You know your symptoms, but do you embrace them?
My ADHD makes me distracted, inattentive, impulsive and emotional, but you know what?
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Here's why:
Inattentive
It's not that you don't have enough attention, it’s that you stop paying attention to EVERYTHING. That relentless flow of thoughts you receive while engaging in a task can breed unique and creative solutions. The default mode network responsible for daydreaming when you're not concentrating on something is overly active in ADHD brains, so your thoughts are rarely confined to the task at hand.
It’s easy to think outside of the box if you don't have one.
Impulsive
Impulsivity can lead to us making irrational decisions and biting off more of life than we can chew. But our impulsive nature provides us with a wealth of unique opportunities and experiences. Adults with ADHD are 300 percent more likely to start their own business. "Normal" people line up their arrow to the target they carefully selected and fire in good conditions.
We hurl cannonballs, and though we often land off the mark, our sheer quantity of ammunition means we hit targets, sometimes ones we weren't even aiming for.
Emotional dysregulation
Life is relative to your experiences. A child will cry at a dropped ice cream cone as though it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to them because, well, it very well might be. You feel rejection and disappointment more acutely, the pain can be all-encompassing at times, but this makes us empathetic. It’s not all negative, all of those Lower lows = higher highs, those deep lows come hand in hand with feelings of elation, of love, appreciation and pride.
Your emotions rich are vibrant, the contrast may be stark but that’s what makes you so passionate.
Distractible
You probably don't complete everything you set out to, but think of how much you learn in the process. Every time you attempt something new, that experience teaches you something valuable. You’re a Jack of all trades, master of none, and while you might not spend your life specializing in one area, you are unique in that all of your interests compile into a wealth of versatile information.
I like to compare myself to Forrest Gump, my seemingly unrelated pursuits lead me down paths less followed. I don't know what my life story will be but I know it will be one worth missing the bus for.
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