Someone on a facebook group asked for people to give them dot points about how ADHD affects you so they could compile a list of things that affects them that they know are ADHD things for when they go get diagnosed. Or with the potential of realising their symptoms aren’t extreme enough to have ADHD. My list ended up being extremely long (longer than I intended) so I thought I might also post it here so that it may help anyone else thinking of getting a diagnosis.
When I went to my psychiatrist, I didn’t know I was going in for an ADHD diagnosis, but my Mum had told me to write down all the ways I feel hyperactive without physically looking hyperactive, and then when I was in there she said to him that she thinks I have ADHD. I gave him my list and he still talks about how he loved that and how helpful it was. SO maybe this might help all the baby ADHDs looking for a sign to go get tested!
- Rejection Sensitivity (This is the thing I struggle with the most with ADHD)
- Emotion disregulation
- Inability to force myself to do ANYTHING
- Changing positions while sitting constantly (I’m a lesbian, and I thought it was just because gays meme-ly can’t sit still, but I’m annoying to gays how often I change position and wriggle)
- Constantly chewing or making repetitive motions
- I get angry when my movement is restricted - like if someone is cuddling me or hugging me. But I have no problem cuddling someone myself.
- Constantly snacking or drinking
- I keep my hands busy so I can process thoughts, sights and sounds
- I have little control over the volume of my voice or strength sometimes
- Constantly feel like everyone else has been given a class in being an adult or being in general that I missed out on
- Constantly clenching muscles or cracking my knuckles in my toes or fingers.
- Making odd sounds or singing - especially when I no longer want to talk anymore, but someone is still talking to me. I’ll just start singing
- Unable to enjoy sights or sounds for too long without wanting to keep moving - like at art galleries or concerts. I love concerts, especially festivals. And I always thought I was uncultured or didn’t like someone enough when I just wanted to keep moving and see what else there was to do. But I’m just an ADHD bunny.
- Doodling or drawing in order to hear something better.
- Excessive talking and inability to filter out possibly rude things.
- Feeling burnt out
- I need to recharge after doing anything outside in public, even if it was only going to the shops quickly
- Sitting ‘properly’ in a chair is torture
- Being constantly late, no matter how early I get up. - Unless my partner comes too, and then we are generally early and that gives me anxiety hahaha
- Conversations with more than one person at a time are hell - this is especially a problem at my partner’s house because they all constantly talk over one another.
- Forgetting my pin - even though it’s been my pin for YEARS
- Needing to mentally prepare myself for house to go to the shops or to an appointment
- Having a hard time switching what I’m doing. (Work and talking online or helping someone else - I always just say my GPS is rerouting and that’s why it’s taking me so long to switch activities haha)
- When I’m reading, I have to re-read lines over and over again if my mind wanders or if I just can’t concentrate.
- I either clean the entire house or don’t clean anything - there is no in between.
- Never feeling rested, even after sleeping in or taking breaks.
- Forgetting what I want to say, even if I’ve rehearsed it - like at University or ordering food.
- Brain fog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please feel free to add your own in the comments. You can repeat what I’ve said, or add your own. You might help someone who is looking to compile their own list or just see if they might have ADHD for their own piece of mind. Symptom lists online can often be inacurate or too stereotypical for most people. So this is a bit more of an inside view of the reality of having ADHD.