Moving to a new city after college was quite an adventure. I had landed a new job several months after graduating and was very much excited to start. The job market wasn’t at its best and I considered myself really lucky to get one. I liked the city and I had visited it several times earlier. Only one thing bothered me after receiving the acceptance letter. I really knew no one there. No relatives, friends or any close acquaintances at all. Being a social person, I knew that it would be relatively easy to make some new friends and feel at home. I just had to find them.
Settling down wasn’t hard. I learnt the roads, knew where all the important amenities in the community were located and I felt really at home sooner than I had thought. While checking out of a busy store one Friday evening, in front of me was a guy who wore a shirt with the map and initials of my home state on it. I proceeded to strike a conversation. He too had moved to the city with his wife and kids a couple of years ago. His job transfer put him in a similar situation that I was in. They had to make new friends and weave themselves into the fabric of a new community. What a coincidence!
We became friends almost instantly and he invited me over to meet his family. I had plans for that evening but was free all weekend. It was an opportunity worth seizing and a productive way of spending the weekend. I was warmly welcomed, the food and drinks were very mouthwatering. His three kids were quite a spectacle. As I bonded with them, it was apparent that the youngest one was really struggling with cognition skills. Slow he was but his wide smile and innocent eyes were very infectious. While the parents narrated to me their ordeal with this kid, a few facts became clear.
Since he was initially diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), it appeared that the whole family had gone through hell and back. The whole situation had set them up on a very steep emotional rollercoaster. After some time, the medication and regular therapy started working as expected and their son’s recovery was but a marvel of modern-day medicine, a real miracle. Despite the great duress he had brought them, it was crystal clear that they wouldn’t trade him for the world. Their love for him was boundless.
Hosting a party the other day, I invited friends who also invited friends and soon I had strangers in my house. It was another opportunity to make new friends and as I talked with this guy, he occasionally made excuses for his Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), which is really a variation of ADD with hyperactive, impulsive and / or inattentive behaviors. He spoke relatively well, had a descent relationship and a good job that he had held for a long time. My interaction with him, rekindled the memories of my first encounter with an ADD patient and I was curious to know how he was able to live a relatively normal life despite his ADHD.
I found out that both ADD and ADHD really have no known cure. Early detection and several treatment approaches have been known to eliminate or significantly decrease the symptoms. Every individual responds differently to treatments and generally a combination of several methods works best. Medications, parental training, behavioral strategies and interventions, social skills training, counseling, psychotherapy, coaching and belonging to support groups have proven to help a great deal. When the going gets tough, always remember that you will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.
