Everything I've Learned About My ADHD Brain
Hi ADHDers! How’s it going?
One thing about being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is realising that there is SO MUCH to learn.
Post ADHD diagnosis clarity will have you realising that you’re not broken, you’re not a failure, and there is indeed an explanation for the things you couldn’t quite put your finger on.
Once I got over the initial guilt, shame, and thoughts of what could have been, I decided to sit down and study patterns of how ADHD manifests in my life.
Shall we begin?
What I’ve Learned About My ADHD Brain
Here’s everything I’ve learned about my ADHD brain so far:
1️⃣ The main ADHD traits that interfere with my everyday life the most, and the coping strategies that work best for me.
2️⃣ I’m driven by desire, purpose, and interest; I need to have roles in my career that fulfil this.
3️⃣ A light-touch system /structure instead of a rigid routine works best for me.
4️⃣ My brain isn’t broken, it’s just wired differently.
5️⃣ I NEED coping strategies to make my life easier, and that’s ok.
6️⃣ Anxiety is a co-occurring condition of my ADHD.
7️⃣ People who constantly trigger my Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) are people I should not have in my life.
8️⃣ I can’t give myself a window to procrastinate; it will last for months.
9️⃣ My driven-by-a-motor ADHD brain gives me the fuel I need, but also leads to burnout.
✨Tips on me: Take some time and make a list of all the ways ADHD impacts you ✨
Why understanding your ADHD brain matters 💡
Working with your ADHD brain is simply figuring out how to make things work in a way that makes it easier for your brain to process and approach tasks.
When you’re feeling that mental friction and barrier that you can’t quite push past, it’s a sign to switch gears.
Pivot when something isn’t working instead of forcing it because you feel like you should be doing it that way.
➡️ For Example, when I’m experiencing a mental block when drafting a piece of documentation in MS Word:
➡️ I open a draft email in MS Outlook, and I write down the key points I want to convey in the document
➡️ Momentum builds, and I enter into a flow state, then I switch back to MS Word and begin writing again.
Sound ridiculous?
Well, this works for me!
🧠 Why working with your ADHD Brain matters
⬜️ You will be less frustrated when adapting to your brain’s ways of working
🟦 You will figure out what coping strategies work best for you instead of trying out the latest ‘ADHD hack’
⬜️ It will help your self-esteem and your stress levels
🟦 You will be in a better place to advocate for yourself in the workplace and when you need ADHD accommodations
⬜️ Your communication with friends, family and relationships will improve
🟦 You will stop beating yourself up so often
I’m curious, what have you learned about your ADHD brain?
That’s all from me!
Rach, with ADHD.
These are so good! I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 36 when I went in to the dr for anxiety and depression. Isn't it crazy how far a little understanding goes?