The popularisation of ADHD as “a superpower” is not new; however, there seems to be an intensified trend of this across several published books and other services that market it as a mode to be unlocked. I guess in most instances it’s coming from a genuine place but I honestly find this ridiculous, since it basically ignores the real-life experiences and feelings that most people with ADHD endure besides encouraging ignorance and fuelling misconceptions about the condition.
My own shifting view of this "Superpower" label.
When I was diagnosed in 2013 and began medication, I fully embraced the "ADHD is my gift and superpower" point of view. Why? The intense relief of finally living with a much clearer head I felt is truly impossible to describe in words.
I'd lived for 32 years with a really confusing way of perceiving the world and planning to action in it. I was in constant mental chaos, I rarely slept well. I always had this sense of something was wrong with me or something terrible was about to happen, I was simply not living in the world as I wanted to, I didn't know who I was.
Suddenly, diagnosis and starting medicine changed this. I grew a successful business, my personal life flourished, my life was in many ways completely unrecognisable than before and in a very good way, pretty much all good stuff, right?
Well, once the "novelty" or a new baseline was reached, I realised I was very much not "cured" of ADHD and had this amazing superpower. If anything, such a belief just compounded what happened next, completely blind to reality of what it takes to live well with ADHD.
The traits of ADHD were still impacting almost everything I did, to the point that I impulsively grew the business I had started, grown and successfully managed for five years out of control and it led to it's unnecessary implosion.
After that, my own personal self-worth deteriorated, I felt even worse than before my diagnosis and dealing with such a perceived meltdown and "failure". It took me years to regain confidence in myself and get back into an overall generally positive way of living again, this took a process of learning to live with ADHD by understanding it and various approaches to build resilience, acceptance and skills.
So, I get it. If you've been recently diagnosed, maybe you feel this way too. Maybe some people have conquered ADHD for themselves and see it this way, and if you have, I am genuinely happy for you but you're very much in the minority. How can such a condition be a "Superpower" considering what ADHD actually is and how it impacts pretty much everything you do.
I now strongly reject the Superpower myth and sometimes have to stop myself falling into this trap when I go down a particularly productive and positive initiative and can sustain myself over a period of time, I now know that the kryptonite to the superpower is just around the corner if I fall for it again.
This doesn't mean ADHD is a curse though, but it sure can feel like one when things sprial out of control and you have no answers. So, I believe that a balanced view is needed, not an all or nothing one.
Here’s an exploration of why this perspective is problematic and how a balanced view of ADHD is more beneficial.
Unrealistic Expectations
ADHD being a superpower could lead to unattainable expectations. Not all individuals with ADHD would exhibit typical advertised "powers". As a result, it may indicate inadequacy among those who cannot live up to these labels..
Conversely, while some people who have ADHD may excel in certain things, the condition deeply affects them differently in other contexts. Unfortunately, this term does not take into account diverse range of experiences that most people have with ADHD.
Many proponents often frame this "Superpower" through a business or entrepreneurial trait. Is this really what's most important in life? Anyhow, ADHD doesn't go away after work end for the day.
Invalidating Real Challenges
One significant problem with using such labels as “superpower” is that it makes light of what the majority people go through living this way in the world, often without answers.
It may deter individuals from seeking necessary help since individuals are only encouraged to concentrate on their strong areas or working to unlock a "superpower". It serves the ADHD community much better to avoid focusing on only the potential positive aspects alone, considering all those living with ADHD with much more difficulty.
Toxic Positivity
Genuine feelings and experiences can be dismissed by exaggeration in terms of thinking only positively; when ADHD is termed ‘superpower’, it becomes an instance of toxic positivity that turns a blind eye on reality concerning this condition most face.
Such an attitude could be extremely damaging since it worsens existing problems related to mental health due to ignoring them altogether. Anxiety and depression are more likely to be found among individuals suffering from ADHD than the general population at large. Let's maybe keep this in mind before adding more fuel to the fire as others cannot seem to live up to these supernatural and silly labels.
Oversimplification
ADHD is a very complex neurodevelopmental disorder; it affects different people differently. This fabricates a very simplified view of ADHD, where it would be all good things, all of the time. Ask yourself, if ADHD was such a "Superpower", how and why did you end up seeking support for ADHD in the first place, surely not everything was perfect back then.
This makes it difficult for to provide appropriate support services and to be taken seriously by others. There isn't a single study I'm aware of that shows ADHD confers any "Superpowers". People with ADHD need personalised strategies for managing its symptoms, often following a long and complex path, only to see yet again that they're supposed to be superhuman by default.
Stigma Around Treatment and Self-help
Another consequence of the superpower narrative is the potential stigma it creates around accessing care, be it medication, therapy or interventions like ADHD Coaching. Many individuals living with ADHD depend on medication to even engage with other interventions to move ahead with their challenges effectively. In many ways, attaching the superpower tag on ADHD may end up making engaging with these modalities a sign of weakness.
While a personal choice or not suitable for all, medication can be a crucial component of a broader effective treatment plan for ADHD. It helps many individuals manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. By stigmatising medication, we risk discouraging individuals from seeking the treatment they need.
Individual Differences
And just like no two people are exactly alike, there is no single way to experience ADHD. While some people may feel their ADHD is a superpower, others may not, most probably will not. This superpower narrative doesn't account for such variations; instead it insists there is one generic way to handle ADHD and makes it seems overly positive. What must people with ADHD think when they see this narrative around the condition pop up on social media constantly?
In summary
The "superpower" label for ADHD, while probably well-intentioned, is ultimately misleading and, I believe, harmful. It seems to make a novelty out of the condition. Many people may think it is harmless when someone calls ADHD a “superpower.” But actually such a label can be wildly misleading and hurt the majority living with ADHD who constantly encounter this take.
How can we expect the accommodations, access to support and to improve ourselves trying to live up to this label, feeling a failure for not making the grade.
Instead of promoting the superpower myth, we should strive for a balanced view that acknowledges both the strengths and challenges of living with ADHD. This approach will promote empathy, awareness, and practical support, empowering individuals with ADHD to thrive in their own unique ways.
