My guest today shares a lot with us, including the theory that the ADHD brain’s design supports specialization.
Gone are the days when everyone needs to be a jack-of-all-trades in order to survive. According to Matthew Goetz, it stands to reason that our brains are evolving in a way that suites the demands of modern day, meaning that the pay off is bigger to an individual who specializes in one particular area versus doing okay in many areas.
You see, the ADHD brain has a unique design in how it produces and uses neurotransmitters like dopamine. So, what good is an under-aroused prefrontal cortex in the big scheme of things? Well, it’s great at honing in on only what it deems as interesting in order to engage, manufacture dopamine, and hence, use it most efficiently.
Matt’s Awesome Quote:
“The more we can get people to work with the brain they have,
the more we can get people to actively use their superpower
and really be great at what they can be great at.”
ADHD Brain’s Design
Matt’s challenges include stuttering, ADHD, and Asperger’s Syndrome.
The way his ADHD brain’s design helps him is that he tunes in to helping folks who struggle with ADHD and/or addictions.
His advice for living happiest with ADHD is to, “take care of your star player.”
1) put your needs first
2) put your boundaries first
3) put your self-care first
“When you have done self-care for yourself and respected your own boundaries and set up your world in a place where you can thrive…THAT is when you start to really be able to give to people in a beautiful non-resentful healthy way and it really makes the world better.”
He works as a counselor in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. You can find him at ADHD Interrupted.
Please be sure and share your thoughts on the show in the comments below.
~ Jennie
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