ADHD Coaches do collaborate together on projects from time to time. Brett Thornhill is my friend and colleague with whom I coproduce a podcast called The ADD Couple. Please do check it out if you want to hear two ADHD Coaches talk about all things ADHD.

BRETT'S AWESOME QUOTE:

“It troubles me when I hear people either completely rail against medication or to say it's the savior and be all and end all.”

ADHD Medication Controversy

Brett Thornhill isn't one to stir the pot and create controversy but he's happy to call the kettle black. About a week ago I had posted a piece from The New York Post written by Peter Shankman, who I've had on the show before and am a huge fan of his. The article, Stop Drugging ADHD Kids - and start teaching them to use their gifts, can be found here.

This prompted a response from Brett that I felt was share worthy:

"There is much in the underlying theme of this article that I agree with in principle, but not in isolation and not in its entirety. The myth that ADHD medication suppresses the ability of otherwise creative geniuses is a gross and misleading overstatement and minimizes many of the severe negative impacts experienced by some individuals with ADHD who have challenges just getting through their day. If a person is taking a stimulant, or non-stimulant medication, as part of the treatment strategy for their ADHD and it is flattening their personality or killing their creativity, it is very likely that they are either taking the wrong medication or wrong dosage for them.

The measured response is to explore other options rather than abandoning the idea of medical treatment entirely. Extreme blanket statements against medication like we see here ignores the biological nature of the condition and only serves to propagate the negative stereotypes that surround it. The right medication, taken appropriately, under the right circumstances and in the correct dosage can just as easily unlock the tremendous creativity and other abilities that lie within an individual with ADHD, but is being blocked by, what in some case, can be severe executive function challenges.

A well thought out and tested individual approach is a better option than the demonization, or super-power enabling attributes all too regularly applied to ADHD medication. It can be a very effective PART of an overall treatment strategy... Full Stop! To come down so hard on one side or the other of the issue does not serve the ADHD community well, in my opinion. In fact, it only serves to muddy the waters between well-serving discussions that need to be had regarding denial of legitimacy, over or mis diagnosis and effective multi-modal treatment strategies.Tell us below how you incorporate play into your day!"

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/042-the-adhd-medication-controversy-rages-on-2?auid=aEelxHAc