From: V.V.S.Ramakant
To: adhd-india@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, January 5, 2009 5:29:59 AM
Subject: Re: [adhd-india] Re: Need information on ADD tests
Dear All,
Ms. Pera clarifies her statement - Yes, I am familiar with the “Distraction” books by explaining that they are simply short-hand for the titles of the books. But we already knew the title didn't we. Bobby's mail contains the the title of the book. I worked inside DaimlerChrysler Technical Center in Auburn Hills, MI for more than an year in 2005-06. I never found anyone referring to colleagues or superiors by just their last name, they either use the first name (almost always) or Mr/Ms/Dr Last name. It is a common practice in India to use just the last name especially in Maharashtra where my employer back then, Tata Technologies was based, so my colleagues and me were told specifically not to use it with Americans because it is considered rude. Bobby stays in America, I guess he can throw some more light on what is the trend now. Also I come from a family of reputed doctors. My father who served in the air force for more than 25 years is now the HOD of Nuclear Medicine in NIZAMS hospital in Hyderabad, a very respected hospital. My grandfather was the superintendent of the general hospital in Vijayawada when I was born there. He retired as the regional director of health services in govt. of Andhra Pradesh. They are both men of integrity and pride and I know from them what is the role of a doctor and how they would like to be addressed as.
There are too many researchers in this world. How accountable is each one to the theories and claims they propose, what all do they stand to lose if their theories are proved false at a later stage. Doctors are not researchers but they treat patients with medication, procedures and advise. If their work is proved wrong they stand to lose their license to practice and a lot more.
I have never met Dr. Hallowell or even written to him, I just read his work and his views. I was inspired and actually helped to regain confidence and faith and turn around in my life. So did thousands of other people whose testimony can be found all over the internet. Dr. Hallowell gives hope (and treatment) which has real effects on real people not some statistics in percentages quoted by researchers. I don't want anyone in this group to miss out on that hope. Ms Pera's mail attempted to do that and that was the provocation which has made me really angry and made me undertake this exercise.
You must have read the article by Teresa Gallegher about CHADD in my last mail. I give the link again http://borntoexplore.org/chadd.htm
Please read the article in its entirety to get an understanding of what Teresa Gallegher has based her opinions on.
Do financial statements give the complete pictures of organisations? In the aftermath of the present financial crisis we know better than that. Please Google the text "CHADD Ciba" to see some reports which give food for thought and then please enter "CHADD Novartis" to get some more.
I never asked for any support for my blog. I mentioned my blog in my signature of my first mail and got Ms Pera's mail and her comments on my blog on the same day without asking for them. There were already enough comments on my blog to give me the feedback I needed. I don't care what she has to say on my blog which is actually on a social networking site for people affected with ADD/ADHD.
Why did I turn against her now...do I seek stimulation....these are pertinant questions. During my depression during early 2007, I attempted suicide twice and there are eye-witnesses to it who can testify if needed. I was doing it because I was being forced to act against my what my instincts and conscience said. I actually sat with my wife with the matrimonial section looking for a groom for her because I didn't want her to suffer with me anymore. She didn't agree to the proposals and had some really strong words for me for suggesting that. Now I am in control of my life again and live happily with my wife because of a lot of knowledge I gained thanks to people like Dr. Hallowell and others who are mentioned in my Myspace profile I gave in the last mail. 'Knowledge' is power, isn't that what is mentioned on the introduction of this group. There is a lot of difference between knowledge and information. Knowledge is applied for the benefit of oneself and others. Please read the following speech by Dr Hallowell titled "The Hidden gifts of ADD" given at a CHADD conference way back in 1993 http://users.rcn.com/peregrin.enteract/add/add-gift.html I wonder why he is no longer in the good books of people at CHADD, maybe the above speech has some clues?
I don't seek any stimulation from this exercise. I have enough healthier ways of doing it. I just want people to be wary of those who try to brand ADHD as a disorder AND try to quash any efforts by anyone to portray it as a gift with challenges. Teresa Gallegher's article above also makes the same point. When someone tries to tell me that it cannot be a gift I take them head on. I work for a company which is not owned by my Chacha or Mama (Translation:Uncles to assist Ms Pera) They know my work as a designer for the last 8 years and keep me on their rolls for what I CAN do not inspite of what I CANNOT do. I would never take charity in any form and "accomodation" is a form of charity. Incase another such example is needed...how about an engineer with ADHD in the Israeli high tech industry employed solely for what he can achieve. His comments under the user NB12 can be seen on the comment page of an article called "Misfits" on the Economist, a reputed news magazine along with mine my comments, the Wide-Eyed Wanderer. Links to the above can be seen on my Myspace profile http://www.myspace.com/hunter_at_work
In the end I would like to say that it is not name or fame that I seek. I always believed in Learn...Share...Grow and I speak and write from my heart. It is what the spiritual organisation which I attend also teaches me.
Well, I wrote to the Times of India and they have published my article today in the Education Times of Delhi. And guess what, they chose the title of Ms. Pera's book as the title of the article. I never gave them a title, I just gave them a link to my blog. Before Ms Pera can give a new twist to this development, I would like to tell that I am happy to be a designer and would never want to be an Author or Advocate (I no longer see these titles in Ms Pera's signature...I wonder why) and the only Lilly I would like to meet would be a pretty girl :-) Please don't tell this to my wife :-)
If you wonder how did did I achieve so much of research on one day...well that's ADHD....and that is how I got into IIT just by self study and that is what is called as Stimulus Dependent Dopamine release in ADHD. I have never taken any stimulants in my life but anger is a big stimulant for me.
With best wishes to all,
Ramakant