In the context of the reality most of us live in with expectations around productivity/efficiency and the need to prioritize increasing responsibility within a finite amount of time in order to live - where things like creativity and ability to hyper focus are not necessarily what is broadly valued, it feels like calling it a superpower is an attempt to dismiss the lived experience of a person with ADHD. It may be considered one by individuals who have been able to craft a life that does reward those things, but I would say that those individuals are probably not representing the majority.
And the challenges can be compounded when someone is living undiagnosed until later in life, as seems to be increasingly common especially in women. Either way, I don’t think it’s a blanket narrative that should be pushed on someone else but something each individual could consider for themselves.
Appreciating this balanced perspective, Kristen. I have got tired of the toxic positivity culture around the superpower narrative.
I don’t usually feel like I’ve got a superpower
THANK YOU. So tired of the superpower cheerleading.
Kristen, thank you for this. I think it adds some sanity to the reality.
Jeff, you are welcome!
In the context of the reality most of us live in with expectations around productivity/efficiency and the need to prioritize increasing responsibility within a finite amount of time in order to live - where things like creativity and ability to hyper focus are not necessarily what is broadly valued, it feels like calling it a superpower is an attempt to dismiss the lived experience of a person with ADHD. It may be considered one by individuals who have been able to craft a life that does reward those things, but I would say that those individuals are probably not representing the majority.
And the challenges can be compounded when someone is living undiagnosed until later in life, as seems to be increasingly common especially in women. Either way, I don’t think it’s a blanket narrative that should be pushed on someone else but something each individual could consider for themselves.
I appreciate this perspective, because holding onto the strengths of having ADHD doesn’t have to invalidate the very real struggles.
Great article very thought provoking.
I like to think adhd can result in some extra skills developing to cope, e.g. the creative part of the brain adapting to challenge.
So rather than adhd itself being a superpower, individual powers can emerge and these strengths can perhaps be nurtured.