As I write and share about my ADHD fairly often, I get interesting comments that I always want to follow up on and then get distracted and forget!

The main comments that ring through my head are folks wondering if they have ADHD and how I could frame my experience to validate their experiences or turn them off an unhelpful path.

So, I’ll go through the DSM-5 (The big book of psychological diagnosis)’s criteria for ADHD and give the examples I discussed in my assessment and click moments since.

The diagnosis used to be ADHD and ADD but is now under the one label with types; Inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined. I have combined, leading to lots of good examples of most of the criteria!

Let’s go through inattention first:

Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or with other activities.

                When I started this blog I was often given a hard time for little mistakes that when I asked for clarification I think seemed like I was being difficult and asking to point to particular mistakes but I honestly don’t see the errors. Early examples of this was often forgetting to write my name, date, or “show my work” accurately in school. Later, a previous workplace started a “let’s review each others work but it goes out” policy after my careless mistakes were missed even when I tried to review them.

Often has trouble hold attention on tasks or play activities.

                Even reading this criteria now I end up doubting I struggle with it, because socialization made me have to find coping mechanisms and systems that were fairly affective. I eventually got moved to the front in school so teachers to guide my attention back to the lesion and started taking extensive notes so I was doing more to stay on task. I found this came up socially as I would head to a concert with a  friend and wander off, slowly I learnt to announce my distraction and invite the friend along so it didn’t seem like I was off tasks, just finding something else.

Often does not seem to listen when spoke to directly.

Again the coping system hid this later in life, but I remember friends pointing out I would not be looking at them, so I looked directly into eyes thinking about which one to look at, how often to look away, reminding to nod along or ask a ton of questions so I can stay attuned.

Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties/ Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time

I found careers that enabled the sidetracking, until I was assigned to longer projects that I often forgot existed and seemed disinterested. This of course did not come up for things I am intently interested in and can do in one sitting. As the ADHD nervous system is driven by interests I can hyper focus when it is guieninely interesting. An example of this would be how torturous it feels to be asked to write a rough draft for a paper. To go over the same thing twice sounds intensely boring and I can’t get my brain to read the words and actually process them.

Often has trouble organizing tasks and activities

This one is interesting as for me its more that my brain can see each and every step of organizing so when I am not overwhelmed by it I can present very organized but seeing it all at once can make it impossible. For example if that task was to “clean your room,” I would then think I needed to organize each thing on each shelf, find a place for pens, chargers, clothes… do I then go through my whole closet and decide which to keep and get rid of?.... lets organize the music, do I even like this album? Should I sort through all that and decide what’s worth keeping? Oh, I should vacuum, then I have to find the perfect place for each thing on the floor, there’s a dirty cup… now I need to go to the kitchen, run the water and soap, put away dry dishes, get my hands wet, now drying them… and do I need to organize in the kitchen now.

Often loses things necessary for task and activities

This of course happens for everyone but as a kid I lost my homework fairly regularly, there’s still clothes I have no idea where they even could have gone, and pretty much wear a fit bit because I can push a button on it to find my phone, several times a day.

Is often easily distracted/ Is often forgetful in daily activities

Above showcases these well

2. Hyperactivity and impulsivity:

Often fidgets or taps hands or feet, or squirms in seat/ often leaves seat in situation when remaining seated is expected/Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may be limited to feeling restless).

This is again a strange one as while learning about the world it was normal to be punished for these behaviours. I coped by chewing on pretty much everything as a kid…and today, picking at my skin, finding reasons to leave my seat that were accepted like sharping pencils, gathering further materials, etc…

Often unable to play or take part in leisure activities quietly.

I remember the phrase “volume control” very well, as I often speak too loudly for the given situation, but this wasn’t always noticed because of my soft voice.

Is often “on the go” acting as if “driven by a motor.”

It is surprising to me that neurotypical folks do not have this sensation. To simply sit and be it uncomfortable and boring. I struggle with days off because to simply relax goes again everything my body wants to do. Exercise, working full time being in school and having many hobbies, helps with this.

Often talks excessively.

I pretty much only go in trouble in school for talking when it wasn’t time to. I know it helps me process to say the thoughts out loud so it would be confusing to me not to be able to talk. It was often confusing because I struggled with verbal instructions, as I was distracted, and so I would be asking another student for guidance and get in trouble, then reprimanded again for my “careless mistakes.”

Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed/ Often has trouble waiting their turn/ Often interrupts or intrudes on others

BUT I KNOW ALREADY! ADHDers often has good pattern recognition as we as noticing more all the time, so halfway through the question I feel like I know where it is going and simply waiting for the person to finish makes my whole body uncomfortable like I need to run away from danger but there’s nowhere to go.

The stereotype of an ADHDer was often a little white boy, running around and shouting a bunch. As I was socialized as a girl the punishment for doing that was usually more severe and confusing. I think this is why we are seeing so many folks start to recognize their struggles and seek the diagnosis as the internal experience is being valued and share more rather than just how annoying you might be to work next to or try to teach… though I’m sure I was annoying.