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ADHD
Answer
9/2/11 3:25 PM
Hello.

Anyone on here been diagnosed with ADHD? If you have, I would like to hear your experiences with meditation and ADHD.

It seems simple. ADHD is a problem with being able to concentrate. Meditation helps with concentration, and therefore would help with ADHD.

However, the brain isn't so simple, and the underlying neurobiology that causes ADHD may not be rectified by meditation..or maybe it can...

I've meditated for a few years now, but never a serious practice. Maybe a few times a week when I could remember to do it. I'm planning to get more serious about my practice and am curious to how it might affect my ADHD...and how my ADHD might hinder my ability to progress along the path.

Thoughts?

RE: ADHD
Answer
9/13/11 8:40 AM as a reply to Jinxed P.
I have ADHD myself and that's the reason I became interested in meditation. I can't provide serious advice since I'm just beginning with the practice. Hence, take this post with a grain of salt. So far, I'm putting my money on Vipassana but since my concentration is so bad, there is a lot of wandering. It has been recommended to me to practice love-kindness meditation (a form of mantra) to improve my concentration before getting into Vipassana. Mantras keep the mind busy so that might be a good form of samathi for people with poor concentration. I found out that focussing on a constant noise (like the buzz of an air-conditioning or the sound of an engine) is easier than focussing on sensations. It's a good way to clear the mind of thoughts while on the bus, taking a shower, etc. It's a good way to reduce the amount of thinking during the day.

The Mahasi technique of noting help to fight the thoughts we have during meditating but I cannot compare it to other technique since it's the only one I know. Still, my retreat was pretty much a failure so don't take this advice too seriously. Walking meditation was really really hard since it's requires so much effort to stay focus.

RE: ADHD
Answer
9/20/11 10:32 AM as a reply to Simon T..
Keep me updated on your progress Simon.

Right now, I am focusing on concentration practices. Particularly, following my breath.

RE: ADHD
Answer
9/21/11 11:22 PM as a reply to Jinxed P.
Have a look at this thread.

http://dharmaoverground.org/web/guest/discussion/-/message_boards/message/2182752

RE: ADHD
Answer
9/22/11 7:45 AM as a reply to Simon T..
Simon T.:
The Mahasi technique of noting help to fight the thoughts we have during meditating


One can adjust the speed at which they note to see what's optimal in this regard. The optimal noting speed may be surprisingly high for you. (Noting quickly can also be good for insight, apart from the matter of trying to stay on-task.)

RE: ADHD
Answer
10/31/11 8:07 PM as a reply to Jinxed P.
Jinxed P:

It seems simple. ADHD is a problem with being able to concentrate. Meditation helps with concentration, and therefore would help with ADHD.


Perhaps not so simple. I think the name of the condition is a misnomer. ADHD/ADD is not necessarily a question of a deficit in attention, but the management of attention.

ADD-inattentive types like myself can be quite capable of hyperfocus on subjects of interest. The executive function deficit, for someone who can hyperfocus, lies in shifting attention to other targets.

Concentration practices are easy for the hyperfocused, and concentration can serve as a "slingshot," if you will.