Dusting Off my Psych-Soc Degree and Getting My Intellectual On...

This Boing Boing article on whether autism and psychopathy can genuinely be defined as mental disorders asks the question, "are there many 'disorders' that are really 'adaptations'?" It's an interesting question, and touches a nerve with me because I've long thought there was some credence to the theory that Attention Deficit Disorder wouldn't exist as such if not for the fact that our society simply isn't designed to accomodate, let alone reward, those who are wired with the traits that make up ADD.

This is supported by the fact that the best "cure" that I've encountered is simply arranging my life to capitalize on these traits instead of being hindered by them. But since that's not really a practical solution for anyone who has to hold down a day job, I instead manage my ADD traits through a combo of behavioral conditioning and nutritional supplements, in effect carving my square brain to fit in society's round hole. I'm tempted to become resentful of this sometimes, to shuck it all and just say "That's just the way I'm wired, baby!" And it would be freeing and a huge relief, for a while, until my ADDness got out of control to the point that I can no longer manage my finances, my marriage erodes, and soon I'm staying down at the Y and scraping a living by selling my craft projects at flea markets. And so I take my pills and religiously keep my lists and my calendars and am grateful for my job. And consider that maybe the fact that nutritional supplements have such an impact on my brain's ability to function is a pretty good indicator that my brain is missing something, that on its own it doesn't have what it needs to produce the chemicals necessary for "normal" functioning. And that's what makes it a disorder.

I suppose, sociologically speaking, a mental disorder can be defined as any wired behavior that prevents an individual from being a functional member of the society in which she lives. So then the question follows, what happens when it's the society that's broken? My clinical psychology prof, on the other hand, taught that it's not right to make the diagnosis of a disorder if the symptoms aren't causing the individual significant distress. Makes sense. This is why I have and am treated for Attention Deficit Disorder, but I merely have OCD-like tendencies--the latter are manageable and don't cause me any problems outside of odd looks from people who just don't get my quirks, whereas the former has been known to significantly jack up my life.

I suppose that doesn't really answer the question of whether I'd still be considered to have a disorder if our school and work systems were designed to be more ADD-friendly, or for that matter whether it should be my responsibility to conform to society, or society's responsibility to conform to me and those like me. But for now this is the world in which I live, and my life in this world requires that I treat my ADD the way the world defines it. So I'll keep popping my focus aides. And dreaming of the day when I can quit the 9 to 5 grind and write full time and hire people to manage my life for me, and wondering if, when that day happens, will I still have ADD?