ADHD sucks, but not really | Salif Mahamane | TEDxUSU
Summary
TLDRThis transcript discusses ADHD, highlighting common misconceptions and the struggles individuals face. The speaker, who has ADHD and a PhD in cognitive psychology, explains the condition's prevalence, potential evolutionary advantages, and how natural environments can aid focus. They emphasize the importance of understanding and supporting those with ADHD, suggesting society's rigid norms contribute to the associated distress. The speaker encourages nurturing ADHD traits and concludes with a personal tactic for maintaining self-love and resilience in the face of misunderstanding and frustration.
Takeaways
- 🧠 The speaker is working on a PhD in experimental cognitive psychology and has ADHD, highlighting the irony of studying thinking while having a condition that affects focus.
- 🔢 Statistics show that in 2011, 11% of children and 4% of adults in the U.S. were diagnosed with ADHD, indicating its prevalence across different age groups.
- 🌳 The speaker suggests that natural environments may help restore focus due to their ability to attract involuntary attention, which is overactive in individuals with ADHD.
- 🏞️ A genetic variant implicated in ADHD traits was found to be beneficial for a nomadic group in Kenya, suggesting that what is considered a disorder today may have been an advantage in the past.
- 🤔 The speaker questions the pathologization of ADHD, pondering if it should be seen as a disorder or an adaptive trait that is out of place in modern society.
- 💡 ADHD individuals can be highly creative and good at brainstorming, as their minds are rarely quiet and can generate numerous ideas, even if some are not fully formed.
- 🌟 The speaker is comfortable venturing outside their comfort zone, driven by curiosity and the desire to explore new ideas and cultures.
- 💪 Resilience is a key trait of ADHD individuals, who can bounce back quickly from setbacks and adapt to new situations with creativity.
- 🔄 The speaker acknowledges the challenges of inattention but also the ability to embrace and manage it, becoming adept at damage control and problem-solving.
- 🔥 Passion in ADHD individuals is authentic and intense, as they cannot feign interest and are naturally drawn to what truly captivates them.
- 🤝 The speaker calls for societal understanding and support for those with ADHD, encouraging nurturing of their abilities rather than punishment for their shortcomings.
- 💔 High rates of self-harm and suicide among individuals with ADHD highlight the importance of self-love and societal acceptance to combat these issues.
Q & A
What is the speaker's educational background according to the script?
-The speaker is finishing a PhD in experimental cognitive psychology, which is the scientific study of thinking.
What is the speaker's personal condition mentioned in the script?
-The speaker has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), specifically the predominantly inattentive type.
What percentage of children and adults were reported by the CDC in 2011 to have been diagnosed with ADHD?
-In 2011, the CDC reported that 11% of children ages 4 to 17 had been diagnosed with ADHD, which is about 6.4 million kids. Additionally, 4% of adults had been diagnosed, amounting to 9.8 million people.
What is the role of involuntary attention in people with ADHD?
-Involuntary attention is heightened in people with ADHD, making them easily distracted by sudden movements, noises, bright colors, or any anomaly in their environment. This type of attention is reflexive and can disrupt voluntary attention needed for focus.
How does the speaker suggest natural environments can benefit individuals with ADHD?
-Natural environments can restore or even improve the ability to sustain focus because they provide a break from the constant engagement of involuntary attention, allowing voluntary attention to be more effective.
What evolutionary advantage might the traits of ADHD have provided?
-The traits of ADHD might have been adaptive during human evolution, aiding in the detection of slight movements, colors of ripe fruit, faint sounds of water, or distant herds of prey, contributing to survival and nourishment.
What is the potential impact of the stigma associated with ADHD on individuals with this condition?
-The stigma of ADHD and its exclusion from mainstream ideas of functionality can suppress the potential strengths of individuals with ADHD, preventing them from realizing their full capabilities.
What are some benefits of ADHD that the speaker identifies as applicable in the modern world?
-The speaker identifies benefits such as effective brainstorming, comfort with a busy mind, the ability to navigate outside one's comfort zone, resilience in the face of setbacks, adaptability in dealing with inattention, and authentic passion for interests.
What does the speaker suggest is the source of distress for individuals with ADHD?
-The speaker suggests that the distress for individuals with ADHD comes from not fitting well within the narrowly standardized educational and industrial institutions of society.
What is the term the speaker uses to describe a societal condition that demands uniformity?
-The speaker uses the term 'Pro Uniformity Disorder' or 'PUD' to describe a societal condition that demands uniformity and conformity.
What advice does the speaker give to those who are close to individuals with ADHD?
-The speaker advises to check frustration, nurture abilities instead of punishing shortcomings, ask about their thoughts to show interest, and encourage spending time in nature, which can be as beneficial as medication.
What self-affirmation technique does the speaker recommend for personal resilience?
-The speaker recommends looking in the mirror and reassuring oneself with 'I love you' to foster self-love and resilience, especially in moments of feeling misunderstood or unappreciated.
Outlines
🧠 ADHD and the Struggle with Modern Society
The speaker, who is completing a PhD in experimental cognitive psychology, candidly discusses living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They highlight the prevalence of ADHD among children and adults, suggesting that the condition may be a result of modern environments that overstimulate the brain's involuntary attention system. The speaker argues that this system was once adaptive in a natural setting but is now a source of distraction. They also touch on the evolutionary benefits of ADHD traits in certain contexts and challenge the pathologization of the condition, suggesting it might be a 'fish out of water' scenario rather than an inherent dysfunction.
🌟 Embracing the Positive Aspects of ADHD
The speaker explores the potential benefits of ADHD in today's world, such as enhanced brainstorming capabilities, a natural curiosity that drives exploration beyond comfort zones, and resilience in the face of setbacks. They also mention their adaptability to forgetfulness and the authenticity of their passions, which stems from an inability to feign interest. The speaker questions the notion of ADHD as a disorder, suggesting that the distress associated with it may arise from societal expectations rather than the condition itself. They propose the idea of a 'Pro Uniformity Disorder' (PUD) as a societal issue that fails to accommodate diverse cognitive styles.
💔 The Impact of ADHD on Mental Health and Self-Love
In this paragraph, the speaker addresses the darker side of living with ADHD, including higher rates of suicide and self-harm among those affected and their families. They argue that comorbidities such as self-loathing and depression are not inherent to ADHD but are largely a result of societal reactions to those with the condition. The speaker calls for support and understanding from those around individuals with ADHD, urging them to foster self-love and to appreciate the unique abilities that come with the condition. They conclude with a personal tactic for self-affirmation in moments of distress, emphasizing the importance of self-love and acceptance.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡ADHD
💡Involuntary attention
💡Voluntary attention
💡Natural environments
💡Urban environments
💡Adaptive traits
💡Hyperfocus
💡Pro-uniformity disorder (PUD)
💡Self-love rebellion
💡Stigma
Highlights
The speaker is working towards a PhD in experimental cognitive psychology while living with ADHD.
ADHD is not just a childhood condition; it affects 4% of adults, totaling 9.8 million people.
Natural environments can improve focus and sustain attention, which is beneficial for individuals with ADHD.
Involuntary attention is heightened in people with ADHD, making them easily distracted by sudden movements or noises.
Voluntary attention is the type used for focusing on important but mundane tasks, which ADHD individuals struggle with.
A genetic variant implicated in ADHD was found to be beneficial for certain nomadic groups in Kenya.
There is debate over whether ADHD should be considered a disorder or an adaptive trait in different contexts.
The speaker identifies several benefits of ADHD, such as effective brainstorming and being an idea generator.
People with ADHD tend to be good at navigating outside their comfort zones and pursuing intriguing interests.
Resilience is a key trait of ADHD, allowing individuals to bounce back quickly from setbacks.
The speaker discusses the authenticity of passion in those with ADHD, as they cannot feign interest.
ADHD includes the capacity for hyperfocus, but the challenge is choosing what to focus on.
The distress associated with ADHD may stem from not fitting into standardized societal structures.
The speaker introduces the concept of 'Pro Uniformity Disorder' (PUD) as a societal issue, not an individual one.
High suicide rates among individuals with ADHD suggest the importance of self-love and societal acceptance.
Encouraging outdoor activities for those with ADHD can have therapeutic effects similar to medication.
The speaker shares a personal tactic for self-affirmation to combat feelings of misunderstanding or unappreciation.
Transcripts
hi everyone I don't have too much time
so pay it pay attention what's wrong
with you focus for someone so smart you
can be so stupid I mean how could you
forget about that we just talked about
it cutting something wrong with your
brain do you even think I do think
actually um in fact I'm finishing a PhD
in experimental cognitive psychology or
literally the scientific study of
thinking but I have attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder predominantly
inattentive I mean I've spent so much
time distracted by extraneous things you
may notice that one of my eyes has
almost permanently dedicated itself to
my periphery but seriously okay as of
2011 the CDC reported that eleven
percent of children ages 4 to 17 had
been diagnosed with ADHD that's six
point four million kids three houston's
and unlike fruity cereal ADHD is not
just for kids but four percent of adults
had been diagnosed nine point eight
million people New York City plus
Philadelphia one thing I forgot to
mention all of the expressions that I
began with have something in common
they've all been said to me by people
who have proven time and again their
unconditional love support and
willingness to do anything for me
but in those moments they were extremely
frustrated so being so common
where does ADHD come from long before I
knew my cognitive traits were called
ADHD I began studying how natural
environments affect attention compared
to urban environments where research
consistently shows is that natural
environments can restore even improve
your ability to sustain focus that's
because they attract or they contain
more item
that attract what's called involuntary
attention sudden movement noise and not
odor bright colors anything that breaks
the consistency of your environment that
you reflexively turn your attention to
is engaging involuntary attention and
that's the kind that's cranked up in
people like me so it doesn't take a loud
noise or a bright color to distract us
but any noise or any color engaging in
voluntary attention like natural
environments do gives the other kind of
attention voluntary attention a break
that's the kind we use to stay focused
on long mundane but important tasks that
make us feel mentally tired because it
runs out it's the kind you pay it's also
the kind that ADHD folks particularly
suck at but it's kind of important not
to suck at in modern society but it's
likely that involuntary attention was
adaptive during human evolution the
ability to notice slight movement in the
brush the color of ripe fruit behind
leaves detect the faint trickle of water
or catch sight of a distant herd of prey
just before they disappear over the
horizon
and the impulse to follow them would
have contributed to your eating lunch
and not becoming it a few years ago
scientists discovered that men of a
certain nomadic group in Kenya who had a
genetic variant that's implicated in the
restlessness and shifting curiosity of
ADHD were better nourished than their
counterparts without the variant but in
a group of those same people who split
off to live sedentary lives the men with
the variant were undernourished compared
to their counterparts interesting this
is this information has Kindle
discussion as to whether ADHD should
even be pathologized I mean if it was
adaptive for survival then it's supposed
to be here and whether you know it or
not humankind you're grateful for us so
could we at least start going by
potential hunting-and-gathering badasses
instead
but what good would that do us right I
mean the sixteen point two million
people in America alone with ADHD can
all abandon Modern Life for hunting and
gathering I mean I'm definitely
considering it but it just gets one
thinking is ADHD inherently
dysfunctional or is it more of a fish
out of water condition imagined traits
that were once potent fuel for the fire
of nomadic success are now remnants
glowing embers waiting to be stoked
nurtured back to life what if the stigma
of ADHD and its exclusion from
mainstream ideas of functionality is a
prohibitive drizzle suppressing those
embers though unable to extinguish them
in this fire light I've noticed from my
own experience several benefits of ADHD
that are applicable in the modern world
for one brainstorming sure my mind is
rarely quiet but I'm comfortable in that
the sheer number of thoughts and ideas
is astounding even if a lot of them are
bad or half-baked they're great
jumping-off points for deeper thinking
one distraction can lead to an unending
train of thought
fueled by intrigue for each next thing
it's like popping popcorn one kernel
goes and then they all take off I'm also
good at navigating outside my comfort
zone
if something's intriguing I can't not
pursue it so my interest often trumped
any anxiety from exploring something
foreign I have to know what's over there
that culture that school of thought that
hobby or lifestyle or literally beyond
the next mountain so instead of being
encamped I've explored to know what I
love and hate about opposing political
ideologies or parenting styles or
subcultures and yeah it's scary to
explore but scarier by far is the
thought that I still don't know what I
don't know
and I'm resilient I have to be parts of
having ADHD in this world really really
suck but I quickly get distracted from
them well whether it's a conflict with a
family member or frustration with my own
shortcomings it's true emotionality is
higher and self-regulation is more of a
challenge but I find I'm able to move on
from negativity pretty quickly by a
simple change of setting or activity
sometimes I even forget I was upset and
I'm adaptive with inattention you have
to embrace the fact that you will forget
misplace overlook put off constantly so
you learn to bounce back from the
consequences quickly and creatively I'm
kind of a damage control expert I often
without ruminating will jump to not
salvageable what about this problem is
useful even for the few that aren't my
fault
and finally my passion is authentic I'm
really bad at feigning interest because
I can't inhibit my natural intrigue so
if I'm showing interest in a person
activity or idea that's real I don't
have to try to pursue my passions that's
all I can pursue people often don't
realize that ADHD includes the capacity
to hyper focus and absorb information
like a sponge just not to choose upon
what you're hyper focused but it is not
laziness and it's not changing so again
with all these pluses is it really a
disorder well it does result in
significant distress and is
characterized by diminished functioning
an ordinary life but what is that
distress come from not fitting well
within the narrowly standardized
educational and instant industrial
institutions of our society well not
without pharmacologically dulling some
of my own favorite traits anyway what if
some disorders aren't of individuals but
of whole groups maybe even whole
cultures or societies I think that as a
society we suffer from what I
like to call p you d pro uniformity
disorder or affectionately PUD despite
my superpowers a month and a half ago I
was up late standing in my kitchen while
my family slept and was in a bad way
I could see my traits affecting my
partner my son I was not making progress
on work long overdue trying medication
overdoing it on self-care taking time to
recharge but still unable to focus and I
thought to myself wow I'm supposed to
give a TEDx talk in six weeks about why
I'm glad I have ADHD but I'm not shortly
thereafter a suspiciously timely image
came through social media that really
impacted me I'd like you all to just
take a moment with me and reflect on it
with respect to your own lives
are you rebelling are you helping the
people around you win their own
rebellions are you helping the children
around you never have to fight one the
suicide rate is higher in people with
ADHD and their families my clinical
colleagues have shared with me that many
children they see with ADHD have already
begun at young ages to self love even
having thoughts in often actions of
self-harm or suicide
the youngest example shared with me was
7 years old
daily thoughts of self-harm the stress
of not being able to function in an
environment for which you're not adapted
while expected to is heavy people often
think the comorbidities of ADHD like
self-loathing and depression are purely
inherent to the condition but I'd argue
they're in large part due to how
Outsiders react to us so if you're the
parent Guardian teacher sibling friend
of or care about a child who is a
potential hunting-and-gathering badass
or a literally unstoppable brainstorm ER
help them win their self-love rebellion
check your frustration if instead of
punishing their shortcomings nurture
their abilities if you find they're
distracted ask them what were you just
thinking about not because they're in
trouble but because it could be
fascinating and get them outside in
nature it can actually be as good as
Ritalin
I'm still fighting my rebellion everyday
and it's far from one but it's even
further from lost so I'm going to leave
you with a very simple tactic for
fighting your own rebellion whatever
your battlefield may be since I was a
kid whenever I feel completely
misunderstood or unappreciated alone
because I don't think right I'll seek
out a mirror look straight in my eye and
reassure myself not narcissistically or
egotistically but genuinely I love you
because as long as you do somebody does
and as long as somebody does Cuddy you
gonna be alright thank you
you
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