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Total noob here. Is there a reference book about ADHD I could read? What are the things "most people" agree ADHD "is"?

by Gerard0 3y ago

xdavidliu 3y ago
I liked Scattered by Gabor Mate, though not really a reference work, more a primer or intro
- Gerard0 3y ago
  Thanks!
JohnBooty 3y ago
"You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!" is one of, if not the, most popular ones. Saw a lot of myself in there. What are the things "most people" agree ADHD "is"? Above all else, it's an executive functioning disorder. Not entirely dissimilar from OCD in some ways. You find yourself unable to focus on what you know needs to be done, quite possibly because you're unable to tear your focus away from something else. Inattention, impulsivity, hyperfocus, hyperactivity. Adult ADHD does not often involve physical hyperactivity. Hyperfocus can be an incredible boon if you happen to be hyperfocused on something useful. But the catch is that it's not a switch you can flip at all and you can't necessarily choose what you're focused on. There are different subtypes such as "primarily inattentive" etc. A lot of people don't believe in ADHD or think it's a "lack of discipline" etc. Like many disorders, symptoms of ADHD are things everybody experiences to an extent and it becomes a "disorder" when it starts to impact one's functioning. In much the way that everybody is sad sometimes but when it becomes pervasive we call it a disorder called "depression." I think what I've said above is all mostly universally agreed upon.
- mtlmtlmtlmtl 3y ago
  Actually hyperactivity is very common in adult ADHD, it just manifests differently. It tends to take the form of repetitive movements like shaking a foot, rocking a leg, fidgeting with your hands, etc. It's sort of a naturally developed coping mechanism. People with adult hyperactive/impulsive or combined type ADHD often don't think of this as hyperactivity, partly because they're so used to it they're barely aware of it, or the fact that it's not normal.

Total noob here. Is there a reference book about ADHD I could read? What are the things "most people" agree ADHD "is"?

xdavidliu 3y ago

I liked Scattered by Gabor Mate, though not really a reference work, more a primer or intro

Gerard0 3y ago
Thanks!

JohnBooty 3y ago

"You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!" is one of, if not the, most popular ones. Saw a lot of myself in there. What are the things "most people" agree ADHD "is"? Above all else, it's an executive functioning disorder. Not entirely dissimilar from OCD in some ways. You find yourself unable to focus on what you know needs to be done, quite possibly because you're unable to tear your focus away from something else. Inattention, impulsivity, hyperfocus, hyperactivity. Adult ADHD does not often involve physical hyperactivity. Hyperfocus can be an incredible boon if you happen to be hyperfocused on something useful. But the catch is that it's not a switch you can flip at all and you can't necessarily choose what you're focused on. There are different subtypes such as "primarily inattentive" etc. A lot of people don't believe in ADHD or think it's a "lack of discipline" etc. Like many disorders, symptoms of ADHD are things everybody experiences to an extent and it becomes a "disorder" when it starts to impact one's functioning. In much the way that everybody is sad sometimes but when it becomes pervasive we call it a disorder called "depression." I think what I've said above is all mostly universally agreed upon.

mtlmtlmtlmtl 3y ago
Actually hyperactivity is very common in adult ADHD, it just manifests differently. It tends to take the form of repetitive movements like shaking a foot, rocking a leg, fidgeting with your hands, etc. It's sort of a naturally developed coping mechanism. People with adult hyperactive/impulsive or combined type ADHD often don't think of this as hyperactivity, partly because they're so used to it they're barely aware of it, or the fact that it's not normal.