I’ve always struggled to explain what ADHD is like to neurotypical people, especially my family, and I think I’ve found a decent way. I thought I’d share it in case it can help others, but keep in mind it’s slightly different for everyone.
For context, I’m 18 and in my senior year of high school.
It feels like everyone is on a road. There’s a lot of roads depending on where you’re going, but everyone knows where they’re headed and how to get there. They also are usually walking with someone on the same path. However, it’s like I’m on a road, and I know where it goes, but I’m surrounded by this really dense fog, so I have no idea how to get to where I want to go. I could be going in the wrong direction, or in circles; I have no idea. Sometimes I run into someone else, and they try to give me directions, but they have no idea how to help someone that can’t see, so it’s useless. But everyone else can see, and they see me going in the wrong direction, or standing still trying so hard to remind myself to keep moving. And they don’t know I can’t see, so they assume I’m stupid and lazy. And some days it takes every ounce of energy to remind myself I have to keep moving, even in the wrong direction, because I didn’t come this far to only come this far.
