ADHD

[Kevin]

I was diagnosed in grade school back when the diagnosis was fairly novel. Had to see a psychiatrist all the way up in Tulsa (grew up in Edmond, just north of OKC). Was one of the only, if not the only child in a large school district who was both in the gifted & talented program who also had an IEP.

The meds (ritalin) did help in school and did help with some of the impulse control. On the downside, I think it took its toll on me as a social person. Off the meds, I was a troublemaker, on such good terms with the Principal that we kept a running chess game going for when I was sent to the office (which was frequent). That of course, made me one of the most popular kids in school... On the meds, I ended up being pretty much a loner who wrote programs in BASIC for fun. I was one of those.

At the age of 14, entering high school, I started refusing medication and still do. While the doctors offered analogies like glasses being used to correct vision and medication being used to correct ADHD, I didn't and don't buy it. ADHD is just who I am and who I was meant to be.

So I'm a disorganized, impulsive trial lawyer which means I will always have to have a good assistant to help me keep my stuff together. I've adjusted rather than medicated. As a parent, I'm pretty likely to pass on this condition (and I probably deserve to, but my wife is innocent). I tend to favor medicating children until they are old enough to decide for themselves.