adhdlivedexp

[adhdlivedexp]

Capitalism didnt create ADHD.

ADHD isnt created by being in the “wrong environment”.

ADHD is more PRONOUNCED because of the capitalist society we live in.

The problem with ADHD is that it’s naturally unpredictable, we know we CAN focus if it’s something we enjoy, but for how long? And when? Just because it’s something we enjoy doesn’t mean the ADHD just goes to sleep, we can still get distracted, still lack motivation some days.. because it’s unpredictable.

That unpredictability would be just as evident no matter the society we live in.

[adhdlivedexp]

As individuals we don’t believe we can do anything meaningful to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and as individuals that may be so…

But as a collective, making small changes can reduce our emissions by up to 50% globally.

Small things like cutting meat and dairy out of our diets

Avoid driving to work if that’s doable (use public transport, carpool even, bike or walk to work instead, or if you can afford it purchase an electric or hybrid vehicle)

Purchase products from recycled goods that are recyclable

Turn switches off at the wall when not in use

Switch household items to low energy items where possible

Watch your water useage

Talk to landlords about solar panels etc

Climate change affects us all, we have maybe 10 years max to drastically reduce emissions.

[adhdlivedexp]

I never truly realised just how much my literal thinking impacts the way I process things until now…

I was reading a research paper on ADHD and in the conclusion it said how when people with ADHD hyper focus on something their impairments disappear and I thought to myself: “no our impairments dont disappear? A lot of them may improve a lot but disappear?”

When I mentioned this to a friend they were like: “I think youre taking that too literally, they don’t actually mean those impairments actually disappear, it just looks like they do or may feel like they do in comparison to how impairing they are normally”

[adhdlivedexp]

I think it’s the stupidest thing ever for people to go talking shit about celebrities.

You project your expectations onto random people but theyre the problem for not being what you expected? Are you for real?

If they weren’t a celebrity would you care half as much if they snubbed you? No, because that would be stupid!

Stop projecting your version of how you expect someone to be onto other people!

[adhdlivedexp]

Self compassion is more powerful than people realise I swear!

[adhdlivedexp]

One thing I wish NTs understood was this:

For us neurodivergent folk when we forget something it is soul crushing ok? We are haunted by the ghost of forgetting shit!

You see us forget where we put our phone that morning, not knowing that that’s only the first time that DAY we misplace our phone, it’s 10th time in 24 hours and beyond that we’ve lost count.

We forget shit more often than a lot of you realise which is why whenever we do forget something even if it’s small it’s the reminder of “I forgot this thing AGAIN”

When you’ve spent your life forever forgetting things and having people comment on how often you forget things especially when you were growing up or even in your workplace as an adult that shit crushes your soul because you’re trying so hard not to forget shit, but it’s inevitable and everyone around you just acts like you’re just not trying hard enough when the truth is you’re trying way harder than the average person!

[adhdlivedexp]

You can always tell when advice meant for ADHDers was written by someone without ADHD because it’s always shit like:

- practice better time management

- use a calendar

- use a planner

- set reminders

- keep a list

Vs

- set timers to keep you on task and keep a physical clock near you in view at all times to help. (Bonus points using a clock that doubles as a timer with a visual bar or something to show you how much you have left before the timer goes off)

- have a physical calendar somewhere where you naturally look all the time and colour code it for appointments etc

- have your email address sync with your calendar on your phone and computer etc so it automatically adds any appointments etc you make that are attached to that email address.

- find a good planner app on your phone that also syncs with your calendar

- set up reminders on those apps

- buy multiple books/notepads and place one in every room and every bag you use, that way as you remember stuff you can just write it in the book closest to you. You’re more likely to remember it once you’ve written it down and for whatever reason you’re more likely to remember what book you wrote it in.

[adhdlivedexp]

If you disagree with your boss’ idea, are you not meant to tell them you disagree?

Are you honestly meant to lie and pretend like it’s the best idea ever?

What if they’re testing you to see if you’ll just agree with whatever they’re saying and you get fired for that?

Is it only ok in certain situations and not others?

How do you know in which situations theyre testing you and which ones you should just kiss their ass for whatever reason?

How do people just intrinsically seem to understand this shit?

Is there some secret rule book I never got given for whatever reason cause you all seem to understand these rules just a little too well for them to not be written down somewhere!

[adhdlivedexp]

Therapy is honestly a tool to find out how to take care of yourself better.

If you take out diagnosis from the equation (excluding neurodivergence)

That’s all therapy is… learning better ways to take care of yourself.

[adhdlivedexp]

Pro tip for anyone with ADHD considering going into higher education:

Do it!

But also, be prepared to be 100% aware of just how impairing your ADHD is for you…

And make sure you can accept that as part of your ADHD there is a good chance you’ll forget to hand in assessments despite your best efforts etc.

I knew I had issues with self motivation, organisation, planning, prioritising, time management etc… but I wasn’t aware how bad these things actually were until I started uni…

I also managed to not know I had an assessment due at all for 20 days… I failed that unit and am currently repeating it now… I know the reason I didn’t see the second assessment was due me being burnt out and also distractibility, not due to my intelligence. This is why before I enrolled in uni I made sure I accepted that because I have ADHD forgetting assessments or not even realising I had an assessment were things I’d have to make peace with first.

I now have meetings with disability every 2 weeks so that if I am struggling we will catch on to it a lot sooner cause let’s face it… when you have ADHD you never really know when you’re actually struggling and need help because a lot of the time you struggle but end up working through it without any help so you assume that’ll be the case every time.

[adhdlivedexp]

I don’t miss people but I also crave connection it’s a weird thing…

I rarely talk to my other neurodivergent friends bar one… they hardly message me, i hardly message them, we all kinda forget we exist..

But i also struggle so much with never feeling close to anyone, never really feeling like i have friends unless I’m either having a conversation with them online or I see them in person, as soon as that ends i immediately go back to feeling like I don’t really have friends.

When I do remember my friend existence (generally externally triggered to remember) i cant remember why Im friends with them so I don’t “miss them” I just feel a lot of guilt because I know Im friends with them for a reason but I can’t remember.

I hate if people ask me what my favourite memory with them is or what I like doing most with them because again… I honestly can’t remember and it feels so shitty to say this :/

[adhdlivedexp]

How to manage ADHD executive function deficits:

Implement strategies that rely on executive functions :D

Suck at breaking tasks down into smaller steps because it takes too much mental energy? Have you tried breaking down tasks into smaller steps?

Poor time management? Try managing your time better!

Have trouble keeping track of important appointments etc? Use a calendar and a planner (don’t forget to check your planner regularly!)

Tired of forgetting things all the time? Just remember set to multiple reminders, add important dates and appointments to your calendar, don’t forget to also add them to your planner that you need to remember to check regularly oh and don’t forget to write down to do lists!

If my executive functions were efficient these strategies might be more doable, or maybe Im just not trying hard enough? -.-

[adhdlivedexp]

[adhdlivedexp]

Maybe Im doing it wrong but I don’t find the pomodoro technique helpful particularly with studying…

The constant stopping and starting kinda just disrupts my focus too much since I struggle so much with task initiation in the first place.

Rather than relying on a timer I rely on when I start to feel like I’m really getting over looking over research articles, that’s my cue to game for maybe 30 mins which acts as an almost complete reset mentally and Im able to refocus again.

Once I have the momentum I know not to disrupt it and just wait till I feel myself getting over it, not till Im at the point of wanting to hurl my computer at someone’s head and kill anyone that as much as breaths near me because of how frustrated I’ve become because I’ve spent all my resources and am then running on empty. If I get to that point i know it’s time for a nap and avoiding anything else for the rest of the day that requires sustained focus, I generally just end up respecting whatever my ADHD wants if it gets to that point so I don’t risk burning myself out.

[adhdlivedexp]

People really underestimate just how quickly I can forget something…

I forget whether or not I’ve taken my meds straight after taking them…

People think Im joking when I say that but man Im really not…

[adhdlivedexp]

Do people honestly believe one of the most intelligent men on the planet has no clue what the salute he did on camera TWICE means?

Children know what that damn salute means and know WHY it’s not appropriate, so do not give me this BULLSHIT that a damn genius doesn’t understand.

He’s autistic, not someone diagnosed with severe cognitive disability, stop making excuses for a damn adult who I promise you 100% is aware of what that salute signifies what it stands for, supports.

He’s a fucking genius, who has never hidden his extremist beliefs in the first place, so stop making excuses for the damn douche!

He already thinks we’re all far too dumb for him, and anyone making damn excuses for the damn prick are proving him bloody right!

[adhdlivedexp]

Some tips I’ve picked up that help me manage my ADHD:

- music helps with boring tasks

- have 3 levels of completed: middle level or level 2 being the general level of completed on a typical day when you have the average amount of energy and/or time, level 1 as the bare minimum you’re ok with being done if you’re short on time or just don’t have the energy and the 3rd level being completely done when you have a lot of time and the energy properly complete the task.

- it’s ok to throw things in random drawers and baskets to deal with another day

- do things as you remember them if doing them at a specific time doesn’t work.

- change up your visual reminders so they don’t become part of the background

- strategically place sticky-notes in places where you have to look at it or move it regularly.

- there’s no law that says clothes MUST be folded before being put away, there’s also no law that says how clothes should be folded (hang clothes up for work, buy a folding mat to fold shirts etc and roll pants and singlets so much quicker than messing around trying to properly fold things, you can also just throw everything in drawers as is)

- you can also just fold drawer at a time per day, folding is boring for neurotypicals too, you’d be surprised how many have their own chairs of clean laundry they keep putting off folding too so it’s not just us who struggle with this

- cleaning a bit daily is much less work than doing it once a week or before an inspection, it’s still boring but it’s more doable when it takes far less effort.

You don’t need a routine to task stack (you can stack tasks on top of a task you know you’ll do at some point during the day too)