Hello fellow struggling humans & potential, new-found friends, I hope.
I can sure relate to many here, and can SO relate to the struggles, discomfort, and frustration experienced on a daily basis.
I’ve been reading posts here, and I’m wondering if I should bother to go through testing. I’m 54, and thinking about going back to work. I have only worked briefly since my children were born, and they’re all in their 20s.
I have been dxd. with ADD, and have since figured out on my own that I have certain LDs. I am wondering if testing will produce even more of a defeatist attitude in the long run. After reading some posts, I can see that it might. What say you all?
Please see my first post, a short biography, and the last one entered on Audrey’s thread. Am also curious what everyone’s expectations were when you entered into testing, and if you were satisfied with the results, what you learned about your difficulties, and if you’ve been given any satisfactory ideas of how to build on your strengths, while not playing into your areas of weakness? Also, does anyone have a job they feel they are suited to, and do well at, and if so, what?
I first came to this board when no one was posting here except for parents looking for solutions for their children. I am thrilled to find others posting here now, who’ve been up against some of the same brick walls I’ve run into.
For those who think I don’t write like I have a speech/language disability, let me tell you, nothing could be further from the truth. I have learned to compensate well through taking a number of creative writing courses at the college level where I first learned to rub two thoughts together to produce fire. haha. However, I ran into problems elsewhere, and never graduated.
To this day, writing is a slowed process for me, but easier than communicating in live conversation, have trouble on bulletin boards keeping up with everyone else, don’t dare do ICQ where I run into immediate difficulties, and sometimes get so frustrated trying to express myself clearly, and having to proof-read everything, that I have to back-off and give myself a break.
Would like to know what everyone enjoys doing when not pressured to perform in a certain way, ie., hobbies, likes, interests, and the like. I enjoy the outdoors, playing with my dogs, working in the garden when it’s not too hot, anything to do with rivers & swimming, canoeing, read mostly works of non-fiction, occasionally a good novel, gave up poetry, am trying to lose weight if I can just stay focused on it, am addicted to my computer, and the list goes on.
Sincerely,
Wren
Re: Workable Solutions?
ball,
I know where I’m at so to speak, at a distinct disadvantage. I question if testing would help me to get where I want to go in life when I figure out what that is for me?
I guess that’s the crap shoot you’re speak of, eh? So, what’s the answer? Self-acceptance is one, but what about how to cope with the on-going inner push to accomplish more than one is realistically capable of doing? What’s up with that? And how do we deal with it? I already know I can rise in anything I choose until I reach the level at which I will fail miserably. I guess, truth is, so will anyone else. So, how are we to determine what we will strive for, what we should strive for or feel we should strive for, what is an acceptable level of achievement, and when to let it go? How do we know when to let go, when is enough indeed enough?
If I ask too many questions, don’t feel obligated to answer all, but only the one’s you’d like to, if any. Questioning things, is my new way of trying to learn how to think critically. I never used to question things enough.
Wren
Re: Workable Solutions?
Hi Wren,
I read what you wrote and have a question to ask you. How did you learn to accept your learning disabilities? This is my situation. I have a sister that is 21, and has been put in a psychiatric hospital for evaluation after a nervous break down. For the most part, we believe that is what occured. She has been there for a little over a month and the doctor has been doing cognitive testing on her which revealed, finally a pretty exact diagnosis of auditory comprehension disorder, amongst other disorders. Of course my sister feels that nothing is wrong with her, but she has had violent out bursts and does not know how to express herself appropriately. I guess what I’m getting at is, how did you learn to accept your disibility and what types of things did you do to cope or handle every day life without completely frustrating yourself?
Re: Workable Solutions?
I identify with being older, but still wanting to know what’s going on. I’m currently waiting for the results of neuropsychological testing. I’ve found the process of being tested stressful. It’s aroused a lot of questions, particularly after the tester discussed some of her impressions with my therapist, who shared what had been discussed with me. This resulted in my doing some research and sending some additional information about my background and how what I was reading related to the knowledge that I have of myself. Fortunately, the tester has been accepting of my input. Also, I’m open to her impressions and I do think that the knowledge that will be acquired will be helpful. I was told by my therapist that the tester is looking for someone to help me.
At this stage in my life, I’m not looking for employment, but I do have an interest in possibly doing some writing in the disability field. (Some of my problems interfere with writing, particularly major problems with organization.) I worked for most of my adult life, but was very stressed, and left due to multiple health problems that seemed stress related. I feared having a heart attack or stroke if I didn’t reduce the pressure.
Unfortunately, those of us who are older, in most cases, got no help as children or young adults. This has made life much harder.
Wren,
Test results shoould be viewed with a certain amount of skepticism but they can be helpful in giving you a more complete understanding where you are at.
Keep in mind that psychometric testing can also be a bit of a crap shoot.
Getting help after the testing is another issue all together. I wish that there was honest information available about the effectivness of cognitive therapy.
I suppose it is common sense that cognitive therapy can be helpful but I would like to see some numbers that prove it.