ADHD is a mental illness due to it being a disorder. The lack of dopamine uptake is a disorder, as well the symptoms negatively affecting day to day activities and lifestyle is a disorder. I understand the dislike of the term "mental illness" because it has a negative connotation, but it's the truth, and overcoming it requires treating it as such. I've had to come to this realization myself after years of self hate and blame, and my therapist really helped put it into perspective.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 3 points 11 months ago

That might be medically correct but lacks the neurodiversity approach.

Adhd also makes people be quick on their feet, often funny and cool to be around.

Not being able to sit for 8 hours in a boring setting is not a mental illness. Doing so is.

And just because the majority of people has that illness doesnt mean they get to define what is sick. (Yes, technically they do but its wrong)

[–] BenLeMan@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

The self hate and the blame (and the depression etc.) are mental illnesses and I, too, have benefited greatly from tackling them as such with therapeutic help. But these are comorbidities; they're secondary to ADHD which to me is a neurological issue.