Danielle Elliott

For years, this liberation came to those who happened to read Ned and John's books, or Sari Solden's, or a slew of others written by people who treat adult ADHD. The strengths did not enter the medical conversation. But the evidence of potential advantages only grew.

For years, this liberation came to those who happened to read Ned and John's books, or Sari Solden's, or a slew of others written by people who treat adult ADHD. The strengths did not enter the medical conversation. But the evidence of potential advantages only grew.

In 2008, a pair of anthropology students traveled to northern Kenya to spend time with one of the few groups that still lives in the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Many in the group carry a genetic mutation that is strongly associated with ADHD. The researchers determined that, when living nomadically, those with the genetic mutation exhibit better health than those who live a settled life.

In 2008, a pair of anthropology students traveled to northern Kenya to spend time with one of the few groups that still lives in the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Many in the group carry a genetic mutation that is strongly associated with ADHD. The researchers determined that, when living nomadically, those with the genetic mutation exhibit better health than those who live a settled life.

And when living in a more settled life in a village, those with the genetic mutation show greater malnourishment. Conversely, people without the mutation are more healthy in a settled lifestyle and more malnourished when living nomadically.

And when living in a more settled life in a village, those with the genetic mutation show greater malnourishment. Conversely, people without the mutation are more healthy in a settled lifestyle and more malnourished when living nomadically.

Summarizing their findings, the authors of the study wrote, There is good reason to believe that in our evolutionary past, ADHD was often not much of a problem and was perhaps even an asset. Several studies have since supported their findings. Still, the medical model continues to describe ADHD as a deficit, and it continued to carry a stigma. Ned sees this as a great tragedy.

Summarizing their findings, the authors of the study wrote, There is good reason to believe that in our evolutionary past, ADHD was often not much of a problem and was perhaps even an asset. Several studies have since supported their findings. Still, the medical model continues to describe ADHD as a deficit, and it continued to carry a stigma. Ned sees this as a great tragedy.

Ned spent more than 40 years attempting to rebrand ADHD. The idea never seemed to reach the general public. Then, sometime during the pandemic, ADHD transformed from a stigmatized disorder into something people casually refer to as a superpower. I've tried to dissect this transformation. ADHD content on social media definitely helped destigmatize the disorder.

Ned spent more than 40 years attempting to rebrand ADHD. The idea never seemed to reach the general public. Then, sometime during the pandemic, ADHD transformed from a stigmatized disorder into something people casually refer to as a superpower. I've tried to dissect this transformation. ADHD content on social media definitely helped destigmatize the disorder.

So did a general cultural shift towards accepting and understanding mental health differences. But when I look at ADHD content that was posted to social media in 2020, I don't see much, if anything, about superpowers. I talked to a popular ADHD coach. She can't remember people talking about superpowers until about 2021. She suggested it might have been linked to media coverage of a new book.

So did a general cultural shift towards accepting and understanding mental health differences. But when I look at ADHD content that was posted to social media in 2020, I don't see much, if anything, about superpowers. I talked to a popular ADHD coach. She can't remember people talking about superpowers until about 2021. She suggested it might have been linked to media coverage of a new book.

A new book written by, you guessed it, Ned and John. It's called ADHD 2.0. I read ADHD 2.0 shortly after my sister's wedding. My copy is full of notes, entire pages underlined, especially the part about a recent scientific advance in the understanding of negative self-talk. the type of self-talk that I was feeling before seeing extended family at the wedding.

A new book written by, you guessed it, Ned and John. It's called ADHD 2.0. I read ADHD 2.0 shortly after my sister's wedding. My copy is full of notes, entire pages underlined, especially the part about a recent scientific advance in the understanding of negative self-talk. the type of self-talk that I was feeling before seeing extended family at the wedding.

The authors described this type of rumination as creativity applied to the past. Of course creative people also ruminate, pairs of opposites and all that. Thinking about this helped me tame my inner critic in ways that I never thought possible. So the book's great. At least it was for me. But I'm not sure it shifted public perception. The positive reframing of ADHD still needed a boost.

The authors described this type of rumination as creativity applied to the past. Of course creative people also ruminate, pairs of opposites and all that. Thinking about this helped me tame my inner critic in ways that I never thought possible. So the book's great. At least it was for me. But I'm not sure it shifted public perception. The positive reframing of ADHD still needed a boost.

And then it got one. A big one. One of Ned's patients wrote a memoir, Paris Hilton. On the cover, she called ADHD her superpower. On the first page, she quoted Ned. Around the same time, she and a few other celebrities appeared in a documentary called The Disruptors. In the film, they talked about ADHD as the thing driving their success.

And then it got one. A big one. One of Ned's patients wrote a memoir, Paris Hilton. On the cover, she called ADHD her superpower. On the first page, she quoted Ned. Around the same time, she and a few other celebrities appeared in a documentary called The Disruptors. In the film, they talked about ADHD as the thing driving their success.

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles talked about her ADHD in media tours. Comedian Nicole Byer talked about it on her popular podcast. Filmmaker Greta Gerwig mentioned it as she was doing press for her blockbuster hit, Barbie. As celebrities opened up about their ADHD, and did so without shame, the shift in public perception was rapid and obvious.

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles talked about her ADHD in media tours. Comedian Nicole Byer talked about it on her popular podcast. Filmmaker Greta Gerwig mentioned it as she was doing press for her blockbuster hit, Barbie. As celebrities opened up about their ADHD, and did so without shame, the shift in public perception was rapid and obvious.