" It ’s like being possessed by a very strict consternation clock . "
If you live withADHD(Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), you probably deal with a lot of people making assumptions about your disability.
For case , a pile of people may take for granted that you ’re lazy when , in fact , that is incredibly far from the truth .
So when Reddit userThat_Is_Bryceasked: “ADHD people, what are some things you wish non-ADHD users knew about ADHD or are misunderstood about ADHD?” I thought it would be helpful to share their responses, just in case you have a loved one who experiences this. Here’s some of the top answers below.
1.“I don’t have a deficit of attention. I have a deficit in my ability to choose how to allocate that attention.”
2.“Sometimes I sit around all day doing essentially nothing, because I have so many things I feel like I need to get done, and I get stuck in a state of not knowing which to do first or even how to start. It’s not laziness, I actually WANT to get things done, but I fail to take action because I can’t decide what action to take.”
— PerfectYarnYT
" This was the most relatable thing for me . I get some things done , but I spend more than half the day with ' analysis paralysis . ' "
— Historical - Tap6837
TheNational Alliance on Mental Illnesshelpline is 1-888-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services;GoodTherapy.orgis an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy.ADHD Resources:•CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder): CHADD is a national nonprofit that helps people affected by ADHD.•Kaleidoscope Society:KaleidoscopeSociety is an online community for and by women with ADHD.
3.“My ability to forget something is completely disconnected from its importance to me. I have forgotten Christmas, my own birthday, and Halloween.”
4.“A lot of the time, it’s theexecutive dysfunctionthat truly fucks you over, not the ‘focus’ problems. If I’m having a bad day, suddenly every minor decision seems inconceivably difficult to deal with, even if I logically know it’s not. It’s like that feeling in a dream of trying to run but you’re stuck in molasses, but with your brain. If someone asked you to draw a functional diagram to create a space rocket, it’s not that you don’t know the answer; you don’t even know how to go about finding the answer. That’s what deciding whether to go to the gym or do the dishes first feels like sometimes.”
" And is it like this all the time ? No , I ’m a sensible and intelligent human . But sometimes I can find that my head just pulls its own plug , and that ’s what I ’m stick with . It was money plant ruining my life before I got diagnose and medicated . And you feel like you ’re going brainsick because how do you explain that besides being lazy or lose your damn mind if you do n’t have the theoretical account for understand this ? "
— pickleshmeckl
" I HATE the forcible superstar of like fog and resistance sometimes , when I have to force myself to go to the store to make a call or planwhat to make for dinner party . It felt like I was on the sharpness of madness before I finally realized I had ADHD ( thanks to Instagram Reels during lockdown ) . Knowing I was n’t alone in this , and reading all these posts , is validating , but citizenry who are all ' Oh , I forgot ! ADHD ! ' Make me harebrained . "
— AdhesivenessCold398
5.“Object permanence, aka out of sight, out of mind! That goes with people, too! I mean, I have literally so much I can talk about right now…”
6.“I wish non-ADHD people would stop claiming ADHD for every inconsiderate or rude action they make. It’s dismissive and belittling to those of us who have been diagnosed by a licensed professional. Those with ADHD constantly overanalyze their actions because they don’t want to be perceived as rude, dismissive, or inconsiderate all the time.”
— SysError404
7.“If I have something planned at any point in the day, literally nothing else can be done that day until it is over. A combination oftime blindnessand executive dysfunction, ‘waiting mode’ does not discriminate. Anything I could do prior would take too long. I physically cannot do things. I WANT to do them, but the brain doesn’t care. It’s like being possessed by a very strict alarm clock.”
8.“Sometimes the whirlwind inside my brain is so intense that I have no idea what I am thinking or feeling. I just sit here catatonic and have no idea what to do next.”
— Roselily808
9.“I can’t stop the hyperfocus train until it stops itself. Do not interrupt me when I’m deep in it unless you have to — I will try really hard not to snap, but eventually I will. If I get one more question while I’m making dinner… "
10.“The difference betweenhyperactive type and inattentive type. Just because I have ADHD doesn’t mean I should be bouncing off the walls.”
— LastofAcademe
" But you ca n’t have ADHD , you were such a quiet kid ! Always lost in your thoughts , sit down still and perfectly listening to your instructor , although you were always fussy doing origami or doodling in your notebook !
hem . Exactly .
I’mtype C ( combined)but being awoman who masksway too much , my hyperactivity traits have evolve to be subtle and channeled towards not being a nuisance ( eg bite my impudence or else of bouncing my ramification , keeping my work force engaged with literal crafts or act with jewelry instead of stand up , sit on my hand or have them pressed between crossed stage to suppress stimming and fidgeting … ) "
— PenelopesCurse
11.“I’m sorry if I don’t text or call back; I don’t hate you, I’m just trying to steer the dumpster fire of my life on a downhill cliff without crashing. I’m late, and will always underestimate the time. Yeah, I can change my car shocks in an hour (six hours later), in addition to time just slipping away. Don’t touch my mess, I know where everything goes in detail. Want to talk about useless information that I’ve had the urge to nearly master until I got bored and moved to a new hobby? Ugh, how… just how is everyone ok with going to work at the same place every day? Like y’all liars. I’m shaking my leg so I can give you my full attention, not because I’m nervous. Sorry if I sporadically decide to start cleaning the bathroom at 6 p.m., organize the cans and pantry, put that shelf up, and rewire the suround sound. It will be done, though.”
12.“If your advice starts with ‘Just,’ it isn’t going to work.”
— toyoto
13.“I can have a full, engaging conversation with you and still be completely paying attention to what’s happening around me with a hyper-awareness that is exhausting. Where you set your phone down; if a kid is doing something careless; if Nancy, in a separate conversation, is asking for advice on something that I know I can actually help with — I’m tuned into that, too. I can tell if someone likes me or not, regardless of their behavior towards me. They can be the best masker on earth, and I’ll still know.”
TheNational Alliance on Mental Illnesshelpline is 1 - 888 - 950 - 6264 ( NAMI ) and provides entropy and referral services;GoodTherapy.orgis an tie of mental wellness professionals from more than 25 country who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy .
ADHD Resources :
•CHADD ( Children and Adults with Attention - Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ): CHADD is a home nonprofit that help people affected by ADHD .
•Kaleidoscope Society : KaleidoscopeSociety is an online community for and by women with ADHD .
