Forums » Smalltalk » AMA: Life with ADHD

This is my first AMA, mainly because I could never think of something interesting about myself, which probably stems from my self esteem issues. Lately I've been figuring out a lot about my ADHD and how exactly my brain works, and the more I learn the more complex it seems to be. Life is.. Difficult, to say the least, and it will probably always be a struggle, but something I can do is make people aware of how our brains work, so they can be more understanding in the future.

Hi there! Since the ADHD brain works a little differently than someone without ADHD, what is something people without it can do or keep in mind to make things easier for our ADHD friends?

One, simply be more mindful, understanding, and patient. I've seen and witnessed a lot of people who don't understand simply refuse to try and understand, saying things like "Just concentrate, it's not that hard". We constantly have a thousand thoughts running through our heads, and I myself would describe it as very loud. I constantly over think things and berate myself for not being able to do simple tasks that everyone else can do, and herring rough criticism from others makes it worse. Sometimes gentle reassurance helps.

Hi! I'm a fellow ADHD-er who was diagnosed later in life (at 30) and is still coming to terms with everything.

What's the one piece of positive advice you would like to give to others who struggle with their condition?

Go easier on yourself. Don't take on massive overwhelming projects at once, and try to remember that taking breaks is ok. Same with asking for help.

Are there any resources you would recommend, either to folks with ADHD or to those who live with/love them? I have seen https://www.youtube.com/@HowtoADHD but I'm always trying to find more ways to understand.

As someone with Inattentive type ADHD (like Sanne, a late diagnosis, but in my mid-30s), I'm curious -- what flavor of ADHD do you have (Inattentive, Hyperactive, or a combination), and what are your coping strategies to accommodate for it with your daily living activities?

What sort of treatment have you tried so far, if any, and what has been most effective for you personally?

Unfortunately I don't know many offical or helpful sources, so I'm probably not the best equipped for this question

I have combination type ADHD, which was diagnosed when I was about 6 or 7, so a decade so far. I started off with medication for most of my life until recently, and that helped for a little, but not as much as I originally thought, mainly because I wasn't as aware of my symptoms since I was constantly medicated. Now that I've slowly gotten rid of the meds, I tend to have a lot of fidgets or musical playing to deal with the under stimulation I'm constantly stuck with. I haven't figured out how to deal with the organization problems or the motivation problems yet though. (tips are welcome is people. Have any.)

Before I was medicated, I found that stacking or grouping tasks helped me somewhat. For example, while I'd have something on the stove and was waiting, I'd use that time to tidy the kitchen since I'm standing around in there anyway. It allows me to stay in motion so to speak, which means I don't hit a lull that derails me from my ability to focus.

I also do things like cleaning in 10-15 minute bursts generally, alternating with some kind of rewarding break. Like with task stacking, this helps me to not get overwhelmed and give up. Also music. So much music. I am almost always listening to music because I find it helps with the understimulation. (Some people prefer audiobooks or podcasts, but I basically tune out what I'm listening to, so I can't do those.)

I definitely feel you on the tuning things out, so my playlist that I usually listen to is primarily songs that I absolutely love and vibe with. I have noticed when cooking sometimes take a quick break from the food to clean up dishes and stuff.

Absolutely no problem, thanks for answering!

Of course

Do you have any nervous tics? Example: mine is biting my knuckles.