Do you, or someone close to you, have problems completing tasks or staying focused at times, but find you're able to spend long periods doing something that interests you? Do you constantly misplace things or go to another room, only to forget what it was you wanted to do when you got there? Are you oblivious to the passing of time sometimes? If so, you may have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or its close environmentally-induced cousin, VAST (variable attention stimulus trait).
I mentioned a couple of blogs ago that I’m reading “ADHD 2.0”, written by two psychiatrists, Edward Halloway and John Ratey, who also have ADHD themselves, giving them a unique perspective. It’s fascinating and I’m learning to look at this sometimes-debilitating syndrome quite differently. I thought I’d share some of what I learned... a book review of sorts.
Their first book, “Driven to Distraction” (love the title!) introduced ADHD to the public in 1994—most people hadn’t heard of it or knew little about it—and they’ve been writing to educate us all ever since. Now, 30 years later, almost everyone knows someone who is challenged with ADHD but it’s still not well understood. Has the syndrome become more common or are we just more aware of it? How well do medications for ADHD work and do sufferers need to take them for the rest of their lives to control negative symptoms? Are there other strategies that can help?
What is ADHD?
The syndrome has gone through an evolution in its naming: originally called ADD (attention deficit disorder), it was renamed ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) to include the hyperactivity trait shown by some who are diagnosed. Of course, not everyone with ADHD also shows increased activity, particularly girls, so they created categories of ADHD: ADHD predominantly inattentive, ADHD predominantly hyperactive-impulsive (quite rare, according to the authors I am reading) as separate diagnoses from ADHD combined type. Somehow a syndrome name that includes “hyperactive” when the person does not show hyperactivity seems a little off... but there’s more that doesn’t fit the name, as these two doctor/authors describe it.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in the US defines it as the following: “ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.”
“A child with ADHD might daydream a lot, forget or lose things a lot, squirm or fidget, talk too much, make careless mistakes, take unnecessary risks, have a hard time resisting temptation, have trouble taking turns, or have difficulty getting along with others.” All negative traits but, as I learned, there are many positives associated with ADHD too.
How does it affect adults?
Although ADHD information sources often discuss effects in children and don’t mention adults, Drs. Halloway and Ratey emphasize that, in their experience, children do not grow out of the condition—it's just as much an issue for adults. Those who appear to have done so have merely learned to compensate very well. Some people even manage to create advantage from the traits.
My hubby, for example, was never diagnosed with ADHD but one evening, as we listened to documentary on the syndrome, we looked at each other and said “yeah, you have it!” However, he’s always used tools like leaving himself notes to stay organized and on task, often putting sticky notes on the dash of the car for errands not to be missed. He also likes to start projects right away and finish them as quickly as possible. I remember all my friends being envious of what my “hyperactive husband” was able to accomplish. I would come up with an idea, just musing (We should do Such-and-such...) and the next thing I’d know, it was all done! Having a desire to constantly be active can be put to great advantage in life. Even when a person with ADHD with hyperactivity is sitting still, seemingly relaxed and daydreaming, their mind is active and at work, thinking, planning and making decisions.
Are there treatments when it’s a problem?
ADHD is considered the most treatable disorder in psychiatry... medications are more effective for ADHD than for any other mental health condition. So, if a short attention span has become a problem, especially at school or work, it’s well worth talking to your doctor. Together you can decide if medication is needed, and for how long. But there are also many behaviour and lifestyle changes that can help to manage symptoms in the long term and turn them to advantage, as my hubby did. Many ADHD traits can be beneficial in the workplace, too. Once controlled, whether with medication or non-drug strategies, ADHD can be a driver of creativity and artistic talents that can springboard a person to success. You just need to learn strategies to help you finish the job.
The authors describe ADHD as a way of being, a brain wired in a particular way, rather than a “deficiency”. Instead of a disorder, they describe it as an array of traits associated with a unique kind of mind that can become a distinct advantage when managed with understanding (or an abiding curse, if not). To children they treat, they describe their brain as being like a Ferrari with weak brakes. You just need to learn how to strengthen the brakes on all that horsepower to really go places!
Lots of advantages too...
Besides the obvious variability in attention (those with ADHD can overfocus as well as become distracted when bored) those affected also tend to be quite comfortable with uncertainty. While this can lead to impulsive behaviour, it also can result in diving excitedly into a new business venture that becomes a great success rather than hesitating due to fear of failure, or inventing something imaginative that no-one has thought of before. They need to investigate odd noises, how things work, or what’s in that petri dish to satisfy their strong sense of curiosity. They often feel an abiding need to create something. They tend to be optimistic, seeing limitless possibilities where others only see the limits.
They also cannot tolerate boredom. Think of it as lack of stimulation for an active brain. If what’s being discussed is not engaging—whether the concept is not understood or just doesn’t seem important—the ADHD mind just moves on to another subject. My ADHD hubby is always changing topics of conversation suddenly. It’s just that he’s gotten bored with the subject and his mind has moved on. He does keep conversations interesting however...
Those with ADHD also often lack an internal sense of time. It’s like the ADHD mind can enter a state of flow more easily, where one is so focused on the current activity that all else—including the passage of time—is blocked out. Musicians, artists, athletes and others commonly enter a state of flow when performing their art/sport. I described this in an earlier blog (see link below). Those with ADHD generally recognize only 2 times: now and not now, making procrastination a prominent ADHD trait.
I have to admit that some of these characteristics—creativity, tendency to procrastinate, no sense of time, easily slipping into the hyper-focused state of “flow”—suggest I may have a degree of ADHD too, although certainly the “non-hyperactive” version... That was a surprise! But I guess it could explain my enthusiasm to start a business from scratch in the competitive pharmacy world. My hubby’s willingness to do what it takes and do it now, along with my thinking “outside the box” with a compounding specialty, private consultations, radio talks, presentations to groups and other innovative projects made it a success. My pharmacy was actually featured in 5 different Canadian Pharmacy journals over the years!
So, think of ADHD as a collection of contradictory tendencies: a lack of focus combined with an ability to hyper-focus; a lack of direction combined with highly directed business building skills; a tendency to procrastinate combined with an ability to achieve a lot in a short time; impulsive decision-making combined with inventive problem-solving skills; social cluelessness combined with amazing intuition and empathy, and more. The trick is to learn to capitalize on the positive traits while using strategies (and medication if necessary) to manage the negative ones.
So, as the authors of ADHD 2.0 point out, the word “deficit” is a misnomer. It’s just the opposite—people with ADHD have too much focus and attention, just sometimes on the wrong thing. The challenge is to control and direct it so they can take advantage of all the plusses tucked away inside their brain!
Experts tell us that as many as 10% of us are born with these traits, but many are never diagnosed (especially girls who tend to display a dreamy state rather than hyperactivity and disruptive behaviour). It is considered a readily inherited (“highly heritable”) condition and often runs in families. However, certain “brain insults” like lack of oxygen at birth, head injuries, early infections, or exposure to magnetic field non-ionizing radiation (MFR) such as from power lines, leaky kitchen appliances, etc., can also cause ADHD.
Environmentally-induced attention problems
But there are also many people who act as if they have ADHD but do not qualify for a diagnosis. Their ADHD-like symptoms are believed to be caused by the massive increase in stimuli that bombard our brains in the modern world. Writing advice tells authors we need to capture people’s attention within 8 seconds or most will become bored and move onto something else. That’s much less time than writers had in the past to engage readers. Our attention spans have shortened dramatically. In our efforts to keep up with all the information coming at us, many have developed new, sometimes antisocial habits to cope, constantly checking our phones/computers to keep up with the flow of information, trying not to fall behind. I know when my inbox starts to fill up, I feel a pressing need to whiz through the unopened emails before it becomes an overwhelming monster.
There is a name for this now, as proposed by Drs. Halloway and Ratey: VAST (variable attention stimulus trait) and the symptoms are very similar to ADHD. In fact, the doctors say the term could be used to describe those diagnosed with ADHD as well, describing it better. Although we may skim through information, quickly deleting what doesn’t capture our interest, in contrast, we can spend significant time devouring what does catch our attention and piques our curiosity... variable attention, not a deficit of attention... and a different way of thinking: traits, not a disorder.
However, repeated actions often become unconscious habits. Our brains strengthen the thought pathways we use most often, turning them into “ruts” our minds want to follow to save energy. Picking up your phone to check for messages can become a habit you do without thinking, even when socializing with others, whenever there’s a lull in the conversation. Perhaps eventually we'll all end up with ADHD-like behaviours, variable attention stimulated by the immense amounts of information we process each day. Hopefully, with professional help when necessary, we can manage to take advantage of this alternate way of thinking... and control the downsides.
It starts with being aware of the effects social media can have on us, with its constant stream of attention-grabbing tools, and being aware of when your mind-hopping has become a problem, seeking help when needed. ADHD 2.0 is a worthwhile read, if you’re looking for more information, ideas for non-drug treatment, and a positive point of view of ADHD/VAST. I highly recommend it!
References:
ADHD 2.0--Edward Halloway and John Ratey 2022 Amazon.ca Amazon.com
What is ADHD?—Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Get into the State of Flow—blog by Jeannie Collins Beaudin
What is VAST? Do you have this unique ADHD brain trait?—VAST Diversity
ADD Needs a Better Name. We Have One—ADDitude Magazine
Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash
