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"Disorder," at its most basic, simply describes a lack of order, which is not the same thing as a congenital disease. These days, we tend to over-identify with

"Disorder," at its most basic, simply describes a lack of order, which is not the same thing as a congenital disease. These days, we tend to over-identify with a given diagnosis, as if it were a permanent condition. People talk about their ADHD diagnosis as if it were a fact as permanent about them as their eye color. And for those that have struggled with ADHD their whole lives, it can certainty feel permanent. But if your room's in disorder, you _can_ tidy it up—, even if it takes you all year. "Disorder" in this sense is a description of state, rather than an inherent property. Furthermore, the attention which is in disorder with ADHD is a skill which can be acquired. You can train your attention like you train a muscle. There's a real proliferation, these days, of medical and chemical treatments for ADHD. And many of them really help people. But if your goal is to build muscle, maybe what you need isn't a steroid injection, but an exercise. Some of the best ways to train one's attention are the oldest. Zen Buddhism, for example, has been around for fifteen hundred years or so, and has a lot of evidence behind it. If you sit in zazen for a full sesshin, at around ten hours a day for a week or two, you will undoubtedly start to develop strong powers of attention. But even ten minutes a day is effective. Hard work, daily, at training your attention, _will_ turn disorder into order.

okwhateverdude 2y ago
This is a hilariously bad take. I am going to guess you do not have ADHD? The people that do and cope successfully without medication, will probably count in your book as having exercised that muscle. But that problem doesn't actually go away. They are coping with it. It is a constant maintenance that takes energy away from simply being. It is permanent regardless of how much woo-woo meditation they do, unless you have actual evidence that this is an effective treatment?
snuxoll 2y ago
> People talk about their ADHD diagnosis as if it were a fact as permanent about them as their eye color Because it is, that's a fact. The defining characteristic of ADHD is a lack of dopamine, a physical variation in the brain itself, and that will never go away for somebody who has the condition.
- ghostpepper 2y ago
  The article seems to contradict this: > Scientists looking to simplify matters with a checklist of biological markers of adhd have come up empty-handed. Two people with adhd may exhibit similar symptoms caused by entirely different underlying psychological and neurological processes. Imaging studies that have examined the structure and workings of the brain have failed to agree on what, if anything, characterises the adhd brain.
drewcoo 2y ago
> "Disorder," at its most basic, simply describes a lack of order That's not what disorder means here, though. In the case of psychology, a "disorder" it's a difference from the status quo. "Normal" is a very hazily-defined human range and anything else is "abnormal." And the recognized boundaries of normal move over time and with context. Being gay used to be considered a disorder. Today, believing you experience magical miracles is a disorder unless it's in a religious context.

okwhateverdude 2y ago

This is a hilariously bad take. I am going to guess you do not have ADHD? The people that do and cope successfully without medication, will probably count in your book as having exercised that muscle. But that problem doesn't actually go away. They are coping with it. It is a constant maintenance that takes energy away from simply being. It is permanent regardless of how much woo-woo meditation they do, unless you have actual evidence that this is an effective treatment?

snuxoll 2y ago

> People talk about their ADHD diagnosis as if it were a fact as permanent about them as their eye color Because it is, that's a fact. The defining characteristic of ADHD is a lack of dopamine, a physical variation in the brain itself, and that will never go away for somebody who has the condition.

ghostpepper 2y ago
The article seems to contradict this: > Scientists looking to simplify matters with a checklist of biological markers of adhd have come up empty-handed. Two people with adhd may exhibit similar symptoms caused by entirely different underlying psychological and neurological processes. Imaging studies that have examined the structure and workings of the brain have failed to agree on what, if anything, characterises the adhd brain.

drewcoo 2y ago

> "Disorder," at its most basic, simply describes a lack of order That's not what disorder means here, though. In the case of psychology, a "disorder" it's a difference from the status quo. "Normal" is a very hazily-defined human range and anything else is "abnormal." And the recognized boundaries of normal move over time and with context. Being gay used to be considered a disorder. Today, believing you experience magical miracles is a disorder unless it's in a religious context.