“Depending on who you talk to. ADHD can be a death sentence. To others, ADHD is what makes their life fulfilling.”
ADHD is my super power
People with ADHD are so creative and smart
Hyperfocus is the best!
There are a lot of bright sides and there is a small one that is particularly my favorite. But many people see this one thing as a huge negative.
See… impulsivity means that we don’t have the ability to guage how sad or happy we should be when we are triggered at a particular moment. When we get into an argument with our spouse we don’t have that split second to say “hmmm, is that statement really as horrible as it sounds?” So instead of thinking about the statement, we usually don’t even listen to the whole thing and then go on to have a massive temper tantrum only to apologize later when we realize it wasn’t that big of a deal.
Not that I’ve done that or anything (*whistling and looking around at unimportant things).
I think what people forget is that while we have big, negative, out of proportion emotions at the smallest thing…. It works in the other direction as well.
Ever hear the phrase “it’s the little things”? Meaning that sometimes the smallest things can bring the most joy. This is why I love my impulsive emotions.
Seeing the way the light fractures through a crystal glass on my desk when the sun shifts is a wonderful surprise. Finding a quarter on the ground makes me feel so lucky. The way my dog tilts his head and perks up his ear is so freaking cute sometimes I can’t even stand it.
Everyday I am gifted with these small joys because I can feel them bigger than everyone else. These small things give me joy the way a huge promotion or a first kiss brings joy to a neurotypical.
And let’s not even talk about the big joys. I mean how many of your friends cry during the overture of a musical? I do it EVERY TIME! I also cannot focus the entire day when I get to see my favorite band play. My stomach is in knots and my heart races all day I am so excited.
“This ability to experience Joy is my number one reason for loving my ADHD. Yes, the negative emotions are bad. Sometimes really bad. But I’ve worked hard to control them and not let them trick me into thinking things are worse than they are.”
I also control my emotions outwardly because it’s not okay to subject my loved ones to the physical manifestation of my negativity. It’s not okay! It has taken a lot of work but I am successful most of the time now. And I truly believe that Joy would not feel as good as it does if we didn’t have the opposite emotion to give perspective.
“So look for the little things my friends. Joy is around every corner. Allow your distractibility to find them and enjoy.”
With love, Megan.
