Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder

 The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder

Scattered Minds is a book by Gabor Maté that challenges the myth of attention deficit disorder being genetically based and provides hope and advice for children and adults with the condition. It explains that ADD is not an inherited illness but a reversible impairment and developmental delay caused by circuits in the brain not developing in infancy. The book offers insights into the emotions and behaviors of ADD children and adults and promotes neurological development even in adulthood.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 03 January 2019
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

About the Scattered Minds book

Scattered Minds is a groundbreaking book that challenges the widely held belief that attention deficit disorder (ADD) is solely genetically based. Written by renowned physician Gabor Maté, who specializes in neurology, psychiatry, and psychology, and who himself suffers from ADD, this book offers invaluable hope and advice to children and adults who live with this condition.

In Scattered Minds, Maté dispels the myth that ADD is an inherited illness and presents evidence to demonstrate that it is a reversible impairment and developmental delay. He explains that in ADD, circuits in the brain responsible for emotional self-regulation and attention control fail to develop properly in infancy, leading to the characteristic symptoms of distractibility and difficulty focusing.

Through his extensive medical practice and research, Maté offers insights into the psychology of ADD and how life experiences shape the biology and psychology of the human brain. He shows how "distractibility is the psychological product of life experience" and how individuals with ADD can learn to manage their symptoms and thrive.

This book is a must-read for parents of children with ADD, as it provides them with a deeper understanding of their child's condition and helps them develop effective strategies for support and intervention. It is also valuable for adults with ADD, as it offers insights into their emotions and behaviors and provides a roadmap for promoting neurological development even in adulthood.

Maté expresses optimism about the potential for neurological development, even in adulthood, and presents a comprehensive programme of how to promote this development in both children and adults. This includes strategies for managing stress, improving cognitive function, and developing healthy coping mechanisms.

Scattered Minds is a powerful and transformative book that offers hope and guidance to those who live with ADD. By challenging the myths and misconceptions surrounding this condition, Maté provides a deeper understanding of what it means to live with ADD and offers practical strategies for overcoming its challenges. This book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to better understand and support individuals with ADD.

Weight: 254g
Dimension: 127 x 195 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781785042218

About author Gabor Mate

Renowned as a distinguished orator and bestselling luminary in his field, Dr. Gabor Maté stands as a coveted authority sought after for his profound mastery across a spectrum of subjects encompassing addiction, stress management, and childhood development. His expertise goes beyond facile remedies for these intricate quandaries. Instead, Dr. Maté artfully amalgamates rigorous scientific exploration, illuminating case studies, and his own perspicacious insights, derived from extensive experience. Through this holistic approach, he presents an expansive panorama that not only enlightens but also empowers individuals, equipping them to foster their personal recuperation and facilitate the healing of those within their sphere.

Over an impactful span of twelve years, Dr. Maté dedicated himself to serving in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, tending to patients ensnared by the grip of unrelenting drug addiction, mental afflictions, and the scourge of HIV. This commitment extended to his involvement at Vancouver's Supervised Injection Site. Leveraging over two decades of proficiency in family medicine and palliative care, along with an erudite command of the vanguard breakthroughs in research, Dr. Maté's stature as a preeminent speaker and instructor became a steadfast norm. His engagements reverberate through the corridors of health professionals, educators, and lay audiences across North America.

An accomplished author of multiple chart-topping volumes, including the accolade-laden "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts," "When the Body Says No," "Scattered Minds," and the collaborative work "Hold on to Your Kids," Dr. Maté remains an exemplar of literary prowess. His latest opus, "The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture," has ascended to the upper echelons of the New York Times bestseller list, underscoring his contemporary resonance. The global resonance of Dr. Maté's oeuvre is manifest in its publication across a tapestry of languages spanning the international sphere.

Noteworthy acknowledgments abound in Dr. Gabor Maté's trajectory, including the Hubert Evans Prize for Literary Non-Fiction, an Honorary Degree (Law) conferred by the University of Northern British Columbia, the distinction of the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Simon Fraser University, and the esteemed 2012 Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award bestowed by Mothers Against Teen Violence. His imminence is further cemented by his adjunct professorship within the precincts of Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Criminology.

Esteemed luminaries and luminous personalities such as Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Simon Amstell, Bessel van der Kolk, Johann Hari, Esther Perel, and Russell Brand rally behind Dr. Maté, amplifying his impact. A recent, widely publicized livestream exchange with Prince Harry stands testament to his prominence. Their poignant dialogue traversed the realms of loss, trauma, and the indispensable significance of the healing imperative.