What It Feels Like to have ADD/ADHD

[RedRobin]

Most people just don't to have ADD/ADHD (or any sort of learning disability) so it can be incredibly difficult to understand exactly what it's like. Here are a few analogies to help you understand what it's like to have ADD/ADHD.

1) It feels like you're brain is broken; like you're driving a car that keeps understeering and you just can't keep it on the road.

2) It can feel like your brain is a computer with operating system that's really out of date and someone's tried to run a tone of different programs at once and it keeps freezing. And what do you do when when your computer keeps freezing? Restart it! I.e. after you've had to focus on something for a long time your brain just can't cope at all and you'll have to go to bed and try to get some sleep, and until then all you can do it 'focus on' lighter tasks.

3) It can feel like a constant buzzing in your head (almost like an itch you just can't get rid of) that causes staying focused for too long incredibly painful. Your mind keeps making connections and leaping around so it makes it difficult to even stay focused on a conversation.

4) Mundane tasks can create a sense of anxiety if they aren't stimulating enough and you lack the focus.

5) It can feel like a roller coaster that hardly rests. You're either all in on a project or the project won't happen. And NONE of the projects mundane. It is very hard to get focused but once focused it is laser like. Then when a project is winding down or near completion the interest in it goes away. It is hard to fall asleep because it seems that even though the body is tired the brain is humming along. Coffee helps smooth things out.

[Chico_brah]

I have horrible ADHD. While I agree with some of this take, it seems like it's sort of stemmed on a victim mentality. I'll reference number one as an example. My brain doesn't feel broken, that makes us sound incapable of performing anything that requires a cognitive process at all.

I understand that my brain operates in a different way and utilize that to my advantage. This concept is to be recognized as neurological diversity. For example, a lot of people with ADHD are superb multi taskers. I'm very good at multitasking. I often study for 10 minutes at a time followed by 10 minutes off. I often have 3 SMS conversations going on at once. I often work on two homework assignments at a time in subjects that are literally within polar opposition to each other. Very few people are able to actually multi task efficiently and I'm one of them. Many others with ADHD are as well for there is a correlation.

I usually don't ever announce my IQ for one of two reasons. For one, it seems very arrogant. The second reason being that half of the time people will take that number with a grain of salt often raising a question of your integrity in an indirect manner.

According to Mensa, I have an IQ of 128 which would qualify as a standard deviation above average, close to bordering two standard deviations above average. On the bell curve, I'd fall within the range that would quality me into 14% of the population.

The reason I mention this is to describe my struggles with ADHD. I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it was growing up to have so much potential that you are unable to tap into and utilize. I was horrible and school and they actually thought I was retarded at one point in elementary school. They attempted to place me in full-blown special ed. This is why I focused all of my attention in athletics instead of my school work. Athletics was the one thing I could actually excel in. It made me feel successful for the first time in my life. I got into bodybuilding for some of those same reasons.

[Chico_brah]

ADHD impacts people in almost every avenue in their life. It can really destroy someone's self confidence if you let it spiral out of control. You can quickly fall into an underachieving lifestyle if you really don't handle this with full force. Underachieving your way through life comes with repercussions of a negative sense of well being, which in return impacts everything. For someone with ADHD, a constant effort towards a well balanced life is vital.

[Chico_brah]

After years of fighting myself, I finally got diagnosed. I read at least a dozen books that I ordered off amazon on how to improve my life with ADHD. I alleviate my symptoms by using adderall and it works. The university system and education system in general is tailored towards someone without ADHD and it can be a challenge. I'm proud to say that I went from being known as the stupid kid growing I'll be graduating university with an engineering degree. If you had told someone who knew me high school that I actually made it this far, then they would laugh at you.

This is why I sort of disagree with the vibe I get from this take. ADHD is a challenge, but I'm sensing a vibe that this portrays us as people that are simply incapable and/or hindered in life. I realize that these were not your intentions, but it's simply the vibe I get from reading it. I did enjoy reading this take though.

[RobLovesDemi1234]

My hamster has adhd and ocd and yes animals can get the same psychiatric problems humans can

[arixa]

it's possible to get adhd and ocd at the same time?

[LadyTerror]

As someone who struggled with it till high school, this is pretty accurate. Good take!

[Dog19]

That sounds so... Not fun and uncomfortable

[applesandoranges22]

I have ADD and dont agree with any of this.

[curiousnorway]

I've no idea how living with ADHD is. But some medical professions suspected I had ADD and put me on ritalin; medicine for ADHD and ADD. I tried it only a few weeks before I quit it due side effects. While being on medication I couldn't concentrate or sit still. Usually I'm a lazy person (I'm still lazy today) and hates physical exercises. On the medicine I ran three - four times around my house including in the garden and I couldn't focus at my school lessons. I never got the diagnose since I quit the medicines too early.

[RedRobin]

Some types of ritalin don't work for certain people

[Anonymous]

some of the greatest minds ever had ADD. Albert einsten is one. People call it a ''disability'' because you cannot function in normal society. Einsten had failed all throughout school and was called stupid for a large part of his life and now look how people potray him. it has nothing to do with being disabled or your brain being ''broken'', rather you are just different. you have your strong suits, and others do too. Just because someone is telling you how you should be does not mean you have to medicate yourself to live some false life. find something that fits YOU. Dont try and be like everyone else because it will never work. I have ADD by the way.

[JastyForLife]

I also have some problems making friends. I made my first friend this year and I am finally talking to this girl. Two conflicts (Not damaging our relationship) have been brought up. I actually caused both. ADHD is kind of hard to live with but at the same time it is a gift.
-Jasty

[Waffles731]

If I don't take my medication I have such a hard time focusing I can't even play video games

[RedRobin]

Why are people down voting you lol?

[wesman1568]

What's the computer analogy I think it's more accurate to say your brain is a computer that only does what it's designed to do. say you have a gaming computer and you want to play games on it. It does that one thing really well cuz It want to do it if it's interested in doing it, people with ADHD can hyper-focus on something and nothing else will get done in that moment when they're taken away from that thing, they want to get right back to it cuz nothing else matters at that time

[JamesBoradil03]

i have ADD, imagine everytime you dont move in some way you feel the physical imbodyment of uncomftorable. its like when you sit in the same position without moving for about 6 hours, and you start getting antsy, except it happens after a few seconds

[blutwolfe]

I have regular ADD, its not as bad as some people but it still affects my productivity a lot, especially when I have to do an assignment before the next day

[Anonymous]

Eh, I feel bad for anyone who has a mental illness or learning disability but I don't think ADD/ADHD is the worst thing ever. No where near it, actually. Everything you listed is a symptom of almost any other learning disability or mental illness and those typically have way more symptoms and emotions on top of these and more complicated meds.

I'm not saying ADD/ADHD is a walk in the park, but I don't think it's overly horrible because unlike other disabilities and illnesses, ADD/ADHD is something you can function with perfectly fine in society, education, and the workforce.

[RedRobin]

I'm not trying to make it sound like it's the worst thing out there...

[Opinion Owner]

No, but you are trying to make it sound like it's really difficult to have and it isn't. I don't think ADD/ADHD is a big deal.

[RedRobin]

Do you have it? Just curious...

[JastyForLife]

She wouldn't know until she had it. Technically you can't say those things until you experience it. Yes it is not the worst thing ever but it can cause problems. Socializing is incredibly hard for me with ADHD.

[JastyForLife]

Mainly picking up on social cues and making friends

[RedRobin]

@JastyForLife yeah, she wouldn't have it. I hate it when people act like they know everything about something when they actually have no clue. Having ADHD is a huge pain.

[JastyForLife]

@RedRobin I had this teacher who said she knew a lot about ADHD. She talked to my parents and when they said about how I got on honor roll (Names of people with good grades which they post for everyone to see) and she said "That was just because he was taking his medicine." People act like they know everything. Kind of sucks. I mean ADHD has some good perks. Lots of people with ADHD did great things.

[applesandoranges22]

I have ADD, and you are DEFINITELY over exaggerating. you are different, that doesn't mean you are ''disabled''

[JastyForLife]

@applesandoranges22 Not ADHD. I believe if you had ADHD you would know how it feels. It is a lot worse than ADD. Of course I wouldn't understand because your not hyperactive.

[applesandoranges22]

@JastyForLife you are ignorant. first of all, ADD/ADHD is interchanged. Second of all, There are seven types of ADD. Third, dont speak on people who you dont know. ADD/ADHD is a ''disorder'' that effects the entire brain so behavior patterns vary greatly. I have severe ADD which was known as ''the ring of fire'' basically, I had the type of ADD that effects the entire brain. Extreme mood swings, hyper activeness and not being able to focus. The difference is, I dont sit and complain about how hard it is or give up and take medication, I learn about myself and find ways to function in society.

[JastyForLife]

@applesandoranges22 kind of an idiot if I would say myself.

[JastyForLife]

@applesandoranges22 that's your opinion

[JastyForLife]

@applesandoranges22 I apologize for calling you an idiot. I am sure you are a highly intelligent young man. We both have different opinions. I will let you have yours and me have mine

[RedRobin]

@applesandoranges22 Actually ADD is a subset of ADHD because people with ADD aren't hyperactive. Everything else is exactly the same though which is why you can use it interchangeably too.

[JastyForLife]

@RedRobin that is true. I lost my friend yesterday who had ADHD. He got fed up and we are taking some time apart. Luckily I have a friend who I met who is a girl. She is super nice and he treated me somewhat badly everyonce and a while. I am trying to be more aware and work hard to change. We both never had friends so he is saying "I am fine with being alone." but I know that he will be hurt. I remember having no friends and being bullied. Still happens since 1st grade. I told him I will be there for him if he needs anything tell me.

[applesandoranges22]

people often think ADD has one category and dont really know that there are seven types of it. Some are not hyper active, some are off the wall and then there are cases like me, who can be confused with bi polar disorder. One minute im extremely low and down then the next im hyper. Like I said earlier, Im a severe case. Besides all of that, he implied that being hyper active is somehow worse, when this isn't the case at all. Sometimes I am so down and under active that I drift in and out of conversations because I am to busy thinking about other things and im not even aware of whats going on if I dont keep myself in check. I am tired to the point where I am slouching and dragging myself to go do things throughout the day. then, I go on streaks where I am really vibrant and hyper. Most people describe me as really annoying when this happens but when it doesn't, people either think 1. im really cool and laid back 2. im high or 3. im depressed

[JastyForLife]

@applesandoranges22 No. I was just saying ADHD can be harder. Also I have tons of moods which make me depressed and happy the next from ADHD.

[applesandoranges22]

@JastyForLife ADHD could be harder if someone with add was just a mild case just like a person with extreme ADD would struggle more than someone with a mild case of ADHD. my point is, dont undermine what people go to. I have been there and done it, and there are ways to work on it.

[applesandoranges22]

what people go through*

[Turkish_Delight]

ADHD? Suffering from it for ages. Solution: Prozac.

[SuccessfulHornDog]

I have ADHD. the HD part subsides as you grow older but the ADD part sticks around and needs to be addressed

[art84]

I have foster brothers who have ADHD/ADD and I can never understand how they live with the disorder.

[applesandoranges22]

''disorder''

[Blitzkrieger]

Mine feels like number 5. Coffee doesn't help me though.

[SuccessfulHornDog]

caffeine and drugs work better for me if I use them sparingly. Then when I do use then the are most potent

[Decentguy]

Awesome take. i hate my ADHD

[RedRobin]

Thanks

[OrionH]

This is so true Great MyTake!

[RedRobin]

Thanks :)

[coolbreeze]

Great mytake and very great points.

[ThisDudeHere]

Do you have it?

[RedRobin]

Yeah, I do. I hate it, it can be so annoying.