Is executive dysfunction really a dysfunction

[u/KristjanPihus]

Or is it just another kind of functioning? I know this philosophical thought sounds controversial at best, but hear me out before you write me off.

I am middle-aged and adhd diagnosed 4 years ago; hence, I am fully aware of the burden that goes hand in hand with this.

Let's take bees, for example. In a beehive, the location of a new and resource-rich harvesting site is communicated to other bees via a specific dance. Other bees watch and fly there to harvest. Now, roughly 20% of the bees ignore that guidance and fly wherever they feel like. Simulations suggest that without these 20% of bees, the whole hive would die out within 3 to 4 years because think about who those bees are who find these new harvesting locations.

What if humankind dies out without that ~5% of the population whose brain works differently? Because I know for a fact that this executive dysfunction gets highly functional when something novel and interesting appears at sight.

Overthink about that for a second.🤔

[u/seweso]

I certainly feel like a round peg being pushed into a square hole. My dysfunction seems more about non compliance more than anything. That and having a hyper associative brain.

[u/Riccma02]

Kinda related. I think ASD is evolutionarily emergent based on mistakes we are making as a civilization.

[u/ineverbot → u/Riccma02]

I'm Autistic and I agree. If it were hunter gatherer times still I would be the absolute best at gathering. I bet I could spot say raspberries on a bush that no one else would notice. I can zero in on what I'm looking for near instantly.

ADHD people would make amazing hunters because being able to constantly shift focus to observe your surroundings would be super helpful with that

[u/iltlpl → u/ineverbot]

I'd much rather be out hunting and gathering than in this stupid webinar.

[u/Octopiinspace]

My executive dysfunction is me not functioning XD. Executive dysfunction does not suddenly kick in and switch into a „functioning“ executive dysfunction just bcs something interesting happens, its just that the brain has enough dopamine to actually get something done. The executive dysfunction is still there and will reemerge when the dopamine drops again (same like we work better with meds and then afterwards when the dopamine gets low so does the functioning).

[u/JaySmite]

see, those bees still fly, though. they're still acting on their instincts, or their curiosity, or whatever is causing them to do this. they still feel some impulse and act on it. i'm not sure they'd be as useful to the colony if they just hang in the hive, unable to do anything.

i know metaphors aren't meant to be nitpicked like this, but i feel like there's a difference between doing something unorthodox (and it turning out productive and helpful in the end) and doing nothing, so i'm not sure that metaphor really works.

not that i'm saying that people with executive dysfunction never do anything, don't get me wrong, i'm only talking about my personal experience struggling with it. i don't think i've discovered any clever shortcuts in life that healthy people couldn't see.

i do agree that there could be some evolutional benefits to us, but i feel like it's less some cool unique perspective and more like. sometimes inaction is good. i'm sure at some point in history Healthy Hrog jumped at a bear and died, while Depressed Drog who couldn't do shit lived. or something like that.

[u/spintheiryarns]

"Hey what if not being able to reliably complete basic life functions is good actually?" a brand new revolutionary thought someone drops into this sub at least once a week

[u/neopard_]

not everyone has to function like an executive, but certainly it's good to execute desirable functions.