That’s old news in research circles. ADHD has features you may or may not have: impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattentiveness. Supposedly these traits are from a weakness in the brain that controls the “turning off” of other parts of the brain-- that is, you can’t suppress as easily the thoughts and behaviors. I’m simplifying, btw, and why things like Adderall sometimes works or not kinda depends on what’s causing that weakness (e.g. neurotransmitter uptake, underdeveloped section of brain, etc).
Now, imagine where creativity comes from. When your brain gets to just run without suppression, you think of weird shit. Those untethered thoughts can lead to creative inspiration, outside the box thinking, and so on.
There’s other strengths to ADHD, too. Impulsivity under another label is initiative. Hyperactivity under another label is high energy. ADHD is often defined by how inconvenient it is for neurotypical folks, but it shouldn’t. I mean, job posts frequently call for high energy free thinkers with initiative— little does HR know they’re asking for folks with ADHD! Lol
Some recent research also confirmed that the same neuron systems responsible for impulsive behaviour are the same ones that make people curious.
Which of course also aids creativity.
But i find this especially important to note as how many add/adhd medication attempt to inhibit impulsive behavior and how that explains how i lost all interest in science during school, almost instantly gain it back as an adult when i stopped taking them.
That’s interesting, and I should read up on it since I teach about these things (survey class so ADHD being only one week of info, tho). It’s definitely a give and take-- for some, medication can be liberating if they feel out of control; for others like you, it might not have been worth it. Hope you’ve come to appreciate your own strengths!
They want ADHD creativity in the same package as someone that can buckle down and do repetitive and tedious work when creativity isn’t needed. If only they could wrap their heads around hiring two people for different kinds of work…
That’s old news in research circles. ADHD has features you may or may not have: impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattentiveness. Supposedly these traits are from a weakness in the brain that controls the “turning off” of other parts of the brain-- that is, you can’t suppress as easily the thoughts and behaviors. I’m simplifying, btw, and why things like Adderall sometimes works or not kinda depends on what’s causing that weakness (e.g. neurotransmitter uptake, underdeveloped section of brain, etc).
Now, imagine where creativity comes from. When your brain gets to just run without suppression, you think of weird shit. Those untethered thoughts can lead to creative inspiration, outside the box thinking, and so on.
There’s other strengths to ADHD, too. Impulsivity under another label is initiative. Hyperactivity under another label is high energy. ADHD is often defined by how inconvenient it is for neurotypical folks, but it shouldn’t. I mean, job posts frequently call for high energy free thinkers with initiative— little does HR know they’re asking for folks with ADHD! Lol
Some recent research also confirmed that the same neuron systems responsible for impulsive behaviour are the same ones that make people curious.
Which of course also aids creativity.
But i find this especially important to note as how many add/adhd medication attempt to inhibit impulsive behavior and how that explains how i lost all interest in science during school, almost instantly gain it back as an adult when i stopped taking them.
That’s interesting, and I should read up on it since I teach about these things (survey class so ADHD being only one week of info, tho). It’s definitely a give and take-- for some, medication can be liberating if they feel out of control; for others like you, it might not have been worth it. Hope you’ve come to appreciate your own strengths!
They want ADHD creativity in the same package as someone that can buckle down and do repetitive and tedious work when creativity isn’t needed. If only they could wrap their heads around hiring two people for different kinds of work…
Who’s ever heard of teamwork? Not the c-suite, lol
“workn in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.”
It’s kinda funny how we need a bit of structure and routine, but also absolutely need some chaos to make it work.