ADHD Myths: You’re Not ‘Wrong’ for Thinking Differently
Question: My therapist suggested I might have ADHD…it makes sense, but I am worried that is means something is wrong with me
Cammi’s Answer: It is normal to feel apprehensive about the idea of having ADHD. If you do have it, it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you, it just means your brain is a bit different. I have often wondered why ADHD exists, and I like to believe that at one point it was an evolutionary advantage.
When humans were hunters I think ADHD was likely very helpful. Having a stronger connection between the frontal lobe and amygdala means ADHDers have a greater tendency towards hypervigilance. This would have been helpful if you had to constantly be on the lookout for your next meal. It also would have helped keep you safe as you traversed the land. As a hunter you would have always had something to do, you would have been physically active, and you would benefit from a mind that was always thinking.
These days the world wants us to be sedentary. Most jobs include sitting at a computer and focusing on one thing all day. I imagine that brains that find this easy would have a hard time if they were thrown back into the days of hunting! Just as people with ADHD have a hard time in this world with its sedentary expectations. So no, having ADHD does not make you “Wrong”, but it does mean your brain works differently. It also means you likely have to work twice as hard to survive in this world as other people. This is why people with ADHD often need support in the forms of therapy, skills building, accommodations, and medication.
