Yup. Until our technology and biological knowledge reaches the point where we can stop using (metaphorical) chainsaws and start using scalpels, everything is a tradeoff that's going to vary greatly by individual. Personally, the only side effect I've noticed from my meds (diagnosed as a child, didn't take medications for it until more recently), is appetite supression, and aside from a couple blood sugar crashes before realizing working out on an empty stomach was a dumb idea, I've seen no ill effects. On the other hand, a good friend of mine on the same medication experienced heightened anxiety and tachycardia. /shurg

There's perhaps an argument to be made that the current state of healthcare leaves clinicians unable to provide the needed followup care and medication adjustment, but then the issue isn't the use of medication, so much as the burden on physicians. /shurg

Yes. It impacts people in ways that have negative impacts that don't vanish if the environment changes. Here's an expert talking about the negative outcomes. It's not just career and finance, but also relationships, education, and safety (especially when it comes to driving and sex).

Yes. It's certainly less of a problem in an agrarian society where nearly everyone provides simple labour, but in any technical or urban society, being able to focus on complex tasks is going to improve your quality of life. Of course the degree of impact and the nature of the problem is going to vary widely depending on the fabric of that society. It would look different, indeed.

Yes 100%, it's a executive functioning disorder which affects things like emotional regulation and impulse control, it's not as simple as being easily distracted there's so much more to the condition.

For me, emotional regulation and impulse control are my struggles, all of which would be a problem even without capatilism. I was late diagnosed at 31, but meds have been the single biggest change for me in combination with therapy, my anxiety and ruminating thoughts basically totally disappeared overnight. Is it a magic cure all? No not at all, I still absolutely have ADHD, it's just enabling me to handle it without relying on the maladaptive coping mechanisms I developed in the past.

Pre meds, in retrospect, my ADHD was 100% a strain on my relationship, there's a lot to dive into for details but I know I'm not alone there.

This is also a valid question, the systemic pressure to "be productive" puts a lot of weight on the side of taking meds despite side effects. Anecdotally though, some ADHD patients do find meds useful for helping them maintain interpersonal relationships and the like, not just focus on work.

A good question. If, say, ownership of the capital was transferred to community interests, what do you see changing for those struggling with ADHD?

ADHD is often identified in someone's childhood — when parents or teachers notice issues such as inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsive behaviour

Or. For gen-x, it was "Billy is often disruptive in class, and is not performing to full potential. Billy needs to focus on work or he maybe held back," which they actually used to do. The whole issue was dealt with as a conformity and behavior problem to be resolved with proper discipline.

I'm thankful - I've recently been diagnosed with mild-to-profound ADHD, depending on who needs to derive validation from someone else's hardship - that I could skate without needing to study, and that I entered a field that glorifies hyper-focus; and while I'll never be a rock-star employee, I can petition successfully for environmental improvement and realize similar performance improvement.

Now as I talk with my declining parents, I idly wonder which parent bequeathed this particular genetic quirk that both enables my dream job and stresses my wife so. :-|

I rejected the shrink's expensive-as-hell pharma candy. They were helping her need for validation more than my anxiety and budget.