Life with ADHD: More Than JustRestlessness

Have you ever thought you are going faster than the world? As much as there is a
storm of thoughts in there, every one of them tugging you in a new direction, but you
are supposed to remain calm, attentive and be normal? This is not merely a brief
emotion to most people. It is life with ADHD- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder.

ADHD is often misunderstood. They observe the impatience, the tardiness, the lack of
memory, the constant mobility, and people think: lazy, he is so careless, or
undisciplined. They do not realize the fatigue, the self-criticism and the daily struggle
of having a brain that cannot rest.

The Invisible Struggle
Through appearance, a person with ADHD may appear as one who is just distracted.
Perhaps they are pacing their feet in a meeting, forgetting some friend birthday or
failing to complete a task on time. But inside it is like catching butterflies in a
hurricane. Attention is shifted at the time when it is required the most. Even the most
basic things such as paying a bill, responding to a message, making the bed may be
overwhelming.

It is not one of those that lack willpower. Individuals with ADHD make every attempt
to do their best in order to keep pace. But however hard they work, the errors are so
noticeable in the world. The “unfinished work.” The “messy desk.” The “what’s wrong
with you?”

ADHD in Adults: The Silent Epidemic.
Although ADHD is commonly referred to as being a child-related condition, it does
not simply disappear as the person age. Some of them are borne silently by many
adults who were never diagnosed and who refer to themselves as being scatterbrained
or not good enough. So now look back to our situation where we are growing up being
told that we are lazy, and later we find that our brains have been wired differently all
this time.

In adults, ADHD may be mentally exhausting and does not ultimately end. The
calendar reminders, sticky notes and to-do lists keep on increasing yet the deadlines
are missed. The relationships can be affected, however, not due to a lack of affection,
but due to the forgetfulness or the rashness of words. And the feeling of the sinking
sensation of I should have done better today every night.

More Than Just Anxiety
ADHD is often confused with anxiety due to the similarity between the two causing
restlessness and distraction. But it is not merely concern about the future ADHD is
operating in an endless tug-of-war with concentration. The brain continues to drag in
too many directions simultaneously, peace therefore being unattainable. To others,
anxiety and ADHD coexist, which forms a twin tornado of discomfort.

Breaking the Myths
Painful myths are so numerous, which contribute to an already heavy load:
 “ADHD is just an excuse.”
 “Only kids have it.”
 “Bad parenting causes it.”

Not only are they wrong, but also very hurtful. ADHD is not a weakness. It is not
concerning how one was brought up. It has to do with the way the brain functions –
and the way the society wants to interpret or misinterpret it.

The Hidden Gifts
And now, in ADHD, one can find silver linings. That stream of thoughts infinite? It
can fuel creativity. The restless energy? It has the ability to create passion and
motivation. ADHD individuals perceive things that other people do not perceive, they
are not constrained within a box and they see big.

However, they must be compassionate before they can achieve that potential. They
require a world that does not degrade them because of their differentness but they
should be appreciated because of their different thinking ability.

Grasping Support, Finding Hope.
It is not the way of fixing a broken person to live with ADHD. It is about knowing and
standing by them. Medication may help some. Therapy provides the means of coping
with the daily struggles. Community gives belonging – somewhere one can say, me
too, and the burden seems to be off.
Small gestures can do it:

An educator who sees progress rather than setbacks.
Listening rather than frustration by a partner.
An organization that is willing to accommodate the various forms of work
rather than inflicting a single type.
To a person with ADHD, such little bits of insight may seem like breath.

You Are Not Alone
To any ADHD patient diagnosed or not, it is important to understand that you are not
broken. You are not lazy. You are not less. The battles you make every day might be in
the eyes of other people, yet they are there, and they are valid.
Yes, ADHD brings challenges. It introduces guilt-filled nights, morning anarchy, and
days of tireless work. But it also introduces strength, imagination, and an outlook on
the world that is not mediocre at all.

The experience of ADHD is not the process of transformation into another person. It
is about knowing how to live like yourself, to the fullest and unashamed. Life with
ADHD can be not only tolerable, but also happy and fulfilling, with a proper support,
with tenderness, with support on the part of others, and with the support on the part of
the self.

Closing Note
ADHD is not a defect of character. It is an aspect of an individual and it should be
appreciated, not criticized. Empathy is made possible by awareness. Compassion
provides access to curing. And curing opens the door into volition.
To anyone who happens to read this and feels that he or she is represented here: your
story counts. Your struggles are real. And above all your light–even when it is buried
in the rubble–is shining.