Re: Is there really “nothing positive” about ADD?

[Bibliophile]

There is an Internet maxim that all heated debate degenerates into someone being compared to Hitler or called a Nazi.

For the record, I do not believe everyone should be on medication. Medication is one coping mechanism. It is an effective one, but it is a crutch. Coping behaviour development may be delayed if the ADHD person is not given opportunities to fend for themselves. I do not judge anyone based on whether they are treating their ADHD with meds, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, psychotherapy, nicotine, etc. If medication is working, take it. If you do not wish to take it, find another coping mechanism. As long as no one, including the individual him or herself is harmed, so be it.

In terms of anecdotal comments, I was referring to a single individual without a control or any measurement backing up their statement making a claim that is not verifiable. We must rely on the scientific method to analyse all claims as there is really no better objective study method available. Subjective statements without a large control group and a normal group for comparison simply remain anecdotal comments. The hypothesis has neither been proven or negated.

Claiming historical figures were ADHD does not further the argument as there is no diagnosis in place, behaviour is not witnessed first hand, etc.

As for people self espousing their belief that it is their ADHD causing X or Y. What evidence do they have of that? It is one thing to say: I am oppositional and ADHD. It is another to say I am oppositional and I attribute this to the fact that I have ADHD. I have hearing loss in my left ear, I also have ADHD, ergo ADHD gave me hearing loss. I am a successful astronaut with a strong personality, I suffer ADHD, therefore the reason I was able to be an astronaut and have a strong personality is my ADHD. I am not saying it doesn’t affect our behaviour, which in turn affects our decisions, which results in our future outcomes. But to attribute something specific, such as the ability to create characters in a narrative, to ADHD is silly. There is nothing backing the claim. There might be a million other factors that could explain one’s gift to create characters. There is nothing wrong with knowing your strengths, but the only thing you can say about them is that they are yours without further study.

Moyzis found evidence of novelty seeking. So their is a biological reason why we crave new things, new stimuli. That is great. Doesn’t prove that we are more creative, but it explains why we get bored so easily.

REPORT ABUSE