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Great video I came across that expresses similar ideas about it being executive function that's the challenge, not attention.

"This is how you treat ADHD based off science, Dr Russell Barkley part of 2012 Burnett Lecture" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tpB-B8BXk0

Edit: here's a newer one by the same speaker "ADHD as Motivation Deficit Disorder" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR3RJU6838c



I've seen that first video before.

He does fine until he starts spouting dogma about what all interventions must look like. That part is BS. BY FAR the most effective intervention that I've seen for ADHD in children is https://www.cdc.uci.edu/. It does none of what he claims you need to do. And it routinely takes people who can't perform in a normal classroom, and turns them into people who can.

I just watched a bit of the second video.

One problem with his model. One of the classic presentations of ADHD is hyperfocus. A state in which everything he says about ADHD is wrong.

The problem with both videos is that he is focused on control as accomplished through executive control. But there is a second path towards emotional control involving dealing with our emotions. And if you succeed in THAT, then your basic emotional makeup is supporting your self-control. Rather than imposing control through executive function, your executive function is being supported by your emotional makeup.

I've found this to be a far more effective way to do things. But it requires unlearning a whole lot about how we think that things should be done.


Can you be more specific about what you do?


Not in a comment, sorry.

I could write a book, and it would still feel vague. And what I do for myself, isn't going to work the same way for you.

I will say that my path involved a lot of work on self-honesty. A lot of work on body awareness. (A lot of emotions show up in your body.) A lot of work on building empathy and gratitude. Meditation played more than a small role.

All of that just to get to the point where I'm aware of what I need to be aware of to start finding what works for me.


Once here on HN, someone wrote that meditation helps him/her better than all medication. Well, it strenghtens the "minds muscle" if you will, calms down and teaches handling distractions.

[edit] The best book on meditation might be John Yates - Mind Illuminated. Got it after a recommendation here on HN.


Forgive me if I'm wrong, but this sounds a lot like dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), which focuses a lot on mindfulness and emotional regulation to identify "triggers" for impulsive behavior.


What I am doing for myself is not DBT, but I recommend that people try DBT in general because it is great.




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