How Jim is a university student . In his free time, he likes gaming, hiking and honing his nature photography skills. Jim is passionate about environmental conservation and biodiversity preservation.
When did you get diagnosed?
I went for an ADHD diagnosis in February 2023 but ended up being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) instead. However, given that the ADHD medications and coping strategies are working effectively for me, I still operate under the assumption that I do have ADHD, most likely the inattentive type.
What was life like before diagnosis?
It was a struggle to stay afloat. Completing everyday tasks without exerting myself to the point of near chronic burnout, especially for tasks I am not intrinsically motivated by, was a norm that everyone seemed to have yet remained a dream for me to pine for. Being surrounded by people who understandably don’t have ADHD made it difficult to not internalize that I was simply being lazy or am just incompetent despite my immense efforts that couldn’t get recognized because it didn’t produce results. My self-esteem took a hit because of that.
What was life like post diagnosis?
While I was not formally diagnosed with ADHD, learning from other people diagnosed with ADHD that my seemingly unique experience was actually rather common amongst them was a big relief. I was still able to get medication and accommodations from my school, which does help with my performance. More importantly, I learnt (and am still learning) how to extend compassion to myself, as well as figure out how I function more deeply, even if it differs from a neurotypical person.
What do you think are your greatest ADHD strengths?
Creativity would be one of them. I realize that I really like using analogies to frame information in a way that I can understand better, and that somehow helps others to understand too. I tend to also have ideas of things I want to create (videos, photos, songs, fictional stories) in a very vivid way, I just need to piece them together.
My empathy is also another strength. For better or for worse, I tend to absorb the perceived emotions of others easily and involuntarily. This makes me feel for others very quickly, and hence make me try to comfort others in the same way that I imagine I would want to be if I was in their shoes. Additionally, being in an environment where I was constantly misunderstood because of my ADHD, I take it upon myself to try to understand others deeply and make sure they feel heard or not left out in a social situation. I would say that I might not feel this empathetic if my emotions were not dysregulated such that my range of emotions, both positive and negative, were heightened.
How do you manage ADHD in daily life?
I make sure important tasks, schedules, and notes are properly written down in a way that is easy for me to retrieve when needed, using a task management app. Of course, it requires me to maintain my habit of checking the app for this to work. When I do inevitably fall off the habit occasionally, I make sure to take care of my emotions and do my best to not guilt or shame myself back into correct action, rather I encourage myself to get back on track.
Removing unnecessary distractions and setting aside time specifically to be unproductive (aka intentional distractions) is really important for me to have a start and end point to my productivity, as I tend to stick to this belief that my hyperfocus can be extrapolated to become hyper-productivity. Thus, very clearly prioritizing what actually matters to me in that moment, even if it doesn’t align with external expectations, helps me be present for the moment regardless of the task.
How would you advise your younger self?
I would tell me to take it easier on himself, that he is on his own timeline that works specifically for him. That there are things he won’t understand about himself and others until he meets certain people and goes through certain experiences. If possible, I would introduce him to the idea of ADHD so that he has a slightly healthier label to attach himself to rather than just being stupid or lazy as that was quite damaging to me.
Complete this sentence: ADHD is……
ADHD is a messy gift that needs unwrapping to see its true value. Often, we focus on the negatives of having ADHD, which while they’re very much present and do exist, hinders us from using the unique traits of ADHD to our best.
Leave a Reply