By Jaden Corrado
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a condition that is often associated with difficulties related to maintaining attention or focus on activities. Such as having trouble with paying attention in school or the workplace. However, ADHD presents differently on a person by person basis, and is not nearly as straightforward as most people suspect it to be. Often it is easier to diagnose in children, and more specifically boys. This is because the typical traits of ADHD are more likely to be observed in young boys. They are more inattentive and disruptive than most, displaying impulsiveness and hyperactivity. While girls and adults are found to have more subtle ques. Such as forgetfulness, social withdraw, and often times varying degrees of anxiety and depression.
How is ADHD Portrayed?
In terms of media, we often see the simplified version of ADHD that is then applied across the board regardless of environmental or personal factors. This includes the over-energetic or chatty character who does not know when to stop. Or the unreliable or unpredictable character that impacts those around them in a negative way due to their impulsivity or lack of self control. While on their own these are not entirely inaccurate, reducing any conditions such as ADHD to the level of jokes or an excuse for people to look down on them is not helpful. In recent years this has gotten better, but the fact that many people base their impressions of neurodivergent people on the media they consume makes it worth considering.
Why is ADHD seen as a problem?
Many depictions of ADHD and stories related to it skew in the direction of trying to “solve” it. This most commonly takes the form of success stories of people with ADHD who manage to rise to the occasion with the help of ADHD medications. While still inspiring and certainly positive in its own way, it reinforces that ADHD is something to be fixed or corrected. Medication is also a great option for some and certainly can improve lives, but it should not be seen as a one-size-fits-all solution. Since some people with ADHD suffer from conditions like anxiety, the stimulant medication that is prescribed can have the side effect of making it worse. If we could re-frame the general understanding of ADHD from it being a problem to solve to a difference of neurological processes, it may start to receive the respect and attention that it needs.
What are the Positive Aspects of ADHD?
There are many positive traits that are seen in people with ADHD. Ranging from divergent thinking to the appreciation of beauty and everything between and beyond. In addition, more tangible and immediately recognizable traits were also found, such as hyper-focus and eidetic learning.
Divergent thinking or cognitive dynamism were used to describe the ability of people with ADHD to intensely focus on a task that interests them. Entering a state that allows the person to put all of their focus into a single line of thinking, resulting in other thoughts fading into the background. Sometimes referred to as hyper-focus or a state of flow, this is what allows people with ADHD to get a significant amount of work done in a relatively short amount of time. This also includes eidetic learning, or the ability to accurately visually recollect information for a short period of time. Since photographic memory is largely a myth, eidetic learning is the closest thing to it, and it is more common in people with ADHD.
Nonconformity and a desire for adventure are also both commonly seen in those with ADHD. In the case of nonconformity, people who have experienced what it is like to be treated as different or an outsider are more likely to be socially conscious and have a sense of social justice. Striving to better the understanding of both themselves and others as a means to bridge the gap of social conduct and miscommunication. In a similar vein, people with ADHD report having a compulsion to adventure, seeking novel experiences, and having courage to face the unknown. This may take the form of traveling to far away places and partaking in adrenaline-fueled activities. These qualities lend themselves to overcoming the struggles and obstacles in life.
Related to adventurousness, ADHD also tends to manifest in both an excess in energy and general resilience. The aspect of energy can be expressed in a multitude of ways such as physical, psychological, and spirit. Physical has to do with having more energy to participate in physical activities such as hiking or swimming. Psychological refers to having a strong intrinsic motivation that allows extensive productivity and performance to reach one’s goals. Spirit relates to a subjective experience wherein one embraces their higher aspects of self. This can take the form of traditional spirituality, a greater sense of connection with nature, or the collective unconscious. All of this then contributes to the resilience of people with ADHD. Spending a lifetime overcoming adversity and perceived shortcomings makes those with ADHD more resilient and adaptive. Allowing them to flourish in the face of change and unpredictability.
Yet another strength that has been shown to be common for those with ADHD is humanity, or the ability to socialize with ease. While not always present such as in the case of those with both ADHD and ASD, being a social butterfly seems to be something that comes naturally to a good portion of people with ADHD. Beyond general social intelligence and extroversion, traits such as self-acceptance, empathy, and humor are observed. Naturally, being accepting and understanding of oneself leads into the capacity to relate to and empathize with others and vice versa. While humor allows for social bonding and develops well-being through encouraging tolerance and compassion. So time management may not be a strong suit, but comedic timing is.
So is ADHD a Superpower?
In a sense, yes! People with ADHD are found to express a number of positive traits that help them accomplish great things. Whether it be thinking outside the box, nonconformity, being energetic and adventurous, or being outgoing and empathetic, there are lots of positives when it comes to ADHD. The next step in realizing that on a larger scale comes from how ADHD is viewed both in the media and by those with no direct ties to it. The hope being that through proper representation in the media and exposure, the general population will shift away from avoidance and towards acceptance. Once the world finds out how beneficial having ADHD can be, it will cease to be seen as a problem in need of a solution. Only then will it be given the respect and understanding that it deserves. As something to be understood and celebrated, not shunned or kept secret.
Sources
The Positive Aspects of ADHD (Springer)