I personally have difficulty summarizing things with words (too much information in the brain, and I am a visual learner), but here it goes, my perception...
1. Takes one "ADHD... or something" to know one. Most doctors don't understand their patients (when in a hurry to make money and get you out) or can't because they don't have the condition.
2. Only people that are like you or have "something else" relate well to you. Occassionally a "normal person" with enough maturity can also do it, but I find it rare. They simply don't understand or appreciate the differences in perception or communication.
3. A common cause can manifest in many ways. After some basic ADHD neurology research and intuition, I came to realize my "configuration". Dopamine chemistry tends to result in mood disorders or emotional sensitivity (small emotion becomes overwhelming); (nor)epinephrine system seems to affect more the physical responses to things and direct processing of information. It is easy to lose focus or balance when this chemistry is "off". However, we see things in high-definition and feel more strongly when our environments are unhealthy...
4. Who is right and who is wrong? Society doesn't understand me, but I think most of "them" are unhealthy. Actually, we all have a different balance that is healthy, but you are partially correct that they lack the "insight" that is natural for you. I just try to gravitate towards what helps my balance, since "what they think" isn't as important as "how I feel". That said, moderating it with a bit of logic or framework can help prevent assumptions which I am prone to make.
5. We are highly intelligent in terms of collecting data and linking everything to everything else. We are non-linear thinkers because we experience "pockets" of deep consciousness. However, the standard deviation of our effectiveness on certain tasks is higher because we might have a great insight on some things and be completely off reality on others. We are more sensitive to failures and more anxious about the future.
6. I didn't even realize that medication could help until I found it randomly in the form of a headache medication (Fiorecet). I was having headaches from anxiety. However, this medicine has both a psycho-stimulant (plain old caffeine) and a mild sedative (butalbital). I am currently trying to get something longer acting to avoid sideeffects, but this does increase brain function dramatically. Why? Because we have spent our time essentially "training" all those fragmented functions of our brain into a cohesive whole. When you actually now take something that adds the chemical(s) that were missing, suddenly all these highly refined pieces come together as a whole (well, if you're lucky and find the right stuff). Well, the basic arguement is that if you control your medication discovery process and become more self-aware of what helps you might actually become more functional/intelligent/whatever by taking something.
7. Genetics is a strong factor of these conditions, but external experiences are what determine whether your natural gifts are nurtured or ignored. It's a bit sad that people focus on the negative rather than the positive. As long as you feel bad about it, or have the "poor me" attitude, you will be unable to gain the wisdom that is necesary to benefit from the uniqueness. We get intelligence quickly, but because our emotions are unstable our wisdom in certain areas may be lacking. Read: stubborness.
8. Inflated ego, definitely. Hard to admit that we have problems in some areas (social-phobia, anxiety, communications difficulties at least in real time) because we are so smart in other areas. My dad always said "you're too smart to have a disability" but the truth was that despite the intelligence every day at most jobs was hell because of what my brain couldn't process without full concentration (causing headaches, stress). I don't want to be limited to technical positions or support because it depresses me; we are meant to have jobs with diverse skill requirements or dynamic problems to solve.
9. I mean, damn. I started programming and working on automated trading systems and data mining programs when I was 12. Though I've never had a lot of money to invest, I learned many things from research about how trading isn't all technical and numbers but how personal psychology and market psychology are the primary movers at times. My whole motivation (besides curiosity) was to "make money in the stock market so I didn't have to go through [boring] college classes".
10. Well, now I have an MBA, but until I really treat the anxiety and "dis-integration" between parts of my brain, I can't find a job in the Bay Area. Why? Because it's all electronic resumes and filters, no one will ever see why I can do whatever I put my mind to, and my social anxiety prevents me from functioning at the "frequency" necessary to "impress" people in a social network. Corporate jobs are often not healthy for people like us; it does take more effort, but finding a good job match will change everything. Finding friends that are similar is also a good idea. Personally, my wife is what keeps me going when I'm falling apart.
11. Technology is partially responsible for society's growing complacency; but notice that anxious/hyperactive people always want to learn anyway and get bored easily. That's what should be happening but isn't to the rest of the population. Society is "dying" in a very abstract way and few people notice it directly. Are these "disorders" nature's way of creating innovators, change-makers, and leaders? We understand and control technology and other things in our lives because we are too anxious/ego/other to sit still and let something else lead our lives. We are not the sheep in society.
12. Nonlinear thinking. How much more do I know about the stock market because of unrelated fields and my compulsion to learn about them? Physics, psychology, finance, programming. Abstract patterns; how a noise, motion, visualization can lead to an inspiration. The ability to see truths that others cannot (even if they are only relative truths). Use these gifts to your advantage, even if no one else understands it.
13. When I am chemically and emotionally aligned (rare) all of the patterns of my existence that have been observed converge, resulting in the ability to "know" what people are feeling, what they are likely to do, and at times, what will happen in the future by projecting scenarios properly using all data (I normally project scenarios due to my anxiety, but they are not accurate). I cannot actually convey this state of mind using words. If the universe is sentient, then this is similar to being on its "frequency"; at the very least I have access to information that I "shouldn't", perhaps by inference. Find your balance.
14. Genius? Intelligence x Wisdom x Ability to Communicate/apply it. Focus on the limiting factor, chances are you have the intelligence. When did people stop trying to learn and grow? When they stopped trying to live.
15. My general trading wisdom (omg, for free??). Wisdom = you won't get it unless you've experienced certain things. Due to the psychological nature of trading, pure technical analysis ("by the numbers") is missing something fundamental. I guess I will cover this in another post (probably in the technical analysis section, just search me).
16. Did I miss anything? That whole rant is just my passing thoughts on the matter, a summary if you will. (Jeez, then what's the "whole thing" like? lol). I kind of felt like writing today when I saw this post.
Links for stuff that you might enjoy (or inspire you):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath = self-image; the multifaceted nature of man
http://physics.bmfusion.com/ = metaphysics, part of my vision, but there are other things I need to research to complete the model
http://www.last.fm/music/Biometallic+Fusion = my alias; music that appeals to people who like patterns and not words
1. Takes one "ADHD... or something" to know one. Most doctors don't understand their patients (when in a hurry to make money and get you out) or can't because they don't have the condition.
2. Only people that are like you or have "something else" relate well to you. Occassionally a "normal person" with enough maturity can also do it, but I find it rare. They simply don't understand or appreciate the differences in perception or communication.
3. A common cause can manifest in many ways. After some basic ADHD neurology research and intuition, I came to realize my "configuration". Dopamine chemistry tends to result in mood disorders or emotional sensitivity (small emotion becomes overwhelming); (nor)epinephrine system seems to affect more the physical responses to things and direct processing of information. It is easy to lose focus or balance when this chemistry is "off". However, we see things in high-definition and feel more strongly when our environments are unhealthy...
4. Who is right and who is wrong? Society doesn't understand me, but I think most of "them" are unhealthy. Actually, we all have a different balance that is healthy, but you are partially correct that they lack the "insight" that is natural for you. I just try to gravitate towards what helps my balance, since "what they think" isn't as important as "how I feel". That said, moderating it with a bit of logic or framework can help prevent assumptions which I am prone to make.
5. We are highly intelligent in terms of collecting data and linking everything to everything else. We are non-linear thinkers because we experience "pockets" of deep consciousness. However, the standard deviation of our effectiveness on certain tasks is higher because we might have a great insight on some things and be completely off reality on others. We are more sensitive to failures and more anxious about the future.
6. I didn't even realize that medication could help until I found it randomly in the form of a headache medication (Fiorecet). I was having headaches from anxiety. However, this medicine has both a psycho-stimulant (plain old caffeine) and a mild sedative (butalbital). I am currently trying to get something longer acting to avoid sideeffects, but this does increase brain function dramatically. Why? Because we have spent our time essentially "training" all those fragmented functions of our brain into a cohesive whole. When you actually now take something that adds the chemical(s) that were missing, suddenly all these highly refined pieces come together as a whole (well, if you're lucky and find the right stuff). Well, the basic arguement is that if you control your medication discovery process and become more self-aware of what helps you might actually become more functional/intelligent/whatever by taking something.
7. Genetics is a strong factor of these conditions, but external experiences are what determine whether your natural gifts are nurtured or ignored. It's a bit sad that people focus on the negative rather than the positive. As long as you feel bad about it, or have the "poor me" attitude, you will be unable to gain the wisdom that is necesary to benefit from the uniqueness. We get intelligence quickly, but because our emotions are unstable our wisdom in certain areas may be lacking. Read: stubborness.
8. Inflated ego, definitely. Hard to admit that we have problems in some areas (social-phobia, anxiety, communications difficulties at least in real time) because we are so smart in other areas. My dad always said "you're too smart to have a disability" but the truth was that despite the intelligence every day at most jobs was hell because of what my brain couldn't process without full concentration (causing headaches, stress). I don't want to be limited to technical positions or support because it depresses me; we are meant to have jobs with diverse skill requirements or dynamic problems to solve.
9. I mean, damn. I started programming and working on automated trading systems and data mining programs when I was 12. Though I've never had a lot of money to invest, I learned many things from research about how trading isn't all technical and numbers but how personal psychology and market psychology are the primary movers at times. My whole motivation (besides curiosity) was to "make money in the stock market so I didn't have to go through [boring] college classes".
10. Well, now I have an MBA, but until I really treat the anxiety and "dis-integration" between parts of my brain, I can't find a job in the Bay Area. Why? Because it's all electronic resumes and filters, no one will ever see why I can do whatever I put my mind to, and my social anxiety prevents me from functioning at the "frequency" necessary to "impress" people in a social network. Corporate jobs are often not healthy for people like us; it does take more effort, but finding a good job match will change everything. Finding friends that are similar is also a good idea. Personally, my wife is what keeps me going when I'm falling apart.
11. Technology is partially responsible for society's growing complacency; but notice that anxious/hyperactive people always want to learn anyway and get bored easily. That's what should be happening but isn't to the rest of the population. Society is "dying" in a very abstract way and few people notice it directly. Are these "disorders" nature's way of creating innovators, change-makers, and leaders? We understand and control technology and other things in our lives because we are too anxious/ego/other to sit still and let something else lead our lives. We are not the sheep in society.
12. Nonlinear thinking. How much more do I know about the stock market because of unrelated fields and my compulsion to learn about them? Physics, psychology, finance, programming. Abstract patterns; how a noise, motion, visualization can lead to an inspiration. The ability to see truths that others cannot (even if they are only relative truths). Use these gifts to your advantage, even if no one else understands it.
13. When I am chemically and emotionally aligned (rare) all of the patterns of my existence that have been observed converge, resulting in the ability to "know" what people are feeling, what they are likely to do, and at times, what will happen in the future by projecting scenarios properly using all data (I normally project scenarios due to my anxiety, but they are not accurate). I cannot actually convey this state of mind using words. If the universe is sentient, then this is similar to being on its "frequency"; at the very least I have access to information that I "shouldn't", perhaps by inference. Find your balance.
14. Genius? Intelligence x Wisdom x Ability to Communicate/apply it. Focus on the limiting factor, chances are you have the intelligence. When did people stop trying to learn and grow? When they stopped trying to live.
15. My general trading wisdom (omg, for free??). Wisdom = you won't get it unless you've experienced certain things. Due to the psychological nature of trading, pure technical analysis ("by the numbers") is missing something fundamental. I guess I will cover this in another post (probably in the technical analysis section, just search me).
16. Did I miss anything? That whole rant is just my passing thoughts on the matter, a summary if you will. (Jeez, then what's the "whole thing" like? lol). I kind of felt like writing today when I saw this post.
Links for stuff that you might enjoy (or inspire you):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath = self-image; the multifaceted nature of man
http://physics.bmfusion.com/ = metaphysics, part of my vision, but there are other things I need to research to complete the model
http://www.last.fm/music/Biometallic+Fusion = my alias; music that appeals to people who like patterns and not words
