03/02/2026
So we all know ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But I want to be very honest with you, I donāt believe thatās what it really is.
With all my knowledge and experience with actually having ADHD I believe itās not the lack of of attention that we have. I think people who have ADHD have too much, but we lack the ability to navigate where that attention actually goes.
People who have ADHD have a really different brain capacity and chemistry, and we process things much differently than your neurotypical person does.
For those of us who have ADHD we have much lower levels of dopamine, so are brains are pretty hardwired to constantly be on the hunt for more of it. When it comes to a neurotypical person they have a constant flow of dopamine, so they have absolutely no idea what it feels like to be on that constant hunt to find it.
There are 3 types of ADHD letās take at look at them:
- Predominantly Inattentive: (formerly known as ADD) This is difficulty focusing, organizing, following instructions, and finishing tasks.
- Predominantly Hyper-focus (impulsive): This shows up as excessive restlessness, fidgeting, talking fast, and acting without talking.
- Combined: This one is a mix of the two we just went over above.
Here is something I would like to note: ADHD is not all about focus. It is about our ability to regulate our brains and nervous systems so that we are able to get things done. And this skill is called āExecutive Functionā this refers to the brains āmanagement systemā. It is the cognitive process that works with planning, focusing, managing our emotions, and how to regulate our behaviours to achieve our goals.
Here is what most people donāt realize, people with ADHD can be overwhelmed and underwhelmed, overstimulated and under-stimulated all at the same time. So our working memory is affected and we can become super sensitive to rejection and criticism.. or pretty much anything. We have issues starting, finishing, and organizing our tasks. And these are all things being looked after by our executive function (which is not in proper working order).
Yes, everyone struggles with these issues, and we get that⦠but the difficulties are much more severe in people who have ADHD.
I hope you are enjoying my information about ADHD, and yes I have much more to come.
As someone who was misdiagnosed with ADD in grade two or three, to someone who was properly diagnosed again in 2018⦠I donāt only know a lot about ADHD, I also have lived it for a really long time. And I am tired of hiding it to make others comfortable, no more masks will be placed upon myself. You will be getting the unmasked version of me in high voltage!