I have been telling people this for ages. Our grandmothers took speed for the housewife problem, boredom and never having enough time or motivation to get everything done because it just didn't seem as important as talking on the phone or playing bridge or watching a soap opera and then the whole day's gone and your husband is wondering why all you did was pop TV dinners in the oven when really, you've had all day to cook!
The people hooked on these medications are incredibly brittle and have the same tired slogans and thought-terminating cliches coming out of their mouths if you mention that they're essentially taking a new "mother's little helper" just like they were some Friedan-era suburban stay-at-home-mom. "It works so well, I wouldn't get these results from the medication if I wasn't really neurodivergent."
To hear them tell it, normal people, now termed "neurotypical," simply breeze through life without making any concerted efforts at all. Routines and getting things done simply come easy for these specimens, who of course can get to the gym three times a week or do the dishes right after every meal or finish any project they start, because their normal brains make this an effortless process.
I find that one of the things many of the "adult ADHD" crowd has in common is that they believe everyone successful without some kind of handicap (be that an economic, racial, social, or disability-related handicap) is successful effortlessly. Other kids always seemed to remember their PE clothes in school, but the ADHD kid is sure that's because it's easy for them, not because it's a matter of concerted effort and willpower to go through the same routine every day.
One change we could make to improve focus and settle our racing minds is to put down the small computers like the one I'm using to write this. More time in nature, and meditation are others. I think many people know this, yet go on scrolling. That's what the algorithm wants of us.
Everyone wants a label these days, a reason to feel they’re special, and medicating ordinary challenges and personality traits is a way of achieving that whilst benefiting Big Pharma.
I largely agree with this article but I do think it could benefit from addressing the outcomes of those diagnosed with ADHD who are not medicated.
I’ll put myself out there and admit I am “one of those women” who is prescribed and takes adderall for ADHD.
For context, I was diagnosed in childhood but my mother decided not to tell me or medicate me for reasons you outline above. Through highschool and college, I struggled to keep my head above water, though I did eventually graduate. It was not until I entered the workforce that my world began to crumble. I missed bills, was laid off, and would get lost in my mind. Worst of all, a friend found me collapsed from hunger after 2 days of not eating because I put off busing groceries for a week and I couldn’t force myself to order a pizza… because I “needed” to buy groceries before I could order a pizza.
Finally learning the truth and seeing a psychiatrist, changed my life. I am married, successful in my career, and healthy for the first time in my life. Yes, Adderall is a very serious drug that should be used cautiously. But I think in order to make a persuasive case for why it should not be prescribed, you have to address both the good and the bad.
Thank you Mary Lou for writing this. I've often struggled with being "productive" because I require constant breaks in order to be able to sit still (sometimes I find myself standing up and walking off to another room without even processing I'm doing so, it's an automatic, involuntary thing), particularly because I suffer from "restless leg syndrome", as I've learned from googling. So I'm nearly always feeling an urge to be getting up and move around rather than sitting stationary at the computer, which is required for my work.
I also get bored easily and so my productivity suffers more because I have so many interests and cannot easily commit to any one thing for too long. I should honestly probably be working a day job involving manual labour, as I definitely believe my perpetual restlessness would not be found in my farmer ancestors who actually had to be moving their bodies outdoors all day long.
Excellent article. I’ve been questioning the adhd “diagnosis” lately as well. I’ve decided to leave it to the specialists to prescribe for this reason.
As another person who'd be part of the “neurodivergent” tribe if I were interested in that label (which I do use sometimes, for shorthand), thank you for this. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you very much for this article.
I have been telling people this for ages. Our grandmothers took speed for the housewife problem, boredom and never having enough time or motivation to get everything done because it just didn't seem as important as talking on the phone or playing bridge or watching a soap opera and then the whole day's gone and your husband is wondering why all you did was pop TV dinners in the oven when really, you've had all day to cook!
The people hooked on these medications are incredibly brittle and have the same tired slogans and thought-terminating cliches coming out of their mouths if you mention that they're essentially taking a new "mother's little helper" just like they were some Friedan-era suburban stay-at-home-mom. "It works so well, I wouldn't get these results from the medication if I wasn't really neurodivergent."
To hear them tell it, normal people, now termed "neurotypical," simply breeze through life without making any concerted efforts at all. Routines and getting things done simply come easy for these specimens, who of course can get to the gym three times a week or do the dishes right after every meal or finish any project they start, because their normal brains make this an effortless process.
I find that one of the things many of the "adult ADHD" crowd has in common is that they believe everyone successful without some kind of handicap (be that an economic, racial, social, or disability-related handicap) is successful effortlessly. Other kids always seemed to remember their PE clothes in school, but the ADHD kid is sure that's because it's easy for them, not because it's a matter of concerted effort and willpower to go through the same routine every day.
One change we could make to improve focus and settle our racing minds is to put down the small computers like the one I'm using to write this. More time in nature, and meditation are others. I think many people know this, yet go on scrolling. That's what the algorithm wants of us.
“.... and my brain jumps from topic to topic faster than you can say whatever you are saying when I’m pretending to pay attention to you. “
Yep, we all have some degree of this and finding ways to train our brains to adapt is preferable to drugs in my book.
Like knitting!
Great insights as usual.
Everyone wants a label these days, a reason to feel they’re special, and medicating ordinary challenges and personality traits is a way of achieving that whilst benefiting Big Pharma.
I largely agree with this article but I do think it could benefit from addressing the outcomes of those diagnosed with ADHD who are not medicated.
I’ll put myself out there and admit I am “one of those women” who is prescribed and takes adderall for ADHD.
For context, I was diagnosed in childhood but my mother decided not to tell me or medicate me for reasons you outline above. Through highschool and college, I struggled to keep my head above water, though I did eventually graduate. It was not until I entered the workforce that my world began to crumble. I missed bills, was laid off, and would get lost in my mind. Worst of all, a friend found me collapsed from hunger after 2 days of not eating because I put off busing groceries for a week and I couldn’t force myself to order a pizza… because I “needed” to buy groceries before I could order a pizza.
Finally learning the truth and seeing a psychiatrist, changed my life. I am married, successful in my career, and healthy for the first time in my life. Yes, Adderall is a very serious drug that should be used cautiously. But I think in order to make a persuasive case for why it should not be prescribed, you have to address both the good and the bad.
Thank you Mary Lou for writing this. I've often struggled with being "productive" because I require constant breaks in order to be able to sit still (sometimes I find myself standing up and walking off to another room without even processing I'm doing so, it's an automatic, involuntary thing), particularly because I suffer from "restless leg syndrome", as I've learned from googling. So I'm nearly always feeling an urge to be getting up and move around rather than sitting stationary at the computer, which is required for my work.
I also get bored easily and so my productivity suffers more because I have so many interests and cannot easily commit to any one thing for too long. I should honestly probably be working a day job involving manual labour, as I definitely believe my perpetual restlessness would not be found in my farmer ancestors who actually had to be moving their bodies outdoors all day long.
Do you think ADHD exists? I am confused why you would administer ADHD assessments based on your previous discussion/labeling of it.
Excellent article. I’ve been questioning the adhd “diagnosis” lately as well. I’ve decided to leave it to the specialists to prescribe for this reason.
As another person who'd be part of the “neurodivergent” tribe if I were interested in that label (which I do use sometimes, for shorthand), thank you for this. Thank you, thank you.