attention deficit disorder: nature or nurture or both?

Question

I have ADD big time: I've been independently diagnosed by 5 docs. I take a psychostimulant which is helpful. I still have a million projects in mind, do as many as possible. I get high on hyperfocusing; the way I get through inactive moments is to listen to a book on tape. I write erotic fiction and take erotic photographs for the need of intense experience. I engage in lots of risk taking. I have no tolerance for small talk or stupid talk. My medication seems to have helped me love my lifestyle, not change it. Now here is the 'nurture' part: My mother's family recited Dante, Shakespeare, discussed philosophy, analyzed literature, discussed Russian prosody, etc., my father was a boxer, drummer, and a 'ladies man,' and was always on the move. In other words, both sides of my family were intense but in different ways. Am I hard-wired for ADD or did my home environment encourage those traits to come out.

Answer 1

Actually, it is believed that ADD is mainly a genetic disorder. People can get attention disorder which is a similar problem, but not one that is genetic. Theoretically if you have ADD you have it and show signs of it before your are 7 or it is something different.
Its great that your medication makes you feel more comfortable with your lifestyle, but if you are looking for a medication that helps you focus more it is possible you are on the wrong medication or wrong dosage of your medication. It is important to do titration testing with medication for attention disorders because a dosage that is too high or too low won't have the optimum effects. I suggest you see a neuropsychologist who can do testing on different dosages of medication so you can find the best dosage for you. Good luck with everything.

Answer 2

Regardless of our natural hard-wired nature, our environment teaches us how to deal with it. Maybe your day is hyperactive, boxing and drumming were physical outlets for him. Your mother was hyper focused on literature and big ideas.

Medication is not meant to change who you are, just how well you deal with it.