ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction - from Childhood through Adulthood

“Creativity,” as we use the term in connection with ADHD, designates an innate ability, desire, and irrepressible urge to plunge one’s imagination regularly and deeply into life—into a project, an idea, a piece of music, a sandcastle.

We offend people by forgetting names and promises, but we make good by understanding what nobody else has picked up on.

Often has trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities.

For the variable attention stimulus trait, we do not call what we offer below “diagnostic criteria” at all. Instead, if you see yourself in the following list of descriptors enough that they describe you and set you apart from others, well, then, VAST fits you, and what we have to say about how to live best with this trait may be useful to you.

We like irrational. We’re at home in uncertainty. We’re at ease where others are anxious. We’re relaxed not knowing where we are or what direction we’re headed in.

Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).

Unexplained underachievement.

Even awake we’re dreaming, always creating, always searching for some mud pie to turn into pumpkin apple chiffon.

We are the people Marlon Brando spoke for in the classic 1954 film On the Waterfront when he said, “I coulda been a contender.” So many of us coulda been contenders, and shoulda been for sure.