I often think that the only reason we end up feeling the need to label these things as "disorders" is because society doesn't allow for much range of normal.
110% agree with you on this! My wife was "diagnosed" with ADHD in her teens and I understand that she sometimes has issues concentrating but she seems to let it define her and falls back on it as a crutch sometimes. I don't make much of an issue about it because she feels strongly, (and small things like this are not at all worth arguing about lol) maybe because she's had the label for so long it won't go away, but it really irks me that society calls it a disorder! Why the hell can't it just be people who are normal (what I personally consider normal) and energetic, when most of society is energy deprived and sluggish?
I can see our son having some of the signs of it but he's a high energy kid that needs things that interest him in order to do and learn things. I was very similar to him when I was younger, if the subject bored me, I didn't really care or try and I was high energy. If I had gone to a medical professional about it I can probably say that I would have been "diagnosed" with the affliction and put on medication. If someone is energetic and bored with things that don't interest them, there seems to not be any room in what is allowed for society so they must be medicated.
I’m hoping that because my daughter chose to get herself diagnosed at 19, she won't take it on as a label so much. It's never been those around her telling her that this is what she is. Having said that, I also realise she has a tendency to want something to blame when her behaviour hurts others.
As far as I'm concerned, high energy is default for children. I think some schools allow for it to a point in the junior years, but come highschool there is no allowance for it, like it's suddenly meant to disappear?