The Realities of Living with ADHD

Breaking the ADHD Stereotypes

A stereotype is a generalized assumption about a person or people based on their race, gender, class, age, sexual orientation, or condition. These generalizations are often based on popular belief but are never accurate in every case 🤔. Research shows that stereotyping can be caused by the media, personal experiences, or assumptions.

‍

The ADHD community is often stereotyped in a negative light, but it's crucial to remember that these stereotypes are not always accurate. Unfortunately, there are plenty of these stereotypes regarding ADHD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Is Stereotyping Bad?

Do you experience being scolded because you play video games in your free time 🎮, even though you are a fully-grown lady? Does your father have difficulty understanding that you are just not interested in cars even though you are his only son? Ever wondered if talking to yourself is perfectly normal? These instances are some examples of stereotyping: A lady should not be into video games, a man must be knowledgeable in cars, and talking to yourself means there’s something wrong with you. 

‍

Stereotypes can be generally harmful because they are, in many cases, never accurate 😞. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and fairness without any bias. People may become uncomfortable when subjected to generalization. The stereotyping may prevent them from doing what they love or expressing their interests freely because they fear being judged. 

‍

When people with ADHD are stereotyped with myths, it can make them feel like their struggles are less valid 😢 and have them start to question their experiences. Sometimes, they may also be gaslighted for their ADHD symptoms and blamed for their difficulties. Comments like "Maybe you did not exert as much effort," "You have ADHD because of bad parenting," or "It is because you are lazy and undisciplined," are only some of the things related to stereotyping people with ADHD.

ADHD Stereotype vs. Reality

When people think of someone with ADHD, they might think of a boy who cannot sit still in class 🧒 or someone who just constantly needs attention. This is one of the most common myths about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most common stereotypes. 

Now, we know that even a grown lady who’s highly organized can be diagnosed with ADHD. 

‍

As more studies emerge and more people talk about this neurodivergent condition, it is becoming easier to break these stereotypes by spreading awareness 👌.

‍

We have started to develop many ADHD medications and no longer only rely on prayers and faith. Teachers begin to understand that these children with ADHD should be motivated differently and not treated as if they are lazy. ADHD Awareness can help ease off the effects of stereotypes. People affected by it can breathe a little easier because we can easily discuss topics like these without being judged 🙂.

‍

It is also essential to understand that not all symptoms of ADHD can always be present in an individual. Most of the time, people with ADHD experience it differently. Hence, it's not helpful to confine ADHD into just a few traits or symptoms. Here are some of the stereotypes for ADHD and what they are in reality:

Difficulties to Focus

When some people hear that a person has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, they might think that this person cannot follow instructions well and tends to have trouble concentrating because of their inattentive ADHD traits. While this might be true since these are really common symptoms of ADHD, there are still times when people with this neurodivergent condition can focus on things that interest them. In fact, they might be able to focus more intently than those without ADHD.

ADHD misconceptions about being easily distracted may be false because of "hyperfocus." When some adults diagnosed with ADHD enter their bubble or flow state 💭, they can focus more on a task than anyone else. It can be difficult for these people with ADHD to break away from this intense focus, and it often happens without them realizing it.

‍

When appropriately utilized, hyperfocus can make them more productive. But on the other hand, it can also be a double-edged sword as it might make them miss important details or deadlines 🗓️.

Impulsivity

Some people perceive impulsivity as the characteristic of instantly buying anything of interest without knowing the reason behind the purchase. However, that’s just impulsive buying. Impulsivity can come in different forms, such as making decisions swiftly, blurting out answers, and interrupting people during conversations 🎤. These impulsive behaviors are sometimes caused by the urge to release all ideas from an ADHD brain.

Impulsive behaviors are also widely recognized as symptoms of ADHD. They can be due to the effects of ADHD on a person's executive function, making them struggle with self-control. This can make them more prone to taking risks and struggling to think things through before acting on them.

‍

We may have the most intuitive decision-making skills, making us more adventurous and decisive. Some people may sometimes view this as a positive ADHD trait, but others see us as annoying people who want to do what interests them instantly.

Hyperactivity

Many children with ADHD might be seen as constantly moving around the room, jumping around all day 🏃, and having an unlimited supply of energy up in their sleeves. These kids tend to have more reserved fuel than most other kids, making them physically hyperactive. 

However, the same ADHD symptoms can also happen in adults. The hyperactive ADHD struggle might persist, but we - as adults - may learn to mask and cope with them well.

‍

According to research, the population of children with hyperactive ADHD type decreases as they age. This is because as we grow up, we tend to learn how to control and manage our energy and hyperactive-impulsive levels. We might not wholly outgrow ADHD, but its symptoms can manifest into something else meaning, we might display hyperactivity elsewhere.

‍

When people understand ADHD at certain levels, they'll know that hyperactivity can also run inside our brains 🧠. We do not need to do brain imaging to debunk the myth that hyperactivity can only manifest physically - our mind can likewise be overly active. It can show in how we think: our intrusive thoughts and creative ideas, and even in the possibility of us daydreaming a lot. 

‍

These hyperactive mental behaviors can make us uneasy and can be hard to control.

Getting Distracted

Being distracted by superficial things is also one of the things stereotyped to be part of ADHD. And while it may seem true that many people with ADHD have difficulty focusing, it is essential to note that not everyone gets distracted easily. Other things inside an ADHD brain may make it hard for us to pay attention, like mental hyperactivity and weaker working memory.

Distractions are part of our daily lives, but for many neurodivergent adults, this can result in lost time and opportunities. ADHD can affect productivity when we struggle to manage being distracted by unimportant things. It can be an external factor, like a loud noise 📣, or an internal one like our racing thoughts. And sometimes, we cannot control these things no matter how hard we try.

‍

Sensory overload can sometimes be a persistent difficulty we cannot quickly shake off. Our brain picks up external stimuli, such as loud noises, stinky smells, bright lights, or slimy textures  and that can easily throw us off. I can relate to these struggles as I have my own experiences with sound sensitivity, wherein any little noise can cause me a lot of discomforts.

Being Forgetful

When ADHD affects our executive function, our ADHD brain can sometimes have difficulty remembering details, even the simplest ones. This can result in us forgetting where we put our things, what time it is, or what we need to do next. It can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially when we constantly have to ask other people for help.

But stereotypes about our forgetful memory should be changed as it does not reflect the whole story 🤔. On the other hand, some people with ADHD can have an excellent memory, even better than neurotypicals. This is because we tend to store information differently in our brains, wherein we remember concepts and ideas rather than details. Also, we may already be thinking of these things long before, but when we get distracted, we may forget to do them.

The Complex ADHD Experience

Having received an ADHD diagnosis, I learned that nothing about this neurodivergent disorder is absolute. There are always experiences relatively accurate to you, but they may not be true to others. The difference in experiences we tend to have might also be the effect of stereotyping ADHD. It might be hard to unlearn these things, but we must do so to create more compassion and understanding for people with ADHD.

‍

There are lots of things that need to be cleared when it comes to ADHD stigma. We need to break a lot of stereotypes to make ourselves more comfortable with the label and understanding with others who have it. Let us remember that we are unique individuals despite having this diagnosis and that nothing should stop us from reaching for our dreams ❣️.

‍

ADHD isn't part of the psychiatric disorders but a neurological condition that can affect a person's mental health. Kids diagnosed with ADHD aren't only boys; girls tend to show hyperactive symptoms too. This neurodivergent disorder isn't because of poor parenting. Not only kids can have them, but also adults. These are just some of the things that other people might be misinformed about. When people learn that others think of ADHD negatively, they might avoid being diagnosed, allowing the condition to affect their daily lives.

‍

No matter what we think, it is better to support people with ADHD and NOT to invalidate their struggles just because we can't relate to them. They also need a lot of understanding as they try to live their best lives amidst all the challenges that come with this neurological disorder.

We have to be more considerate and patient with people with ADHD and more open-minded in understanding how this neurodivergent disorder works. We need to remember that we are all different, and that's what makes us unique. Embrace your uniqueness, and don't let anybody bring you down. Get the proper support and know what you need and deserve. Your thoughts and feelings are valid, and your experiences with ADHD matter 🤗.