Comments on: The Power of Negative Thinking/Feeling http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/ A resource about ADD, ADHD, and mental health Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:18:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dee Luther http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/comment-page-1/#comment-16864 Dee Luther Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:39:49 +0000 http://www.drhallowell.com/?p=1027#comment-16864 Dear Dr. Hallowell: I just read about you dealing with prostate cancer - I had no idea. I do hope you are improving and that your treatment isn't wiping you out too badly. Your article on the power of positive thinking is so very true. Thank you for being you and helping so many - you are truly a beacon in a sometimes unforgiving world. :-) You diagnosed me back in 1994, and I have been following your website for the last few years, more so over the past several months. You have always been a big help to me. I recently took a workshop in Sudbury with Robin Roman Wright and thought about making an appointment to visit with you. Don't know if you have returned to work but I will call and make that appointment. I am channelling positive energy in your direction. Continued best wishes on your recovery. Sincerely, Dee Luther Dear Dr. Hallowell:

I just read about you dealing with prostate cancer – I had no idea. I do hope you are improving and that your treatment isn’t wiping you out too badly. Your article on the power of positive thinking is so very true. Thank you for being you and helping so many – you are truly a beacon in a sometimes unforgiving world. :-)

You diagnosed me back in 1994, and I have been following your website for the last few years, more so over the past several months. You have always been a big help to me. I recently took a workshop in Sudbury with Robin Roman Wright and thought about making an appointment to visit with you. Don’t know if you have returned to work but I will call and make that appointment.

I am channelling positive energy in your direction. Continued best wishes on your recovery.

Sincerely,
Dee Luther

]]> By: Andy http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/comment-page-1/#comment-16190 Andy Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:25:36 +0000 http://www.drhallowell.com/?p=1027#comment-16190 I can attest to the negative thinking issue as it pertains to ADD. I was diagnosed with ADD last year at the age of 41 and spent my entire life being told that I was lazy and useless. After a lifetime of exhibiting behavior that completely validated these notions, I began to dismiss myself prior to doing ANYTHING. I can’t do that, I’ll never finish. I just don’t have the intelligence to do that. I always let people down. I can’t be depended on. The list goes on, way on. Interestingly, I was a self taught musician, artist, and writer. Of course, I never made anything out of it. But I always had moments (still do) when I would notice that I could produce these creative power surges without any effort. These were followed by the inflating excitement of making something out of them, perpetually popped by the needle of negative thinking. Summarily, my overall self assessment was that I was crap. After the liberation of the diagnosis and the assistance of medication, things are generally better. But the negativity is like a bad roommate that you are forced to live with, and they won’t ever move out. I find myself constantly negotiating with myself and make concessions and live with it. The toughest thing for me is that although I can sense my potential better, I have responsibility to my wife and two young kids and I can’t just throw caution to the wind and go for it. Then I start thinking about how great it would have been if I figured this out twenty, or even thirty, hell even one year sooner would have been better. Then I get pissed, then I realize that there is nothing I can do about it. Negativity. I think about it every day. Yes, negativity is powerful to say the least. It is ever present, like mold waiting for darkness and lack of ventilation. The trick is keeping the light and air coming through, and that is not always easy. I can attest to the negative thinking issue as it pertains to ADD. I was diagnosed with ADD last year at the age of 41 and spent my entire life being told that I was lazy and useless. After a lifetime of exhibiting behavior that completely validated these notions, I began to dismiss myself prior to doing ANYTHING. I can’t do that, I’ll never finish. I just don’t have the intelligence to do that. I always let people down. I can’t be depended on. The list goes on, way on. Interestingly, I was a self taught musician, artist, and writer. Of course, I never made anything out of it. But I always had moments (still do) when I would notice that I could produce these creative power surges without any effort. These were followed by the inflating excitement of making something out of them, perpetually popped by the needle of negative thinking. Summarily, my overall self assessment was that I was crap.

After the liberation of the diagnosis and the assistance of medication, things are generally better. But the negativity is like a bad roommate that you are forced to live with, and they won’t ever move out. I find myself constantly negotiating with myself and make concessions and live with it. The toughest thing for me is that although I can sense my potential better, I have responsibility to my wife and two young kids and I can’t just throw caution to the wind and go for it. Then I start thinking about how great it would have been if I figured this out twenty, or even thirty, hell even one year sooner would have been better. Then I get pissed, then I realize that there is nothing I can do about it. Negativity. I think about it every day.

Yes, negativity is powerful to say the least. It is ever present, like mold waiting for darkness and lack of ventilation. The trick is keeping the light and air coming through, and that is not always easy.

]]> By: Tessa Foris http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/comment-page-1/#comment-16188 Tessa Foris Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:30:05 +0000 http://www.drhallowell.com/?p=1027#comment-16188 Dear Ned, I sure agree, and I'm glad that you have found comfort and joy in unexpected places. Thank goodness for the kindnesses of ordinary (extraordinary) people! Psst I think you're one of those people too. ,Tessa Dear Ned,
I sure agree, and I’m glad that you have found comfort and joy in unexpected places.
Thank goodness for the kindnesses of ordinary (extraordinary) people!

Psst I think you’re one of those people too.

,Tessa

]]> By: Deb http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/comment-page-1/#comment-16173 Deb Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:26:41 +0000 http://www.drhallowell.com/?p=1027#comment-16173 I found your blog quite by accident this morning...or more likely it was an "act of God." I was reading my daily devotional from Bob Gass Ministries and in his discussing the topic of resiliency, he mentioned you. So here I am. I am particularly interested in a statement that you made in The Power of Negative Thinking/Feeling: "...Just that so much of life with ADD can be saturated with negative thoughts and feelings. It can be saturated with pessimism, fear, and shame—all quite well based in reality and truly negative events..." So are you saying that a "negative perspective on life" can be common in those with ADD? The reason why I ask is that I have an adult daughter who was diagnosed with ADD in high school. She is the most brilliant, creative, funny, and functional person that I know. BUT...she has this bent of always returning to the negative and I must constantly "talk her down from the ledge" and reassure her. Any comment? Advise? I found your blog quite by accident this morning…or more likely it was an “act of God.” I was reading my daily devotional from Bob Gass Ministries and in his discussing the topic of resiliency, he mentioned you. So here I am.

I am particularly interested in a statement that you made in The Power of Negative Thinking/Feeling: “…Just that so much of life with ADD can be saturated with negative thoughts and feelings. It can be saturated with pessimism, fear, and shame—all quite well based in reality and truly negative events…” So are you saying that a “negative perspective on life” can be common in those with ADD? The reason why I ask is that I have an adult daughter who was diagnosed with ADD in high school. She is the most brilliant, creative, funny, and functional person that I know. BUT…she has this bent of always returning to the negative and I must constantly “talk her down from the ledge” and reassure her. Any comment? Advise?

]]> By: Diane http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/comment-page-1/#comment-16167 Diane Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:19:19 +0000 http://www.drhallowell.com/?p=1027#comment-16167 Thanks Dr. Hallowell for all your supportive thoughts and optimism you have shared with your books and video counselling. I hope all the people you have helped will extend you the same kindness, support and uplifting thoughts you have shown the public. Keep positive and speedy good health to you. Thanks Dr. Hallowell for all your supportive thoughts and optimism you have shared with your books and video counselling. I hope all the people you have helped will extend you the same kindness, support and uplifting thoughts you have shown the public. Keep positive and speedy good health to you.

]]> By: Sherry Trotta http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/comment-page-1/#comment-16165 Sherry Trotta Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:25:54 +0000 http://www.drhallowell.com/?p=1027#comment-16165 Savor those moments of the healthcare worker on your way back to health! Close family friends in Grosse Pointe (I see you are heading there soon) who's dad, in his 70's and twins, 45 yrs old all survived prostate Cancer recently. The University of Michigan is studying them to try to help find a cure. WIshing you a speedy recovery! Sherry Savor those moments of the healthcare worker on your way back to health!

Close family friends in Grosse Pointe (I see you are heading there soon) who’s dad, in his 70′s and twins, 45 yrs old all survived prostate Cancer recently. The University of Michigan is studying them to try to help find a cure.

WIshing you a speedy recovery!

Sherry

]]> By: Roxann http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/comment-page-1/#comment-12694 Roxann Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:56:57 +0000 http://www.drhallowell.com/?p=1027#comment-12694 Even though these positive moments can be frequent and have a healing quality to people, what does one do with someone who struggles with a feeling of impending doom. This has plagued him for years, off and on, sometimes intense, and other times not so much. He is on no medications, and is in his 70's. I tell him he has said this for years, his reply is, "this is different." Any suggestions? Even though these positive moments can be frequent and have a healing quality to people, what does one do with someone who struggles with a feeling of impending doom. This has plagued him for years, off and on, sometimes intense, and other times not so much. He is on no medications, and is in his 70′s. I tell him he has said this for years, his reply is, “this is different.” Any suggestions?

]]> By: Andrea Gargiulo http://www.drhallowell.com/blog/the-power-of-negative-thinkingfeeling/comment-page-1/#comment-12360 Andrea Gargiulo Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:29:27 +0000 http://www.drhallowell.com/?p=1027#comment-12360 So glad to hear that the hospital volunteer made a difference to you. My pet therapy dog, Paolo, and I visit the patients at Mass General, and I always feel that it brings as much positive energy to us as it does to those who are feeling physically or mentally down. I wish that more hospitals would institute this program---a great way to connect with people even when they have retreated to a place deep within themselves. Recently we visited a dying man who missed his dog. There was complete silence yet complete connection as he lay there, petting Paolo, thinking his own thoughts. So glad to hear that the hospital volunteer made a difference to you. My pet therapy dog, Paolo, and I visit the patients at Mass General, and I always feel that it brings as much positive energy to us as it does to those who are feeling physically or mentally down. I wish that more hospitals would institute this program—a great way to connect with people even when they have retreated to a place deep within themselves. Recently we visited a dying man who missed his dog. There was complete silence yet complete connection as he lay there, petting Paolo, thinking his own thoughts.

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