Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s Earl Grey loaf cake with lemon icing: “Thank you @goodweekendmag and @juliaostro for today’s cake at Gather.Create.Berry! … So delicious.”Credit: @carolsquiltsandcushions/INSTAGRAM
ADHD Rising
Like Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland, I found the article on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder fascinating [March 9]. But why did I not see the word “personality” among all those other very erudite words used in the article? Has “personality” gone out of fashion such that it is not considered as an important layer of human nature? When I grew up, I was surrounded by many, many personalities or “characters”. Their individual human traits (strong or weak) made them so real, and were an essential part of our development of human interaction at a social and professional level. Understanding a person’s personality was an integral part of preparing us for our life at school, work, and eventual retirement, and we understood a person’s personality was a major part of their being. Or am I missing something?
Albert Gay
Raby, NSW
Amanda Hooton’s fascinating article on ADHD will surely increase understanding of this mental health condition. Important points include the following: there is “no objective test for it” so diagnosing it is difficult; only “about 3 per cent” of the population have it; and any child or adult with it, plus their family, need psychological or psychiatric help in managing it. Teachers with such children in their classes probably need such help, too. Fascinating too, that Hooton wondered if she has it but was simply temporarily disorganised!
Barbara Fraser
Burwood, Vic
A brilliant article by Amanda Hooton. ADHD is not new. Unfortunately, most of us function better with stimulants, even those as mild as caffeine. But modern-day life, with constant access to information, anxiety, insomnia and the need to legislate to get free time from work, can make the adult brain feel that it is not coping.
Children benefit from clear instructions with checklists, consistent boundaries, exercise and good sleep, along with seniors who model appropriate behaviour. If parents shout when they are upset, it is unsurprising when their children either copy them and get labelled as having ADHD, or else withdraw (attention deficit disorder). The diagnosis is not simple and requires multifaceted appraisal. Finally, the adult with the late diagnosis of ADHD is fascinating. These innovative thinkers play a vital role in any team and, combined with those who are process-focused, will help any organisation thrive. ADHD and ADD suck when you are a kid, but can be brilliant when an adult, which is why evolution has preserved them.
Jo Rainbow
Orange, NSW
ONLINE COMMENTS
While I regard my ADHD as an absolute superpower, managing it is bloody hard work. I am a huge overachiever and have made a significant contribution to my industry and my world, but at the core of this success is a chronic fear of shame and a lifetime of stress and anxiety. The things I have found most valuable are meds and coaching. Both allow me to interface with a world that is not kind to me and mine ... still not sure if this outcome is net positive or negative. NthnGhit
My son exhibited many of the symptoms associated with ADHD and autism in early primary school. It was quite inconsistent, though – sometimes he was focused and considerate and at other times, he seemed unable to control his behaviour. We found that his nervous system is sensitive to food chemicals – natural ones as well as additives. Limiting his diet was a game-changer. I know that many really do have ADHD and benefit hugely from medication, but before trying that I would definitely try a restricted diet (RPAH elimination diet/FAILSAFE) just to check it’s not a food allergy manifesting in ADHD symptoms. MumMonster
To quote a top psychologist, ADHD is both the most over-diagnosed and under-diagnosed condition.
It takes a big, highly skilled team of professionals several weeks to confirm a diagnosis. On the other hand, it is hugely over-diagnosed by teachers. Steve
Despite hundreds of studies involving thousands of participants, nobody can say anything definitively [about ADHD]. It’s not plausible or believable. Something else is going on if researchers in the area seriously cannot make any useful comments whatsoever. It also suggests these medications are not as useful as the positive anecdotes suggest. If they were, researchers could say something a little more definitive, after decades of these medications being prescribed, than what is essentially “we have no idea”. Laza
Our son, late 20s, was diagnosed at the end of 2022. The difference within days of him being on the medication was profound. We feel guilty as his parents, in that we never even considered that he could have had ADHD. His life at school would have been so much simpler. He has now gone back to do a pre-law course with the hope of getting into law and is achieving exceptional success with HDs [high distinctions] in the first three subjects. Keasty
Two of Us
My word, this has been some journey for you both [Jess and Kevin] and for your precious little girl, with more to come no doubt. As I’m originally from Scotland, I love the name Alba (Gaelic for “ancient Scotland”). May the three of you go from strength to strength – you deserve nothing less. serendipity
We foster-adopted meth-affected twins, born at 28 weeks, who are now 14 years old. [Your family] is amazing and I wish them all the best. Flo
Would also be good to know how their surrogate mother has managed. Glad they have their little girl now. JaneDoe
Modern Guru
[Regarding whom should control the car air-conditioner, March 9]
He who driveth the car
Controllith the air con,
Music and the sunroof
He who sittith in the front passenger seat
Doith ALL the gates, no arguments.
Kate Fraser
Scone, NSW
Reflections: Out of the Woodwork
We could all learn more life lessons through building things from scratch [Dugald Jellie’s article on teaching woodwork to kids, March 9] – I’ll have enough courage to tackle that DIY project next. Dailycatalogue
Want to chat? We’d love to hear from you. Send your letters to goodweekend@goodweekend.com.au. Or send us a picture or Instagram one of Good Weekend in your life, using the hashtag #goodweekendmag.
All letters are edited for reasons of clarity, syntax and space.
To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.