Chris Packham: Inside our Minds, Sunday BBC2

On Thursday, I was at a family gathering, a gathering of first ccousins, my granfather had 11 chidlren, so there are quite a lot of us.

By mentioning that DS and DGS are waiting for ADHD diagnoses. I broke the constraints. Several then said that they too had children or grandchildren with ADHD. One of these children is a hospital consultant. I suspect, that two of my second cousins are autistic, but nothing is said. DS and I also have dyspraxia.

Doodledog's post rang so true with me. My dyspraxia probably caused me more problems because it meant I had such atrocious hand writing and was an underchiever in school because I always lost so many marks for bad handwriting. When it came to exams, I always did well. When DS starting to have the same problems were what led me to search for help.

When I think back to my childhood, the overwhelming memory is of feeling constantly utterly bereft and on my own, with no one having any idea who or what I was. This despite having loving caring parents. We were on different planets.

As for driving. I do, but my dyspraxia made passing the test difficult. I deal wth my wandering mind by having the radio on all the time, playing music quietly.

I always compare my brain with the sun and the sun spots that keep flaring up, the music quietens them. I also like to have the radio on when I work, until I suddenly go into hyper-focus, when I promptly turn it off.

It was a wonderful programme. My GC has ADHD - now a young adult. Chris has given me a greater understanding of the condition. A must watch for those with ADHD and those without it! Well done Chris.

I watched through tears streaming down my face, I felt SO guilty for always telling my daughter to ‘use her quiet voice’, or to report back to her that her teachers thought that she could work harder at school. She left school with no qualifications but I always knew she was highly intelligent. She now has a very high flying career but was mystified as to why she always felt ‘different’. Last year, in her early 40s she was diagnosed as having ADHD. Suddenly her life long struggles make sense.

Overthemoongran Your story reminds me of my grandson. He was about 9 and was beginning to have problems at school, but at that point he hadn't been diagnosed and we weren't sure what was going on. He had a nice teacher who was very young and admitted that he hadn't come across a child like this before. I used to collect him from school and, everyday, I would be greeted with a list of all the things he had done wrong, and how they had talked about it and he wouldn't do them tomorrow. It was so pointless because I knew he didn't understand why he was wrong and he would do exactly the same things tomorrow. Fortunately the following year he got a diagnosis and a new teacher who understood him.

Lahlah65

I’ll try - but this is another ‘national treasure’ I personally struggle to watch. (Along with Monty Don.) There, I’ve said it publicly now! I find them just both too self important.

I’m so glad someone else feels the same! I find Packham insufferable.
An awful lot of my family are dyslexic and neurodivergent including my late son and one DGD, so it would have been interesting to watch. But the presenter puts me right off.

Excellent and informative series.

I found last night's Dyslexia episode very informative. I had thought it was only reading that was affected, but several other every day functions are difficult for sufferers too.

grandMattie

Lahlah65

I’ll try - but this is another ‘national treasure’ I personally struggle to watch. (Along with Monty Don.) There, I’ve said it publicly now! I find them just both too self important.

I’m so glad someone else feels the same! I find Packham insufferable.
An awful lot of my family are dyslexic and neurodivergent including my late son and one DGD, so it would have been interesting to watch. But the presenter puts me right off.

If you think the programme subject would interest you, I can tell you that Chris Packham took a back seat and was not the cocky person you may have seen at other times.

shysal

I found last night's Dyslexia episode very informative. I had thought it was only reading that was affected, but several other every day functions are difficult for sufferers too.

This applies to several aspects of neural divergence, they interlink.

I have dyspraxia, 'clumsy child' syndrome. I only recently discovered that problems I have with sequencing, are another sign of it. Most people will have noticed how I often type letters in the wrong order, As Eric Morecambe said - all the right notes, just in the wrong order, or in my case all the right letters/numbers - just the wrong order. Also these mistakes get through because my proof reading can be faulty the result of my dyspraxia. I also have ADHD and again the tow problems interlink.

I often think the idea that neural diversity can be neatly divided up into neat packages labled dyslexia, ADHD, autism, is a mistake. I always think neural diversity is like the hexagonal colour chart you find in Excel, if you click on 'more colours'. A spread and blend of colours where yellow merges into green at one point, blue somewhere else and red elsewhere, and that applies to all colours.

I do not have autism, but I can recognise traits in me that fall within that range, but are also associated with ADHD, which again overlaps with dyspraxia.

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 dusting is just boring? ( only joking)

A lot of this rings very true for me.

I like dusting. It’s something I can do whilst still listening to music or watching box sets! Ironing is a different matter. Can’t remember the last time I used an iron?

Urgh, ironing!

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.

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😉)

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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