Chris Packham: Inside our Minds, Sunday BBC2

I always considered myself very good at map reading, and I was, but it was a long time before I realised that I always had to have the map facing the way I was going! Another interesting thing is the way that men seem to know where the points of the compass are and follow a map in their heads, while women navigate by landmarks. I was once looking for somewhere in London and if I asked a man for directions it was "first right, take the third left, and then North up the main road" If I asked a woman it was "walk up as far as that big tree on the corner, turn left and you'll see an old pub, cross the road at the traffic lights and you'll see the park gates in front of you"

I wish that I had heard the port/starboardthing pre satnav days. It would have saved soooo many, shall we say altercations 😡

MOnica and Allira
For some odd reason I find it more comfortable to steer a boat with a tiller rather than a wheel. It just feels right.

M0nica, I was quite fortunate, my parents had daughters who were not ADD, I was younger, they saw my differences and somehow knew the way to help me was to calmly advise paying attention, sitting still, and concentrating.

I'm very sporty, my parents also made sure I had lots of time outside running and playing. Concentration is far easier when I'm tired.

My much younger brother took the tablets when he had to concentrate in his 20s and 30s. He is able to self regulate now, but young, beginning a job in NYC, away from home, the tablets helped him.

I'm in favour of whatever helps. For me that is coffee, exercise, and people round me calmly reminding me to concentrate. I'm not hyper, I suspect that makes the ADD slightly easier by a small measure.

I do know right from left, know not what a port is, can read a map and navigate well. We're all different, with various abilities.

I am with you, Norah, I would not take tablets - but then at a family gathering I discovered my cousin's son, a hospital consultant, has been diagnosed with ADHD, and he has the tablets, but only takes them when he needs them. They are there if needed.

Like you I have developed strategies for dealing with my problems, but having talked to DS recently, who is close to having a breakdown because of his ADHD, ADHD presents itself in different people in different ways and I can see that my strategies. He is also a senior academic, involved in lots of projects, having to take on more and more administration work, and everyone in the department, neurally diverse or not, is under strain because of the number of balls they are juggling and generally the neural diverse among them are struggling more than the thers.

I think you were also fortunate that those around you, teachers and parents, understood your problems. For most of us, and I am your age, nothing was known about these problems and even with loving, caring and worried parents, I was generally seen as a rather odd child who was just not trying hard enough and far to careless.

Doodledog

It might for some. But to get a diagnosis you have to suspect that there is an issue (not necessarily a problem) and follow up the suspicions. If you can do that, you can read around it and gain an understanding that way.

I'm not discouraging anyone from doing what's right for them, but it's not a one size fits all situation.

I agree. I've ADD (no H).

So obvious that I always knew, Mum and Dad always knew. The nuns knew. There were no tablets. The people round me said "concentrate" or "sit still," or "pay attention" often - I speak the same to myself. I learned strategy.

I'd not take tablets. I appreciate some people may find the tablets helpful, I drink lots of strong coffee and that seems to help (though counter intuitive).

M0nica

Now I can read maps - and transpose them - but left and right, now that is a problem. With both my sister and DD had to be given directions by waving the appropriate arm so that the driver could see it as neither of them had a clue which was which otherwise.

In DD case the problem was solved when she was involved in a car accident and badly her damaged right arm. We now give directions as 'arm' ( the damaged one ) and non-arm (the undamaged one) and it really works very well. However it is a rather drastic solution to the problem, so I do not recommend it.

Allira I am like your DH on one point. I too can respond correctly to port and starboard, whilst still confused by left and right.

As a navigator in the car, I have been known to shout "Other left!" at DH.

I touch my wedding ring to signify left . How hard can it be, but after all these years there is still an element of doubt.

Now I can read maps - and transpose them - but left and right, now that is a problem. With both my sister and DD had to be given directions by waving the appropriate arm so that the driver could see it as neither of them had a clue which was which otherwise.

In DD case the problem was solved when she was involved in a car accident and badly her damaged right arm. We now give directions as 'arm' ( the damaged one ) and non-arm (the undamaged one) and it really works very well. However it is a rather drastic solution to the problem, so I do not recommend it.

Allira I am like your DH on one point. I too can respond correctly to port and starboard, whilst still confused by left and right.

It might for some. But to get a diagnosis you have to suspect that there is an issue (not necessarily a problem) and follow up the suspicions. If you can do that, you can read around it and gain an understanding that way.

I'm not discouraging anyone from doing what's right for them, but it's not a one size fits all situation.

Doodledog

Sarnia

Having 2 GC with dyslexia and autism I am a firm believer in professional assessments. Otherwise how do you know what you are dealing with? Being aware of any issues is vital for the child and all those who have contact with them.

I agree when it comes to children. As an older adult, I don't see the point though.

I think for an adult their life must have been like doing a jigsaw without the picture.
Being diagnosed must surely put that jigsaw together and give them some understanding on why they found life so difficult and was the odd one out.

MayBee70

petra

Allira
The map thing came up at a party last Saturday. Lots of women do it. The men found it odd.
I get left and right muddled.
On my driving test I had to put a tight elastic band round my left wrist.

When I saw my osteopath last week I circled the wrong knee on the diagram he gave me. Good job I wasn't having an operation on it.

😯

But you're looking at the diagram so left is right!

petra

Allira
The map thing came up at a party last Saturday. Lots of women do it. The men found it odd.
I get left and right muddled.
On my driving test I had to put a tight elastic band round my left wrist.

When I saw my osteopath last week I circled the wrong knee on the diagram he gave me. Good job I wasn't having an operation on it.

I get left and right muddled
DH only gets it if I say port or starboard.

Allira
The map thing came up at a party last Saturday. Lots of women do it. The men found it odd.
I get left and right muddled.
On my driving test I had to put a tight elastic band round my left wrist.

MayBee70

I’m beginning to wonder if I have ADHD which is why my house is such a mess. I just flit from one thing to another. I’ll start dusting a room and, part way through, will start something else. The duster will remain where I left if for ages. I’ll even look at it, wonder why I just left it there but still do nothing about it. Will trash the kitchen just making a sandwich. I can concentrate on things, though, and was very studious as a child. I’m also very ocd too. I can’t remember car journey routes, no matter how many times I go that way. Can’t read maps unless the road I’m travelling on is going the same way as I am. I’ll be obsessed about a subject and then suddenly become obsessed with something else.

Perhaps most of that is in the range of normality as it sounds very familiar to me.

Can’t read maps unless the road I’m travelling on is going the same way as I am I thought that was normal too! I found maps in Australia most disconcerting as South is at the top.

Yes I agree, I also know someone else who had an adult diagnosis and I don't think it has helped them at all!

It depends on the individual, obviously. I'm just speaking for myself. I don't want medication, and don't see what would be gained by being told what I already know. I have read around it and apply some of the coping strategies already. Mostly, I've just learned to accept it for what it is though.

A friend of mine struggled throughout their life and always felt 'out of step', to be honest looking back it was clear she was autistic. She had a diagnosis later in life and it has really helped her.

Sarnia

Having 2 GC with dyslexia and autism I am a firm believer in professional assessments. Otherwise how do you know what you are dealing with? Being aware of any issues is vital for the child and all those who have contact with them.

I agree when it comes to children. As an older adult, I don't see the point though.

Having an autistic grandchild, I'm naturally interested in the subject. I think Chris Packham dealt with it marvellously.

Having 2 GC with dyslexia and autism I am a firm believer in professional assessments. Otherwise how do you know what you are dealing with? Being aware of any issues is vital for the child and all those who have contact with them.

I feel sad when I look back on ADHD me as a child. As others have said, I won't be pursuing any diagnosis, too late and pointless.
I had a huge amount of trouble organising myself. I couldn't play any sports whatsoever and I couldn't do country dancing!
My brain didn't get patterns somehow.
My parents were hopeless and unkind and I moved school twice.
In some ways though, other neural pathways kicked in to over come this stuff.

MayBee70

I’m beginning to wonder if I have ADHD which is why my house is such a mess. I just flit from one thing to another. I’ll start dusting a room and, part way through, will start something else. The duster will remain where I left if for ages. I’ll even look at it, wonder why I just left it there but still do nothing about it. Will trash the kitchen just making a sandwich. I can concentrate on things, though, and was very studious as a child. I’m also very ocd too. I can’t remember car journey routes, no matter how many times I go that way. Can’t read maps unless the road I’m travelling on is going the same way as I am. I’ll be obsessed about a subject and then suddenly become obsessed with something else.

That all sounds familiar, MayBee.

Hyperfocus is an ADD thing - I can ignore the mess because it's vitally important that I research the Tudor diet, cast on another jumper or watch a box set that most people would leave until they weren't busy.

Google ADD in women. Even if, like me, you don't bother about a diagnosis or getting medication, at least you'll be more forgiving of yourself, and can explain to those who matter (if you want to) why you are as you are, and point out the benefits too.

(see you on the decluttering thread with the other ADDers😉)

Completely agree Monica, you can’t fit neurodiverse people into neat little boxes. I’m primarily dyspraxic but also have traits that fit in with other neurodivergent conditions. Add to that that we are all genetically different and have different life experiences and you have to take a much more holistic approach.

Urgh, ironing!