ADHD Skills

As you can probably tell from the breadth and description of the interests I highlight on this website, I have ADHD. Or should I say I am ADH? You see, I don’t really see my brain as any more problematic than a neurotypical’s brain. I feel like I was just born with a different preset of neural connections and my brain (and others who have ADHD) has just as many strengths and weaknesses as the average brain. These differences are not something I must overcome but something I must strengthen and learn from.

Some ADHD skills I have are:

• Varied interests and therefore skills/knowledge
• Awareness of my physical surroundings (am I distracted by that window or is stuff out of it just cooler?)
• Creative, out of the box thinking
• Ever and eternally curious about something

Some skills that I am working on:

• Organization
• Time management
• Prioritization
• Chunking large goals into small goals

Things that have helped me (my system after being diagnosed in 3rd grade):

• Bullet journaling ( I will write something about this in the future. Helps keep track of what I have to do and for me to progress in my hobbies/passions. This is all from someone who hated writing in my school agenda/planner).
• Tea (My main source of caffeine. I will write a future article on this as well. Go for high quality, less quantity because you can infuse tea multiple times with green, oolong, white, and pu-erh teas).
• Walking (check my walking post here).
• L-Theanine (It’s a godsend amino acid for stress and also found in tea. I take 200mg supplements 2x a day. It is also super cheap).
• Meditation (helps me detangle my thoughts and passions).

A note on medication:

I was prescribed Adderall in 3rd grade. I had, at various points, been prescribed Concerta, Vyvanse, and several others. I stopped using Adderall when I was around 18. I very much believe in the validly of modern medicine and will always listen to facts and studies if the population is big enough, over enough time, and the methods are sound. I do not believe these medications are appropriate for children. They are addictive, easily abused, and should be closely monitored by parents. It is not ok for teenagers or children not to eat food. It is not ok for parents to coerce children to take strong amphetamines when the children say that they hate medicine. It is not ok for parents or teachers to tell children they need amphetamines or that they like them better when medicated. Amphetamines have the possibility to cause peripheral nerve damage and I have a hunch that this is why I have nerve pain (some sources: https://oxfordtreatment.com/prescription-drug-abuse/adderall/neurotoxicity/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18431096/. The second source is more of a case study but you can see in cited by and similar literature that this association is being looked at). Get kids therapy and be supportive of their skills. They will thrive in ways you never thought of.