It’s a book published in 2021, written by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D.
My journey with ADHD continues, with even greater curiosity.
Two things struck me from the book. The one was VAST, which the authors are saying is a modern day version of ADHD brought on by our modern environments. It’s not in the DSM, it’s not a diagnosis. This appeals to me. The DSM is limiting for a non-medical professional like myself. It is too clinical. (Of course it is, it’s meant to be.)
In the book, they layout a table they call a self-portrait which juxtaposes the light and the shadow side of traits common to people with VAST, and very similar to people with ADHD.
I quite like this table because it is not dissimilar to a task I did for myself about a year ago where I spent time considering who my core self was and then working out when those traits were helpful and when they were not. That makes sense to me. For example, one of my core traits is nobility, in the light it is a powerful strength of character, but in the shade it is more like martyrdom. When you can own your true self and your behaviours then you can get better at either managing them, enjoying them or fixing them. My adage in my work has been to first develop awareness, then compassion and then a plan of action.
The other piece that I enjoyed was all of the help they offered. I am an action seeker, I want the research as well as the potential solution. Without an action plan it is just a bunch of academics moaning. No, that is a bit harsh. But a little bit true.
This is why I like the work of Anat Baniel, Prof. Reuven Feuerstein, John Ratey, Carol Dweck, Maryann Wolf, Jo Boalar, Brene Brown – in fact, listening to a podcast with Brene Brown just yesterday, she spoke about how her work would have been placed in the academic folds and read by maybe 10 people if she had done what all other researchers do. But she didn’t bolster up her work with jargon that just builds walls around research, she deliberately spoke in a way that is accessible and she actually made it all accessible. And we are immensely grateful to her and all of the others for sharing. And caring.
The crazy thing is, that if I had read this book a year ago I would only be thinking of my students and how I could use this to help them more. This week, I am also thinking about me. The more I lean into this for myself, the more I see what I have not been wiling to see before.
I take my Ritalin with mixed emotions every morning. I identify strongly as a person who doesn’t take any meds, so it hurts to swig down the 10mg. Yet, I notice a big difference in my state every time. I do know though, that for all of these years I have done pretty well, and most very well. This raises the question of coping vs masking. It also makes me think that the therapy work must be done as well. But that is for another time.
The tug-o-war continues.
