Hi everyone! Dyspraxic filmmaker here

[enigma]

Hi all,

I’m a 34 year old horror scriptwriter/film director from London. I have only in the last few years discovered that my life-long clumsiness/forgetfulness and lack of co ordination was an actual condition.

I am breaking into the film industry and will be very big in a couple of years. Unfortunately my dyspraxia has been a constant hindrance on film sets & around expensive equipment. Thankfully I haven’t damaged anything as of yet though I feel it will be inevitable! I just have a few questions for anyone who wishes to reply:

1. Has anyone found any strong coping mechanisms or solutions to clumsiness/lack of co ordination? I have tried mindfulness meditation and exercise but it has never made any significant improvement. Directing a film is very overwhelming and I can get so ‘caught up’ that I forget to move slow and careful.
2. Are there any medicines that can help with co ordination?
3. Does anyone else feel that they are almost powered by a battery and always feel ‘on the go’? I find it hard to sit or stand still and always need to move around.

Dyspraxia has really destroyed my self esteem and self confidence throughout my life. I will be a great filmmaker but being childishly clumsy is not going to help me. My fear is that when I do direct big projects I will end up damaging expensive equipment. Reputation spreads fast in the industry so I really don’t want to start off with an ‘unreliable’ reputation. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read through and answer this!

[Xenavire]

I can't really answer the rest, but number 3...

Yes,I feel like once I am busy with work, I'm best just going until I'm done. Too many distractions (breaks included) and my focus evaporates, and it's extremely hard to get back. However, if I'm not interrupted, I get stuff done and the day just melts away.

And either way, I'm exhausted at the end.

[Tom fod]

Hi all,

I’m a 34 year old horror scriptwriter/film director from London. I have only in the last few years discovered that my life-long clumsiness/forgetfulness and lack of co ordination was an actual condition.

I am breaking into the film industry and will be very big in a couple of years. Unfortunately my dyspraxia has been a constant hindrance on film sets & around expensive equipment. Thankfully I haven’t damaged anything as of yet though I feel it will be inevitable! I just have a few questions for anyone who wishes to reply:

1. Has anyone found any strong coping mechanisms or solutions to clumsiness/lack of co ordination? I have tried mindfulness meditation and exercise but it has never made any significant improvement. Directing a film is very overwhelming and I can get so ‘caught up’ that I forget to move slow and careful.
2. Are there any medicines that can help with co ordination?
3. Does anyone else feel that they are almost powered by a battery and always feel ‘on the go’? I find it hard to sit or stand still and always need to move around.

Dyspraxia has really destroyed my self esteem and self confidence throughout my life. I will be a great filmmaker but being childishly clumsy is not going to help me. My fear is that when I do direct big projects I will end up damaging expensive equipment. Reputa spreads fast in the industry so I really don’t want to start off with an ‘unreliable’ reputation. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read through and answer this!

Hi and welcome

We definitely have to learn to be calmer and more forgiving of ourselves. With time and patience we can develop personal strategies to help. Even then accidents do happen, not just to the likes of us though it very often feels like we cause a disproportionate level of chaos.

There is some crossover with ADHD in that we can have traits. For some it might be worth speaking to a GP about further steps but generally provision for adults to get confirmation of Dyspraxia and/or ADHD can take some years of polite but dogged persistence. It is v much a lottery and most GPS have few or zero referral options.

Please note programmes such as the DORE and others like it and peddlers of unlicensed medications and supplements with bold claims abound online so please be very careful and avoid these quacks as they will happily relieve you of hundreds of pounds.

[enigma]

Thank you for the replies. Much appreciated.

[hahahalife]

yep. i am either switched on to a point of hyperfocus or not there.
no solutions to clumsiness yet, trying yoga for strength.
i adapt my environment around me so it's less of a trip hazard. possible in a film studio if you are the director perhaps?
it's not childish to have a disability.

good luck with the career, sounds like a creatively fulfilling thing to do xxx