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Comment by ahknight | Hacker News Reader

What are you trying to say? Whatever it was, you kind of failed at it.

Are you trying to toe the now-trite line that ADHD isn't a thing or something?

I'm not saying it doesn't exist. I'm suggesting that it be considered a characteristic, and not an external force. This way, we don't grow dualistic, differentiating between oneself and one's brain.

I guess it's the dualism here that I'm criticizing, not ADHD itself. See the fourth paragraph:

"if you have the 'illness,' the real problem is that, to your brain, the world that you live in essentially feels not very interesting."

This distinction between "you" and "your brain" is what bothers me.

As someone with clinically-diagnosed "severe ADHD" I use that language all the time. I want to do something. My mind won't let me.

It really is like a devil on my shoulder sometimes.

"I want to read a book."

"No."

"Really! It's good! We've done this be-"

"No. Look, shiny!"

"Neat! Now, the book..."

"No. We're going to watch a show now."

Sigh.

I think the way it has to be explained is that, sometimes I'll read a book but my phone will be there. Just near me so I'll tap the on button, no notifications, back to reading. Tap the on button. Read. I didn't check the time. What time is it? Tap the on button. Ignore the time. Read. Turn the on button. I can never just read. Its fun but not exciting.

It's splitting hairs, IMO. One form breaks out motivations and one presents an external view. It's a writing exercise more than a useful diagnostic.

I'd be interested to hear what Alan Watts would think of this self dialog.

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