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Comment by DerKommissar | Hacker News Reader

This is kind a little off topic but I have a question for you.

I am in the middle of being diagnosed with ADHD (I'm 30). It was actually HN that prompted me to take action, but that's another story which I can expand on if anyone is interested.

I haven't read much about ADHD being linked to shyness and introversion, although I certainly haven't done enough research. But it describes me very well, could you possibly say a little more or point me to some resources? Everything I've read talks about impulsiveness and extroversion. I would guess that shyness and introversion are learned reactions to the impulsiveness.

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There's an inattentive type[1] of ADHD that doesn't connote hyperactivity or impulsivity.

Mood, anxiety, and personality disorders also frequently occur along with ADHD[2].

[1]: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/types-of-adhd

[2]: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adult-adhd/DS01161/DSECTION...

I'm not a guru, but I have my own experience, which matches resent publicly accepted studies.

http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-Matter-More-Tha... is a good starting point.

I think everyone involved (I'm with Asperger's) should study the topic, to be able to understand (and then make a corrections to) one's own behavior, instead of believing what other people (including doctors) are saying.

I've heard good things about that book, I probably should get a copy.

I didn't word my question very well. I was wondering where you got your examples. None of the ADHD info I've read says anything about shyness or eye contact. A child playing by themselves would seem to be the exact opposite of the popular notion of what a kid with ADHD is like (assuming that they weren't totally spaced out to the world around them, which you didn't mention).

I'm just interested because that's me. I'm shy, I have minor problems with eye contact (more like I just have problems relating to new people) and I spent a large chunk of my childhood playing by myself with Legos and Transformers. That last bit was one of the reasons my parents said they didn't think I could have ADHD. "But you used to amuse yourself for hours by yourself. You certainly were paying attention to THAT."

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