Maybe in some countries ADHD is more 'acceptable' than in other ones.
I mean that according to the dominant culture of some countries you must be 100% productive, so if you have ADHD you must take medicines and correct it.
In other countries maybe this is felt less so there is more space for a person with ADHD to live in a different way, respecting his different way of being.
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Part added later to explain myself better
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Do you know who is Leonardo Da Vinci? On some articles you can find in the web he is supposed to suffer from ADHD.
Would you say him 'you must be productive, take your medicine and do what your boss says to do'?
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Mikk1
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Unfortunately, mental health has not been treated with the same level of attention as physical health. You are correct that ADHD acceptance varies widely across many global cultures. Yet, we could say that about almost any medically diagnosed infirmity. You also allude to a culturally accepted level of productivity related to specific cultures; there are different health reasons that can cause a person to be less productive. I have to believe that most people desire to be productive, "to matter and be a part of a group".
Are there commonalities between cultures and the treatment of ADHD?
I'll list a couple of issues that might be common.
1) Most normative people will need help understanding your ADHD. ADHD presents uniquely with each person, possibly due to the breadth of variation of each individual life experience.
2) You will suffer derivative impacts from your ADHD behaviors; these could be depression or anxiety, etc...
3) Many of the impacts will be related to being shamed. Shaming can cause the shamed to become angry, frustrated, carry resentment, feel isolated, have low self-image, depressed, to list just a few.
These are what I would consider the basic commonalities, some cultures treat health issues with more respect and empathy, while others, like the US, provide healthcare within the profitability model.
Being called out for low productivity when you are sick is shaming.
People should consider stepping into another person's shoes, figuratively, of course. I have found that just the attempt at experiencing empathy can keep us from judging others without any emotional connection.
Of course some cultures are better than others, but you'll find pockets of the cult of productivity in every place that Western culture has touched. Because the cult of productivity is an aspect of western capitalism.
And unfortunately, capitalism is the system that runs the economy. So, you get places that are more laid back and chill than others, progressive places where you can just be yourself, but if you want to participate in the economy, there's still that cult of productivity.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. I don't know how to explain this to others that this experience you describe is real and not just a thought experiment. I think it is experiential... I didn't know that an alternative way of existing was possible until I experienced it during the pandemic. Two years later, I feel more myself than at any time since early childhood. But I have the privilege that lets me be safe and housed and make different choices about how much productivity I am willing to sell.
I agree. There is a dominant way of thinking in US culture that bases a person's worth on their productivity in certain arenas. And there are "best practice" methods of achieving these goals that don't necessarily work as well for all people.
I too find it sad and frustrating that I have to take medicine to function as this society demands. The same medicine seems to dull some my natural strengths. I don't want to be a better robot. I want to be a better me.
Aside from culture beliefs, I think it is important to get back to basics of what ADHD really is. This does not mean one is lazy or unproductive. Realize that there is an imbalance of particular chemicals in the brain. One must find ways to increase these levels. There are many successful individuals with this diagnosis who have, despite societal “norms”, used their adhd brain to their advantage. Please look into the podcast “Adult ADHD and ADD Tips and Support”.
I have listened to this podcast numerous times and it has helped transform my life but also created a sense of self-love and appreciation for my brain! I love my ADHD creative brain and I have created a lifestyle which allows me to thrive despite society’s views. Realize your brain is wired a little different from the neurotypicals but use it to your advantage. Don’t waste time convincing others of your diagnosis. Find what works for you with what will bring greater self-love and acceptance.
I went through a period during which I was lamenting for my old non-medicated ADHD self. I would never want to give up my ADHD brain. My solution was to allow myself a certain amount of distracted time.
The commonality of ADHD behaviors and impacts occurs among the broader ADHD cohort. My layperson observation is that each ADHD individual presents uniquely due to variations in life experience, the brain's organic nature, and its individual processing bias.
I agree that the ADHD brain has been the creator of much of the far-reaching societal innovation that occurs. Our lot has not been without the yoke of being ridiculed and judged and shamed; why; because the normative population does not understand ADHD. The Normative exist within their individual and societal biases, creating a form of virtual blindness created by their preference.
While many ADHDers can experience the combination of creativity and career success simultaneously, many other ADHDers cannot make that happen. Many of us languish in states of depression and anxiety. The missed diagnosis can occur due to the therapist's bias. My depression and anxiety went untreated for most of my life, and when I was diagnosed with ADHD, I stared at the therapist in disbelief.
I'm happy to see so many people who have made peace with their ADHD brains. I have made peace in the sense that I accept my ADHD as a part of me, just like I accept my hair texture and skin complexion and so on.
But don't miss one bit my untreated ADHD life.
I'm not of the school that there were great benefits to untreated ADHD. I recall a lot of struggle and agony and missed deadlines and unhappy bosses-- but not just missed deadlines with bosses.
My untreated ADHD made it hard for me to even think about not conforming, made it hard for me to have fun.
Even when I was out having fun, I would be late on FUN encounters with friends ... even rebellious free-thinking friends! And I'm not talking 5 minutes later 10 minutes late.
And I'd arrive unfocused and feeling some shame and then I'd quietly try to hide and numb the shame. And then I found it overwhelming say, to organize outing with this friend group again. I always needed a friend to organize social activities or group activities. I couldn't take the first step in that regard. Very disempowering.
I don't see my treatment as forcing some "conformity" on me. It's actually just the opposite. My treatment helps me do whatever I want to do, including taking days off, goofing off, working slowly ... setting reasonable expectations ..., paying attention to when I'm being overly critical of myself and on and on.
I have a job that allows for a lot of creativity and improvisation and in-the-moment changes--and still I struggled pre treatment. Pre-treatment there was so much struggle to do a minimum of the required stuff. Again, if I was on a team that had people who could do the organizing work, great. But even doing my creative stuff required some focus and consistency ...
I can think of all the bad relationships I got into based on impulse. Be into someone for three dates and then look around and wonder, why am I with this person? There was no explanation before treatment. And then there was the opposite: all the blindness to social cues and body language (my ADHD brain paid attention to other things) and I missed when people were obviously interested in me. Heck ADHD made it hard for me to even know if I was interested in someone.
Juggling errands that we all have to do unless we're super rich--wore me out. Could not come up with a system. Before treatment, didn't even know that I needed "a system."
And the final ironic point is ... even with aggressive treatment ... my ADHD is always with me. The treatment basically brings me up to a minimum-required level of functioning. I still cut appointment times close ... I still miscalculate how long a task will take. I still have a blockbuster thought in the morning ... and then by evening have completed forgotten that blockbuster though--and then a year later, I come back to that same great idea ... and I think, "Well dang, I thought of this a year ago. Why didn't I act on it?"
Well, I didn't act on my great idea because my ADHD (even treated) makes it hard for me to systematically capture and hold---and certainly to implement and follow through on- my great ADHD-inspired ideas.
Just my two cents. I was diagnosed at 46. I'm 59 now. I sometimes think I feel very free about treatment because it was never recommended or imposed on me by schools or parents. I ultimately came to the conclusion that I wanted and needed treatment--after lots and lots of pain related to ADHD.
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