• the_q@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Would ADHD be considered a problem if capitalism wasn’t in charge of society?

    • Jason2357
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      9 months ago

      Yes. It’s certainly less of a problem in an agrarian society where nearly everyone provides simple labour, but in any technical or urban society, being able to focus on complex tasks is going to improve your quality of life. Of course the degree of impact and the nature of the problem is going to vary widely depending on the fabric of that society. It would look different, indeed.

    • zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev
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      9 months ago

      Yes. It impacts people in ways that have negative impacts that don’t vanish if the environment changes. Here’s an expert talking about the negative outcomes. It’s not just career and finance, but also relationships, education, and safety (especially when it comes to driving and sex).

    • BadEngineering@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      I was just recently diagnosed with ADHD at 34 years old, and medication has had a huge impact on my whole life. While it has increased productivity while at my job, I’ve also been able to complete more personal projects in my free time. A properly working executive function is extremely important in all aspects of life. I’d continue to medicate even if I was living in a Startrek esque socialist utopia. I agree that ADHD can often be over diagnosed, but for those of us who are correctly diagnosed, treatment is lifechanging.

      • the_q@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        That’s kind of what I’m getting at. I think the complexity and pace of modern society is causing these issues. You don’t typically blame the square peg for not fitting in the round hole.

        • inasaba@lemmy.ml
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          9 months ago

          ADHD impacts many people’s most basic functioning. Routine chores like laundry or dishes pile up, you lose tools you need for the task at hand, you forget to do things that are necessary to maintain your health, and more. ADHD also has adverse effects on emotional regulation that can cause interpersonal conflict. None of these things would be alleviated under a different economic system.

          We tend to focus mostly on the productivity gains of medication, but anyone who takes it will tell you how much it’s improved their personal lives as well.

          • m0darn
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            9 months ago

            I’m also an adult recently diagnosed with adhd.

            While it was problems at work that put my issues into the spotlight, treatment is helping me be a better husband and father.

            • Jason2357
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              9 months ago

              Care to elaborate? Husband and father here, currently looking into an assessment.

              • m0darn
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                9 months ago

                Well I’m just generally better at getting things done. Like planning playdates for my kids, filling out permission slips, doing a fair share of the laundry, fixing things when they break instead of when I need them again.

                Like it’s not all major life altering stuff, just like my wife can count on me more now.

        • snooggums@kbin.social
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          9 months ago

          Complexity was never an issue for my ADHD. Lack of interest in things I do not find interesting leading to forgetfulness and the inability to keep small, uninteresting details straight was the issue.

      • zesty
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        9 months ago

        Stimulants improve the productivity of everyone.

        • cynar@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          They actually don’t. They create a short term boost to certain aspects of cognitive functioning. While, in theory, this improves performance, in practice, it is often bottlenecked elsewhere.

          It’s like giving a rally car more engine power. Without the ability to get that power to the wheels, it’s, at best, useless, at worst counterproductive. It might feel like you have more speed, but your lap times will be worse.

          On top of this, you have the body’s homeostasis systems. In a normal brain, they will correct for the effects of the stimulant. This pulls the system back to its original state, leading to things like caffeine addiction. In the ADHD brain, their homeostasis systems are tapped out, they can’t get the brain to an optimal state. The stimulant provides an artificial push, that takes a load off of other corrective systems.

          It’s akin to glasses. Someone can learn to see through glasses, when they don’t need them. However, someone who does need them will gain a permanent improvement from them.

    • Oldmandan
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      9 months ago

      This is also a valid question, the systemic pressure to “be productive” puts a lot of weight on the side of taking meds despite side effects. Anecdotally though, some ADHD patients do find meds useful for helping them maintain interpersonal relationships and the like, not just focus on work.

    • morbidcactus
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      9 months ago

      Yes 100%, it’s a executive functioning disorder which affects things like emotional regulation and impulse control, it’s not as simple as being easily distracted there’s so much more to the condition.

      For me, emotional regulation and impulse control are my struggles, all of which would be a problem even without capatilism. I was late diagnosed at 31, but meds have been the single biggest change for me in combination with therapy, my anxiety and ruminating thoughts basically totally disappeared overnight. Is it a magic cure all? No not at all, I still absolutely have ADHD, it’s just enabling me to handle it without relying on the maladaptive coping mechanisms I developed in the past.

      Pre meds, in retrospect, my ADHD was 100% a strain on my relationship, there’s a lot to dive into for details but I know I’m not alone there.

      • the_q@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I’m not sure since it would be happening post-capitalism. PTSD doesn’t clear up once the way ends, you know? Would ADHD even exist in a closed, perfect environment where a person’s intellectual and emotional needs are met? Does ADHD exist in small, non-developed villages and communities?