Episode 113: Understanding "Disorders" of the Brain, Part 2
Feb 10, 2023
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Discussing ADHD and the gift of thought, the use of medicines to slow down thinking, managing life tasks with ADHD, and the struggles related to fear and anxiety about thinking. Exploring the challenges of focus and attention in academic life, the use of medication for focus, overcoming distractions, and effective study strategies for achieving goals.
Medication can help individuals with ADHD slow down their thoughts and lead a calmer life.
People with ADHD can harness the gift of thought by understanding how it works and avoiding overwhelm.
Deep dives
Understanding ADHD
ADHD is commonly misunderstood, with many people experiencing difficulty controlling their thoughts and focusing. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with managing their thinking, and their minds can feel scattered and constantly changing channels like a TV. However, it is important to realize that people with ADHD have the potential to calm down and live a life that is not overly frenetic through gaining insight into how thought works and how to live in healthier states of mind. This paradigm shift encourages us to view individuals with ADHD as innately healthy and capable of profound and immediate changes.
The Role of Medication
While some individuals with ADHD find medication helpful in slowing down their thoughts and experiencing a quieter state of mind, it is not a solution for everyone. It is crucial to differentiate between individuals with true ADHD and those with busy-mindedness. Medication can be transformative for those with ADHD, enabling them to focus and make significant improvements. However, for those with busy-mindedness, it is essential to explore other strategies and insights to quiet the mind and enhance focus.
Quieting the Mind for Improved Focus
The key to managing ADHD lies in slowing down and cultivating a quieter state of mind. By developing the ability to be present in the moment and reducing distractions, individuals with ADHD can experience increased focus and concentration. This involves recognizing that focusing is a connection between the computer in our head and the computer on the screen. By doing so, individuals can tap into their innate potential and discover that they are capable of focusing anytime, even in situations where they thought it was impossible.
This is part two of our discussion of brain disorders, focused on the common issue of ADHD. Many people struggle with ADHD, and how to "manage" life tasks with it. First, there are good medicines available that slow down thinking, and there is no shame in taking them appropriately. Second, over time, we have come to recognize more and more that those with ADHD use the gift of thought differently, and often to their own advantage, once they understand it and come to understand how thought works and how not to get sidetracked and overwhelmed. The struggles people have are more related to fear and anxiety about their thinking than to the way they use the gift of thought.