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Bullied, Bullying, ADHD and Mr. Trump
Why feeling apart, because of his ADHD and his upbringing, appears to have led Mr. Trump to becoming a bully.
America gasped with incredulity at the beginning of the Trump presidency, when Melania said that she would promote Anti-Bullying as one of her core issues as First Lady. Donald Trump prominently displayed his penchant for bullying as he decimated the Republican field and then went on to win the presidency. We’ve seen Mr. Trump bully his political opponents, his allies when they disagree with him, reporters doing their jobs, and constituents exercising their constitutional rights. National Security Advisor John Bolton’s new book reinforces Mr. Trump’s image as a bully. Behind the scenes, as well as in public, Mr. Trump conducts both foreign and domestic policy by trying to humiliate, browbeat, and threaten his opponents.
I was already well aware, through my work with adults with ADHD, that much of the shame they feel about their condition and themselves derives from being bullied as children. ADHD contributes to childhood social transgressions because those with ADHD impulsively blurt out comments, and inattentively miss important information and bump into people and objects. Parents, teachers, and peers often shower criticism on kids with ADHD for these disruptions. Neuroatypical kids, including those with ADHD, get picked on and bullied for…
