Random Things That May Feel Hard When You Have ADHD
ADHD is confusing. It’s contradictory, inconsistent, and overwhelming. It presents like a spectrum disorder and looks different for a lot of us, making understanding this neurological condition an ever moving target. The diagnostic criteria we use to investigate if someone has ADHD leaves much to be desired and if you work with the ADHD population, you learn how many things impact our daily lives that aren’t even taken into consideration when the condition is being diagnosed.
It’s not just struggling to concentrate or being so hyper that you can’t sit still; all kinds of experiences of adulthood that seem like they should come easily can be a real challenge. These include but certainly aren’t limited to…
Making returns- organizing them, taking them to UPS or the post office and even just initiating the return. It feels so complicated it makes it not worth it.
Goal setting- once you set the goal or share it with anyone achieving it becomes really messy
Dealing with mail- not just getting it out of the mailbox but sorting it, opening it and prioritizing the contents. This also goes for email.
Closing cabinet doors or drawers behind you.
Adjusting to transitions from one activity to another or moving from one state of feeling/being to the next.
Motivating yourself to take a shower, even though you enjoy being in the shower and don’t want to get out once you’re in.
Removing a bottle of shampoo/conditioner once it’s empty from the shower and actually throwing it away.
Articulating your thoughts and translating them into sentences on the spot.
Accurately judging how much time something will take.
Feeling very sensitive to feedback or criticism and feeling as though you’re being picked on even when you’re not.
Your relationship with food- you may overeat and then be too distracted or engrossed in an activity that you forget to eat.
Knowing you need outside accountability to get anything done but also rebelling against that accountability because it makes you feel suffocated.
Daily hygiene that’s expected to be easy for an adult (i.e. brushing your teeth, flossing, skincare, etc)
Enjoying life when it’s calmer and less chaotic than usual.
Following up with doctor’s appointments, scheduling, taking medication and other adulting tasks to care for yourself or your family.
Relaxation. Vacation or any other time you’re expected to relax is hard because you can’t ever turn off your brain.
Expressing your feelings clearly without losing control of them.
Planning your day. Something as simple as organizing your time and knowing how and when to prioritize your day.
If you relate to these, I want you to know that I’ve compilef this list from my personal experince plus years of working with neurodivergent women.
I cringe with every ounce of my being when I hear influencers in the online world talk about how ADHD is their superpower, not out of judgment for them, but because I wouldn’t wish this condition on anyone! There are gifts that come with this wiring for sure, but ADHD impacts every inch of our lives and makes what seems like every bit of functioning more challenging. From socializing to keeping friends to making yourself brush your teeth, everything feels like swimming upstream.
You’re definitely not alone if you feel this way too and please don’t forget that there all kinds of resources and tools in place to make life just a bit easier now. If you don’t have some kind of notebook or central place to keep track of your daily to-do list that’s a great place to start. ADHDers love our planners but sometimes we get caught up in finding the perfect planner or system that we think will solve all our problems that we never actually get started. I created this executive function planner that you can print and use every day to get you started. It’s simple, straightforward and free of distractions :)
Cheers!
XO
Melissa
Because we have to laugh…
In Case You Missed It…
My new ADHD Life Hacks Guide is available to download! There are more than 50 hacks that I’ve compiled over the years through trial and error-learn from my mistakes so you don’t have to!!
