Finding Normal

I’ve spent a good part of my life trying to act like those around me. My special lifelong challenge, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), has never allowed that.

My unique ability of thinking (and being) different from what others expect of me has often alienated me from their friendships that I always desired. Over the years, a variety of medications have helped to tone down my bold personality to a frequency that’s more average (in places like school, work, home, and church).

The definition for ADHD as given by the book, You Mean I’m not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy (by Kate Kelly & Peggy Ramundo) is it’s a disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that is characterized by disturbances in attention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. ADHD falls under the American Disability Act.

Driven to Distraction (by Edward M. Hallowell & John J. Raney) provides the following criteria for an undiagnosed adult with ADHD. (If twelve of the points below are present, please see a psychologist for a professional psychological evaluation):

1.  A sense of underachievement in meeting one’s goal (regardless of the attempt).

2.  Challenges in organization (of their world).

3.  Chronic procrastination (or difficulty in starting of a project).

4.  Trouble with follow through on a particular topic (if not of interest).

5.  Expressing immediately what comes to mind without considering timing (or appropriateness) of remark.

6.  A frequent search for high emotional (or physical) stimulation.

7.  Intolerance for boredom.

8.  Easy distractibility, trouble focusing attention, mentally tune out (or drift away) during reading or a conversation, ability to hyperfocus at times.

9.  Often creative in talent, perceptive of other’s needs during a conversation, highly intelligent in the understanding of their world.

10.     Difficulty in going through proper channels.

11.     Impatient (and low tolerance of frustration).

12.     Hot tempered. Impulsive (verbally or in actions), in spending money, in changing of plans, and in enacting new schemes or career plans.

13.     Tendency to needlessly (and endlessly) worry; constantly looking for something to be anxious about, or having disregard for actual danger.

14.     Feeling of insecurity.

15.     Mood swings (especially when disengaged from a person or project).

16.     A tendency toward addictive (or obsessive) behavior.

17.     Chronic difficulties with self esteem.

18.     Inaccurate self observation.

19.     A childhood history of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

If you are a supervisor that believes you have an ADHD/ADD employee, here are some things you can do to help them make their time at work easier (and more productive for you):

1.  Place the employee’s seating away from the other’s in the office. (This is not done as punishment, but to assist with attention and distractibility issues.)

2.  Limit office distractions for the employee (like phone or electronic communication) to a minimum. When this kind of employee is in hyper focused on their job, and receives many distractions. Hours of lost productivity can be the result.

3.  The “tough love” approach rarely works with this kind of employee. Verbal or written warnings do little but anger this hard-working person. It often makes them resentful of their supervisor (which is the exact opposite of what action like this is supposed to accomplish).

4.  One-on-one communication is the best way to deal with this kind of employee instead of touching on it anonymously in a group conference. As a supervisor, be a safe haven of confidentiality that they can communicate with when life challenges arise.

5.  Provide definable work boundaries for this employee. In time, both of you can provide each other with acceptable solutions to work-related challenges.

Normalcy for the entire human race is both misleading (and unachievable by everyone). We all have our own peculiarities (or battle scars). Within the body of Christ, your unique talents (or abilities) are a plus that is needed to make your local church run smoothly. (I Corinthians 12:14-26)

Romans 12:6-8 (MSG) provides a variety of ministries the Heavenly Father needs volunteers for in His local church. Can you fill any of the vacancies below? (Note the phrase I’ve put in bold print and underlined in this passage.)

“If you preach, just preach God’s message, nothing else. If you help, just help, don’t take over. If you teach, stick to your teaching. If you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy. If you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate.

If you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond. If you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.”

*Adapted from a 1990’s work article by me entitled “Caution: Do Not Approach While in Motion.”