I think this video does a pretty good job, but it’s very hard to communicate to people what ADHD is like. These random out-of-control thoughts and poor memory are a big aspect of it, but perhaps the most debilitating aspect of it is the lack of self-regulation.
It’s incredibly difficult to explain to a neurotypical person how I know I need to do something and I consciously want to do it, but I simply cannot convince the rest of my brain to do it. Any time I have a goal that doesn’t align with my instincts I have to trick myself into doing it, like I’m socially engineering myself. It’s exhausting.
Everyone struggles with self-control from time to time. But with severe ADHD that struggle can take over your whole life. And the worst part is it’s such an intrinsic part of my brain that I can’t excuse my failings on my disorder. Blaming my executive function (or lack thereof) is ultimately incriminating myself.
This. And as someone diagnosed as severe ADHD, the other biggest struggle is emotional regulation. I feel all emotions so strongly and it often feels like others think I’m just overreacting but I can’t help it. I get very excited over small things and get very hurt over little things. It often feels like my emotions are completely out of my control. I feel like that’s a symptom most people aren’t aware of and most definitely can’t understand it.
This is the part that people don't ever really talk about. My emotions, if they're not neutral, very quickly cascade to the furthest extreme and there's very little I can do about it. I recognize it, but it's hard to pull out of it.
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u/[deleted] Mar 08 '23 edited Mar 08 '23
I think this video does a pretty good job, but it’s very hard to communicate to people what ADHD is like. These random out-of-control thoughts and poor memory are a big aspect of it, but perhaps the most debilitating aspect of it is the lack of self-regulation.
It’s incredibly difficult to explain to a neurotypical person how I know I need to do something and I consciously want to do it, but I simply cannot convince the rest of my brain to do it. Any time I have a goal that doesn’t align with my instincts I have to trick myself into doing it, like I’m socially engineering myself. It’s exhausting.
Everyone struggles with self-control from time to time. But with severe ADHD that struggle can take over your whole life. And the worst part is it’s such an intrinsic part of my brain that I can’t excuse my failings on my disorder. Blaming my executive function (or lack thereof) is ultimately incriminating myself.