Unlocking ADHD writer Terrie Wong embraces her ADHD symptoms and shares that a positive outlook helps in making her ADHD symptoms more manageable.
My Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was self-diagnosed as nobody in my time had even heard of it. When I learned about it, I was already 37 years old. I have since learned to cope with it.
Many decades ago, my son’s speech and drama teacher alerted me that my 8 year old son had dyslexia. It was when I was researching dyslexia that I chanced upon the condition of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and found that I had all the classical symptoms.
Hyperactive Symptoms
It was an ‘Aha!’ moment when I finally understood why I never was able to sit down to study and why I never lived up to my teachers’ expectations to score well in exams.
I remembered when I was in Pre-U2, my doctor even said: “Young lady, if you don’t stop kicking my table, I’m going to have to give you tranquilizers.” I hadn’t even realized then that I was kicking her table leg!
I was very active in school, participating in many extra-curricular activities. I had to have a go at almost everything! I did gymnastics and signed up for speech competitions, etc.
When I left school and went to work, I maintained many extra-curricular activities.
I learned swimming, scuba, yoga, ballroom dancing and even karate. I took up French and German, meditation and joined many associations: Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist and even the Muslim Converts’ Association! Been there, done that!
Not that I had to complete every course or everything I set out to do. As soon as my curiosity was satisfied and I felt that I had learned enough, I would move on to the next new thing.
Knowing my ADHD Strengths and Limitations
I understand now why I tend to make more mistakes than anybody else, especially in boring tasks which I would normally avoid doing, if possible!
My choice of work in corporate sales and public relations reflect this aversion to desk-bound positions.
Now that I am retired, my days are filled with attending Zoom talks on various subjects from politics to mushrooms, workshops, pets, plants and more. The pandemic makes me even busier as I am now able to attend Zoom talks from US, Europe, China & even Russia.
There’s always something new to discover and do. Friends have often remarked that I am more energetic than most. I now look at life as a personal celebration of the condition.
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