ADHD - From Western & Eastern Perspectives

An Ayurvedic Take on ADHD

I use the term ADHD  ‘Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’ throughout my book.  It is the official term, regardless of whether you experience hyperactivity or not. You will sometimes hear it referred to as ADD, but this is the old term.  When I was diagnosed at 6, over 50 years ago, it was called hyperactivity.  But whatever you call it, in Ayurvedic terms, it’s all about the vata! 

I should note that ADHD is just a label, and it will likely keep changing.  I’ve heard of one doctor who has identified 7 or 8 distinct types of ADHD by looking at thousands of brain scans. The diagnostic criteria have changed a lot in my lifetime, especially for girls.  Some women I have worked with were called ‘retarded’ when they were in school and were isolated from the ‘normal’ children.  This was because it was thought that girls could not have ADHD. Others were grossly misdiagnosed and put on anti-psychotic drugs and even institutionalized.  It’s very common for doctors to put people with ADHD on either anti-anxiety or anti-depressive medicines.  But often, anxiety, depression and addictions result from undiagnosed and untreated ADHD. 

From a western perspective, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that generally presents in childhood.  It persists into adulthood for many people, although some seem to outgrow it.  For some people, how it presents itself can change over time.  It affects people educationally, emotionally, socially and mentally.  Symptoms can include problems with attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, learning, risky behaviour, poor judgement, poor decision-making skills, emotional dysregulation, scattered thoughts, irritability, and sensitivities. 

Most people I’ve coached or consulted with are extremely intelligent and often very complex.  It’s very hard to categorize people into tidy boxes.  ADHD shares traits and snips on genes with autism and other conditions; Venn diagrams have a big overlap!   

Not everyone experiences the same issues; everyone is different.  But left unchecked, ADHD can wreak havoc in almost every aspect of your life.   However, it can be successfully managed when you build the right toolbox and keep practising the skills and routines that work for you.  

From an Ayurvedic perspective, ADHD is mostly about calming and balancing vata dosha down.   I will explain in detail what that means in my book, but rest assured, it will all be explained in plain language! I’ll start with very basic concepts of Ayurveda and build on the picture of vata as the book unfolds.  For now, know that calming vata dosha is a brilliant idea if you seek ways to calm the chaos and reach your true potential. 

A medical diagnosis is irrelevant from an Ayurvedic perspective.  If you can identify with the symptoms described here, the suggestions in this book will work beautifully for you.  Anyone who needs to find peace in a chaotic world will benefit from calming vata down. 

The number of diagnoses of ADHD has increased by more than 30% in the past eight years. This could be because we are getting better at recognizing it, especially in women.  But one also wonders whether it is increasing due to a rapidly-changing world. Either way, it’s a little ironic that this 5,000-year-old science holds solid and simple solutions to a condition that has only been identified for about 200 years.  But the practices of Ayurveda align nicely with modern ADHD coaching, recommendations from western medicine and circadian science. The suggestions I offer work.  I know this in my life and the lives of many people I have coached and met.  If you have ADHD or ADD, diagnosed or otherwise, this could be one of the most important journeys you will ever make.  Ayurveda is a voyage through the heart of India’s traditional wisdom teachings. It will help you to thrive in today’s world.