My VAST journey continues (Pandora's Box)

[daverussell]

So following a previous post - that I was going to reply to with this, but it felt OT - my journey continues after opening Pandora's box..I'm really finding different terms and a somewhat self-biased confirmation into my self-diagnosis (that I am really really trying to avoid). Yes, I know I need a formal diagnosis to find out either way and/or a therapist. Whilst on the NHS waiting list, I've shopped around and I'm pondering whether I can afford to spend/borrow £1,000+.

I digress! So, I stumbled across this book called ADHD 2.0 by E M Halloween and J J Ratey (by the authors of an earlier book called 'Driven from Distraction', that has been mentioned somewhere on this forum). It offered an interesting perspective, called VAST (Variable Attention Stimulus Trait) - I'm sure many of you may have come across this and are already versed or familiar with this, otherwise, termed at the following page as "functional (environmentally induced) equivalent of ADHD... Thanks to books like ADHD 2.0, I don’t see my condition (whether it be ADHD or VAST) as a dysfunction" - dangerousintersection.org/2...

So, have I completely misunderstood ADHD, and do these definitions of VAST really spell out in modern terms ADHD? Are these 'traits' just "normal" and label everyone? I know that everyone (in the literal sense) will find these traits in themselves. After it is said, "with VAST there are always pairs; you can hyperfocus and then you can’t focus." and the aforementioned authors in the book highlight this - additudemag.com/attention-d...

Maybe I missed the point bit, are they saying there is no in-between?

I'm interested to know what you guys think about VAST

It's summarised in the table I've attached, as found at the link I included and can mostly relate to.

[Hominid711]

I probably agree with VAST. I have the book on top of a pile of half-read ADHD books and have just flicked through it to check for VAST - never mind half, didn't get further than the first 10 pages with this one - but will take it up again when I have time as I think it's the latest and most interesting in scientific terms apart from the actual scientific literature at present.Hallowell can become a bit lost in superlatives and his style is exhausting and the equivalent of sickly-sweet/flowery in lit terms to the less enthusiastic which is why I put the book down after those few high-calory pages, but he is obviously passionate and vastly knowledgeable about anything and any bro with ADHD so in that sense he is always worth reading.

I think like with other seemingly dichotomic complexities the parts are in reality 2 sides of a coin and were each good for something, ie neurotypicals weren't typicals but another spectrum, but in the course of time one turned out better suited to their and not-quite-their/their neighbour's/"the other" environment seen as one with theirs in that somehow - perhaps seeders and planters were more required than hunters and gatherers (but still had to retain the ability to kill the occasional pack of wolves), diplomacy (with the ability kept to remove your opponent from their throne) more than aiming to kill the other warrior cold - and, again, seemingly, a better adaptation ensued - the neurotypicals were born.

VAST have their place as they've adapted just well enough, the ADHD amongst them haven't quite, so they survive but suffer. Neuro"typicals" may in years to come be re-classified as a spectrum or part of one. Or we will all be on an enormous spectrum and "being on the spectrum" will be equal to having a pulse.

That's how I see the whole thing.

But, hey look, we are still around. Weren't outcast onto an island and killed by a comet, didn't jump crazily exaltedly into a volcano, didn't unlearn the ability to feed ourselves, yes, ended up in prison for killing but weren't killed off ourselves, so we are, or must be, still good for something. Something other's don't have. Wish they had, ha! Or don't have to that extent. Something life on this planet needs.

And that's my price! Once recognised it is yours alone it's yours to play around with, refine, enjoy the fun and advantages of.

;^))

We know our worth and so do others. Sometimes we're a thread and are attacked - not in a physical sense, but in another, more hurtful, psychological one. Our partners despair, work is constantly being undermined, the house a mess, yet somehow things haven't changed. So either nature or nurture prevails.

And: we are liked, loved and respected by the people we want to be the way we are.

Or another advantage. Think!

Why would we want to change that?

Sorry. The usual. Digressed.

[daverussell in reply to Hominid711]

Love your thinking 👍

[daverussell in reply to Hominid711]

Chapter 5 of ADHD 2.0 might be of interest to you.

[wtfadhd]

loved that chart. it beautifully put into words what i experience.

in terms of VAST vs ADHD. pretty much all “ diagnosis” names are being challenged. in attempt to normalize, inclusion, etc. for example- the drug and alcohol community successfully changed that label - instead of “ addict/ alcoholic/ addiction. in USA, those are all retired terms and we now refer to it as Substance Use Disorder - SUD - that is now the appropriate term. oh, and its on a spectrum- mild, moderate, or severe SUD. did changing the language change the stigma? nope. maybe on surface. but the devastation is same.

i think the label attention deficit is very misleading. but just like anything else- changing “ labels” rarely changes anything. bc the people who are directly or indirectly effected by something - if they care to, they will research, educate, n seek to understand. those who are not effected, nor interested, they will not give a crap about seeking a better understanding no matter what any given topic/ concept/ label diagnosis/ disorder is given.

and i think trauma, environment, lifestyle habits, can all mimic ADHD. despite the etiology- the symptoms may look n feel same. the only thing that changes is the treatment. and peoples response to any particular treatment just isnt the same. there isnt a one size, evidenced based treatment or support that is universally effective.

so really, i wish more medical providers n society in general better understood ADHD, but i dont think changing the name or label would achieve that.

i imagine every person wishes that their personal struggles were better understood. thats not realistic tho. i find that the most helpful thing for me is to create an environment( work, friends, romantic partners, etc) that are a good fit for me personally. my peace has to come at a micro level. waiting fir the entire world to embrace adhd at a macro level seems counter productive to me. i find that macro level approaches to change are only useful regarding money related issues- but nearly never with social emotional stuff

❤️