Okay bestie, so for literally forever, people have been acting like ADHD is just this thing where your brain is broken and you can’t focus, right? But, like, plot twist: new research is totally calling that out and saying… maybe we’ve been looking at it all wrong?
It’s Not a Deficit—It’s Just a Different Vibe
So like, Dr. Julia Rucklidge—she’s, like, super smart and a psychologist from New Zealand—she says ADHD isn’t really about not paying attention. It’s more like, your brain is paying attention to everything all at once. Like, imagine your brain is scrolling TikTok on 5 tabs at once and just vibing with chaos.
“You don’t have too little attention,” she basically says, “you just have it going in 12 directions.” And honestly? Mood.
ADHD: Ancient Hunter or Modern Hot Mess?
Now here’s where it gets juicy: some researchers—like this cool anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher—think ADHD isn’t even a disorder. Like, back in the hunter-gatherer days, ADHD traits were actually slay. Being curious, quick, and low-key chaotic was perfect for, like, dodging lions or finding berries or whatever.
So maybe it’s not that ADHD brains are wrong. Maybe society is just built for people who sit still and do spreadsheets all day. Ew.
Are We Just Overreacting?
Also, can we talk about how kids get diagnosed just for being, like, fidgety or talkative? Like chill, maybe they’re just the youngest in the class. A study in The Lancet Psychiatry was like, “uhhh yeah, the youngest kids get diagnosed way more.” So maybe we’re just slapping a label on totally normal energy?
Dr. Stephen Hinshaw from Berkeley says we’re “medicalizing” stuff that’s actually pretty normal. Translation: maybe your kid doesn’t need a pill—maybe they just need recess and a nap.
Pills, Schmills—Let’s Try New Stuff
Not saying meds are bad—Adderall can totally save lives—but there are also other cute options now, like mindfulness, better food, therapy, and even brain training apps. People are finally realizing ADHD isn’t one-size-fits-all.
TL;DR: Your Brain Isn’t Broken, It’s Just Sparkly
Dr. Gabor Maté (he wrote Scattered Minds and we love him) is like, “ADHD isn’t brokenness, it’s just different wiring.” And honestly? That’s so valid.
So yeah, maybe ADHD isn’t this scary disorder—it’s just another way to be human. A lil’ wild, a lil’ creative, a lil’ unpredictable. Like, if ADHD were a person, it’d totally be the girl showing up to brunch late but with the best story. And maybe that’s not a problem. Maybe it’s iconic. 💅
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
