The Paradoxes of ADHD

ADHD Education

ADHD is a paradox of opposite abilities and behaviors that resonate at more intense levels than in those who do not have ADHD. Paradox is the coexistence of seemingly contradictory qualities or phases.

For example, it seems paradoxical that a teenager who can focus hard enough to catch a baseball hurled at 80 m.p.h. might also be unable to pay attention to a math teacher teaching her curriculum, when the first activity requires superior, intense concentration while the latter requires moderate focus.

Or even more confusing, why a college student might be able to pay close attention to history class and not be able to do the same in English class. Or why a father might be able to focus on teaching his kid to ride a bike, but when it comes to remembering to accomplish a list of house chores, he can’t seem to find the momentum and therefore leaves everything half-finished.

When this kind of paradox occurs with ADHD individuals, they are usually judged as careless, lazy, lacking motivation or many other negative labels that are too often attached to individuals with ADHD (mostly by people who are ignorant about ADHD and how and why this paradox occurs). There are validated, scientific reasons for the huge disparity in strengths and weakness that exists for people who have ADHD.

If you knew there was good, solid science behind the ADHD paradox in strengths and weaknesses, you could develop greater understanding of the person with ADHD whom you support. You could explain it to others and spread understanding rather than the judgment that is so often the result of ignorance about ADHD. By doing so, you could help create a community that would be at once more compassionate, understanding and supportive of individuals with ADHD. In such a community, people with ADHD could truly shine and bring their unique strengths to bear.

An excerpt from the book: Permission to Proceed, The Keys to Creating a Life of Passion, Purpose and Possibility for Adults with ADHD, by David Giwerc, Founder/President, ADD Coach Academy, Master Certified ADHD Coach, MCAC, MCC