On the experience of being ADHD
Medicine has thrown little light on our experience of being ADHD. Yes we are inattentive at times, hyper at others and impulsive too but really this doesn’t say a lot about how we process thoughts differently, how we grasp and value time, what motivates us and why decisions are so hard. I share some insights on how our adult ADHD experiences, decisions and values differ from the norm.
Poll results
All the poll results from the "experience of being ADHD" surveys
I’m bored
Hard to explain the pain from boredom that ADHD brings I get bored, very bored, painfully bored. Boredom arises
Rebels, mavericks, criminals and innovators
If we are ADHD we are less compelled to obey, more likely to challenge and break rules
My integrated model of ADHD
A model of ADHD based on the experience of being ADHD I have felt the medical models
One minute dishwasher empty
Tedious chores I hate emptying and loading the dishwasher, but far rather use the dishwasher than wash dishes by
Novelty lessons from the camel market
Driven to novelty Last November I took a very last minute short break to coastal Morocco. Planned only days before,
ADHD means starting over and over
New habits wear out With ADHD we often fall out of habits or lose them altogether, the same for
ADHD Brain Waves are Different
Too much time in gamma waves! My ADHD mind is quiet! I am unusual in that I am seldom
Intuitive ADHD-style cooking
I love to cook, just not from recipes My mother was a good cook, always looking through women's magazines
“Excellent, but oh so noisy” – clear signs of ADHD at school
If only he would try harder... Nobody really noticed me at school as far as I remember, until around age
University was a disappointment
Whose fault is it anyway? I went to University to study Physics and my ADHD troubles began! No self-discipline,
ADHD intuition
Hidden thoughts For many people their intuition is often accurate, insightful, intelligent and sometimes quite surprising. They realise that
Reading to work
Constantly needing stimulation After we are diagnosed with ADHD, there often come times when we reflect upon our
On procrastination
From my January and December 2011 Newsletters Newsletter January 2011 Hello, it's been a while! I could pretend that
Richard Feynman shows “how we like to learn”
A fantastic teacher In my second year of my failing Physics degree, I was fortunate to attend a black
No more than 20 books at a time
Bookworm I started to read in earnest about the age of nine, kick-started by a four-year family move to
ADHD comedian Jeff Allen on “focus”
Very true observations A very funny clip on ADHD, Jeff is and his kids are too. I used to
Hyperfocus
Finally something of interest There is a misconception that people with ADHD struggle to focus on anything. As ever with