[Check out this video I recorded on "ADHD Does Not Exist"]

In today's Book-of-the-Day, "ADHD Does Not Exist," Dr. Richard Saul says, "Not a single individual – not even the person who finds it close to impossible to pay attention or sit still – is afflicted by the disorder called ADHD..."
 

It's interesting because this is not some random quack doctor making these claims. This is a highly esteemed doctor from the University of Chicago with more than 50 years of practice.

I didn't realize that 11% of children in the USA and 4% of adults are diagnosed with ADHD (more than a 40% jump in the last decade).
 

Saul lays out his central point by saying, "Nasal congestion can be a symptom of a cold, but a runny nose is not a diagnosis… In the same way, the symptom complex associated with the ADHD diagnosis is related to more than 20 medical diagnosis that, when treated effectively, can result in the disappearance of the attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms."
 

Are we treating the wrong thing?
 

If he's right then just like so many other things in the world, we are treating symptoms. 

Not the root issues...

We are putting Band-Aids on big cuts instead of stitching them up.

Interesting that he also says that most children diagnosed with ADHD might have learning disabilities but they also have higher IQs than average.

Dr. Saul tells a story about a fourth grade kid who was always causing trouble in class and was diagnosed with ADHD because of it. 

Dr. Saul says he asked the mom if the boy was disruptive in all classes. 

The mom said no, only in math. 

Dr. Saul diagnosed the kid as being simply bored. So once they moved the boy up to the fifth grade math class (one grade higher), his disruptive behavior disappeared overnight.

It didn't take any medications.

Simple solution.

Now I don't know if this book is accurate. I'm no doctor.  

But I do know that you and I live in a world that usually tries to take "magic pills" to solve complex problems.

We take the easy way out...

Just like one of the key concepts in the "67 Steps." This is the difference between the Stoic and Epicurean.

Whenever you find something keeping you from finding the "Good Life" (health, wealth, love, and happiness) first start by trying to get to the root of the problem. 

Don't mask the symptoms.
 

The 3 Key Steps
 

If you are in my business mentorship program you've heard me talk about how Benjamin Graham's book "The Intelligent Investor" says that to take action you have to follow three progressive steps:

1. Tested judgment 

2. Adequate knowledge

3.  Courage in action 

So for your own life, when you diagnose your problems, take action by reading more, going to more seminars, listening to more audiobooks, watching more YouTube videos, finding more mentors, until your level of "adequate knowledge "increases.

Anyways, let me know what you think - has ADHD been over diagnosed and overmedicated in the modern world?