We have been told that ADHD is a disorder that has no value whatsoever, and that people with ADHD must be control their behavior for their own good. It is assumed that there is one single and superior way of being and behaving in the world, in all times and in all cultures. Is this actually true? There is a debate about whether ADHD is a disorder or a difference and this argument has great implications, not just for research but also with people who have ADHD, who deserve to reach their potential. If ADHD is a difference, then people with it have not just ADHD related weaknesses to be compensated for (because they are a hindrance in our society), but ADHD related strengths to nurture.
When people grow up being punished for being the way they are, they begin to see themselves as incompetent misfits, and they lose their personal power. They start doing what other people tell them to do. People with ADHD have been slapped, told to shut up, given detention, and told that they are damaged and have a brain disease or disorder. We live up to what others have been telling us out loud about ourselves but also to the unspoken assumptions behind the words. People with ADHD are born with a different set of characteristics but these characteristics become exaggerated because we have focused on them and treated them as being bad or wrong.
Thomas Hartmann (who has ADHD himself) came up with a different idea of what ADHD is. He says that people with ADHD are like hunters living in a society of farmers (ie people without ADHD). The traits that define ADHD are actually useful in a hunting society, but not in a farming one.
For instance, we complain that people with ADHD have short attention spans but can become intensely focused for long periods. This trait would also allow them to be constantly monitoring their environment, and to be not easily distracted from an important task at hand.
People with ADHD are seen as disorganized and impulsive. This trait would allow them to throw themselves into the chase at a moment’s notice. In contrast, “Farmers” are able to sustain a steady, dependable effort.
People with ADHD act without considering the consequences. This trait would allow them to be willing and able to take risks and face danger. “Farmers” are more careful and “look before they leap”.
People with ADHD have difficulty following directions and are not team players. This trait would mean that they are bored with mundane tasks, and enjoy new ideas and the excitement of being “hot on the trail”. “Farmers” are good at tending to details and following through, in “taking care of business”.
People with ADHD have a distorted sense of time and are unaware of how long it will take to do something. This trait would allow them to be flexible and ready to change strategy quickly. “Farmers” are organized and purposeful and stick to a long-term strategy.
Many of our most celebrated thinkers and achievers had ADHD. This would include many of our country’s founding fathers (such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson) as well as Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Amadeus Mozart, Henry Ford, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Switzer, Sir Francis Drake, Christopher Columbus, Winston Churchill, Alexander Graham Bell, and Galileo. Although several of these people had learning disabilities, they were able to rise above them.
A good “hunter” is a global thinker who takes risks, seeks novelty, and is easily bored by repetitive tasks. He shows incredible energy and flexibility and is not afraid to stand out from the crowd. He has a unique capacity of independent thinking and creativity. These characteristics are a part of what makes people with ADHD beautiful and unique. When a person with ADHD has the opportunity to utilize these traits in support of their goals, they can accomplish anything. They can live up to their full potential.
Tracy Crowe has been interested in ADHD for a long time, as well as in the idea that there is no one right way to be or behave in the world.
For information about ADHD, visit http://youradhdinfosite.com
