So ADHD isn't a thing? ADHD vs VAST

[Anonymous]

Saw this article on additudemag.com My teen just explained this to me on his own. "I'm paying too much attention to too many other things during Zoom. Meds are making it worse." We'll be talking to psych tomorrow.

Has anyone read or heard more about VAST vs ADHD

BY EDWARD HALLOWELL, M.D., JOHN RATEY, M.D.

ADHD is an inaccurate — and potentially corrosive — name. The term “deficit disorder” places ADHD in the realm of pathology, or disease. Individuals with ADHD do not have a disease, nor do they have a deficit of attention; in fact, what they have is an abundance of attention. The challenge is controlling it.

Therefore, we argue that a more accurate descriptive term is “variable attention stimulus trait” (VAST), a name that allows us to “de-medicalize” ADHD and focus instead on the huge benefits of having an ADHD brain.

VAST symptoms can, of course, negatively impact a person’s life, work, and relationships. Rejection sensitive dysphoria, a phrase coined by Dr. William Dodson, refers to the extreme emotional sensitivity and feelings of guilt, shame, and rejection often experienced by those living with VAST.

But with VAST there are always pairs; you can hyper focus and then you can’t focus. You are distractible, but you’re also curious. So if individuals with VAST tend to succumb to perceived rejection, they can just as easily thrive with perceived recognition, an experience we call “recognition responsive euphoria.”

https://www.additudemag.com/attention-deficit-disorder-vast/

[Anonymous]

Symptoms are real and need to be managed or else it will be difficult at work, in relationships, and anything else more complicated than ones own work ,eating, sleeping.

[Anonymous]

I think a name change would be nice.

I'm the parent of an kid with inattentive ADHD. He's the least hyperactive and impulsive person I know, if anything he's consumed by indecision which makes him move and decide very slowly. I think that people often think that he can't really have ADHD because he's missing this symptom that's right there in the na.e.

[Anonymous]

The authors of the article co-authored many books about ADHD.

Sounds like quarantine has driven them to distraction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Saw this article on additudemag.com My teen just explained this to me on his own. "I'm paying too much attention to too many other things during Zoom. Meds are making it worse." We'll be talking to psych tomorrow.

Has anyone read or heard more about VAST vs ADHD

BY EDWARD HALLOWELL, M.D., JOHN RATEY, M.D.

ADHD is an inaccurate — and potentially corrosive — name. The term “deficit disorder” places ADHD in the realm of pathology, or disease. Individuals with ADHD do not have a disease, nor do they have a deficit of attention; in fact, what they have is an abundance of attention. The challenge is controlling it.

Therefore, we argue that a more accurate descriptive term is “variable attention stimulus trait” (VAST), a name that allows us to “de-medicalize” ADHD and focus instead on the huge benefits of having an ADHD brain.

VAST symptoms can, of course, negatively impact a person’s life, work, and relationships. Rejection sensitive dysphoria, a phrase coined by Dr. William Dodson, refers to the extreme emotional sensitivity and feelings of guilt, shame, and rejection often experienced by those living with VAST.

But with VAST there are always pairs; you can hyper focus and then you can’t focus. You are distractible, but you’re also curious. So if individuals with VAST tend to succumb to perceived rejection, they can just as easily thrive with perceived recognition, an experience we call “recognition responsive euphoria.”

https://www.additudemag.com/attention-deficit-disorder-vast/

Wow!! This describes me EXACTLY. I have always felt weird about thinking I have ADHD because the diagnosis never really felt correct. Thanks so much for posting this! (I am 48.)

[Anonymous]

I agree with this. I have read Dr. Amen's books on ADHD and he says something similar, in that people with "ADHD" don't have a lack of attention, they just cannot control their attention. My opinion (shared with Dr. Amen to some degree) is that "ADHD" or "VAST" is simply the name given a collection of symptoms which can have different causes. It is not like a bacteria, for example, as something concrete that you have.

I do disagree that it is a good thing to have, however. I have it and it sucks. Saying that there might be a positive spin you can put on it doesn't take away from the fact that it makes everything more difficult and without medication, therapy, support, etc., it is no way to live and if you need all of those things to function and live happily, then it's not something I would wish on anyone. People without ADHD can be smart, creative, highly focused, etc. without the ADHD.

I hate having it. I didn't know that was the explanation for my difficulties in life until one of my children was diagnosed. I was 50 years old. So. much time wasted.

[Anonymous]

I have ADHD as do my kids.
I think the name is somewhat inaccurate and misleading, but a name change at this point is likely to be more confusing than helpful. And really, it is a deficit, and reframing it as an advantage is not particularly helpful, especially when one is seeking educational services, insurance coverage, accommodations, etc.

I always think of it like the brain has a lousy triage nurse. Lots of different stimuli are coming into the brain, and the triage nurse should be figuring out who can wait in chairs versus who needs to be seen immediately. The ADHD brain triage nurse is like Dr. House -- too busy focusing on the quirky interesting patient to notice the person having a run-of-the-mill heart attack in front of them. Or just bored with all the ordinary car crash and colds in the ER, so decides to just sit in his office all day playing Tetris waiting for an interesting patient to come along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have ADHD as do my kids.
I think the name is somewhat inaccurate and misleading, but a name change at this point is likely to be more confusing than helpful. And really, it is a deficit, and reframing it as an advantage is not particularly helpful, especially when one is seeking educational services, insurance coverage, accommodations, etc.

I always think of it like the brain has a lousy triage nurse. Lots of different stimuli are coming into the brain, and the triage nurse should be figuring out who can wait in chairs versus who needs to be seen immediately. The ADHD brain triage nurse is like Dr. House -- too busy focusing on the quirky interesting patient to notice the person having a run-of-the-mill heart attack in front of them. Or just bored with all the ordinary car crash and colds in the ER, so decides to just sit in his office all day playing Tetris waiting for an interesting patient to come along.

NP this is an excellent analogy as a person with an ADHD spouse and child, and an avid House fan!

[Anonymous]

Such a click baity title makes me think OP is the author...

[Anonymous]

I can't figure out if OP thinks this is a new disorder? They are suggesting a name shift, not a new condition. Indeed, I have heard the name change, sadly, is unlikely as the term "ADHD" is used in many laws and regulations.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter what you call it. The article suggests giving your kid more positive feedback. That's good advice anyway. If you call it something else but don't give the positive feedback, you haven't changed anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have ADHD as do my kids.
I think the name is somewhat inaccurate and misleading, but a name change at this point is likely to be more confusing than helpful. And really, it is a deficit, and reframing it as an advantage is not particularly helpful, especially when one is seeking educational services, insurance coverage, accommodations, etc.

I always think of it like the brain has a lousy triage nurse. Lots of different stimuli are coming into the brain, and the triage nurse should be figuring out who can wait in chairs versus who needs to be seen immediately. The ADHD brain triage nurse is like Dr. House -- too busy focusing on the quirky interesting patient to notice the person having a run-of-the-mill heart attack in front of them. Or just bored with all the ordinary car crash and colds in the ER, so decides to just sit in his office all day playing Tetris waiting for an interesting patient to come along.

I always call it attention disregulation. It’s a more accurate description. And it’s also an executive function deficit. I think VAST is too ambiguous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have ADHD as do my kids.
I think the name is somewhat inaccurate and misleading, but a name change at this point is likely to be more confusing than helpful. And really, it is a deficit, and reframing it as an advantage is not particularly helpful, especially when one is seeking educational services, insurance coverage, accommodations, etc.

I always think of it like the brain has a lousy triage nurse. Lots of different stimuli are coming into the brain, and the triage nurse should be figuring out who can wait in chairs versus who needs to be seen immediately. The ADHD brain triage nurse is like Dr. House -- too busy focusing on the quirky interesting patient to notice the person having a run-of-the-mill heart attack in front of them. Or just bored with all the ordinary car crash and colds in the ER, so decides to just sit in his office all day playing Tetris waiting for an interesting patient to come along.

I always call it attention disregulation. It’s a more accurate description. And it’s also an executive function deficit. I think VAST is too ambiguous.

Our former developmental pediatrician at KKI told us that ADHD is really a disregulation of attention rather than a deficit of attention.

[Anonymous]

He’s old enough to stop taking meds if he wants.

[Anonymous]

I always call it attention disregulation.

Agree with this. I would expand it to a broader disregulation though - attention, emotions, sensory processing, etc.