Comments on: “Excuse me, officer, do you have ADHD?”

By: Roslyn

Roslyn — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:43:01 +0000

My 20 year old son was diagnosed with ADD as a child but then of course, it was thought he outgrew the condition. Of course, he has not but everytime I bring it up he won’t listen. It is so obvious he has this condition based upon his behavior patterns. He really does tend to get himself into miscommunication trouble when stopped by the police(which happens often to young men in our town). About a year ago, he decided out of the blue he wanted to be a firefighter or paramedic! Reading what all of you have written about just further confirms his diagnosis in my mind. Now if I could just get him to see a doctor.

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:29:15 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Katharine, Jaelle and Betsy.

Vicki, I’m not surprised at all that you didn’t make the connection. I hear this all the time. ADHD is one tricky condition — a real shape shifter.

At our adult ADHD meeting last night, there were 20 (new!) people, and while they all had many experiences in common, you would never know it in a social setting. All very different people and different challenges.

Will you be attending the ADDISS conference March 30-April 1? I will be speaking April 1 at the conference, and I will present a talk free to the public on March 31. Maybe I will see you there! http://www.addiss.co.uk/GinaPera.doc

By: Vicki

Vicki — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:32:29 +0000

Having lived with my partner for 12yrs, you’d think I’d of noticed his ADHD before now, being that I work with adults both diagnosed and undiagnosed with this ‘difference’. Talk about not seeing the wood for the trees!

He is a specialised Police Officer in the UK and has unpredictable shift patterens and no routine to speak of (something he finds hard to cope with). Before this, he worked as a fireman and yes, there were relatively few fires to deal with.

I think the combination of intense/close working relationships and the occasional adrenaline rush are what attract him to these areas of work. It seems people with ADHD end up involved with the police in one capacility or other!

By: betsy davenport, phd

betsy davenport, phd — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 10:41:43 +0000

I have long wondered what the fire fighters with AD/HD do when there is no fire, which is most of the time. Those guys typically hang around the firehouse. Somebody cooks (great food, I am told) and everybody eats. They have cots and sleep when they need to.

So if you’re one of those people, and you can’t stand boredom, what is that time like?

The same question applies to the ER doc or ICU nurse, and what they do when there isn’t anything popping.

By: Jaelle n'ha Gilla

Jaelle n'ha Gilla — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:17:20 +0000

*lol* Great story well told. It does make sense what Katherine said. A friend of mine with ADHD works as a social worker for near criminal youngsters. Not much of a schedule or a routine but very much stimulation indeed

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:37:00 +0000

That’s true, Katharine! And often there are very structured routines.

By: Katharine

Katharine — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:08:19 +0000

Great story. Now that I think about it, it makes sense that it would be common for police officers (and probably firefighters and emergency-department personnel) to have ADHD; there’s no lack of stimulation on the job.