Mind in disarray

A groundbreaking guide to understanding, coping with, and healing the most talked-about disorder of our time

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is often considered a purely genetic "disease." Gabor Maté radically disagrees. In his book Scattered Minds, the internationally renowned physician clarifies that ADHD is closely linked to the environment in which we grow up and offers hope to children and adults alike. Drawing on decades of clinical experience – and his own personal story as someone diagnosed with ADHD and as the parent of three children with the same diagnosis – Maté explains with a deeply human approach:

• why the brain circuits that regulate attention and emotions may not fully develop in early childhood
• how stress and the environment profoundly affect brain function
• what truly happens in the minds of children with ADHD
• how adults can understand their behaviors and emotions
• why change is possible at any age and how we can foster this process in children and adults.

With scientific evidence and an understanding of the human experience, Scattered Minds sheds new light on one of the most common diagnoses of our time. Gabor Maté gives voice to the painful realities of ADHD and its impact on children's lives, as well as on the professional and social trajectories of adults. Moving beyond the concept of "genetic predisposition," he focuses on what we can truly influence: the environment, family dynamics, and the choices that shape a child's development.

Scattered Minds is an extremely useful book for parents and educators, and deeply transformative for the millions of adults living with ADHD today.