What if a Different Type of Brain Ran Things?

ADHD and systems

Please read the footnotes, sometimes my brain works in a disjointed style. I find brackets and footnotes help me get something out rather than toiling over a piece for days.

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Hey friends.

Today I’m teetering on a rant about a mixture of seemingly separate things, but to me, as usual, they feel very much connected.

The violence in the world. The idiots we have in charge. The systems that we’ve lived with for decades. Those in power are clinging on for dear life. Not unlike those in the rafts and boats, desperate to give their children a future.

It feels like empathy from those in power is non-existent. I was considering this recently, it’s as if it has been drilled out, conditioned out, somewhere along the line.

I’m not saying anything revolutionary here. The school system or any system under capitalism doesn’t reward things it cannot measure.

You can’t get a GCSE in empathy or sensitivity. There’s no number to quantify, it can’t be measured and therefore these traits aren’t rewarded, recognised, or valued by the systems we live within. Is it any wonder many neurospicy folk are rebellious by nature?

Just so we are clear, I’m not saying neurotypicals have no empathy. I’m saying that neurodivergent folk tend to be highly sensitive, and this can feed into empathy. We also have hidden struggles, which can make us more empathic. The difference is, that we may not show it as you might expect.

Sometimes, I think that being neurospicy under capitalism is why ADHD meds are so helpful, needed even. They help us perform in that neurotypical way — no offence meant to neurotypicals — productivity, the hustle culture, constantly being “on”, and striving for more. More on this here.¹

That’s the thing, meds are great. They work. I’m thinking more clearly, my short-term memory is better, I’m not as overwhelmed all the time, I’m not constantly looking for something to nibble on, and I’m getting more done with minimal procrastination.

I’ve been in titration since the start of the year, and I’ve just found a dose that suits me. This week I discovered there are shortages of this medication, so my titration period is paused.

Even though this is frustrating, I’m grateful that I’ve been able to try medication. I know it works for me. When people say it’s life-changing: believe them.

I believe that many of the systems we live with, and under, are changing for the better. It just doesn’t feel like it. This is the messy (understatement of the year) bit where things are ending. It’s painful for so many people.

What would the world be like if it were run by neurodiverse folk?

I think it would be a much kinder place. Perhaps that’s how our future will look.

I’d vote for Chris Packham² or Greta Thunberg, wouldn’t you?³

If you’re interested in learning more about the relationship between ADHD and capitalism then I recommend you check out Sluggish by

Jesse Meadows

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Thanks for reading, I hope this made sense. I’d love to chat in the comments.

Photo by Magda Ehlers via Pexels

1. Article titled- Neurodiversity, capitalism, and socialism. The link again.

2. Chris Packham is a British Naturalist, Photographer, Presenter and Author. He’s also Neurodivergant and about to take the UK government to court.

3. I’m fully aware both these examples are like me; white people of privilege. I realise that non-white, neurodiverse people aren’t seen as much in the media. I assume they get looked over from a medical/diagnosis point of view too. Not believed, dismissed by medical professional etc. As a woman this is familiar, but I’m a white woman I’m more likely to be believed. It’s food for thought, this article from human rights activist (there’s that empathy again) Khadija Gbla goes into a lot more depth. https://www.amaze.org.au/2023/09/where-are-all-the-autistic-black-people/