ADHD on trend

Who’s afraid of ADHD?

Well, perhaps me, a little bit. This era of phones and screens and sound bites and instant gratification has made me one heck of an impatient customer. Trust me to imagine a dozen ways for service staff to serve faster. I simply cannot wait - and now I fear I’m being led down this irreversible course of irate customer-hood because of ADHD.

But wait, is that ADHD in truth?

Or perhaps, it’s the troubling incidents where I’m less likely to finish tasks. I open the phone, intending entirely to do something, and then I see a notification or an advert, and I chase the rabbit until I am irreversibly lost. As in, I forget why I even picked up my phone to begin with. Is that ADHD? Or simply aging?

Perhaps it’s time to call in the pros. An organization that tackles ADHD head on. One that has been doing precisely this for the past 25 years. And oh --this month is their month, with a national conference slated to be held in Pasig, and to be opened by no less than mayor extraordinaire Vico Sotto.

That’s the AD/HD Society in the Philippines, an all-volunteer non-profit NGO that has done many wonderful things (or so I am assured) for not just persons with ADHD, but also their families. And their professional teams. And other advocates. So much so that in 2015, former president Benigno S. Aquino (remember him? that fantastic leader who wasn’t corrupt?) conferred accolades on the group during the Apolinario Mabini Awards.

Conference chairman Jojo Villaereal-Nepomuceno proclaims “ADHD is commonly viewed as a challenge. This year, we want to spotlight the silver linings—the strengths, energy, and innovative spirit that individuals with ADHD bring to families, classrooms, and communities.” And if I were naughty, I would hazard the guess that the ‘silver lining’ theme comes from the fact that this is their 25th year.

So perhaps, I need this group. According to my reliable research tool, a.k.a. Google, excessive screen time can exponentially increase the risk of developing symptoms of ADHD, or actually worsen the symptoms. Harvard says so, Oxford says so, and the American Medical Association says so, more or less.

The conference slated on the 18th (with Mayor Vico, don’t forget) will feature success stories (we love them) and expert panels, especially as it relates to education and mental health.

One area which they probably have been hammering home since the beginning: the myths. Those commonly-held misconceptions that we carry with us, branding kids who may have ADHD, and perhaps, harming them without us even realizing it.

Myths like, only boys get ADHD. Well, girls could be operating under that same disability. And since regular folks might think girls don’t carry this burden, they don’t get the proper diagnosis and treatment for it, since their symptoms are quieter. Girls daydream and are disorganized, while boys manifest by becoming disruptive.

Or a myth like, people with ADHD can’t focus. They can --they just like focusing on more exciting things than the everyday humdrum stuff. They hyperfocus --which is why the focus of their attention needs to be managed.

Or maybe even, the myth that we just need to encourage those with ADHD to try harder, and things will work out fine. It’s just willpower, after all. That myth might be more insidious, as ‘just trying harder’ might not be the solution, but expert care is.

All of these myths can be tackled in greater detail through the auspices of this fantastic society, and perhaps, during the national conference. As usual, private initiative has trumped government efforts, and we need to recognize the many individuals who have contributed in many different ways to the greater good. That’s the motivation behind the non-political column today, although the good mayor of Pasig still managed to sneak in.

One myth that’s disappointing --ADHD is just trendy.

It’s not? Maybe I don’t have ADHD after all.