Hey hypofocus. That is a great analogy. I never heard it put that way. I have a moon roof? Coooool

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Indeed! Much better than my "my brain is like my room - messy, disorganized but cosy and full of everything I love. - or sort of like an archeological dig... lots of dirt with some great treasures that appear out of nowhere if you just dig around.

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Haha, I really do have a moonroof on my car. I feel inspired now to go space out with it!

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I let my 10-year-old daughter read your description of ADD and she loved it (she has ADD). She has started telling people that she has a sun roof/ moon roof. She thinks it's a perfect analogy for how she sees the world. I think it is pretty apt, too. Thanks for finding a simple way to describe such a frustrating (to outsiders) behavior!

She asked for a printed copy to put in her "office"--of course I let her have it. I'm trying to help her see all the positive things about ADD (she was just diagnosed last fall).

By the way, I'm reading a great book called "Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child," by Jeffrey Freed, M.A.T., and Laurie Parsons. One of the most amazing things I've read so far is Freed's description of left-brain, whole-brain, and right-brain individuals, the right-brain/ADD child connection, and hypersensitivities of the ADD child. As I read his descriptions and examples of common traits of an ADD child, it seemed like he was describing my daughter (and to an amazing degree, me)!

Freed has been working with ADD and gifted children, and he presents a simple program parents can use to help their ADD children succeed.

You really ought to check out this book. I found it at Barnes & Noble when I was looking for other books on ADD. (No, I'm not getting paid for this endorsement--I just really like the book!)

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Great description Hypofocus. Tangles - I love your description. I know that is what we struggle with so it made me laugh at myself! Thanks, because I needed that today. Stay positive!

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I agree with the poster above. I have ADHD and so does my daughter, however I havn't told her about it yet or figured out how to explain it to her so she won't just say "oh" or " I have what?" But I had to laugh also at the descriptive ways you described. I always wondered why I always drove with the sun roof open when I had one. I always found myself looking out it at stoplights or when I was stopped somewhere. Interesting. Anyhow hope everyone has a great, weekend.

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You know, I always liked that commercial, and in my previous car, I had a moonroof. I loved it when I was at a stoplight, I could just gaze up and take in the stars. But now I see why I liked it so much..it is me!

I will definitely have to share this with my husband. He's usually frustrated with my lack of housekeeping, and has been actually acting curious about my ADD, and what it is like to live life with it.

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What a beautiful simple way to describe the hyperfocus ADD. I if something catches my attention tend to hyperfocus on it. I am also very creative and paint. I think explaining it this way explains the enjoyable of finding the creative mind I never see the world in Black or white, I always saw it color.

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I love the moonroof analogy! I hope that the moonroof gazer is safely NOT driving while spacing out! :) However, I find driving to be a very boring activity, when it is not stressful. Since I know the safety risks of drifting into dreamy thought, I don't enjoy even driving on a beautiful open road, because there isn't another task for me to do to prevent sleep.

I'm much happier as an active participant in travel, such as riding my bike, which forces me to stay alert, while adrenaline helps to dissipate the dreamer and push me forward to my destination. It also gives me the satisfaction of well-spent time, as I am getting exercise while commuting to work, school, the grocery store, a friend's house or fun event.

I should take my own advice and ride somewhere today! As a second year grad student in a three-year program, I have gotten off to a rough start and could use a boost of energy. And a confidence surge.

Anyone else prefer bike riding to driving, for reasons linked to ADHD symptoms?

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Great analogy. All the best, Joseph

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This motherofCHAOS has her own chaos too! For years, before I got diagnosed, I said it was live having "hamsters in the head." It is like having too many ideas all going on at once and competing for my attention, but MAN, are they ever slippery little devils when you try to catch & hold onto one. But when I do, you can bet it won't escape.

Question (don't know whether i should start a new thread here, but it does involve a description): I want to know whether other people experience this: When i am mentally busy (pretty much all the time), whether trying to catch a hamster (focus), or dealing with the hamster (hyperfocus!), I feel like i should be wearing a sign that says PLEASE KNOCK. I get so thrown off by interruptions, & sometimes inwardly angry at what (to me) feels like a big intrusion, like somebody walked right into my house without an invitation, & didn't even ring the doorbell! I thought about why it makes me mad, & came to the conclusion that it is the assumption (on the part of the interloper) that I'm not busy, not DOING anything (or anything important), that I'm just sitting there idle, waiting for their input. It takes me time to switch my attention; I need a moment to shut down one thing before going on to another.

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We're working on getting our 11 year old daughter diagnosed with probably inattentive type ADD or ADHD. Teachers never noticed a solid pattern although there were hints on report cards like "needs reminding to stay focused and organized".

Love the "moon roof" analogy - and even the archaeological dig one! Haven't been able to explain it to her without "hurting her feelings" or making her think something is wrong with her brain.

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