Can ADHD be a gift?

Kids with ADHD have "gifts" -- and by helping them develop these gifts, parents can give their children more control over problem behaviors, a child psychologist argues in her popular book.


How is ADHD a great gift?

What is “The Gift of ADHD”? People of all ages who have the diagnosis of ADHD can reliably be observed to share a set of gifts including creativity, exuberance, emotional expressiveness, interpersonal intuition, ecological consciousness, and leadership.

Is ADHD a gift or disorder?

ADHD is not, in and of itself, a gift. It is a disorder that often leads to significant challenges in various aspect of one's life. And each person with ADHD has a unique profile of symptoms and difficulties.


Is ADHD an evolutionary gift?

We suggest that, from an evolutionary point of view, ADHD symptoms might be understood to result from an 'evolutionary mismatch', in which current environmental demands do not fit with what evolution has prepared us to cope with.

Can ADHD be a blessing?

ADHD can be an advantage, but only in small specific settings. In the general world it's a curse, but if you find that little spot in life where you just click with the place and the people and the work, it isn't quite a blessing, but it can be an advantage.


ADD is a Gift, Not a Disorder



Can ADHD be an advantage?

ADHD's trademark hyperfocus can be a serious advantage — if you effectively channel all your attention and energy into work that makes a difference.

Why is ADHD considered a superpower?

Here are some of the superpowers of the ADHD brain that mental health experts and patients often observe. The ability to take in large amounts of stimuli is useful in the modern, fast-paced work environment. “The non-ADHD brain can't process all the information that it's receiving from its environment,” says Dr. Diaz.

Are you born with ADHD or is it something you develop?

ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.


Is ADHD an advantage in the wild?

In essence, the traits associated with ADHD likely help more with enhancing hunter-gatherer skills than those of a settler. Up until about 10,000 years ago, with the advent of agriculture, all human beings had to hunt and gather food in order to survive. Nowadays, most people don't have to worry about finding food.

Do people with ADHD have good instincts?

Intuition. People with ADHD are often highly sensitive and intuitive with a keen ability to pick up on what others may be feeling. This can make them very empathetic, loving, and kind.

Do you get ADHD from Mom or Dad?

A comparison with DNA from unaffected patients showed an abnormality in the sequences. Thayer's study shows that the ADHD group of children had larger and more frequent variations. Fathers with ADHD will pass this code discrepancy to offspring. Barkley explains that the heritability of ADHD runs around 80 percent.


Can giftedness be mistaken for ADHD?

Many gifted children are being mis-diagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The gifted child's characteristics of intensity, sensitivity, impatience, and high motor activity can easily be mistaken for ADHD.

What type of personality is ADHD?

A recent review of findings on ADHD and FFM personality suggests that, in general, ADHD has associations with the FFM traits of Neuroticism (positive), Agreeableness (negative) and Conscientiousness (negative).

What motivates an ADHD person?

an interest-based nervous system (motivated by what's compelling enough to get activated). He refers to the five motivating factors with the acronym INCUP: interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, and passion.


How do you make someone with ADHD feel loved?

Have a Partner with ADHD? 10 Ways to Offer Support
  1. Encourage professional help.
  2. Don't parent.
  3. Emphasize strengths.
  4. Be patient.
  5. Prioritize communication.
  6. Address specific problems.
  7. Listen to them.
  8. Let it go.


Do ADHD kids have good memories?

Studies show that children with ADHD have a significant deficit in working memory compared to their typically developing peers. Learning about what it means to have poor working memory is the key to understanding many of your child's challenges.

What animal is best for ADHD?

Canine Assisted Intervention. Research is showing that using pets like dogs in therapy for children with ADHD can be extremely successful. In one study, children with ADHD who worked with dogs in their therapy sessions (CBT), significantly improved their attentional skills and inhibitory control.


What is the best environment for someone with ADHD?

People with ADHD tend to work better in places that are structured. An example of this is a classroom with a schedule written on the board and designated activity areas. This kind of environment helps children with ADHD stay on task. It also provides them with visual cues to know what to expect next.

Why is ADHD hard to live with?

ADHD can make you forgetful and distracted. You're also likely to have trouble with time management because of your problems with focus. All of these symptoms can lead to missed due dates for work, school, and personal projects.

Is ADHD caused by trauma?

Trauma and traumatic stress, according to a growing body of research, are closely associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). Trauma and adversity can alter the brain's architecture, especially in children, which may partly explain their link to the development of ADHD.


What are the 3 main symptoms of ADHD?

ADHD, also called attention-deficit disorder, is a behavior disorder, usually first diagnosed in childhood, that is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and, in some cases, hyperactivity.

Is ADHD passed on by the mother?

Available evidence suggests that ADHD is genetic—passed down from parent to child. ADHD seems to run in at least some families. At least one-third of all fathers who had ADHD in their youth have children with the condition. What's more, the majority of identical twins share the ADHD trait.

What is Ring of Fire ADHD?

Type 6: Ring of Fire ADD

Symptoms: primary ADD symptoms plus extreme moodiness, anger outbursts, oppositional, inflexibility, fast thoughts, excessive talking, and very sensitive to sounds and lights. I named it Ring of Fire after the intense ring of overactivity that I saw in the brains of affected people.


Does ADHD give you more strength?

There's been a lot of focus on the harmful symptoms of ADHD. Although there's less research on ADHD superpowers, people with ADHD report that they are more energetic, creative, courageous, and resilient than people without the condition.

Are ADHD people more observant?

Perception/observation/curiosity

Individuals with ADHD often perceive (intuitively) connections or “flows” that are not appreciated by others. They often enjoy taking a “bird's eye view” of things, and asking the “what-if” questions.