44 here. Technically I was diagnosed with “ADD” (the H was added later) back in 1988 or so. My parents were of the mind that kids in general have a lot of energy and little attention and kept me off of Ritalin as a result.
Ya know what? I get the sense that this supposed malady is being diagnosed in sufficient numbers that it’s just the standard state of a huge percentage of humanity. Frankly, I don’t think we evolved to squat in cubicles and stare at screens all day long.
Hypothesis here: Unnaturally focused attention is an unhealthy mutation that only benefits those who exploit them.
I think it might be true to a degree. Filtering less, or having some people in the tribe who do, who find the odd unlikely solution, who mix the tin with the copper, who spot hidden berries under the snow during a conversation where someone confesses their love to you - it can be an advantage.
But having my heart project, or 5 of those, and never even starting, although I think I’ll do it any day now - that can be suffering. When medicated, I picked them up one by one and finished them, and it felt so good. And I realise, I never would have otherwise! Like this broken electric toy with sentimental value that I kept around, and now I just picked it up and fixed it. And some of these took 10 minutes, and some took 5 hours, but instead I lived with the pain of not having it done for so many decades, yes, decades.
Or my beautiful wife who went all-in with so much love, and I did give my absolute best until I broke, couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t, but it wasn’t enough. Yet all that was missing was 20 - 30 minutes per day, timeboxed, of working through todos. Which is absolutely impossible undiagnosed and untreated, which is why I don’t blame myself, but no problem now.
It crosses the line to a disorder when it is impairing in multiple contexts, which is part of the definition and a must-criterion. If it’s not impairing you anymore, you don’t have it by definition. Impairing you only in a society that shouldn’t be like this? Interesting question.
44 here. Technically I was diagnosed with “ADD” (the H was added later) back in 1988 or so. My parents were of the mind that kids in general have a lot of energy and little attention and kept me off of Ritalin as a result.
Ya know what? I get the sense that this supposed malady is being diagnosed in sufficient numbers that it’s just the standard state of a huge percentage of humanity. Frankly, I don’t think we evolved to squat in cubicles and stare at screens all day long.
Hypothesis here: Unnaturally focused attention is an unhealthy mutation that only benefits those who exploit them.
Everyone has some symptoms of adhd. Adhd is characterized by having many of them, and in far greater concentration than the normal population.
I think it might be true to a degree. Filtering less, or having some people in the tribe who do, who find the odd unlikely solution, who mix the tin with the copper, who spot hidden berries under the snow during a conversation where someone confesses their love to you - it can be an advantage.
But having my heart project, or 5 of those, and never even starting, although I think I’ll do it any day now - that can be suffering. When medicated, I picked them up one by one and finished them, and it felt so good. And I realise, I never would have otherwise! Like this broken electric toy with sentimental value that I kept around, and now I just picked it up and fixed it. And some of these took 10 minutes, and some took 5 hours, but instead I lived with the pain of not having it done for so many decades, yes, decades.
Or my beautiful wife who went all-in with so much love, and I did give my absolute best until I broke, couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t, but it wasn’t enough. Yet all that was missing was 20 - 30 minutes per day, timeboxed, of working through todos. Which is absolutely impossible undiagnosed and untreated, which is why I don’t blame myself, but no problem now.
It crosses the line to a disorder when it is impairing in multiple contexts, which is part of the definition and a must-criterion. If it’s not impairing you anymore, you don’t have it by definition. Impairing you only in a society that shouldn’t be like this? Interesting question.