ADHD is an inaccurate — and potentially corrosive — name. The term “deficit disorder” places ADHD in the realm of pathology, or disease.
Individuals with ADHD do not have a disease, nor do they have a deficit of attention; in fact, what they have is an abundance of attention.
The challenge is controlling it.Therefore, we argue that a more accurate descriptive term is “variable attention stimulus trait” (VAST), a name that allows us to “de-medicalize” ADHD and focus instead on the huge benefits of having an ADHD brain.VAST symptoms can, of course, negatively impact a person’s life, work, and relationships.
Rejection sensitive dysphoria, a phrase coined by Dr. William Dodson, refers to the extreme emotional sensitivity and feelings of guilt, shame, and rejection often experienced by those living with VAST.But with VAST there are always pairs; you can hyperfocus and then you can’t focus.
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