Reddit has an interesting post on defining ADHD. The argument: Is it a disorder or a simply a creative, independently motivated human phenotype?
Here’s what I had to contribute to the conversation — the long version:
ADHD = the creative phenotype. I was undiagnosed, but had my parents been wanting to accept the only solution available at the time, I could have and would have been put on medication as a child.
I am very, very, very thankful to them that they didn’t. I respect everyone’s right to disagree with me, but my general feeling on the subject is that allowing children to use amphetamines, even when prescribed, may set them up for problems later on… whether from side-effects (in the long-term), altering their development in some form, or simply by teaching them that drugs of one type or another can be an answer to their life difficulties. I think it’s a false quick fix for something that just takes hard work.
I submit to you this simple question: If you wouldn’t give your children marijuana, a drug undeniably mild in nature (relative to others), then why would you give them a substance that belongs to a classification known to be dangerous and habit forming? Are we going to pretend that it makes sense to be concerned about the long term effects of marijuana on the developing brain but just because Ritalin (etc.) has a great marketing team and is societaly endorsed that they have NO long-term impact on the development of personality? My personal opinion is that the average individual is better off dealing with their problems in a non-chemical way if possible. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way — I know. Limited resources, time, etc.
More and more research is showing things like exercise can aid in enhancing neural plasticity, which ultimately means better capacity to change personal behavior over time. So… Perhaps as an alternative you should consider involving your child(ren) in some kind of intensive/strenuous (but safe) physical activities that literally encourages brain development.
Also… Isn’t “attentiveness” based on context? Most “ADHD” children I’ve met seem to be quite capable of maintaining attention when they’re playing video games, or enjoying themselves doing something. Most of the time, I think, what is defined as “inattentive” really just means “abnormally uninterested in pleasing me/jumping through my hoops.” (The only rewards/positive feedback for school is a little happy face drawn on tests. This doesn’t work for people who aren’t wired to be people-pleasers. In other words, ADHD children dance to the beat of their own drummer, and that’s why there is a higher proportion of “ADHD” in Entrepreneurs.)
That’s my thoughts on the subject, anyway.
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