#brantalk

[dammt]

ADDulting Confession #2

I tend to make shit up as I go along.

[dammt]

This amazing young woman speaks everything I ever wanted to say about my experience with Selective Mutism in this video! Check it out and her other Social Anxiety videos.

[dammt]

DAY 11: How Would You Change Schools in Order to Help People with ADHD?

Regrading Elementary/Middle/High Schools in the US:

Specifically!? Where do I start? The school system (particularly the public school system) needs to be re-imagined altogether; and not just for people with ADHD - but for ALL children alike.

The fact of the matter is, the school system is set up for one learning type - which is not for ANY neuro-atypical brains (meaning any person who is Autistic Spectrum, ADHD, Dyspraxic/Apraxic, Learning Disorders, Mental Illness Issues of varying degrees, Epilepsy, various types and degrees of Language Disorders, ETC!!). And just adding IEPs and 504 Plans don't cut it.

The -

30 kids to a classroom and 1 teacher

inflexible schedules 

sitting behind a desk for hours a time

less physical stimulation

more rules requiring conformity in types of activity

standardized tests and/or standardized learning

all needs to be re-imagined.

[dammt]

So I was eating lunch and instead of chewing my food, I chewed my tongue. 

[dammt]

I’ll do DAY 9 and DAY 10 tomorrow…

*54 days later*

[dammt]

DAY 6: What are Some Benefits of Having ADHD?

creativity

when i’m angry or sad - it’s not for very long

highly flexible in routines/go with the flow attitude

enthusiasm and eagerness

finding things I lost

finding things that I forgot about

little successes are HUGE successes

I feel very deeply (which can be a good thing!)

hyperfocus superpowers

colorful/energetic

sense of humor (you have to have one this kind of brain)

[dammt]

DAY 5: Most Embarrassing ADHD Story?

It's not a funny embarrassing story, more of a incident where I actually felt disappointed of myself and ashamed.

I had to take an mandatory Elective in college, that was super mundane. It wasn't difficult, however it was only available online and it was purely a video-to-test kind of class. It was also only a 6 week class, and a lot of information was given to me purely through auditory leaning.

I was so bored, and so unmotivated (and honestly so used to doing things last minute and getting away with it), that I kept procrastinating and didn't drop out in time.

That was the only class I ever failed in my college career. I am unmotivated and bored by classes often, and procrastinate severely; but I  very much hyperfocus and get what needs to be done done at last minute.

This is not a good technique. And with this instance, obviously didn't pan out well.

[dammt]

Officially failed the ADHD challenge.

I got distracted, and then I forgot. And then I remembered - but didn't care. Thus is life without proper treatment (medication or lifestyle strategies).

I'm going to catch up and do DAY 5 thru DAY 9 at once. Right now. Because I am awesome like that.

To be continued...