ADHD is not about being lazy, it's just that the brain is a bit different | Songdo ADHD

Hello, this is Baekrokdam Oriental Clinic.

Dozens of channels are turned on in the mind at once. I want to focus on one, but thoughts follow one another, constantly scattering elsewhere.

Tasks are piled up like a mountain, but the day passes while hesitating, not knowing where to start. I become trapped in misunderstandings and self-reproach, thinking I am 'lazy' or 'lack will.'

“Others do it easily, but I have to put in several times more effort. Starting is too difficult, and finishing is too difficult. Why am I the only one like this?”

What is ADHD?

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is not a matter of will or personality. The conversation must begin with an understanding of the brain's unique operating system, which sees the world and processes information in a slightly different way than others.

The 'commander' in my head, who is capable but momentarily distracted

In the frontal lobe of our brain, there is a capable 'commander' who plans everything in life, focuses on important tasks, and suppresses unnecessary impulses.

ADHD is not a case of this commander being incompetent or lazy, but is like a state where they have stepped away for a moment, or are distracted by feeling interested in too many things simultaneously.

Since the commander is absent, it is difficult to set priorities on which task to handle first (attention deficit), the gaze is easily stolen by minor external stimuli (distractibility), and the 'brake' on emotions or behavior cannot be pressed in time (impulsivity/hyperactivity).

This is not a matter of being 'wrong,' but a matter of 'difference.' It is simply that the neurotransmitters and 'wiring' of our brain are slightly different.

Disharmony between a 'hot heart' and 'cold kidneys'

In Korean medicine, healthy concentration is viewed as a state of 'Suseunghwagang (水昇火降)'. It is an ideal circulation where the 'cold water of the kidneys (腎水)' rises to make the head clear and cool, and the 'hot fire of the heart (心火)' descends to make the body warm and energetic.

ADHD can be interpreted as a state where the order of this circulation is broken. The 'fire of the heart' burns without control, making the mind anxious and distracted, and the 'water of the kidneys' fails to cool that fire, shaking the foundation of concentration and will.

(Simsinbulgyo 心腎不交, Eumheohwawang 陰虛火旺)

The chest feels tight, heat rises to the head, and the hands, feet, and lower abdomen tend to become cold.

Therefore, Korean medicine treatment does not simply control behavior, but focuses on helping the brain recover peace and concentration on its own by stabilizing the fire of the hot heart (Cheongsim-ansin / 淸心安神), replenishing the water of the deficient kidneys (Ja-eum-bosin / 滋陰補腎), and restoring the balance of 'Suseung-hwagang' (water ascending and fire descending) in the body.

3 User Manuals for a Confused Brain

Instead of blaming your brain, you need the wisdom to create a 'user manual' that fits your brain.

Manual 1: Task Breakdown

You cannot eat a giant elephant all at once. Try breaking down a large task like 'writing a report' into small pieces that you can focus on in 25-minute increments, such as 'data research,' 'creating a table of contents,' and 'writing the first draft.'

Manual 2: Environment Design

Do not rely on your willpower; instead, create an environment that physically blocks out distracting elements. Leaving your smartphone in another room or using noise-canceling headphones during work hours are also good methods.

Manual 3: Energy Release

If you try to suppress overflowing energy, the internal pressure only increases. Channeling energy through physical activities such as running, swimming, or cycling helps balance neurotransmitters in the brain and significantly improves focus.

Will you remain a 'sports car without an owner's manual'?

The ADHD brain is often compared to a 'high-performance sports car without an owner's manual.' It has tremendous potential and creativity, yet without knowing how to operate it, it causes chaos on the road.

Leaving this state neglected while blaming yourself, thinking it is 'my problem,' is a path that leads to repeated feelings of frustration, low self-esteem, and subsequent 2ary problems such as anxiety disorders or depression. The engine eventually becomes exhausted from continuing to idle.

However, right now, the path to understanding what kind of 'car' my brain is and learning and mastering the corresponding 'driving method' will be a way to finally unlock the potential of explosive creativity and immersion (hyperfocus) that others cannot follow, going beyond simply reducing mistakes.

#SongdoADHD #ADHD