3 ms·

I have always struggled to explain what having ADHD is like to others. I finally settled on “imagine going through life with this constant sound in the back of

I have always struggled to explain what having ADHD is like to others. I finally settled on “imagine going through life with this constant sound in the back of your head like a fuzzy AM radio station that you can never tune in and also can never just ignore killing any ability to focus. Taking the drug to treat it (time released methylphenidate in my case) allows me to tune that station in like it was a perfect CD with an amazing amp, or just shut it off all together like having the serenity of a quite room on top of a mountain.” Still not sure this example works, but it has improved my friends understanding. Those that know me very well are able to interact with me to the point of saying “you did not take you pill today” when I skip a dose as they can see the behavioral differences. Another way to explain the effect on take a pill of what is chemically speed on someone with ADHD vs not is “if you take this pill and DO NOT have ADHD you will be up at 3am trying to sand your driveway smooth, but for me it provides calm and clarity”.

barsonme 6y ago
“The TV is on but you don’t get to choose the channel.”
WhompingWindows 6y ago
Thank you for your post! Your description matches what I've read, that dopaminergic function is like a bell curve. If you're already in the center of the curve, stimulants will push you over into dysfunction; whereas, if you're at the left tail of the curve, stimulants will push you to typical. If 5 college freshmen take Ritalin together, four may be bouncing off the walls and struggling to direct their attention, whereas the fifth may be having a revelation: is this what normal thinking is like? Did I have ADHD this whole time? I've heard a few personal accounts of people sobbing their eyes out once their medication actually works...they think of all the times they struggled with ADHD, and that this pill could've helped them chart their desired course more smoothly.
Taylor_OD 6y ago
Yup. I used to just call it my internal monologue. Turns out not everyone's internal monologue is always going on about anything and everything without any ability to control it.
LocalH 6y ago
I've been seeing a meme lately floating around social media that sums it up perfectly. "Bees in my fucking head"

barsonme 6y ago

“The TV is on but you don’t get to choose the channel.”

WhompingWindows 6y ago

Thank you for your post! Your description matches what I've read, that dopaminergic function is like a bell curve. If you're already in the center of the curve, stimulants will push you over into dysfunction; whereas, if you're at the left tail of the curve, stimulants will push you to typical. If 5 college freshmen take Ritalin together, four may be bouncing off the walls and struggling to direct their attention, whereas the fifth may be having a revelation: is this what normal thinking is like? Did I have ADHD this whole time? I've heard a few personal accounts of people sobbing their eyes out once their medication actually works...they think of all the times they struggled with ADHD, and that this pill could've helped them chart their desired course more smoothly.

Taylor_OD 6y ago

Yup. I used to just call it my internal monologue. Turns out not everyone's internal monologue is always going on about anything and everything without any ability to control it.

LocalH 6y ago

I've been seeing a meme lately floating around social media that sums it up perfectly. "Bees in my fucking head"