Attention Deficit Disorder, Catholicism, and Looking Sandbagged

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Update (November 21, 2010)
More specifically, I've been diagnosed with ADHD-inattentive. (November 11, 2010)

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Yesterday I got the results of a number of psychological tests. I hadn't taken that many mark-one-of-the-following sort of tests since I was in high school. Which is another topic. Sort of.

What my wife and I were expecting to learn was that I had Aspergers. The results of the tests, as reviewed by a licensed psychologist, are:

• Aspergers?
  • No
• Attention Deficit Disorder?
  • Yes

When I heard that, I made that downward-grab gesture that goes with the word "yes!" My guess is that most folks wouldn't react that way, when they're told that they've got ADD.

Why the glee? ADD was one of the most-likely (or least-unlikely) possible diagnoses, we've got a name for why I'm the way I am, and now it may be easier to find ways for me to optimize the way I deal with the world. And myself.

I'm looking forward to getting a written copy of the results - not too long from now, I trust.

ADD, Catholicism, and Me

One thing this diagnosis won't affect is how I practice my faith.

It's not that the Catholic Church ignores ADD, ADHD, and all the other alphabet-soup syndromes. For example, ADD is mentioned in a pdf-format resource directory on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website.

It's that the Catholic Church doesn't have minimum health requirements for admittance. And doesn't expect Catholics to pretend they're perfect. (Individuals may have goofy ideas: I'm talking about what the Church says.)

Blame God? Yeah, Right

If I chose to do so, I could be upset with God. After all, He made all of creation and constantly upholds it.

I'm not sure if God willed that I be born with bum hips (February 3, 2009) and a trick central nervous system - or if He simply let it happen. Either way, I could blame God.

And that kind of trouble I don't need.

As for questions like 'how dare God treat me like this' - I've read the book of Job. (January 20, 2010) As my father said, "at some levels of authority, argument is pointless."

So, am I going to go all 'spiritual' about this, wandering around with folded hands, rolled-up eyes, and a sort of sandbagged look on my face?

Not likely.

I plan to research ADD, ADHD, discuss the matter with the family doctor and the psychiatrist who's been working with me to control my depression - and pray.

Like I've written before, I trust God - but I also figure that He expects me to use this brain that He gave me.

Related posts:

• "Twitter, Gallbladders, the Catholic Church, and Me"
  (September 18, 2010)
  Particularly
  • There's Nice and Normal - And There's Me
• "Aspergers, Meditation, Tolerance and a Loud Pump"
  (September 3, 2010)
• "Time in a Garden"
  (May 6, 2010)
• "Prayer, Medicine and Trusting God"
  (March 4, 2010)
• "Medication for Depression? Yeah: The Catholic Church is Okay With That"
  (February 25, 2010)