I’m currently in the process of getting diagnosed with ADHD. I’ve suspected for a while now that I have it, but the intensity of my suspicions skyrocketed in the months after I had a severe concussion at the end of last summer. There is a correlation between head trauma and the onset of mental illness, and if you don’t believe me, feel free to look into it yourself.
When people hear the term ADHD (which stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), they often conjure an image in their mind involving someone who is jittery and has a hard time keeping and staying still. This isn’t untrue, because it is part of the condition, but ADHD is a hell of a lot more than having more energy than you know what to do with, and there is a stark downside to how it affects those who have it.
When I tell you that my brain does not stop, I’m not exaggerating. My mind is going a million miles constantly, thinking about things I did, or need to do, or forgot to do, or plan to do, and it can become extremely loud. It’s a great way to amplify my anxiety, which is what tends to happen, and then my stress level is at an all-time high, 24/7. I’ll begin one task, then another, then another, all without finishing the initial task I started.
In addition to the racing thoughts and body, ADHD also inhibits one’s ability to make decisions smoothly. If I know I have a lot of things to get done, trying to sort out the mess in my mind of these tasks and orchestrate a timeline, or an order in which I’m going to perform them in, becomes almost impossible. Then I get even more overwhelmed, driving the stress and anxiety even higher.
Emotional regulation is another difficult component of ADHD. Even if I know I am being irrational, it’s as though I cannot force myself to come down. It’s an absolutely miserable and confusing experience, and it happens more often than not.
ADHD is so much more than being hyperactive.
Photo by Christina Victoria Craft on Unsplash
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