Friend and Foe — Fighting the ADHD That Helped Me Create an eBook
ADHD takes something away every time it gives you a gift
I was diagnosed with ADHD in my forties, but I always knew something was wrong with me. Having the diagnosis was a relief, and so is being medicated for it, but some elements still linger. What is gone is the flash anger and rage at every insult. I can also listen without interjecting and recognize when I start taking over a conversation — and then stop. That is all down to my meds. They are indeed a godsend.
What I’ve rejected is cognitive behavioral therapy to modify some of my other ticks, although I know my trouble areas. The biggest one is the anxiousness to finish a project, whether it’s finished or not. I’ve often pushed send before I should, and only then notice the errors. Even though I know this happens, I can’t stop it at the moment because I don’t see it until it’s done.
That is the essence of ADHD. I don’t see what’s happening at the moment because I’m in the moment. No amount of past scolding, chastising, or criticism will correct future ADHD behavior. Kids with ADHD hear thousands of more negative messages than people without it, and so we often end up depressed, full of self-loathing, and angry.
