“Oh, everyone has ADHD.”
“So, have you tried Adderall?”
“OMG, I am so ADHD.”
“You were so good in school, so you clearly can’t have ADHD.”
Anyone else cringing on the inside when you read this? Fun fact: these are all things I’ve heard from people in my life- and chances are, if you suspect you have ADHD or have been previously diagnosed, you have, too. This can be even 10x more amplified if you are trying to thrive in your professional world and are expected to perform like a neurotypical person.
What is neurodivergence, anyways? It’s a very fancy word for “my brain is different than your average human brain.” And research backs this, by the way- it’s not just a made-up thing. Identifying as neurodivergent means that your brain sees, processes, and learns differently from brains that are considered “typical.” And the truth is, neurodivergence has a very real impact on our behaviors, social lives, academic performance, work performance, relationships, parenting- you name it. Additionally, neurodivergence (particularly ADHD) is commonly misdiagnosed or overlooked- especially in female-identifying folx.
If you struggle with ADHD, you may notice that:
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Your thoughts race CONSTANTLY- there is rarely a moment where your brain is quiet.
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You get side-tracked easily and can’t seem to get much done (read: you go to start the laundry but see that the sink is full of dishes, so you start those, and then remember you haven't finished your coffee and go searching for it, and the laundry never happens).
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You’ve been told you are “too sensitive" because you feel things deeply and your emotions can get really big really fast.
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Your energy levels are not consistent- you can get really intense waves of energy and be really productive, only to crash and become lethargic and unmotivated, and it's hard to predict your energy levels.
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If you don’t see something (e.g. a written or visual reminder), it doesn’t exist, and you think you are genetically related to Dory from Finding Nemo because you can't remember anything. Ever. (including things like birthdays or anniversaries, which you get hard-core judged about by family, friends, or partners).
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Sights, sounds, smells, or other sensory input can fuck up your concentration or mood.
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You often feel overwhelmed because you can't figure out what stuff is most important out of the 80,000 things on your to-do list.
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You procrastinate frequently and don’t get things done until the last minute (but you also notice this is where you can be the most energized and creative).
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People talk to you, and you don’t hear a thing, even if you are trying with all your might to listen and keep up with the conversation.
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Building relationships feels scary, and you often re-play social interactions in your head, fearing you've done something wrong.
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You notice that you talk a LOT and rather quickly, and when you talk, you often make fun of yourself in some way and/or don't usually make eye contact with whomever you're talking to.
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You are usually behind on administrative work (aka paperwork, filing, answering emails, scheduling, making phone calls) and often avoid this stuff like the plague.
