#adhd experience

[ID: Two lorikeet birds bouncing around a water bowl being filled. /END ID]

Oh, I see they are really helping huh?

"Why is that person using arm floaties? they're not drowning..."

I see that you're not drowning, you're doing good so I'm gonna take the arm floaties away from you. Wait, why are you drowning again? You were fine one second ago, you must be faking it.

"Can I please have some arm floaties?"

"But you haven't entered the pool yet."

"Yeah but I can't swim, I know that I can't swim, so some arm floaties would really help me not to drown."

"You're asking for arm floaties without even trying to swim, you're just lazy and you want more help than the others have, the others are doing just fine..."

"I don't need to get into the watter to know that I can't swim. You're telling me I can't have arm floaties unless I'm actively drowning? You won't give them to me even though I warned you I will drown?"

I forget what I’m going to say (even while I’m saying it)

I speak very quickly (I get embarrassed, misheard, and often told to “just slow down”

I forget words, names, and sentence structure

I’m exhausted

I’m concentrating on listening and processing

I don’t want to interrupt (when/how am I meant to join in)

I have thousands of thoughts occupying my brain

I’m concentrating on my body language (whilst tying to read yours)

I struggle to speak about things I have no experience or interest in

I’m afraid of rejection (RSD)

ADHDers that rely on medicine to get anything done are valid

ADHDers that decline meds & have a very hard time ever getting anything done are valid

ADHDers that somehow fall somewhere in between are valid

ADHDers that love their work enough to hyperfixate/not need daily meds are valid

ADHDers that manage to get things done without medicine are valid

ADHDers with comorbid conditions are valid

ADHDers that have to or cannot medicate because of comorbidities are valid

ADHDers that have to or cannot medicate for any other reasons are valid

No one’s ADHD struggles are automatically more than or less than others’ solely based on medication choices.

Unmedicated is not inherently easier or harder than medicated. They both come with plenty of perks and drawbacks, some obvious and some less so, some you would never even think of until you live it.