A Therapist Tells Us Why An ADHD Diagnosis Can Be A Sign Of Heightened Creativity
A mind that's always racing can be a blessing and a curse. Here's what we know.
By Jourdan Travers, LCSW | January 18, 2023
Many people come to therapy because they have difficulty focusing, prioritizing tasks, and getting things done. They ask questions like:
- "Why does my mind feel like a browser with several tabs open at once? I can never pick a lane."
- "I know I'm not incompetent, but I rarely finish what I start because I get distracted, bored, or forgetful. How can I force myself to see things through?"
- "I feel like I'm wasting my potential. How do I address this?"
- "I sometimes blurt things out mid-conversation that take others by surprise. How do I stop myself from doing this?"
If you relate to these questions, you could be struggling with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
ADHD is a psychological disorder that's characterized by problems with focus, impulse control, and hyperactivity. Although it is a neurodevelopmental disorder usually diagnosed in children, it can persist well into adulthood and make everyday life challenging for those who suffer from it.
Because it is a neurodevelopmental condition, adults who have ADHD usually don't understand they have a diagnosable and treatable condition. As far as they're concerned, they've just always been scatterbrained with a mind that refuses to turn off.
Aside from making day-to-day activities challenging, ADHD can also hold a person back from realizing their true potential. This may not always be obvious to them, but people around them may notice. For example, their propensity for making careless mistakes and their lack of tact and self-awareness could limit their career growth. Or, their short fuse could push potential romantic partners away.
Whether a person's ADHD is of the inattentive type, the hyperactive type, or a combination of the two, it's important to understand that proper treatment could lead to a noticeable improvement in the quality of their relationships, professional life, and life in general.
With that said, it is interesting to note that while ADHD can make day-to-day functioning difficult for people, it may offer some advantages when it comes to creative pursuits. Let's take a look at two of these.
#1. Locking in on important goals
Individuals with ADHD may demonstrate increased creativity and innovation through their high levels of goal-directed motivation.
A study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders found that adults with ADHD generated more original ideas when competing for a bonus, suggesting that their strong motivation towards achieving their goals may drive their enhanced creative performance.
Additionally, the study found that adults with ADHD rated themselves as more creative in specific creative domains, suggesting that they may excel in creative tasks that align with their preferences and abilities.
Overall, the data suggest that while individuals with ADHD may face challenges in certain areas, they may also possess unique strengths that can lead to success in creative and innovative endeavors.
With proper care and encouragement, individuals with ADHD can leverage their strengths, such as their high levels of goal-directed motivation, to excel in fields that require determination, perseverance, and expertise.
#2. Generating novel ideas
A study published in the Creativity Research Journal explored advantages that are associated with the disorder, such as enhanced innovative thinking. To understand this, this study utilized a cell phone feature invention task and a word association task and recruited 30 college students with ADHD and 30 without ADHD.
It was found that students with ADHD outperformed those without ADHD in terms of originality, novelty, and flexibility on the cell phone feature task. Additionally, students with ADHD tended to produce word associations that were less related to the original word given to them on the word association task. This demonstrates an increased ability to think creatively and originally.
Conclusion
There are some strengths associated with having ADHD that can be beneficial to those who experience it. With further research, we can begin to uncover how these areas of strength can offset the challenges of living with ADHD.
To understand how to manage ADHD better, reach out to a qualified mental health professional.