I think that research into the so called “mind-body” connection is long overdue.  In fact we understood this and lived as if this were so for many thousands of human generations until recent times in history.

Current research demonstrates not only the effect of the mind on the body, but the inverse as well.  Who would not admit that when they are angry their breath becomes shallow up in their chest?  Or deny that when depressed they look down with unfocused eyes?  We know that physical excercise encourages hormones/endorphines and cell reproduction, and research now reveals that it does so for the brain.  In fact research now shows that the single most effective way of warding off Alzhiemer’s disease is not mental, but physical excersize. 

The same is true of ADD/ADHD…in regards to excercise, in John Ratey’s book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain he says the notion that it might:

“is supported by emerging research showing that physical activity sparks biological changes that encourage brain cells to bind to one another.  For the brain to learn, these connections must be made; they reflect the brain’s fundamental ability to adapt to challenges.  The more neuroscientists discover about this process, the clearer that it becomes that excercise provides an unparalleled stimulus, creating an environment in which the brain is ready, willing, and able to learn.  Aerobic activity has a dramatic effect on adaptation, regulating systems that might be out of balance and optimizing those that are not–it’s an indespensable tool for anyone who wants to reach his or her potential.”

The notion of the body mind connection is far older than it’s inverse that is the mainstay of Western society.  Such philosophy and worldview of Advaita understood these things many generations ago.

“Scientifically speaking, the terms A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. do not refer to a specific disease–instead they are labels for a cluster of symptoms.  Saying that someone “has” A.D.D. is like saying a person has R.N.D, Runny Nose Disorder.

 Traditional science depends on the study of specific variables or factors.  But in the case of attention deficit, studying variables is all but impossible, since the definition of symptoms depends on the subjective opinion of observers.

Many studies indicate that neither parents, teachers, doctors, social workers, nor psychologists can agree about A.D.D./A.D.H.D. symptoms when observing human behavior in action.  One man’s hyperactivity is another man’s exuberance.  What is impulsive to one person can be spontaneous to another.  Inattentiveness can seem the normal and natural reaction to certain circumstances to one person, and inappropriate to someone else in similiar circumstances.

 It’s important to keep in mind that psychiatric diagnoses tend to reflect social concerns as well as hard science.  For example, homosexuality was defined as a mental health disorder in the offical diagnostic and statistical manual of the American Pyschiatric Association, until 1980, when the diagnoses could no longer be justified.  As recently as 1994, a psychiatric diagnoses of self-defeating personality disorder was strongly criticized by groups who feared it would be used against women, it was quietly dropped.We believe that nonprofessionals need to understand the distinction between old-fashioned laboratory medical research and new-fashioned psychiatric and social research.  It’s important to keep psychiatric diagnoses in perspective.  Creating diagnostic guidelines and behavioral diagnoses is simply hohw physicians and mental health professionals organize the real problems that real people are having, so they can talk about them in a coherent way…

…We believe that the holistic model far more accurately reflects the true nature of the disorder.  A.D.D./A.D.H.D. is not a dysfunction of the central nervous system, but it is a condition of imbalance, or disharmony, on a dynamic, mind-body level.  These imbalances have physical counterparts-in body alignment, in the use of the body, in the ability to integrate the senses, and in brain wave and biochemical functioning.

Whatever its causes, A.D.D. is a departure from the natural core-that grounded, centered level of being that is our human birthright.”

And so began my personal journey to wholeness…

While I am only in the beginning of this phase of my journey…I am farther along than I have been in my 46 years.  Medication (personally) only took me so far, not nearly far enough…”Therapy” really got me nowhere…Regardless of “how I got where I am, I still couldn’t change where I was headed.”  This book empowered me to look at A.D.H.D differently, and the immediate effects were profound.

In my own life I’ve taken the advice here, and gone off in my own unique and perfect direction with them, enhancing and embellishing what works, and downplaying what doesn’t…but this is what we all should be doing to begin with.

The most important thing that I actually “got” from this book, was that A.D.D./A.D.H.D individuals look outside of themselves for the “self-referrent”, the “who” of who they really are and/or want to be.  Yet, this book is not based in psychology theory so much as in somatic realness.  These things are based in the body and how we use (or don’t use) it.

 If ever you purchase one book on A.D.H.D. for your child, or even for yourself, let it be this one.

~ A Fellow Traveller

In our Western culture, we are all driven to “accomplish”, get-more, “succeed”,keep up with the Smith’s and the Jones’; Hollywood, society, government, family… all shaping our concept of happiness…”He who dies with the most toys wins!”…Right?  Those of us that have identified as adults with AD/HD find ourselves trying to live an impossible dream.  It is not that happiness is elusive or out of our reach, no; rather our definition, as such, has been formed outside of our own good intention.

Then, when and if we finally get “it” and realize that what is most important is our particular view of success, many, if not most of us end up still using all of that for some sort of benchmark…comparing ourselves to others and our perception of how “others” really live.  Yet, those that are truly happy in life find their source, their fire, their fulfillment, within.

Lynn Weiss, Ph.D.  the Author of A.D.D. and Success has said:

“My current definition of succes does not rely on competitions, awards, or winners. It simply means that a person is living honestly, with purpose and kindness, being self-responsible and caring toward others. Success means being who you are at no one else’s expense. And finally, it means learning from the past so that the present portrays a more whole, authentic, and in many cases “healed” person.”

For those of us who have lived our lives with the spectre of AD/HD learning to be authentic can be the source for a wealth of change and true happiness in our lives.  We’ve often been told that we don’t try hard enough…but this isn’t the case.  We have simply been trying the wrong things (for ourselves) and at that, going about it all wrong. 

The most important point I think that Lynn drives home in her book is that AD/HD is not the enemy. 

While it certainly makes life interesting, and in honestly makes what seems easy to others extraordinarily “HUUUhhh?” for us it really represents our differences, our uniqueness moreso than a deficit.  Remember the old gag “Doctor doctor, it hurts when I do this, ‘so don’t do it!‘ “  In A.D.D. and Success one of her success stories, Debbie has said we (with AD/HD) need to:

• Laugh
• Listen to our feelings
• Learn to differentiate between our first reactive feelings
  and what we feel at a deeper level.
• Remember, no one knows what is best for us like we do–
  no one else walks in our shoes.
• Find out what makes our light burn.
• Find our fit, our passion.

The smorgasbord of neurological traits that have been labled ADD/ADHD by the medical community, in my opinion, are only a “disability” if taken in the context above…forcing someone else’s world-view over our own and squelching it out.  In fact, there are some traits that us ADD’ers have that people the world over strive for over their entire lives but never quite “get.”

 You know those firestorms and hurricanes that we (you and I) seem to have follow us, where ever we go?  Well, if you think about it, these have taught us how to “think outside the box”, to put out “thousand acre forest fires” with just the amount of breath it takes to blow out your Birthday candle (assuming you’re not yet a Centenarian!)

In her book Lynn features many stories of successful people inspite of and even because of their AD/HD.  AD/HD is just like a hammer, you can smash your hand with it, you can ruin the stone; or you can carve a beautiful stone temple for your life.  But in order to that without ruining both the stone and our thumbs we must first take up the chisel of our intention, understanding, self knowledge…we must decide what it is we want to create…and we must learn to hone our skills (how to work with our neurological traits, rather than against them.)

~ A Fellow Traveller

If you have AD/HD  or think you may have…you are just now beginning your journey!  While it appears that it has “given you a rough ride” you might try thinking of your life as  a race car, rather than a roller coaster…rather than an arduous trip that you’ve been dragged along on; an adventure unlike any another has ever know.

To be sure, living with AD/HD can be a challenge, or worse if not diagnosed and addressed/embraced. But, once recognized the diagnoses can both free you from years of guilt, and challenge you to tune up that race car you call “my life” and start steering in a direction that will bring you joy, stability, love and happiness.

The choice is yours…

Right now, I’m handing you a Polaroid photo of your life…

Now, you can continue to use that icky dime store frame (as if anyone can purchase a frame for a dime anymore!) or you can put a beautiful gold gilt frame around it…The same picture you say?  YES! But what you do with it is entirely up to YOU!

~Happy Camping!