A.D.D afflicted artists?

[hunchback]

Ive been around here for a while. and im quite an issue with attention defecit dissorder. I find this to be a real wall in my ability to grow and keep my interest in something till its done. My sketchbook is filled with pages that have scribbles on them but i know i can do better if i was able to keep focussed. Any tricks you guys got? or advice. thank you:yayca:

[Munin Raven]

I have a real problem maintaining focus on drawing and painting. I must clarify that I do not lose interest, I just have a problem focusing. Part of the fault lies in the fact that I have so many interests (art, music, reading etc... ) so I have tended to flit from one to the other in the past and not really accomplish anything of note in any field.

This plagued me more than it does now for many years when I was young, and my dad was the same. I don't think I have ADD to the point where it has effected my life so others (teachers in the past) have noticed it. I was kinda the class clown, although I have grown up enough to realise the 'clown' bit had nothing to do with my ADD. The fact that I was a clown/jokester etc... did a good job of masking my ADD when I was at school becouse all the teachers assumed that was the problem - which it was to a certain extent - but nothing to do with my ADD.

I found out after leaving school (I'm now 33) that my dad was the same. He didn't achieve anything when he was young but had many passions and still does. He went through a bad time about 8 years ago (health wise) and had to quit work. During recovery he decided life was too short and he started reaching for his dreams. He spent 3 years studying and changing his profession. It worked a treat. I asked him how he managed to finally focus on one goal.

Ok, having your life flash before your eyes is a good incentive to focus, but he also told me that he went through a stage of clarifying what was importent to him personally which involved minimalism. He got rid of all the clutter in his hobby space (which later became his work space). He sat down every day at his space at the same time and started creating. He wouldn't leave his space until his set time was ended and he bumped up the time gradually.

What he did was apply the same technique that creative people do when they hit a 'block'. I tried it myself with my drawing/painting. It does work. Sometimes you'll find yourself drifting out of the pattern, but if you define a pattern (certain time, certain space) and stick to it your brain will slowly begin to remember that while you are in said space you should be focused on said activity.

The big problem I had was sitting down to do digital painting at my computer. I use my computer for most things and spend a lot of time sat at it. That was a big problem becouse my brain wasn't focused when I sat down to paint. It was thinking gaming, chat, porn, gaming, porn, porn, pron! :nohope:

I baught a second computer and set it up for just painting. It's even in the same room as my main computer but it doesn't matter becouse I made a 'space' for my hobby and my brain remembers. I sketch anywhere but at my main PC desk and that works too.

Another thing I found that worked for me with ADD is to start with a subject you love to draw or paint. Keep drawing that subject and slowly add peripheral element. At some point let the peripheral elements take over and they become your new main subject. This way you create a flow and your brain remembers.

I will say it is still hard at times when you fall out of the loop or pattern due to RL events. I still have ADD but the more I stick to a routine, the more my brain remembers and I find myself spending hours sketching or painting or whatever. I still have too many interests, but I find I am getting a lot better at achieving something in many avenues.

Hope this helps. :)

[Helioth]

First off, you have to rid yourself of the conception that you have a.d.d.
I was diagnosed with a.d.d, in fact, I was diagnosed with dyslexia ("he simply says i do not not know so as to circumvent having to answer the question, conclusion: most likely dyslexic), you have to be weary of WHO's diagnosing, so many people are just in it for the money : <

So anyway, here's what I do: Find something I'm REALLY interested and then force myself to stick at it, I can't say it's really a problem for me anymore. I let my mind wonder every now and then, I think having a good memory helps though, so maybe train your memory. Most days I'll play 30 minutes or so of games or just do nonsensical sketches to unwind and have fun, a lot of good thoughts float about which I'll write down, I guess this is another thing I do: write, get things out of myself. Stream of conscioussness writing, like now.
It works better with a keyboard (if you can type faster than you can write).

Perhaps the solution for you is to simply find whatever it is you love doing (perhaps you know already?), I remember hearing about a very talented girl dancer who was diagnosed with a.d.d, her teacher recognized her squirming around as a desire for movement though, so instead of "medicating" her "problem" she was sent to dance school and is now thriving.


Makes you ask yourself questions about how odd society must be if we find such a high proportion of children supposedly have "a.d.d", how about, they're alive! Energetic, playful... Children too hard to "control" (subdue) otherwise?


I guess if you REALLY do have a.d.d, you could take speed or crack or whatever it is you take for it (subscription), i think it's a few molecules away from that anyway. Or just man up and straighten your mind ;D

[Munin Raven]

...I'll write down, I guess this is another thing I do: write, get things out of myself. Stream of conscioussness writing...
...you could take speed or crack or whatever...

I'm not good at that double quote thang so I hope Helioth won't mind my *snip, snip*, but he/she does make two very good points which I missed (I'm sure others will make more good points but walalla...

First, the 'stream of consciousness' thing was very important to me. I think I got it from a writers blog about 'block' which was always my metality when I tackled my ADD. I would sketch on the right page of my SB (I'm right handed) and then as a kind of warm up I would scribble my thoughts down on the flip side, or on the left hand section of the new double-page. Sometimes my writing (thoughts) would drift into my sketches and vice-versa. As long as the pencil kept moving I was happy and it helped with the flow.

Second, I do not condone drug use in any way beyond the context of personal use that doesn't effect others (negative). I will say that speed and acid (at the time it was '91 and the underground UK rave scene was starting to peak) were a small part of the mechanism for creativity for me back then (I didn't draw or paint in a traditional sense, I bombed derelict buildings (grafitti) and welded steampunk). I cannot deny that my drug use had a positive effect on my creativity, but I will be quick to state that, looking back, it was probably a mix of good club times, a predominantly happy vibe within the culture, and the general feeling within this UK sub-youth-music culture that you could, almost nonchalantly, erect a 12 foot copper idol of Bast in your front garden out of pipework stolen from a local boarded up school without batting an eyelid. ;)

[Spirit]

I wish I was able to offer advice, but I'm afraid I'm on the opposite end of the scale. I have O.C.D. so I can't stop doing something for days on end, and certain things have to happen while I work. I often find it hard to actually get into my artwork if something isn't quite how it should be. One example is that all my tools, mediums etc have to be to the right of me as I work, if there isn't room for one reason or another I find it very difficult to concentrate, and can find it sometimes physically impossible or almost painful to actually start work. However, once I manage to begin, I can work on something for days on end, and have to be reminded to stop when I need to eat or drink. For that reason I always have drink and food with me, so I can do that while I work.

The downside is that I could be 'obsessing' over something other than art, so I lose out on a lot of time I could have spent doing artwork and practicing. It'd something I am trying to break out of, but I must say it's very hard! Maybe if you just keep trying, you will eventually get used to it. I wish you the best of luck, and hope you succeed :)

[Helioth]

I'm not good at that double quote thang so I hope Helioth won't mind my *snip, snip*, but he/she does make two very good points which I missed (I'm sure others will make more good points but walalla...

First, the 'stream of consciousness' thing was very important to me. I think I got it from a writers blog about 'block' which was always my metality when I tackled my ADD. I would sketch on the right page of my SB (I'm right handed) and then as a kind of warm up I would scribble my thoughts down on the flip side, or on the left hand section of the new double-page. Sometimes my writing (thoughts) would drift into my sketches and vice-versa. As long as the pencil kept moving I was happy and it helped with the flow.

Second, I do not condone drug use in any way beyond the context of personal use that doesn't effect others (negative). I will say that speed and acid (at the time it was '91 and the underground UK rave scene was starting to peak) were a small part of the mechanism for creativity for me back then (I didn't draw or paint in a traditional sense, I bombed derelict buildings (grafitti) and welded steampunk). I cannot deny that my drug use had a positive effect on my creativity, but I will be quick to state that, looking back, it was probably a mix of good club times, a predominantly happy vibe within the culture, and the general feeling within this UK sub-youth-music culture that you could, almost nonchalantly, erect a 12 foot copper idol of Bast in your front garden out of pipework stolen from a local boarded up school without batting an eyelid. ;)

I don't mind, I was joking about drugs though, I don't think you should take drugs because of a.d.d, nor do i think you should take drugs because anyone on a forum tells you to, so absolutely disregard the (jest) above advice.
It has to be a personal choice and one you can live with, and you have to have a good deal of self discipline, otherwise it's just irresponsible and stupid.
Also you should learn about whatever it is you intend on taking, before you take it and be sure you're taking what you think you're taking.

What I actually meant was the studies that show ritalin and similar "medication" being structurally very similar to speed or cocaine, i've forgotten which :|

Thanks for sharing your experiences though Munin Raven, calling them as you see them make you a bigger and better person ;D

[CesarNostradamus]

PLEASE READ

my friend. I have this exactly Exactly Same problem. EXACTLY This Sort of Problem. even as i write this message im not totally focused on this message.

If you wish to Be more correctly focus. (I know what it is you are sufferin from) A.D.D But also, panics and rush of ecstacy- your brain is Sprinting with ideas and information. This dose not help for patients, Becuase you just want to go onto something different and more exciting'

Sadly... I have found no cure for this. A.D.D is a terrible terrible thing for an artists like ourselves.

I havnt concluded anyway to dumb down my head, so i can be more patient.

I feel the only way I can become commited, is if I dumb down my brain somehow- so i can be more patient. or....

There is of course, the use of... Substances called... WEED. Which acts Wonderfully for me!

Everyone has there own pace. Its a nurological thing. or something something.

[XanaChama]

This is not tied to a diagnosis or anything like that, but I felt "ADD" for a long time. What I simply did was change my diet. I would not be surprised to find out that a lot of behavioral issues are linked to this (in fact evidence has supported this). Excessive sugar intake for one. And you also have to consider a lot of the food you buy that is "instant" has ingredients or fillers that turn to sugar after they're eaten. (so they're not technically posted in the sugar percentages on the label)

I know some of this food is tasty and it's hard to quit. But I read somewhere that your body can only process some 14-16 teaspoons of sugar or a certain percentage before it just is injected into your body (in other words, more like poison). Mostly my sweet tooth came from my mother, so when it came to drinking things like tea I wanted it really sweet. But when began the diet, quit sodas, cooking at home, monitoring my intake, reading labels, it made a huge huge difference both to my concentration and my moods. I'm much more active than I ever was and I'm starting to feel like I have the energy I used to. I thought I was just getting old lol :[ Your tastes for food will change too.

[CesarNostradamus]

XanaChama SOUNDS BELIMIC
WHY you HATING FAST FOOD LIKE DAT! I LIVE ON DAT SHIT. sorta..

[Aphotic Phoenix]

What I actually meant was the studies that show ritalin and similar "medication" being structurally very similar to speed or cocaine, i've forgotten which :|

The correct answer is speed (or methamphetamine). Ritalin is not actually an amphetamine, unlike some other ADHD medications: Dexedrine (which was what I was prescribed for several years) is Dextroamphetamine, and there is also Adderall which is a combination of amphetamine salts. Ritalin does, however perform in a similar fashion: it triggers the release of the dopamine, an important neural transmitter.

Telling someone to "get it out of their head that they have x disease or disorder" isn't exactly the best advice. There is a big difference between rushing into medication vs. seeking some tips to help cope. Not to mention, doctors are humans and thus WILL make mistakes. Second opinions are always an option. That's not to say there aren't corrupt doctors (I was originally diagnosed with a "mood disorder" and given a very expensive drug that wasn't even approved for such use), but as a former psychology major, and a person who has ADHD...I find it rather insulting when someone says "Oh that doesn't really exist". Of course I don't consider it a disorder, or weakness, but rather a deviation from the "norm" that gives me an advantage in certain aspects of life and a disadvantage in others.

Now in the regard of getting lifestyle and/or mental help (if it is needed) go to a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist.
- A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who chose psychology as his specialization. Psychiatrists can prescribe drugs, but that also means that drug companies may be dumping gifts on him. Personally, I recommend avoiding any doctor who has all his drug advertisements slapped all over his office decor.
- A psychologist has a PhD in psychology. Thus those entire eight+ years of school were spent studying psychology. Psychologists cannot prescribe drugs, but can refer you to someone who can if needed.

Sadly unlike back in high school, drawing no longer causes me to go into hyperfocus (I'd spend hours working on something oblivious to the rest of the world), but I have learned to work with my ADHD instead of against it.
Some of the things I do:

- Draw in "boring" places. Finding a private place away from other distractions really helps me focus on the task at hand because it's the only thing to entertain my brain with. This was even possible at friends houses/resturants when everyone else was busy doing their own thing.

- Keeping background noise present, but low. I really have a hard time focusing when things are too quiet, so I turn on the radio and put the volume low enough that it's hard to tell the exact song being played. That way I can't be annoyed by a "bad" song, or distracted by a good one.

- Habit building. If I know that everything is done I can't really stress about what needs to be. Keeping room clutter to a minimum really helps with that when I have to work in my own room. Thus build a routine that keeps your work done, and leaves you time for arting!

- Write things down. This helps sooooo much. If I don't write down ideas when I get them, sometimes they'll just permanently disappear into the ether. This not only means that I don't lose good ideas, but gives me a nice list to research ref photos for, and ideas for when my creativity is low.

[Mock]

You shouldn't take medication because someone on a forum tells you to. That much is correct. However, you have two options.

You SHOULD make an appointment with a doctor and get a diagnosis. If you have ADD they'll first try Straterra, which is a drug that takes about a week or so to build up in your system before it starts working. However, it's not a controlled substance like Adderall. If that doesn't work, they'll probably prescribe you a low dose of Adderall. Depending on what kind of doctor you get, they might skip Straterra altogether.

I have the exact same problem. I've been on Ritalin and other ADD meds since I was a kid. I've stopped off an on, and while I can function without them (admittedly with a lot of struggling and a lot slower results), the plain and simple fact is that they help.

The other option is to, as they say, suck it up. ADD sucks ass, but its possible to make yourself do something even when you don't want to or lose focus easily.

[Nuthien]

I have ADD but I refuse to take medication like Ritalin. Those medications "fix" you for a certain period of time, but once they leave your body, you'll go back to normal again. That means, even if you take 5 years of medication, if you stop for one day, you'll have all the symptons back. And after some time, you will probably depend on those medications to do specific tasks, like reading, drawing or studying.

My advice is to train your mind without medication. If you REALLY have to take something to keep you concentrated in a special occasion (studying for an upcoming exam, short deadlines, etc), I suggest taking phytoterapic medications (does this word even exist in English? :P), which are natural and don't have contra-indication.

Medications aside, doing physical exercises regularly and meditating really helps for me. :P

[Mock]

The point of medication is to "fix" things, and when it is a condition like ADD that doesn't have a permanent cure, it's not a bad thing to take medication for it. Yeah, once you stop taking the meds the problem comes back. So what? That's how most genetically based disorders work. You don't just pop meds all day to control ADD. You control it when you need to, for school, studying, etc.

ADD isn't just an issue with paying attention. It's a problem with dopamine transporters in your brain not functioning correctly. If you can fix your ADD with meditation, then chances are your attention problems are environment related, not medical.

[Nuthien]

Taking those kind of medication for a long time can damage some organs, like liver. And will make you dependant (not chemically dependant) to do certain tasks, which is not good. At least I don't want to depend on anything to draw or study. And also have a lot of side-effects.

ADD is not really a disease, is a "way the brain works" which do not fit in the modern society, and is aggravated by reasons like the excessive estimulation all the time. (music, tv, outdoors, propaganda, etc overload the ADD afflicted person). ADDs do not fit because they have a different timing, a different way of living. The reason because they treat this like a disease is because many ADDs go bad at school or work.

I mentioned meditation because changing thinking patterns can affect brain chemical, thus helping to cope with ADD, depression, panic, etc.
By the way, ADD has a lot to do with enviroment.

I'm not trying to sound like a guru, I'm just suggesting that changing thinking patterns and developping proper habits can help a lot.

[Redmond]

The point of medication is to "fix" things, and when it is a condition like ADD that doesn't have a permanent cure, it's not a bad thing to take medication for it. Yeah, once you stop taking the meds the problem comes back. So what? That's how most genetically based disorders work. You don't just pop meds all day to control ADD. You control it when you need to, for school, studying, etc.

ADD isn't just an issue with paying attention. It's a problem with dopamine transporters in your brain not functioning correctly. If you can fix your ADD with meditation, then chances are your attention problems are environment related, not medical.

Yeah, it's like once you stop drinking water or liquids, you dehydrate. Once you stop eating fibers, your body doesn't process foods so easily. It's not really an argument.

[Helioth]

Yeah, it's like once you stop drinking water or liquids, you dehydrate. Once you stop eating fibers, your body doesn't process foods so easily. It's not really an argument.

Yes... yet being constipated every once in a while is an interesting and sometimes evocative, not to mention funny, experience.
And if Fibre had the side effects and all the ambiguity and looming questions of SOME medication, perhaps the ups and downs would be weighed?
As it is though, it belongs in a healthy diet, and so too some medication to mentally/ chemically unbalanced people also.

What if we had to go out of our way to eat fibre and it was forbidden in some parts of the world? /Gasp.

Edit: Found an interesting article on a similar subject: http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/4287/

Keep in mind I never said ADD was a fictitious disorder, I just said I believe I was misdiagnosed, and so others might have been too.