything you put your mind too!

Thank you for sharing and the link you provided is awesome!

And I agree...people with ADD or ADHD have no specific limitations to diving other than the ones we all would commonly be subjected too. They will either stay on task long enough to finish their course work or they will not. They can certainly master diving as you and others have and I would never be afraid to dive with someone who has ADD or ADHD.

Thank you again for such a open and sharing post!

Now having said that you do espouse one of the issues with ADHD...the person can focus on INTERESTING things for hours...even lose site of how long they have focused on it...i.e. hyperfocus but they can not stay on task for things that are boring, repetitive or they see no value in. However they can usually stay on task for a given period of time and if this time is used wisely they can be successful.

You know you pretty much described myself and probably everybody else on the planet with this one paragraph. The line between "disorder" and "human condition" is very blurry on this topic, IMO

I am not trying to belittle anyone who has an issue with ADD, nor am I saying ADD is a made up condition, but I do think it is over diagnosed.

Getting back on point, I think most people diagnosed ADD can dive just fine.

Are you referring to Attention Deficit Disorder?

Yes...

That would explain a lot of what I see going on during the dive site briefing!

Now having said that you do espouse one of the issues with ADHD...the person can focus on INTERESTING things for hours...even lose site of how long they have focused on it...i.e. hyperfocus but they can not stay on task for things that are boring, repetitive or they see no value in. However they can usually stay on task for a given period of time and if this time is used wisely they can be successful.

You know you pretty much described myself and probably everybody else on the planet with this one paragraph. The line between "disorder" and "human condition" is very blurry on this topic, IMO

I am not trying to belittle anyone who has an issue with ADD, nor am I saying ADD is a made up condition, but I do think it is over diagnosed.

Getting back on point, I think most people diagnosed ADD can dive just fine.

True statement...it does describe 99% of us. However those with the disorder are truly impaired by the disorder and suffer a great deal. The difference is the degree to which you suffer and if you can recover or not. Those with ADD/ADHD can not recover unless they take specific steps to overcome or they study differently or they take tests differently. The lucky ones find ways to compensate...they also say that many actors have ADHD as do many other very creative and gifted people. When the brain does not process information the same way as people without ADD or ADHD then often ADDer's find more creative solutions to problems because they look at things differently.

A well known doctor in the field of ADHD said that less than 5% of the adult population with undiagnoised ADD/ADHD are considered successful in life meaning that they can EITHER hold down a job, stay in a relationship, or stay out of jail. They rarely can do two of these and almost never all three. And many experts suggest that a huge % of the prison population also suffers with ADD/ADHD. It takes an extreme amount of work to control a child and help a child who suffers from the disorder. It is very real although I do not doubt overly diagnoised. If a child suffers from the disorder and does not have the proper support structure at home i.e. working parents, single parent family etc. then they will not get the extra attention they need and they will fall behind in school. Soon they see themselves as a failure and they drop out and often get into trouble or do not live up to their potential.

Again diving is a good venue for people with ADD/ADHD as it is on the edge and it offers structure (the mechanics of diving) which is good for ADDer's yet it offers variety in what you'll see.

True statement...it does describe 99% of us. However those with the disorder are truly impaired by the disorder and suffer a great deal. The difference is the degree to which you suffer and if you can recover or not. Those with ADD/ADHD can not recover unless they take specific steps to overcome or they study differently or they take tests differently. The lucky ones find ways to compensate...they also say that many actors have ADHD as do many other very creative and gifted people. When the brain does not process information the same way as people without ADD or ADHD then often ADDer's find more creative solutions to problems because they look at things differently.

A well known doctor in the field of ADHD said that less than 5% of the adult population with undiagnoised ADD/ADHD are considered successful in life meaning that they can EITHER hold down a job, stay in a relationship, or stay out of jail. They rarely can do two of these and almost never all three. And many experts suggest that a huge % of the prison population also suffers with ADD/ADHD. It takes an extreme amount of work to control a child and help a child who suffers from the disorder. It is very real although I do not doubt overly diagnoised.

WOW! I would have never known it to either dive with you or work with you. You are one of the MOST organized people I know and you certainly stay on task better than almost anyone I know. You certainly focus on divng and excell in it...as you do everything you put your mind too!

That is why I am so overly organized. I have to have the structure. It is the only way I can focus and follow-through. Extremely difficult for me otherwise. I still get overwelmed at times and still have to fight off certain pitfalls. I always joke that I have an edge being ADHD - while it is true with ADD that I am constantly moving from one item to another, because I am hyperactive, I do so quicker which allows me to circle back before you realize it. It's like being a master multitasker!

For those curious what ADD or ADHD, I describe it like this. When I clean my house, I start in one room, say the living room, putting things away. While picking up things, I come across something that belongs to the bathroom. I go to put it away in the bathroom and realize that the vanity is a mess and pull it all out to reorganize it. Oops I need cleaner to wash the inside of the vanity so I head to the kitchen. Getting there, hey I never hung that pots & pan rack rack, better do that. Head to the spare room to grab the tool kit, trip over slippers in the living room on the way, pick those up head to the closet to put them away. The closet is also where my dive gear its. Ooops gotta call dive buddy regarding morning dive. Phone got left in the car. Go out to the car....what was I headed to the car for? Did I need groceries? Head back into house to figure out what I was doing and see that the living room, bathroom, and kitchen are all torn apart and I started 5 hours earlier....grab coat head out to go shopping and avoid cleaning! This is my life every weekend I am home and my house is still a mess.

For those curious what ADD or ADHD, I describe it like this. When I clean my house, I start in one room, say the living room, putting things away. While picking up things, I come across something that belongs to the bathroom. I go to put it away in the bathroom and realize that the vanity is a mess and pull it all out to reorganize it. Oops I need cleaner to wash the inside of the vanity so I head to the kitchen. Getting there, hey I never hung that pots & pan rack rack, better do that. Head to the spare room to grab the tool kit, trip over slippers in the living room on the way, pick those up head to the closet to put them away. The closet is also where my dive gear its. Ooops gotta call dive buddy regarding morning dive. Phone got left in the car. Go out to the car....what was I headed to the car for? Did I need groceries? Head back into house to figure out what I was doing and see that the living room, bathroom, and kitchen are all torn apart and I started 5 hours earlier....grab coat head out to go shopping and avoid cleaning! This is my life every weekend I am home and my house is still a mess.

This sounds like something I would end up doing. Not sure about the extreem of it but maybe thats why my house tends to be torn apart. Especially since I'd rather be diving than working on the house.

For those curious what ADD or ADHD, I describe it like this. When I clean my house, I start in one room, say the living room, putting things away. While picking up things, I come across something that belongs to the bathroom. I go to put it away in the bathroom and realize that the vanity is a mess and pull it all out to reorganize it. Oops I need cleaner to wash the inside of the vanity so I head to the kitchen. Getting there, hey I never hung that pots & pan rack rack, better do that. Head to the spare room to grab the tool kit, trip over slippers in the living room on the way, pick those up head to the closet to put them away. The closet is also where my dive gear its. Ooops gotta call dive buddy regarding morning dive. Phone got left in the car. Go out to the car....what was I headed to the car for? Did I need groceries? Head back into house to figure out what I was doing and see that the living room, bathroom, and kitchen are all torn apart and I started 5 hours earlier....grab coat head out to go shopping and avoid cleaning! This is my life every weekend I am home and my house is still a mess.

That sounds like the way I clean house.

You know alot people joke about this and I've seen many ADD jokes...i.e. AGE Attention Deficit but for those who truly suffer from ADD the nightmare that Nicolle describes is true. And it is always in an endless loop.

Again Nicolle...thank you for sharing. Your insight has been invaluable.

In fact I could learn a lot from you about better organization! Maybe you'll share some of your secrets!

You know alot people joke about this and I've seen many ADD jokes...i.e. AGE Attention Deficit but for those who truly suffer from ADD the nightmare that Nicolle describes is true. And it is always in an endless loop.

Again Nicolle...thank you for sharing. Your insight has been invaluable.

In fact I could learn a lot from you about better organization! Maybe you'll share some of your secrets!

I certainly do not mean to make light of the condition. I have friends with this problem and know how they struggle with it.

In the past 3 years that I have been a member here, I have discovered that about 90% of the membership here is A.D.D. !! And I'm not kidding. Maybe it's the diver personality.

A.D.D is a serious topic...............Hey, what's that on TV?

I am being serious! I think it's part of the whole adrenaline junky, extreme sport personality. That's just my completely uneducated, and totally worthless opinion.

Thats exactly what Im referring to.Ive always been an adrenaline junkie and until recently never understood why..I think it has to do the fact that when I was doing something to get the blood flowing really good,it allowed me to actually focus on the moment and for a brief time,my mind wasnt racing and getting distracted.

Diving really doesnt give me that much of a rush so to speak,but I am able to focus on the dive for the entire time.Strange..Prehaps its due to sensory overload and the thrill of searching for the next critter??

Thanks for all the replies and insights everyone,I can relate to lots of the mentioned items..

Ive never gone to the doctor and been tested for a.d.d,but display several of the classic signs..When I was growing up,if a kid didnt do well in school they either tended to be thought of as lazy or stupid.Never even heard of a.d.d until I was almost 30.Its just something Ive learned to live with and adapt to the best that I can out of necessity..

The reason I even brought it up is to see how others that have it/understand it compensate for it when it comes to diving.Where I really have a concern is on understanding dive tables.My instructors went over them with me,friends have gone over them with me,and I just cant snap to it for some reason and its frustrating...

The reason I even brought it up is to see how others that have it/understand it compensate for it when it comes to diving.Where I really have a concern is on understanding dive tables.My instructors went over them with me,friends have gone over them with me,and I just cant snap to it for some reason and its frustrating...

I might suggest looking into learning the concept of the table. Direct your focus on the concept and a corresponding pattern should perhaps follow more easily thereafter (i.e. learn the why then the how may follow). Studies have shown rote memorization and math computation, which require following a set of ordered steps, are often difficult for people with ADD or ADHD. People with ADD or ADHD may do better with math concepts. [source]

The reason I even brought it up is to see how others that have it/understand it compensate for it when it comes to diving.Where I really have a concern is on understanding dive tables.My instructors went over them with me,friends have gone over them with me,and I just cant snap to it for some reason and its frustrating...

I might suggest looking into learning the concept of the table. Direct your focus on the concept and a corresponding pattern should perhaps follow more easily thereafter (i.e. learn the why then the how may follow). Studies have shown rote memorization and math computation, which require following a set of ordered steps, are often difficult for people with ADD or ADHD. People with ADD or ADHD may do better with math concepts. [source]

This is great advice for everyone but especially for people with ADD/ADHD. Since Dive_Girl is an instructor as well as someone with the disorder, she is an excellent source for ways to combat the problem.

My new husband also suffers from ADHD and he is not only an excellent diver but an extremely talented instructor. It is if he intuitively knows where a student will have issues and manages those before they arise. He also does well with people who need creative and different approaches to learning such as ADDers. So see if you can find an instructor like that near you or perhaps even go on an SD trip that either dive_girl or otwdiver are on and take the class from them. I'm confident that either one could help you learn anything you want to know about diving!

This discussion merits resurrection and continuation.

The reason I even brought it up is to see how others that have it/understand it compensate for it when it comes to diving.Where I really have a concern is on understanding dive tables.My instructors went over them with me,friends have gone over them with me,and I just cant snap to it for some reason and its frustrating...

I might suggest looking into learning the concept of the table. Direct your focus on the concept and a corresponding pattern should perhaps follow more easily thereafter (i.e. learn the why then the how may follow). Studies have shown rote memorization and math computation, which require following a set of ordered steps, are often difficult for people with ADD or ADHD. People with ADD or ADHD may do better with math concepts. [source]

I too had a hell of a time learning the tables, because my instructor sort of waved me through the process while I was trying to figure out the "but why?" Rote memorization (whether of text or math formulas) has always been excruciating for me, but first learning the "why" of the concept gives me the foundational understanding that I need to be able to absorb the "how." This applies to how I learn the tables, how I learned the science behind my Nitrox certification, how I got complex geopolitical/socio-religious dynamics inculcated into my long-term memory, and how I got through college for the last four years.

Interestingly enough, I was diagnosed with ADD Inattentive Type only two and a half years ago. I struggled with school my entire life, and while knowing that I was highly intelligent I was enormously frustrated with "structured learning" in school and usually found myself in the remedial math classes...which turned out to be highly beneficial for my ADD brain, because I ended up with patient teachers who were willing to explain the why! Then I got it!

Talking about organization and attention to detail, vis-a-vis diving, the thing I found most intriguing is that when I'm not on my meds (yes), I am SO easily distracted! Dive_Girl's description of her housecleaning adventures fits me to a T. But there still is the ability to hyper-focus...sometimes on inane things, sometimes one highly technical things! I am a fairly disorganized person...rather cluttered, in fact. However there have been several venues in which I'm positively OCD about a place for everything, and every thing in it's place! The kitchen is one of 'em! I'm seriously OCD about the organization of my kitchen!! My office space and living areas may be cluttered, but the kitchen would make Cordon Bleu proud...good organization, economy of motion, logical placement, et cetera.

When I was hot air balloonist, I was absolutely anal about how lines were stowed, how the balloon equipment was handled used and stored, and that every safety check was conducted every time. I helped with the annual FAA inspections, breaking down the equipment to look for damage and cracks, testing the strength of the fabric, checking the suspension lines for abrasion. Ballooning, like SCUBA, is an activity which is safe for anyone to engage in IF some simple safety measures are followed. Like SCUBA, ballooning allows humans to venture into an environment which they were not designed to occupy; and both activities are fatally intolerant of fools.

But I am not in the least bit concerned about my ADD being detrimental to my diving. Yes I am very focused when ballooning because I am passionate about it. I'm extremely passionate about diving. I haven't had enough experience and training to develop that OCD tendency in diving, but I'm confident that I will! This is why I have not yet purchased a dive computer: I want to learn the tables inside and out, and learn the why, the science of diving, before I progress to utilizing a computer and advanced and technical training. That way I know that I will have developed the foundation of good habits necessary for consistently safe diving, ADD notwithstanding!

My goal eventually is to be an instructor. I perceive that, like Dive_Girl, I will be good at teaching others because I know what's needed: to break concepts down and teach both methodology and why it's done the way it's done!

What say y'all?!