~Punk7680

So, another journal entry in one week. Hmm. I love you, dedicated readership.

Oh well, the main reason I'm making this entry is because some of the things I talked about in my last entry have happened or are more relevant.

First and foremost, that episode of Panorama. It was about Ritalin. I expected it to be about how it turns you into a zombie (That was brought up, but only once and offhand) and the how it's over-prescribed, and expected to be an instant solution.

In reality, it was about how it 'Doesn't improve you in the long term' and the 'otential heart problems' ect.
Fairly interesting, though I have some issues with it.

First of all, both the people featured were psychopaths. One guy, ironically named Craig and some girl. The guy was a total nut-case. He was shouting and screaming all the time, swearing at his mum, and hitting things. He was also depressed and cut himself. The girl was apparently the same way.

Sounds more like emotional issues to me.

Both these children came from single mothers. The mum of the guy swore alot too, so Im not suprised where he got it from.

Anyway, Im not 100% on what most people with ADHD are like (seeing as Ive only met one, and I only have ADD). But they were of course, trying to scare people. Of course they added 'Consult your GP before you make any changes' Which came out as, THIS STUFF IS VERY BAD AND YOU SHOULD DEFINATLY STOP TAKING IT. BUT ASK YOUR DOCTOR FIRST AND THEN REJECT HIS OPINION.

So, from one shock story to another, heres my own:

The first time it was suspected somthing may be wrong with me was when I was in nursery. One of the workers there said my behaviour was rather odd, and that I should go see a GP about it (Well, my parents anyway). That woman left, as she was having a baby. Then, we moved to Edinburgh. I went to see my GP after I wasn't reading quite as well as everyone else and was put on learning support. It is perhaps worth mentioning that at this time ADD was not quite as well known as it now is. Anyway, throught Primary school i had a large problem with homework, and was told i wouldn't survive in highschool, which turned out to be more-or-less true. I was then sent to physiotherapy by my current GP. They didn't figure out what I had wrong, either. I attended two setions, Im not quite sure what they said, I think it had somthing to do with my height. Anyway, I struggled on and got to Standard Grade. I did alright in the end, with alot of work. Then, came 5th year and Highers. I struggled terribly with them, I was doing awful throughout and was thinking about leaving. It was probably the most depressing period of my life so far. Anyway, it was decided I should see a doctor about this, and I was diagnosed with:

1. Dyspraxia
2. ADD
3. Dyslexia

I was also told I had a high IQ, most likely within the top 2%.

So, with this information, I applied to the school for help. My parents were outraged at the fact I had this so long and no-one had noticed. They are also annoyed by the lack of help Ive recived.

Boroughmuir High School is the best State school in edinburgh. I had been to see AT LEAST 4 people who SHOULD have been able to diagnose me. If my parents hadn't fought so hard, I would most likely never have realized I had it. And yet, even though my school had failed me in one of the worst possible ways, they have done little to help. So far, i recive extra time at the end of exams. Many people would be grateful for this, and to some extent I am. However, when you have a problem which doesn't allow you to concentrate properly for long peroiods of time, Extra time doesn't really help much, does it.

In fact, now, im buggered. theres very little they can do to help me now. My highers were a disaster. It is questionable wether I will be able to go to Uni this year, if at all. Probably not one of the good ones, either. My english teacher takes the piss out of people who claim 'School failed me.' all the time. However, in my case, it really did.

However, there could be some light at the end of the tunnel. Ive been put on Ritalin and Concerta, both of which are working great. Its a shame it just wasn't maybe 5 years ago.

Anyway, enough of that rant. I also got two new CDs today (Cause Im old fashioned like that), Wire and Johnny Cash. Though, it wasn't the one I wanted to buy, but no matter, i burned it onto the computer anyway. (So i effectively bought 3, ha!)

And I saw the adicts on sunday. I was surprised. The support were god-awful, but the adicts themselves were brilliant. I haven't seen a review of the sex pistols yet, though Im pretty sure I went to the better concert.

Ach, enough of this, it's taken me about an hour for me to write this. I like it, even if it will be seen as much as the inside of Area 51. Hmm, maybe i should be a journalist.