A doctor who missed his own ADHD for 40 years, and the son who has it too. What the science really says about the "superpower," and what actually helps.
This is incredibly interesting! It is often so misleading when they say on social media that ADHD is a superpower- perhaps it is, but it also makes life extremely challenging.
I grew up in bavaria myself, back in the 90s, and as indeed ADHD shows up in girls differently than it does in boys, I was assumed to be 'the quiet one', and always getting told off for daydreaming and not being able to pay attention in school- unless it was a subject that i was really interested in of course.
Like you mentioned in your article, I thrived in a high pressured and physically active job! But when going freelance, whilst building a startup- amongst 5 other things, as it always goes with ADHD- it was a nightmare!! Zero focus on just one task, never finishing anything.
I only got diagnosed less than 2 years ago, and am taking now ELVANSE on the days when I am needing to sit down and work, and it's been a real life changer!
Now managing my environment, paying attention to my diet, concious of the tasks that suit my abilities, which make a real difference.
Thanks, @Pia Miriam. That’s a long road to a diagnosis. It sounds like you’ve learned a lot about the environments where your attention works best. The goal isn’t to label ADHD as a superpower or a weakness, but to understand the conditions where people can thrive.
Absolutely!! And yes, it’s been a long journey. Once diagnosed, it felt like someone had switched on the light in a dark room of which I knew was messy- but as a result, I am able to get the ‘Monkey’ under control! Although I refer it to the Lemurs in the film Madagascar funnily enough. But the monkey was such a beautiful way to describe/explain it to your son!
So managing yourself or your kid is really important, as you say, right? I understood from your article that working in emergencies was the perfect fit for you. Bc your brain is also most of the time in emergency mode. So having the right job and environment seems to be important.
I come from the creative field (theatre), and many artists (actors, directors, musicians) have ADHD. The creative field is very good for them. Wouldn't a different learning enviironment be better for your kid? Like homeschooling? Or alternative schools? I'm genuinely asking and interested. I also taught a lot at schools with ADHD-kids and was always interested in working with them. I'm a drama teacher, so that was a good field for many of them, but not all of them.
BTW, also grew up in Bavaria in the 80s, until I moved to Vienna.
Thanks, Michaela. I think the environment question is exactly the right one. There's no one-size-fits-all answer for ADHD. Different children thrive in different settings, and the goal is finding an environment that works with their brain, not against it.
And yes, emergency medicine was a good fit for the way my mind works.
Thanks for writing this! I’ve long suspected I have ADHD, but my last attempt at getting a diagnosis ended in a list of 8 phone numbers to neuropsychology offices that (after procrastinating calling for 2 months) don’t take my insurance. It’s worth another shot!
Great read! I can relate. My psychologist diagnosed me with suspected adhd inattentive-type. I haven’t been able to get myself to take meds because of the suspected diagnosis. But this article is motivating me to figure things out again, maybe get a second diagnosis and then potentially take some meds.
This is incredibly interesting! It is often so misleading when they say on social media that ADHD is a superpower- perhaps it is, but it also makes life extremely challenging.
I grew up in bavaria myself, back in the 90s, and as indeed ADHD shows up in girls differently than it does in boys, I was assumed to be 'the quiet one', and always getting told off for daydreaming and not being able to pay attention in school- unless it was a subject that i was really interested in of course.
Like you mentioned in your article, I thrived in a high pressured and physically active job! But when going freelance, whilst building a startup- amongst 5 other things, as it always goes with ADHD- it was a nightmare!! Zero focus on just one task, never finishing anything.
I only got diagnosed less than 2 years ago, and am taking now ELVANSE on the days when I am needing to sit down and work, and it's been a real life changer!
Now managing my environment, paying attention to my diet, concious of the tasks that suit my abilities, which make a real difference.
Thanks, @Pia Miriam. That’s a long road to a diagnosis. It sounds like you’ve learned a lot about the environments where your attention works best. The goal isn’t to label ADHD as a superpower or a weakness, but to understand the conditions where people can thrive.
Absolutely!! And yes, it’s been a long journey. Once diagnosed, it felt like someone had switched on the light in a dark room of which I knew was messy- but as a result, I am able to get the ‘Monkey’ under control! Although I refer it to the Lemurs in the film Madagascar funnily enough. But the monkey was such a beautiful way to describe/explain it to your son!
So managing yourself or your kid is really important, as you say, right? I understood from your article that working in emergencies was the perfect fit for you. Bc your brain is also most of the time in emergency mode. So having the right job and environment seems to be important.
I come from the creative field (theatre), and many artists (actors, directors, musicians) have ADHD. The creative field is very good for them. Wouldn't a different learning enviironment be better for your kid? Like homeschooling? Or alternative schools? I'm genuinely asking and interested. I also taught a lot at schools with ADHD-kids and was always interested in working with them. I'm a drama teacher, so that was a good field for many of them, but not all of them.
BTW, also grew up in Bavaria in the 80s, until I moved to Vienna.
Thanks, Michaela. I think the environment question is exactly the right one. There's no one-size-fits-all answer for ADHD. Different children thrive in different settings, and the goal is finding an environment that works with their brain, not against it.
And yes, emergency medicine was a good fit for the way my mind works.
Thanks for writing this! I’ve long suspected I have ADHD, but my last attempt at getting a diagnosis ended in a list of 8 phone numbers to neuropsychology offices that (after procrastinating calling for 2 months) don’t take my insurance. It’s worth another shot!
That loop is the diagnosis in real time. Two months of not calling is the condition, not laziness. Worth one more try.
Great read! I can relate. My psychologist diagnosed me with suspected adhd inattentive-type. I haven’t been able to get myself to take meds because of the suspected diagnosis. But this article is motivating me to figure things out again, maybe get a second diagnosis and then potentially take some meds.
"Suspected" is a holding pattern. The medication question gets easier once the diagnosis is certain. Get the second opinion first.