“Single-Minded Focus”

Michael Phelps won the Gold Medal in his first swim in Beijing! There seems to be some confusion and wonder at how and why Michael Phelps was able to overcome so many odds to not break under so much mental pressure. Michael is described in countless articles to have laser like focus on his swimming and single mindedness on being the best. His concentration has even been described as other-worldly. Yes, Michael has the body makeup of a perfect swimming machine, but in competition it is always the mental aspect which allows someone to step above the rest – in Michael’s case, way above the rest – domination.

Michael Phelps has ADHD. I am not the least bit confused by what others are describing about his laser like concentration, this mental part of his makeup, believe it or not, is rather normal for most people with ADHD. It is called Hyper Focusing. Hyper Focusing allows us to concentrate on something so intensely that we cannot break away from whatever we are focusing on, it can provide supreme drive and motivation. Before I go on about how this helps Michael, let me first be clear about the reality of Hyper Focusing for most people with ADHD. Hyper Focusing is a major cause of dilemma and strife, it can be more of a distraction than anything else. It is often said that kids with ADHD cannot focus and concentrate in school, that’s not entirely true, it is just that these kids are focusing on other things – day dreams, that butterfly outside the window, or maybe something they want to do outside of class.

It is when we start Hyper Focusing on something which we have a talent in, and can make a career of, that Hyper Focusing becomes a benefit. If you read over many of my articles here on ADDer World you will notice that I have written many times at how people with ADHD can be the best at anything they set their mind’s to, well, not just the best, better than anyone who has come before them! This has been proven time and time again, this is not a myth or made up wishful thinking, it is a fact. Find someone with ADHD who is doing what they Hyper Focus on in which they have talent and you will find someone doing amazing things which defy all logic. Michael Phelps is the latest proof.

In my book I clearly describe how pressure, stress and yes, even fear, helped me Hyper Focus. I am a pool / billiard player and when I am under the most pressure, which could seem unbearable to others, I would always perform at my best – I hardly ever lost when under extreme mental pressure. That same pressure, stress and fear does not help me Hyper Focus in other things, it can do the opposite, if it is not what I am self-motivated for. That’s a longer explanation better left in my book and not this article.

This brings me back to Michael winning a Gold Medal yesterday in Beijing. In an article I was reading this morning this stood out to me:

“In an event in which he was supposed to be pushed, he had no peers. In a race in which there was to be stress, he became the picture of relaxation, so at odds with the feat he accomplished. With President Bush, the first lady and former president George H.W. Bush in the stands waving American flags, Phelps won the 400-meter individual medley at the National Aquatics Center in a world record time of 4 minutes 3.84 seconds — crushing his old world mark, winning an Olympic gold medal and likely sending chills through the rest of the competitors on hand, many of whom could succumb to Phelps in similar fashion later in the meet.” washingtonpost.com

I read similar remarks in many other articles about Michael Phelps and it seems to me that few understand the power at Michael’s disposal when it comes to Hyper Focusing. Having the president watching, the first lady and the former President too, is enough to overwhelm most people and make them start rethinking what they are doing or forget what they are doing all together. It is extreme mental pressure and not to mention that just about everyone else in the world is watching too. Michael Phelps was expected to do well and that adds its own kind of intense pressure, the fear of failure and not living up to expectations. The reality that many fail to comprehend about someone with ADHD is that all such pressure is simply more stimulation – it is natural Ritalin, if you will, but far more effective! Whereas Ritalin helps release someone from their single minded, hyper focused and seemingly distracted thoughts, mental pressure of an intense nature helps one increase their Hyper Focus on whatever has captured their mind’s attention.

Congratulations Michael and a special thank you from the rest of us with ADHD!

A short warning to parents of ADHD children: Hyper Focusing cannot be directed to activities that you choose are best for the child. Fear, pressure and stress will not help a child improve in school or other activities as I describe above. I explain this in my book, but I think a simple warning is important. Hyper Focusing works from within the ADHD mind and whatever ‘IT’ is attracted to.  An ADHD person has very little control over that which his or her mind Hyper Focuses on. Michael has the benefit that that which he Hyper Focuses on is useful in building a swimming career; however, if Michael’s mind had focused on insect collecting instead, I don’t think he would be praised so much… if that were the case no parental pressure in the world could have made him Hyper Focus on swimming instead.

~Bryan

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I wondered who I could write about for this New Year’s article to really highlight ADD ADHD as something viable, something valuable, –something real and something to be, yes, to be cherished. The struggles are real and the stigma can be devastating, but there is so much more to it than that, so much indeed.

Who better to demonstrate the brilliance of human life and the positive abilities ADD ADHD bring to the world and the people it touches?

Enter: K E V I N  W A L L

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Kevin Wall has ADHD.

“Kevin is an extraordinary guy,” Al Gore told Fortune magazine. “He has limitless energy and creativity.”

Emmy Award Winner. 
Producer and/or distributer of over 300 Major Live Concerts with:
Al Gore – Madonna – Alicia Keys – Lenny Kravitz – The Police –  Bob Dylan – Eric Clapton – And so, so many more!

Kevin wall has in one way or another produced, distributed and helped create such extraordinary awareness campaigns such as: Live 8, Live AID, Pink Floyd at the Berlin Wall (yes indeed), and concerts to free Nelson Mandela.

Kevin Wall has ADHD.

Kevin Wall’s participation with Al Gore and the LIVE EARTH event was so moving to him, that he even gave up his Mercedes Benz for a hybrid GREEN car!

I have thought about it and I see a correlation between ADD ADHD and these benefit concerts, especially concerts like Live Earth. So many people are in denial that the Earth needs help, that the environment is in danger and we should do something about it. The same goes for ADDers (those with ADD or ADHD), so many people are in denial that ADD ADHD exists, that it can be debilitating which brings with it depression and suffering, or that it can be a creative outlet of magnificent and positive proportions! Awareness and understanding is the key to improving anything.

Kevin Wall is the quintessence of using innate ADHD traits for the betterment of mankind, bringing forth an awareness of what is vitally important to the masses. The Earth’s environment affects all of us and with ADD ADHD diagnosed in a significant portion of the population and millions estimated to be undiagnosed with ADD ADHD; this too affects all of us!

I would love to meet this man, shake his hand and tell him personally what an inspiration he is, not only to me, but really, to the masses, all of us!

How does Wall keep track of all the details? He says it helps that he has ADHD. “I have a hard time micromanaging,” he says, “but I tend to know all the top-line information, and I can connect the dots. That’s a positive attribute of ADHD.” Wall isn’t guessing about his condition; his wife, Susan Smalley, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, discovered the genes for ADHD.
From an article by Fortune Magazine

“Although ADHD is still classified a disorder because of the challenges individual’s face with it, I’m more convinced everyday that it is a way of thinking and processing the world that is so beneficial to humanity, we must turn our attention to it. – When I met my husband at age 15, I knew I had found my soul mate, the person with whom I would spend my life.”

Dr. Susan Smalley 

Having ADD or ADHD does not mean you are alone, it does not mean you must be lost, it does not mean you cannot succeed or create wonderful things, it does not mean others will not care. You are a human being with value and great talents and traits within you!

Happy New Year’s and Best of all my Wishes!

~Bryan

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The reason I created Adder World was and is to help spread understanding and awareness of ADD ADHD. I speak from experiences I have had, what I have researched and the experiences others have shared with me. I do not claim to be a doctor or any other type of medical professional. If my experiences and what I have observed and therefore write about help bring awareness and inquiry to others, then I am achieving my said goal and hopefully more.

You can help me!

Read on if you really, really want to help…

Yes, indeed you can! Your experiences are valuable to all of us. We can learn from you and at the same time your comments can help spread awareness. Please, share your experiences with the rest of us by commenting on any article you relate to, most especially if you relate to more articles. Do not under estimate the value of your voice and how it might help others in similar situations as you. Many of you visit from ADD ADHD forums and you share your ideas there and no, you shouldn’t stop that—only enhance that by allowing others to hear from you from across the internet. Not everyone visits the same sites and many might not have read your experiences yet. I do appreciate the emails I receive and that has helped me along greatly—let’s spread the knowledge and give our visitors more than just my opinions, experiences and research! Everyone can become part of the solution and help reverse the overwhelming denial and negative opinion of the general public. Not only that, but many medical professionals have visited Adder World, by writing your experiences, you could very well be helping these professionals discover new treatments! I don’t think that’s too far fetched… do you?

Thanks for visiting Adder World… Your world, my world… OUR world!

~Bryan

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This is a nice little article about the positive sides of ADHD. 

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about.com/od/teensandaddadhd/a/persepctives.htm

About.com breaks down certain traits of ADD ADHD and describes the positive sides of those traits.

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http://www.k12academics.com/add_positives.htm

A good article for parents of ADD ADHD children and how ADD ADHD can be positive for the learning experience if tapped correctly. 

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