Moving Beyond the Deficit Model
We are witnessing a profound shift in how we understand ADHD and neurodevelopmental differences. For too long, the medical model has treated brain differences as deficits, problems to be diagnosed or fixed. But now we are moving toward a neurodiversity affirming framework, one that recognises brain variations as a natural and valuable aspect of human diversity, not pathology.
These differences are not just variations, they are strengths that contribute to our collective potential. Just as biodiversity strengthens ecosystems through varied adaptations, neurodiversity enriches our communities through cognitive variety. Different brains bring different gifts: unique ways of seeing, thinking, creating, and solving problems, that our world desperately needs.
With increased research, clinical understanding, and the courage of those openly sharing their experiences, awareness is growing. Many adults are now exploring whether their lifelong challenges might reflect a mismatch with the expectations of the world around them and their particular neurotype rather than personal failure. ADHD has not suddenly appeared; these brain differences have always existed. We have simply developed the language and understanding to recognise them and the compassion to do so without shame.
Why “Attention Deficit” Misses the Truth
The label “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” is misleading. It tells only part of the story, and perhaps not even the most important part.
If you have ADHD, you know you do not lack attention. When something captivates you, when it speaks to your soul, ignites your curiosity, or challenges your mind, you can hyperfocus for hours, losing all sense of time. This intense, almost transcendent concentration is not a deficit. Some people even see it as their superpower.
The real challenge in ADHD lies in executive functioning and self-regulation. Dr Michelle Livock offers a helpful metaphor: imagine your brain has an administrative team responsible for managing thoughts, actions, attention, and emotions. In ADHD brains, this team is under resourced compared to neurotypical brains. Sometimes team members get sidetracked, focusing on more interesting or creative tasks, leaving fewer resources for the mundane or boring work that still needs to be done.
Because the world is designed with neurotypical brains as the blueprint, this can create constant friction. Tasks pile up, attention feels scattered, and emotions can feel overwhelming, not because you are failing, but because your administrative team is working with limited resources in a world that expects more.
When multiple demands arrive at once, your team becomes overwhelmed. This can show up as racing thoughts you cannot quiet, impulsive actions you regret moments later, an inability to begin tasks that bore you even when they are important, and emotions that feel too big for your body to contain.
This is not a character flaw. This is your brain working with the resources it has. The struggles you experience are not evidence of weakness or inadequacy. They reflect a genuine difference in how executive resources are allocated when you are managing multiple demands.
Understanding this distinction changes everything. It moves you from a place of shame and self-judgment to a place of curiosity and compassion. When you recognise that your challenges stem from how your brain is wired rather than who you are as a person, you can begin to work with your brain instead of against it.
The Invitation
I invite you to sit with this truth: you are not broken. You are not less than. You are wonderfully different, and that difference deserves to be understood, not pathologised.
The journey toward self-understanding begins with self-compassion. Your ADHD brain is not a problem to be solved. It is a reality to be honoured, a wiring to be worked with, and a perspective the world needs. This is where healing begins.
