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gkokosky 's review for:
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.