ADD and diving

[gregmontalbano]

Personally, having ADD, I see a considirable diffrence in myself as a diver when medicated as opposed to not medicated. Not something i'd recommend screwing with without consulting your docor first. It's not too bad, but when not treated certen people with ADD can become more focused on a task, and complete the task sooner. This can be good when in a siutation that requires focus such as complex lifting operations or untangling somebody, but it also has a bad side. I've seen people too fixated on things around them to notice that there buddy is in some serious trouble. It's really diffrent with every person, and case of ADD.

Walt1957-Personally I wouldn't jump to conclusions. Just because someone is panicky on land doesn't mean they will react the same way in water. On the other hand, it could make it worse. It's most defenitly something that some people outgrow, but some may not.

 

[LOG-SPLITTER]

I have Add and just new to diving and so far no issues.Just paying attention to the dive briefing.lol

 

[DaytonaDave]

I had stepchildren who where ADHD. I spent countless hours in counselors' offices and speaking with doctors.... ADHD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain (low dopamine levels I believe). ADHD sufferers typically self medicate... they tend to be smokers, drinkers, drug-users if they are left untreated. Some ADHD sufferers use exercise and the endorphins that it creates to let their body self-medicate. This could explain why some of you ADHD guys find in soothing to dive. You are getting exercise.... creating endorphins.... also, ADHD patients typically find that a task that forces high stress focusing can boost their dopamine levels temporarily, creating a 'normal' dopamine level allowing them to focus for short bursts.... diving certainly fits this bill.

As for the poster who says that ADHD is nothing more than poor parenting, I felt the same way until I was exposed to the reality. ADHD medications DO NOT treat or dope up children who do not have the disorder... quite the opposite. ADHD is treated with stimulants (excluding a new drug which is not). If you give these meds to a normal child, they will CLIMB THE WALLS! Please save your judgements until you are a parent. There are horrible parents in the world... and yes, it would be easier to be a parent if there wasn't the fear that your parenting skills could land you in jail or send your kids to a foster home (where they are more likely to be truly abused). It's a shame that the parents who let their kids run amock are less likely to be attacked by DCF than parents who are really trying to control their children........

I say if your kid is responsible, and you are going to stay shallow and teach them properly... and evaluate them, then go for it. ADHD children (and adults) thrive on structure, so have a routine that you follow every time.... I would include a debriefing, requiring him to give pros and cons on his own performance. This would force him to concentrate on what he's doing every step of the way. Oh, and remember ... stay positive.... ADHD patients get discouraged easily by negativity.

 

[Quarrior]

Here's a link to a SCUBA discussion site that is oriented toward medical questions like this.

I take meds for bi-polar. I know that if I was on anti-depressents alone that diving would be risky, but since I also take an anti-manic, they balance each other.

DocVikingo gave me the web site. http://scuba-doc.com/clinic/index.php

 

[The Kraken]

AHDH, in the years when I was a child, was treated with occasional applications of two of the trace elements . . . . wood and leather.

the K

 

[RJP]

Here's a post I put up to a similar question a few months back...

As an ADHD adult I can tell you that this is nothing to fool around with. Here's some startling statistics for you...

1.) The number one cause of death of ADHD teens and adults is fatal car accidents

2.) The average ADHD kid/teen/adult is approx 100x more likely to visit the ER than their non-ADHD peers

This is ENTIRELY due to not paying attention, and it is almost entirely avoidable.

I see it myself, and today is a perfect example:

My ADHD meds seem to increase my potential for being seasick, so I will often skip them if I'm going boat diving. Was a bit choppy this AM so I didn't take my meds.

First dive, I could feel I wasn't "on top of everything" so I was double careful to check all my gear and configuration, etc. They set the hook, and we all suit up. I have my buddy check me again and I'm all set. Jersey roll into the water and I'm FREEZING immediately!

Dammit, I must have a leaking seal on my drysuit. Down the anchor line like a STONE, which is odd, because with my saltwater set-up and drysuit I'm usually pulling myself down the line. More air in the suit, but still feeling squeeze, still feeling cold, still very negative. Except for my feet which are ballooning, which isn't usually a problem.

Short dive because I figure I need to go up and tend to a leaky neck seal.

Get on the boat, doff the suit and I can feel that my fleece is still BONE dry!.

That's odd, no?

Then I also think: Why/how is it that I'm wearing my cheepo fleece OVER my Bare 300g undergarments?

OOPS!!!!

Seems I'm not WEARING my 300g thinsulate bodysuit, just the thin pair of cheepo nylon fleece I usually wear UNDER my body suit.

Obviously I got distracted while gearing up and didn't put them on.

What was I doing instead? Chatting with the other divers, cracking jokes, discussing gear configs and other dives, etc.

No harm, no foul; right?

This time. Suppose next time it was a BCD inflator hose, or my tank valve, or my dive computer, or my pony bottle?

Scary stuff - and I KNOW I have the problem and do/did everything I can to ensure I'm on top of stuff.

People can think what they want about ADHD, but telling someone with the disorder to "just focus" is like telling someone with asthma to "just breathe" or telling someone with poor eyesight to "just look."

Am I saying he shouldn't dive? No, but to the extent that his condition is not adequately controlled, you'll have to think about answering the question on the medical form as to whether he "has a medical condition that would prevent him from being a safe diver."

 

[Walt1957]

As for the poster who says that ADHD is nothing more than poor parenting, I felt the same way until I was exposed to the reality. ADHD medications DO NOT treat or dope up children who do not have the disorder... quite the opposite. ADHD is treated with stimulants (excluding a new drug which is not). If you give these meds to a normal child, they will CLIMB THE WALLS!

Exactly. Speaking as one who has ADD to a reasonably mild degree, I can tell you that this is true. How much caffiene can the average person drink late at night without effecting their sleep? A cup, if they are lucky? I could drink a pot of coffee and it would do nothing but improve my attention span!

I agree that too many parents allow ADHD to be an excuse. But anyone who has not parented or worked extensively with an ADHD child (my son has Bipolar also, Quarrior) does not know the challenges that it presents. It is easy to say corporal punishment is the answer. If only it were so easy. Many ADHD kids react in a much worse manner when spanked. And I don't mean because it was a one-time thing. I mean that spankings will cause an emotioanl response every time that makes the situation worse. Does that mean we have to learn to accept bad behavior? Of course not, it just means that we have to keep on top of what is important to our kids, even more than other parents. Because the things that matter to them are the only leverage to maintaining discipline with ADHD kids, and that can change oh so quickly.

Personally I think that the ADD side helps me be a better diver in some ways. This would vary depending on the level of distractibility and amount of focus of the individual. How does it help me? Because I am at a level where important things stay in my mind. Things like how much air I have, location and status of my buddy, what my depth is ... it all stays in the forefront because it is important. But I am distractible. Is that bad? Well, in my case it is good. I have seen many times where someone else was ignoring their surroundings, staring at something, and nobody could get their attention. I can be distracted. In an emergency you can get my attention EASIER than many others. Yet because it is important, you won't lose it. But that will vary with the severity of the ADD. I asked this question because I know that my level of ADD is nowhere near the extreme end, I do not even need meds, I have learned to cope adequately without. My son is on the other end of the spectrum. He can be distracted very easily, to the point of forgetting what he was supposed to be doing.

I appreciate the feedback and comments. Thanks!

 

[desiredbard]

AHDH, in the years when I was a child, was treated with occasional applications of two of the trace elements . . . . wood and leather.

the K

:lol:
And/but it worked did it not.

The "bubles" about chemical inbalance in the brain..... imbalance in the familylife is what causes it. If Parents would (be allowed to) set some rules and boundaries.....

I mean resoning with a kid..... when i was two I was told so often not to pull the tablecloth, now not to say my parents LET it happen, but I got scalded by a cup of tea....had respect for cups of hot drink ever after.
A kid does not understand certain reasoning without feeling the consequences.
You call your Mother a **** **** #### @@@@@ only a slap or room arrest or bars of soap will make the kid se consequence.


And if untreated ADHD sufferers tend to be smokers and drinkers...most all of them tend to go on scubatrips....

 

[Frog77]

And if untreated ADHD sufferers tend to be smokers and drinkers...most all of them tend to go on scubatrips....

Amazing. So according to your rationale, the reason I carried my ADD from childhood to my adult life was because I didn't get beaten up enough? Before you start making such incoherent comments I would recommend you do some research first. You can start here:

http://www.chadd.org

 

[Ber Rabbit]

A couple of threads for your reading pleasure:

ADHD Meds and Diving
Adhd
Adderal (an amphetamine)
Ber :lilbunny: