Systemic Oppression and ADHD: It’s a me and we problem.

ADHD is a ME and WE problem. There are things that we as individuals can do to better navigate the day to day (the ME part), and there are ways in which we’ve been conditioned by society to believe our struggles are entirely our fault and ours alone to deal with…which isn’t true. There are systems that need to be examined and changed (the WE part).

Tools, and strategies that help to support your executive function skills are always welcomed and can have such an impact on you creating change for yourself (the ME part of the equation). Learning more about what you’ve been conditioned to believe, and shifting your perspective to question where systems may be impacting you and sharing what best supports you (is the WE part of the equation).

Two of the top emotions that come up when I’m working with clients are overwhelm and shame. Let’s take a look at those two for a moment. Many programs will teach that as emotions, overwhelm and shame are created in our minds by our thoughts. This is only partially true. It’s more nuanced than that. 

I believe the reason neurodivergent, non-linear thinkers experience overwhelm and shame is because we as a society have centered neurotypical, linear thinkers as “normal”. We have systems in place (educational, workplace, healthcare etc), that take into account and support only one way of “functioning”.  This actively keeps one group in power while dehumanizing another group. Systems that label one way of being “typical”, and another way of being “disordered”. Those labeled “disordered”, end up working to change who they are fundamentally. This takes an inordinate amount of energy which contributes to the overwhelm. The associated shame comes from the pressure to consistently deny who they are and how they function. 

Consider this, let’s say there are 3 cars: a gasoline car, a diesel truck, and an electric car. We fill the tank of the car that runs on gasoline with gas, we fill the tank of the diesel truck with diesel, and we plug in and fully charge the electrical vehicle. We then set them on a starting line and they take off at the same time…if the goal was speed and acceleration, odds are good that the electric car will pull off the starting line the fastest because they tend to have better traction accelerating. If the goal were to carry a heavy load for a long haul, the diesel truck would do better as that’s what a diesel engine is designed to do. If the goal were cost efficiency, and wear and tear in stop and start traffic, your best bet may be the gasoline car. My point here is different types of fuel and engines to do different jobs. We first need to know the primary purpose. What are we trying to accomplish?

Now imagine someone randomly deciding that diesels are the best for everything. No logic, just a blanket statement/belief that diesels are the way to go. No more gasoline powered vehicles, no more electric cars…they are just forced to try and do the diesels job. Forget about what they’re best at. They’re no longer able to be the fastest, or the most efficient. Imagine an electric car trying to become a diesel. What a waste of what an electric car is meant to do. This is essentially what we do to neurodivergent people.

There are so many examples of “using the right tool for the job”. Think about carpentry - we don’t use one tool for every problem. Or medications - one medication doesn’t fix all things. Or foods - the variety of fruits and vegetables and how they all contribute to our health in different ways. We’re literally taught to “eat the rainbow”. How about music - masterpieces aren’t created with one note. Our bodies - it takes so many different organs and body parts to function as a human. Procreation - requires both a sperm and an egg. 

Yet when it comes to being human, existing, contributing, we often teach and believe that there is one “right” way to be. A “better” way to be. The truth is that we as a society place a higher value on certain types of humans. Those who are Linear. Organized. Cisgendered. Logical. Productive. Caucasian. Efficient. Fast. Structured. Youthful. Attractive. Male. Work-aholics, on and on, and on…Often have the advantage in life-ing. 

I wonder what would happen if we valued the true variety of humans that were placed on the planet. Truly saw people for who they were, and valued their contributions equally, what would happen to diagnoses like ADHD, and Autism? 

If someone who was hyperfocused on rock hounding, was encouraged to hyperfocus on rock hounding would they then notice a pattern in nature that would have ecological significance that is yet undiscovered by anyone else? Would they contribute in a meaningful way that ultimately saved society? We will never know. 

If someone loved sewing and were able to study just sewing and all of its intricacies would they eventually learn all they need to know when it comes to math, language, sales, survival? Due to their interest in sewing? With our current systems, we’ll never know.

If someone needed to cycle 50+ miles a day and were encouraged to cycle 50+ miles a day as their priority, what incredible patterns, solutions for the good of humanity might drop into their brain at mile 60? We’ll never know…because we as a society believe that a good portion of each day should be spent working in a more “typical” way, not “recreating” on a bike.

Are we focused on the wrong thing when “treating” ADHD? What is the end game? What are we trying to accomplish? There is a grey area that I think we can look at more closely. 

Let’s circle back to the feelings of overwhelm and shame. Sure, how we think about things can absolutely contribute to the increase or reduction of the feelings of overwhelm and shame, AND, maybe there are circumstances worth reconsidering. Maybe reducing the required number of things a person “needs” to do in any given day would help. Maybe normalizing a different approach to humaning would make it simpler to reduce feelings of shame? Maybe finding a way to see all humans as contributing humans is the answer.  

If this resonates with you, be sure to check out Brain Brilliance a community (Add link to Brain Brilliance page) of neurospicy individuals changing the world one thought at a time.