The Wandering Mind: The Origin and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder | Gabor Mate

Attention deficit disorder continues to be a controversial topic in recent years. Much of the literature attributes its occurrence to heredity, but Dr. Mate believes that the social and emotional environment is crucial in both the formation and treatment of this disorder.

In his book, The Distracted Mind, he details the painful consequences of ADHD and its impact not only on children but also on adults’ careers and social lives. While genetics can certainly play a role in susceptibility to ADHD, Mate focuses on the factors we can change: environment, family dynamics, and parenting choices. He draws heavily on his own experience, as he and his three children live with the disorder.

The book offers a completely new approach to supporting children and adults with these problems:

• demonstrates that RDU is not a hereditary disease, but rather a developmental delay;
• explains why the neural circuits responsible for emotional self-regulation and concentration do not develop from early childhood;
• shows that the phenomena of "disconnection from reality" and distraction arise as a result of life experience, starting from the period of fetal development;
• helps parents better understand what is happening to their children with ADHD, and adults to understand their own emotions and behavior;
• offers an optimistic view of neurological development even into adulthood;
• and presents a program that will promote the development of both children and adults.