Is ADHD a gift? Not so fast....

I have read a number of books, articles, and commentary about the idea that ADHD is a gift that we should embrace.  There are undoubtedly a lot of things about ADHD that become so intertwined with someone's personality that it's hard to see where they leave off and the ADHD begins.  You can find people who attribute their success to ADHD and others who will state that medication dulls the "edge" they get from the condition.  The problem with discussing ADHD in this fashion is that it employs a false dichotomy,(look Mom, I'm using that Philosophy degree!). To state that it is a gift gives us only one alternative; that is that it is an undesirable thing or for lack of a better term a curse.  This then frames the discussion in absolute terms and invites us to take sides: it's good, it's bad, it's the source of my success, it's the cause of my failure.

People like to have clear choices and alternatives when they look at things because it simplifies the thought process.  It's so much easier and powerful to state an opinion that is absolute and firm.  We don't like ambiguity or uncertainty.  This is undoubtedly a survival trait that is written into our DNA.  Our ancestors didn't have the luxury of uncertainty.  They needed to know that the water was safe to drink, or the plant was edible, or that the saber tooth tiger was gone.  Absolute certainty was necessary when one poor choice could get you eaten.  But here in the 21st century, this mode of thinking can be counter productive and distract us from having a substantive conversation about a topic like ADHD.  I would argue that for many of the people effected by the disorder, it has been at times a gift, at times a curse, and  at some points a little bit of both.

ADHD as a condition effects areas of the brain that manage executive functions.  These are the things that allow us to organize and plan, delay gratification, restrain our impulses, manage transitions from one activity to the next, and initiate and complete tasks.  The executive functions are kind of like the teacher in Kindergarten; when you have someone who is strong, good with children, and experienced the class runs smoothly.  Put a less competent person in charge and it can be chaos.  When we think of the positives and negatives of ADHD it would seem to make the most sense to look at the benefits of executive function impairment versus the detriments.

An ability to jump from thought to thought and make connections that are not readily apparent can be a tremendous skill for someone who is involved in a creative endeavor or problem solving exercise.  However, the inability to organize and plan effectively surrounding those thoughts can be a great detriment.  Likewise, a person's spontaneity or impulsiveness can be a charming, endearing trait to a new romantic interest.  Fast forward twenty years and that once endearing quality can be a huge source of friction in a marriage.  The ability to hyper focus on one activity for many hours at a time is a great boon to a computer programmer; if that same programmer becomes the CEO of a software company, it may become extremely difficult for that individual to manage the multiple tasks and priorities they are confronted with.

So is ADHD a gift?  I would argue that we need to be careful about thinking in absolutes.  It is neither a gift nor a curse.  It is a neurophysiological condition present in 7 to 15 percent of the population.  It should not be viewed as somehow enhancing who we are as a person, nor should it be allowed to detract from who we are.  We are not our ADHD.  It is a part of us and always will be.  As such, we will continue to have good days and bad days, ups and downs.  The best recommendation I can make is feel good about the strengths and talents you have and don't attribute them to some outside force.  You deserve to think well of yourself.  As far as faults are concerned everyone has them.  Accept yours for what they are and do your best to mitigate them.  You control the person you are and the life you live.  Don't let anyone or anything take that away from you.