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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A great read for adults with ADHD, parents of ADHD children or really anyone interested in children and helping them develop.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A year ago I wouldn't have read this book based on the title alone. I still think a better title may be "healing within ADHD" or some sort. I gave it a chance after reading and loving The Myth of Normal. Maté makes no claims that you can "cure" ADHD, rather he offers resources for parents and adults to heal and their relationships with their children and themselves to improve outcomes.
Based on my own profound healing experiences since starting medication and therapy, I started to reject the conservative minded genetic determinism of "you're just born this way" and consider that there may have been a lot of environmental factors at play in my childhood and adult life, and this book reflects many of my exact experiences. I found myself highlighting things to show my therapist, which became pointless after highlighting roughly 3/4 of the book.
Above all, Maté is a nuanced and compassionate writer who speaks of societal issues with parenting and education, without pointing fingers and blaming people -- as we so often see in those who say ADHD is a result of "bad parenting". He explains the neurochemical and biological aspects of ADHD thoroughly that can shape behavior, while challenging the notion that it's entirely inheritable and therefore impossible to improve.
He explains so many of the pathological terms we see on social media today, such as rejection sensitivity dysphoria, demand avoidance, and alexithymia, before these words/concepts even existed in the popular lexicon, in context of early childhood environment. In doing so, he challenges the idea that these are inherent genetic issues, but learned responses to the hypersensitivity ADHD causes.
A great read for anyone who wishes to better understand themselves, their children, or loved one with ADHD.
Based on my own profound healing experiences since starting medication and therapy, I started to reject the conservative minded genetic determinism of "you're just born this way" and consider that there may have been a lot of environmental factors at play in my childhood and adult life, and this book reflects many of my exact experiences. I found myself highlighting things to show my therapist, which became pointless after highlighting roughly 3/4 of the book.
Above all, Maté is a nuanced and compassionate writer who speaks of societal issues with parenting and education, without pointing fingers and blaming people -- as we so often see in those who say ADHD is a result of "bad parenting". He explains the neurochemical and biological aspects of ADHD thoroughly that can shape behavior, while challenging the notion that it's entirely inheritable and therefore impossible to improve.
He explains so many of the pathological terms we see on social media today, such as rejection sensitivity dysphoria, demand avoidance, and alexithymia, before these words/concepts even existed in the popular lexicon, in context of early childhood environment. In doing so, he challenges the idea that these are inherent genetic issues, but learned responses to the hypersensitivity ADHD causes.
A great read for anyone who wishes to better understand themselves, their children, or loved one with ADHD.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Great book on ADD. It was my second book on the topic and I think I learned more new information than I did when I read the first one (even though there was decent overlap between the two). It goes much deeper than what you usually hear about ADD and kills some myths (ADD is just an attention problem, etc).
A few interesting notes from the book:
- Epigenetics: ADD manifests through epigenetics meaning people can carry the trait but their environment activates it (upbringing, etc).
- Time Blindness: People with ADD experience time differently where they don't have a good grasp of how much time has elapsed nor can they estimate accurately.
- Performance Anxiety: ADDers have trouble being put on the spot due to trouble activating memory in the face of perceived rejection.
- Gut Feelings: People with ADD can have trouble recognizing and respecting their gut feelings
The book is very accessible and is comprised of several short chapters making it easy to consume. I definitely am a fan of the author now and will check out his other books. He's also a very insightful podcast guest if you're into that.
A few interesting notes from the book:
- Epigenetics: ADD manifests through epigenetics meaning people can carry the trait but their environment activates it (upbringing, etc).
- Time Blindness: People with ADD experience time differently where they don't have a good grasp of how much time has elapsed nor can they estimate accurately.
- Performance Anxiety: ADDers have trouble being put on the spot due to trouble activating memory in the face of perceived rejection.
- Gut Feelings: People with ADD can have trouble recognizing and respecting their gut feelings
The book is very accessible and is comprised of several short chapters making it easy to consume. I definitely am a fan of the author now and will check out his other books. He's also a very insightful podcast guest if you're into that.
I listed to the audiobook version. It’s very informative and could be a parenting book, not just for people with ADD or children with ADD. This book was published in 1999, so there are some things that could be updated, but it also was interesting to hear things that definitely apply now too.
informative
medium-paced
This was a nice read. It’s interesting to have more of a perspective on what creates this rather than the more popular/widely-accepted “nature” aspect.
Honestly, I can understand a lot more of it through the people I interact with and for myself. I hope that if I ever have children / am responsible for raising someone in any capacity I can keep this in mind to soothe their minds and life experiences.
Honestly, I can understand a lot more of it through the people I interact with and for myself. I hope that if I ever have children / am responsible for raising someone in any capacity I can keep this in mind to soothe their minds and life experiences.