​It’s important to understand how my worldview and background colors my experiences with ADHD. Mental health is so broadly diverse: we may share significant overlap in our identities yet have vastly different experiences. Conversely, we may be completely opposite but what I share may resonate deeply. I want us to focus less on being prescriptive about “this is what ADHD looks like.” I’m no doctor, I don’t know what “common” looks like with ADHD. So when I write my experience, it is simply the experience of someone who happens to have ADHD.

​As a kid, I was quite forgetful. Someone in the house would shout “who left this in the microwave!” It was always me. I’d go to heat something and walk away thinking I could accomplish something in the minute I had. Then I would completely forget I was waiting on food. In college, I found this happening with my air fryer. Instead of setting the timer, I’d rely on the default 15-minute countdown, thinking it was easier than guessing how long food would take. But this approach often led to over-crispy, near-burned pizza slices. I think this is something they refer to as time blindness and that was pervasive in all aspects of my life.

I struggle with routine. I can be impulsive at times. Neither of these are inherently bad things, in fact I’ll later discuss why some of these are superpowers. However, in the context of our societal standards being structured around neurotypical behavior, those of us with ADHD can feel criticized for not fitting those molds. School was one thing—and one day I’ll write about ADHD in the context of school—but for the purpose of introducing why I sought a diagnosis, we have to discuss my post-graduate life.

Once I started my big girl 9-5 corporate job, I struggled a lot. There were many contributing factors, but I quickly realized ADHD was a big part of the workplace anxiety I was experiencing. I was having such a difficult time waking up and getting in the office by 9am. I was resisting the urge to fidget around in every meeting. I would stare at myself on Zoom from a conference room, noticing every swivel in the chair, every leg movement, hair tangling, you name it. I could not sit still and I couldn’t help being distracted by everyone. I was having a really hard time processing what information was being shared during these meetings. The list goes on but enough was enough. I spent $1500 on a neuro-psych evaluation which confirmed I had ADHD and was on the autism spectrum.
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​There are many strategies that can make life with ADHD easier. Here are a few that I use often: body doubling, writing everything down, setting alarms and timers, maintaining a curious mindset, receiving school/work accommodations. Some (or all) of this might not make the most sense but I will touch on these in greater detail in future posts.

There’s also the option of medication, like Adderall. It’s important to consult your psychiatrist to determine if it’s the right choice for you. Keep in mind, every state and organization may have different prescription guidelines. Medication is not the right route for everyone. I’m medicated for BPD but not ADHD. Please don’t let the health-care system discourage you from getting the care you need. You deserve to live a life with more ease, peace, and joy. If you feel overwhelmed, lean on your support system, ask for an accountability buddy, and break the task down into bite-sized pieces. You got this!
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​We often talk about mental health diagnoses as if they’re something devastating we need to treat. Yes, oftentimes our diagnoses are debilitating and there’s nothing cute or quirky about them. Living with ADHD can be hard. But, ADHD is also our superpower. A Healthline article cites that some of our positive characteristics include being energetic, spontaneous, inventive, and hyper-focused. Another article from Medical News Today adds to that list with resilience, creativity, conversational skills, humanity, and courage.
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​Thank you for taking the time to read my inaugural blog post. I hope you found this read worthwhile and fruitful. Everything I mentioned in this article is just the tip of the iceberg and I intend to revisit these topics in greater detail. I’m excited to continue sharing my story, learning along the way, and building this space together with you.
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