Anonymous wrote:My adhd son lacks attention. Plain and simple. Underestimated everything. Too little effort and attention to detail in all activities. He has been diagnosed with adhd and anxiety. So was his dad. So is he misdiagnosed?

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/

Anonymous wrote: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 wrote: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 wrote:A Concern I have if it is not a medical diagnosis then Health insurance wont' cover testing or treatments