Explorer Traits
What is an Explorer? An Explorer is simply anyone
with ADD tendencies or traits, to a much greater degree than "normal" people
around them. You don't have to be diagnosed, and you need not be
dysfunctional. You might be "sub-ADD."
If you're new to ADD and are wondering whether you
"have it" I strongly recommend that you pick up the book "Driven to
Distraction" by Hallowell & Ratey. If you really are ADD you'll probably
have that "Eureka!!" experience we all talk about as you read the many case
studies. Don't rely solely on web sites for diagnostic information, and be aware that a
very large number of health care professionals do NOT know much about ADD, even if they
say they do.
The traits on this page are not diagnostic criteria!!
Nor are they representative of all ADDers, by any stretch of the imagination.
These are ADDers on the Internet...not your average bear.
Explorer Traits On the Internet
1. A strong, life-long feeling that one thinks very
differently than everyone else, not necessarily worse, but different. This typically
starts in grade school, and is often related to the conceptual and abstract thinking style
that so many of my readers have (see my Temperament section). This can impart a
feeling of isolation in earlier years, but very often the Explorer grows to embrace this
difference, especially those Explorers who seem most satisfied with their lives.
Explorers are often astounded to come into contact with other people who think like they
do via the Internet.
2. Explorers love the arts and sciences and put a very high
value on creativity. It's amazing how many play a musical instrument or paint.
More than a few consider themselves tinkerers or inventors, and some even have patents.
3. Many say they are unusually sensitive to sight,
touch and sound. They notice the sound of the crunching leaves, or a small bird
flying by.
4. Many Explorers say they are moody and have swings of
high energy lasting several days or weeks, followed by a period of fatigue and
fogginess. During periods of high energy, lots of ideas come out, and the Explorer
often becomes buried in half-finished projects. This is so common that I've actually
predicted it in certain types of people I run across.
5. Explorers visiting this website and the mail list are
incredibly polite and full of good will. "Flame wars" almost never break
out on the Free Thinker's Mail List. I never get negative or rude mail.
6. Many say they have verbal difficulties, and especially
become fatigued while reading. Oddly enough, the same people describe themselves as
compulsive readers! (And many read from the back to the front). Others just love to
write, and have published novels and poetry.
7. A lot of Explorers report high IQs. But they are
usually do it in the context of "they told me I have an IQ of 145, but I didn't do
well in school."
8. Adult Explorers often spend a lot of energy organizing
their world, or at least thinking about getting organized. Even so, they find they
are typically on the verge of chaos. They love spontenaity, being free to put all their
efforts into something that suddenly captures their imagination.
9. Explorers often describe themselves as visual thinkers.
10.Adult explorers are scientists and engineers, teachers,
doctors, homemakers, human relations experts, novelists, entrepreneurs, students and
more.
11. Adult Explorers on the web usually did not fail
out of school, nor were they considered uncontrollable in school. Rather, they
daydreamed and were underachievers, fearing their inability to pay attention and learn
like their peers. They often were fidgety or the class clown, but the girls
and introverts generally were not noticed. Some did very well only in certain types
of classes, like the arts, or perhaps they did well for a favorite teacher. Many found
themselves squeezed between admonishing parents and teachers, and were often unpopular
with their peers. A few had no problems in school and actually enjoyed it. Some had
school problems until a teacher moved them to a special desk, or they were moved to
a different school, after which there were no more problems. Some had a mentor they
feel in debt to. Many Explorers who had difficult childhoods feel that they only
became a true person after they finished school and were on their own. There, they had the
freedom to follow their instincts and to associate with other people they found
interesting.
12. Most Explorers who write me have had bouts of
depression and, to a lesser extent, anxiety or panic attacks. Many simply trudged
through such experiences and eventually felt better, while others found professional help.
13. Many Explorers visiting this site also have children
who were diagnosed with ADD, which is how they found out about ADD in the first place.
14. Late nights on the internet are not uncommon for
Explorers. Bursts of midnight energy until 3:00 am. Hey, it's midnight, maybe
I'll wallpaper the kitchen! Then again, a few say they are early birds.
15. Most have Jungian/MBTI temperament types on the
"Intuitive" end (see my section on temperament). A majority are either
INFP("Healer"), ENFP ("Advocate"), INTP ("Architect") or
ENTP ("Inventor"), although these temperament types comprise only 8% of the
general population.
16. Explorers seem to be very spiritual, in both
traditional and more creative ways. More than a few say that a strong belief in God
has sustained them through the years. Others are not religious per se, but are
still very spiritual. Regardless of religion or lack thereof, Explorers believe in a
greater good, are idealistic, future oriented and are deeply moved by other's
experiences. Many describe themselves as people who fight for what they believe in.
17. Explorers are easily -- Look, a bird! -- distracted and
are divergent thinkers. What did I come into this room for?
18. Enthusiasm!!!
19. What was I about to say? Oh, yeah, we're
forgetful. There's that memory thing, too. What's the word I'm looking for...?
20. Explorers have a well developed sense of humor, and are
often playful or just plain silly. They can do unexpectedly juvenile things, especially in
uptight and serious atmospheres. I have a preference for Happy Meal Toys and
singing things like "I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner," especially if there's
an important deadline to meet.
21. When it comes to getting things done, Explorers
have trouble "staying on task" because they are so filled with ideas and are
distracted by other things. Example: You start organizing the closet, find an old picture,
and start writing your family history. After a while, you impulsively start picking up the
kitchen, and half way through that get on the Internet.
22. Attentional differences are the defining trait for ADD
of course. Most Explorers say they have no trouble paying attention to something
they are very interested in, it's just that most of their day is filled is chores, tasks
and assignments. And they can hyperfocus while doing something interesting.
23. The "fogs" are typically related to low
levels of neurotransmitter activity in the brain (especially dopamine) which can manifest
as depression and other seemingly unrelated conditions. Many Explorers are on medications
(a stimulant or a stimulant/antidepressant combo). Some use herbs like Ginkgo
Biloba, St. John's Wort, or drink lots of caffeine. Some are completely opposed to
any unnatural substances what-so-ever.
24. HYPERFOCUS. H Y P E R F O C U S
. h y p e r f o c u s. H y P e R f O c U s. (Don't interrupt
me!!) H Y P E R F O C U S.
Explorers Not on the Internet
Keep in mind that the above list only represents a certain
subgroup of Explorers - those on the Internet. I've run across many
Explorer-type people in "real life" that would never get on the Internet and
talk about it because they do not recognize their traits as fitting a category, and if
they did, they wouldn't care. This is true of the entrepreneur types as well
as the sensation seeking types. After all, you can't bungee jump off the Internet.
Yet.
