The positive "mirror traits" of ADHD

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The positive "mirror traits" of ADHD

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The medical model of diagnosing ADD and ADHD is all based on deficits and pathology. I like to turn each of the core symptoms on it head, and get a mirror trait to show how there can be positive attributes to this condition. The core symptoms associated with ADHD are; distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. They are bad, right? Well, turn distractibility on it's head, what do you get? The mirror of that is what? Curiosity, that's good. You can't teach that. You can't buy that, and it's real good. Impulsivity; that's bad, right? Turn it on its head, you get the mirror trait you get creativity. What is creativity, but impulsivity gone right. You can't plan creative thought. You can't say, "It's 2:00, time for my creative thought," and lay it like an egg. Creativity depends upon spontaneity, disinhibition. Hyperactivity; turn that on it's head, what do you get? Energy. At age 62, I'm real glad I've got that trait. It's a matter of learning how to harness that energy, harness that impulsivity, harness that distractibility; so they become curiosity, creativity, and energy.

Watch Video: The positive "mirror traits" of ADHD by Edward Hallowell, MD, EdD, ...

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Edward Hallowell, MD, EdD

Psychiatrist, ADHD Specialist, & Author

Edward (Ned) Hallowell, MD, EdD is a Harvard-trained Child and Adult Psychiatrist in practice in Sudbury, MA (outside Boston) and New York City. The author of 18 books, Dr. Hallowell specializes in learning differences such as ADHD and dyslexia, both of which he has himself.  He has also written extensively on general issues of parenting and living in our modern age. He lives in the Boston area with his wife of 23 years, Sue, and their three children, Lucy, Jack, and Tucker.

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