A mother asks why I don’t believe in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD. First, let it be known that I don’t “believe” in any psychological/psychiatric diagnosis. I don’t “believe” in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, oppositional defiant disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and so on. If the diagnosis is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), I don’t believe in it.
Hi, I just finished your book on ADHD, and I would like to know your thoughts on ADHD in adults. I was recently diagnosed at 37. For years I have struggled silently, feeling like a looser for being so innattentive, not comprehending tasks as easily as everyone else, forgetting everything, stumbling myself upon objects, having bursts of anger, insomnia, etc. So whith the diagnose I felt relieved. I was not stupid nor lazy nor crazy after all! But after reading a lot about the medication I was prescribed, I have decided not to take it. I would much prefer to continue living with attention deficit, disorganization and anxiety than endangering my body with all these secondary effects. BUT I would like to know your take on adults with ADHD. Living like this is hard. I am a person of so much potential, but i feel I can never go past this state. Will I have to die as a `she could have done so many things!` person?
A diagnosis of ADHD, whether the individual in question is an adult or a child, is COMPLETELY lacking in objectivity. Whereas, for example, a diagnosis of leukemia can be verified by blood tests, a diagnosis of adult ADHD cannot be verified by any objective measurement. ADHD is a concept. Leukemia is a reality. A short attention span can be retrained. For example, instead of relying on screens to obtain information, read books. Read a chapter, then go back and read it again. Self-discipline - which will be a struggle at first - is the key to overcoming your difficulties.
I, like the author of this post, do not believe in ADHD. But I do not believe that self-discipline is the problem here. I don't agree that if you would "just put in the effort, you can do it like everyone else." I don't believe that at all.
I once heard a brilliant line: "The world is not mistaken. You are." You are just the way you are meant to be. There is nothing wrong with you. The only thing that's mistaken here is the way you were taught to view yourself; the way you were taught to judge yourself.
I want you to watch this TED talk: My Stroke of Insight.
The ability to recall past events, to think rationally, to focus--these are all related to the left brain. Instinct, gut feelings, child-like wonder for the world--these are related to the right brain. I've never worked with people with ADHD before, so I may be wrong, but... Could it be that your right brain simply works more for you than for other people? In which case, it's a gift, not a curse. Listen to your gut feelings, not your brain. Live by instinct. Live moment to moment. Don't worry about the past or the future. Live in nature. Listen to the things that can't be said in words. I think you'll find yourself there.
I think you'll find that you're everything you were meant to be.
I don't think you have ADHD. I think you're perfect just the way you are. No one can change--we can all grow. No one can change--but we can change how we view ourselves.
"Every curse is a blessing." (Ancient Chinese saying)
Jeffrey, thanks much for your response. Since no conclusive evidence of physiological cause exists concerning ADHD, the drugs are certainly "bad and ugly" but I fail to see any good. Your turn.
Hi John, If I can be given some lattitude here, based on the approving teachers and school psychologists who pushed the drugs, who now see "Little Johnny' as behaving better on the ADHD drug, that can be construed as "the Good" . We already know about the Bad and Ugly side of it.
Jeffrey, thanks for that clarification. I would simply point out that if "results" are the issue, the drugs in question do not reliably outperform placebos.
Jeffrey, I saw a British study a few years back, I think it was in Lancet, where some ADHD drug failed to outperform a placebo. I'll have to find it again.
Charles, trust me, and without getting into the weeds of it, this sort of research is garbage. What they've basically discovered is that boys' brains are different. Wow!
Hi, I just finished your book on ADHD, and I would like to know your thoughts on ADHD in adults. I was recently diagnosed at 37. For years I have struggled silently, feeling like a looser for being so innattentive, not comprehending tasks as easily as everyone else, forgetting everything, stumbling myself upon objects, having bursts of anger, insomnia, etc. So whith the diagnose I felt relieved. I was not stupid nor lazy nor crazy after all! But after reading a lot about the medication I was prescribed, I have decided not to take it. I would much prefer to continue living with attention deficit, disorganization and anxiety than endangering my body with all these secondary effects. BUT I would like to know your take on adults with ADHD. Living like this is hard. I am a person of so much potential, but i feel I can never go past this state. Will I have to die as a `she could have done so many things!` person?
A diagnosis of ADHD, whether the individual in question is an adult or a child, is COMPLETELY lacking in objectivity. Whereas, for example, a diagnosis of leukemia can be verified by blood tests, a diagnosis of adult ADHD cannot be verified by any objective measurement. ADHD is a concept. Leukemia is a reality. A short attention span can be retrained. For example, instead of relying on screens to obtain information, read books. Read a chapter, then go back and read it again. Self-discipline - which will be a struggle at first - is the key to overcoming your difficulties.
Hello Dahianara.
I, like the author of this post, do not believe in ADHD. But I do not believe that self-discipline is the problem here. I don't agree that if you would "just put in the effort, you can do it like everyone else." I don't believe that at all.
I once heard a brilliant line: "The world is not mistaken. You are." You are just the way you are meant to be. There is nothing wrong with you. The only thing that's mistaken here is the way you were taught to view yourself; the way you were taught to judge yourself.
I want you to watch this TED talk: My Stroke of Insight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU
The ability to recall past events, to think rationally, to focus--these are all related to the left brain. Instinct, gut feelings, child-like wonder for the world--these are related to the right brain. I've never worked with people with ADHD before, so I may be wrong, but... Could it be that your right brain simply works more for you than for other people? In which case, it's a gift, not a curse. Listen to your gut feelings, not your brain. Live by instinct. Live moment to moment. Don't worry about the past or the future. Live in nature. Listen to the things that can't be said in words. I think you'll find yourself there.
I think you'll find that you're everything you were meant to be.
I don't think you have ADHD. I think you're perfect just the way you are. No one can change--we can all grow. No one can change--but we can change how we view ourselves.
"Every curse is a blessing." (Ancient Chinese saying)
My take on this topic: ADHD Drugs, The Good, Bad and Ugly
https://jeffreydachmd.com/2023/11/adhd-drugs-the-good-bad-and-ugly/
Jeffrey, thanks much for your response. Since no conclusive evidence of physiological cause exists concerning ADHD, the drugs are certainly "bad and ugly" but I fail to see any good. Your turn.
Hi John, If I can be given some lattitude here, based on the approving teachers and school psychologists who pushed the drugs, who now see "Little Johnny' as behaving better on the ADHD drug, that can be construed as "the Good" . We already know about the Bad and Ugly side of it.
Jeffrey, thanks for that clarification. I would simply point out that if "results" are the issue, the drugs in question do not reliably outperform placebos.
HI John,
if you can point me to a publication that comes to that conclusion, I would be interested in seeing that. regards, jeff
Jeffrey, I saw a British study a few years back, I think it was in Lancet, where some ADHD drug failed to outperform a placebo. I'll have to find it again.
Jeffrey, if you Google "ADHD and placebos" a bunch of stuff comes up.
most dsm is trash, fill of invalid concepts
Thanks for your comment and your support. The only amendment I would make is to change "most" to "all".
There is early evidence that ADHD can be differentiated by brain imaging. For example, this study: https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.2017170226
Charles, trust me, and without getting into the weeds of it, this sort of research is garbage. What they've basically discovered is that boys' brains are different. Wow!