I have a theory

People with ADHD are gifted.
I'm talking:
Psychic,
clairvoyent,
artists,
geniuses,
leaders,
inspirers,
musicians,
prophets...

This is my theory, and I am fighting for the truth of the matter.

This is my theory, and I'm out to save those that will bring positive change to the world.

I am declaring myself a warrior for the gifted and creatives, and all those that will bring light to this dreary world.

Please Sir Ken Robinson, hear this declaration, and help the world.

*** Everyone should get a Stumbleupon.com account

Stumbleupon.com
Do it.

That is a way to gloss over subjects you want, and be sent sites that you are interested in.
I happened to come across this almost perfect youtube video.

Kinderen voor Kinderen song - ADHD

Cutest boy, greatest coincidence.
One of the most recent comments read as such, and I thought it was a very interesting point.

"This show makes me tear up. I don't expect other Westernized Country Folk to understand. But well growing up here... God forbid America has any progressive messages to youth (let alone by youth) or even *gasp* on television. That would just be "unChristian."
- williamgascoyne

Here's One For the Parents: What doctors don't tell you.

ADHD Drugs vs. Possible Cures - Nutrition by Natalie

*** 4 Years Later

I'm in my senior year of college. I have papers due, posts due, movies due, tests to study for, scenes to memorize, journal entries to write, rehearsals to attend and practice for...I have a lot on my plate. And, it's been one of my busiest semesters in a long time.

Now, I remember when I was a freshman, 4 years ago. I tried to tackle just as much on my plate as I am now. I had school, rehearsals, and a huge social life, which was a major priority when I was younger.

On top of all these things, I was transitioning. I mean, we all were. First year of college is a major transition for anyone. But, I was coping differently. I had come to school with my best friend from home, (whoever tells you that is a good idea should be shushed before they can even get a word in.) And, we experienced a major falling-out by the end of the first semester. And, I became depressed, anxious and lost, coupled with my new found freedom at school, this was not a good mix.

What I started to do was terrible. I began taking Adderall recreationally everyday, for about 6 months, where I lost weight, remained focused and frantically "happy", and could socialize thoroughly all day without a hint of hesitation in this new, intimidating, lonely place where I had to "keep up" and feel good about it.

I stopped once I felt like I was losing control of the situation. My heart began double-beating regularly, and I seemed to have the taste of dry "death" in the back of my throat at all times, and all I could think about in the morning was taking it so I could feel good about starting my day. (That's the only way I could explain it.)

I quit. I had to. The medication was just as fulfilling as taking any black-market drug, and it took my young self a little while to realize it.

And you know where I got them? My room mate who was prescribed, addicted to cigarettes because of it, and always bountifully supplied. She could have run her own business selling them because she had so many.

ADDERALL MUST BE MADE ILLEGAL. CHILDREN MUST BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO DEVELOP, AND IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY NEED.... I would have been defined as a drug addict, addicted to a legal substance given to children as early as age 4.

*** I want to ride my bicycle

I DO! I DO!! I want to ride my bicycle all day for hours, and not have to listen to youuuu!

That was a joke, but I really do want to ride my bicycle. Because, 1) I have a crap ton of energy, 2) The food that I eat gives me even more energy 3) I'm an independent adult and I can recognize when I want/need something for my health and how to get it, and 4) This routine I have (school, work, sleep) could make me a manic-depressive who overeats and hates everything eventually because she is in such a bad mood and creates a miserable outlook for herself and will probably resort to drugs, sex and alcohol just to stir things up a bit.

I have never gone to the doctor to check and see if I have ADHD, but if I did, I would probably get a "DIAGNOSED" stamped right across my forehead.

So drug me up, or just shoot me. I'm sorry that I need to be outside for the same amount of time that I'm inside in classrooms everyday. I'm sorry that I can have three different conversations at once. I'm sorry I prefer to multi-task and dare to test my limits. I'm sorry that the average classroom doesn't ground me enough so I can pay attention. I'm sorry that I fantasize about riding my bike with the wind in my hair and going as fast as I can go, when I'm supposed to be focusing on how to re-write my essay for the 3rd time.

But you know what? I get by. And, I'm not sorry that I spend my time the way that I want to.

No, DO NOT get me wrong. I love, love LOVE my education. It's been just as good as any other bike ride. But, all those things I listed previoulsy, THOSE THINGS would be all a child has to tell their parents, who will tell their doctor, and by the next day, the kid is going to be experimenting with doses of whatever drug seems fit.

But, who is the real problem?

How about we talk about public school's Physical Education programs, or lack thereof.

What does:
Young Children+ Minimal Excerisise at School+Current Food Trends= ???

Hyperactive, Attention-Deficit, Students.

Hm...

And you tell me why you think P.E. is one of the first programs to be cut in budget cuts, and the last programs to be added back, and a pharmeceutical industry backed by the government that's making billions off of kids with Hyperactive Attention-Deficit Disorders.

Here's an article to back me up about PE programs, but I doubt you even have to read it to know I'm asking the right questions.

School PE Programs in Sorry Shape

Amita

I went to Flagstaff, Arizona over the weekend, to give my own priorities up as an act of service, and I helped a woman open up her Mayan cacao shop. In giving myself, I released my selfishness, my answers, my ego, everything that we seem to have to hold on to to feel any sort of validity.

But, I became a completely selfless vessel to help someone with their greater cause. This shop is for the greater good. Instead of thinking forwardly at a constant, What am I supposed to be doing? How am I going to get it done in time?, I slowed down and gave myself to a cause that was entirely foreign to me for a week. And through it, I found myself.

I will leave the program I am in right now, to return to Screen Acting and get a B.F.A. in that program, in addition I will have a minor in Theater and a minor in P.R. and Advertising, and that is the path that I've been searching for.

No drug would make me feel better about what was not right in my own life. I needed to change it myself.

*** Ok...What ever hapened to your life purpose?

Now, I know that I may be in the minority that tries to establish revolutionary thoughts, ideas, and questions. But think about it. We begin our higher education (mostly) as an almost involuntary step that seems to be taken all too soon. So much money is spent, and even wasted, on an education that does not interest, help, or forward young minds into the world. How can you ask me what I want to major in at 18? People that are only entirely sure should be the ones that actually go ahead and begin school at 18.

Now, this is an opinion that I have had for a long time. But, still, I sit and slave away at my tasks, working to get this degree before I turn 22 like it's some kind of made-up marathon. Recently, though, I gave myself some time. A little bit of time to breathe, think, realize, understand, know, and see the path of my life that I have been steered off of, and must return to. And, if I didn't give myself that time, I would have still been living on a path that was killing me inside, for the purpose of appeasing those I had been taught I needed to; parents, teachers, the working force, the government, etc etc etc...

Now, this is a very prominent characteristic in my personality as well: I want to make people happy. So these issues were plaguing a very specific me, and I'm not going to force the idea that it applies to everybody.
But how many college students are graduating, and certain, like 100%, that they know what they are going to do when they get out? That they are TOTALLY and COMPLETELY SURE that they know EXACTLY what they are meant to do in this world, what their purpose is, and how they can be the absolute best at what they can be.

Not a lot.

And, you know. That's fine. Those are huge expectations to have on a young person at this point in their life. But, don't you think that we should be given more time to establish who we are? And, yes, I'm going to throw my point in now. Don't you think we should be given more time instead of being pumped with stimulants, ADD and ADHD suppressing drugs, and have to listen to what we have to do to be "good enough."

I have found a friend on the internet.

Geoff, has made me cry, and shares my vision.

The Addiction Spreads

I just talked to my roomate about my blog, and he had a scary story to tell me.

A friend of his, who will go unamed, is addicted to Adderall, and is not prescribed. He takes roughly 60 milligrams a day, and Somas at night so that he can fall asleep. If he doesn't get his Adderall that day, he drinks 4 monster drinks to compensate.

WTF

*** SIR KEN ROBINSON!!! HELP THEM SEE!!!

CHANGE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, SO THAT THEY WON'T PUMP THESE KIDS WITH DRUGS THAT AREN'T NEEDED!!!
This article says it all:

The Adderall revolution is written about, where "Adderall sales in the U.S. soared by more than 3,100 percent between 2002 and 2005, according to the Washington Post. Bootlegged at about $3 to $5 per pill, Adderall is both inexpensive and accessible."

Amphetamine-induced anxiety disorders.

Amphetamine-Induced Psychosis

Dependence

Tolerance of horrible side-effects

Withdrawl

LOSS OF CREATIVITY.
This is where our change agent comes in.

He MUST change our school systems, slow them down. The emphasis should not be the deadlines, the report cards, all the defining points of a good student in this over-stimulated society. Sir Ken Robinson already asks the question, "Are School's Stifling Creativity: Fertile Minds Need Feeding."

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT Sir Robinson. YOU HAVE THE POWER. GET ADDERALL OUT OF THE MARKETS AND OFF OUR MINDS AS AN ANSWER. I WANT YOU TO LEAD THIS CHANGE.