It's annoying that ADD has not been a diagnosis since 1987 (or 2013 depending on how you define "not a diagnosis" as well as your source, either way at least a decade) and yet there are STILL people fighting tooth and nail to argue that ADD is it's own thing, or a thing at all.
It's ADHD-I. There is literally no difference between "ADD" and ADHD. They're the same disorder. It's just a subtype. The inattentive subtype. It's such a basic piece of misinfo yet it's EVERYWHERE.
The GIFs above are excerpts from Morfydd’s five different interviews during the promotion of “Saint Maud” while still filming “The Rings of Power” where she briefly talks about, and inadvertently exhibits her ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) traits. The first one shows of her being surprised by her alarm, and explains she keeps it on snooze so she doesn’t forget her tasks. Some would think this is just normal, that we all really need to have reminders anyway. But when you have ADHD, your alarms will be your lifesaver, and it can be quite extreme as your attention easily wanders off and you have almost no control of it, because you simply completely forget what you’re supposed to do. 😖
In the second interview, the keyword is “Procrastination” and she mentions how procrastination doesn’t make her feel guilty. Constant procrastination is very common amongst people with ADHD. It’s just always there. Yes, we all procrastinate, but people with ADHD does it more extreme than others. There are those who would feel endless guilt when they dither and temporize what needs to be done, and after all that, they still couldn’t keep themselves from procrastinating anyway. It becomes this vicious cycle, that adds on to one’s depression because of feeling incompetent. I’m just glad she’s allowed herself to indulge in what she wants to do and not feel criminal about it. 🙃
In the third one, she talks about her struggle with reading and being unable to keep at it for a certain duration. This is very common with ADHD as your ability to focus shifts so quickly, especially if you happen to be reading something you realized you’re not that interested in. However as she mentioned, she was able to read through the entire script (for “Saint Maud”) in one go, of which shows how much she loved the story. In some of her interviews, she speaks of how audiobooks have been very helpful to her. People with ADHD can also have “Dyslexia” (just like Morfydd). It’s more common than not, and that makes reading and writing even more challenging.
In her fourth and fifth interview, she talks about how her brain reacts while she was in school. It’s quite clear, listening and reading her interviews, that she has the combination of both the “Hyperactive-Impulsive and Inattentive Type”. As you know, there are three types (Hyperactive-Impulsive, Inattentive, and having both). Being in class, with so much stimuli, with her brain firing different thoughts and ideas almost all at once, as Morfydd exclaimed, “So exciting!”, while the teacher talks about a subject that she probably doesn’t find interesting, plus that insatiable need to get on her feet to be where she wants to be, or do what she wants to do. And all of that... you can imagine, it just becomes quite taxing for an excited ADHD brain. 🧠
I get that, really.
The most common type of ADHD in girls is the “Inattentive Type” (formerly just called “ADD” aka Attention Deficit Disorder), which is easily overlooked. I was only diagnosed with it as an adult, which makes it sad as I’ve always been so cruel to myself before, not knowing what was wrong with me, and admitted to myself that I was just simply “lacking” or worst, feeling “dumb”. It’s a terrible (false) acceptance for a kid, and I carried that thought until adulthood. Morfydd got her diagnosis when she was seven. She was probably quite a handful! 😅 Parents and teachers can easily spot the “Hyperactive” kids because, well, they are literally hyperactive and uncontrollably rambunctious. Because of that, they can get their diagnosis earlier in life and get the help they require in their formative years. I was not like that. I was quiet, and timid. I was even called the “most behaved in class”. I didn’t cause any trouble in school. However, my concentration level is next to zero at worst times. I might be sitting quietly, but my mind is just all over the place. I’ve learned earlier in life on how to pretend I’m okay and find ways to cope.
🗨️ MORFYDD SAID:
I knew I was different from age seven when I started having medication for it. I understood that something was different but I didn’t understand what it was. I’d go and get my tablet in the staff room at lunchtime and there was a boy a few years above me who had an illness that required lots of medication, but I didn’t know this at the time. I remember seeing him get lots of tablets, cause that’s what he needed, and being like “Wow. He must be really naughty because I am quite naughty and I get one tablet.” I think quite early on, you label yourself as naughty and bad.
(via ContentMode)
My ADHD caused me to have insomnia as early as age eight or nine. My brain just never stops wandering, even when I am physically tired. When I do things, I finish my tasks a lot longer than most people, be it at school, at home, or at work. This is not something I’ve talked about before, because I feel as an adult, in the usual corporate profession, I feel I’d be marginalized for it. It’s not really something I want my colleagues, and my boss to know. What’s more, for ADHD people, other learning disabilities are quite common. In school I enjoyed writing essays and stories, however, I suffered from mild “Dyslexia” and when I started second grade I started to have terrible “Dyscalculia” that I still have to this day.
🗨️ MORFYDD SAID:
My dyslexia means I can’t read for long periods or the letters start moving around on the page, giving me headaches, so I have to prep more than others in shorter bursts — and when I’m home I’ve got these orange tinted glasses that I have to wear.
(via WalesOnline)
My dyslexia has progressively gotten better as I have gotten older, and I even joined spelling bees in school. But the amount of hard work I did for that was just a lot. When I joined my local school paper, I decided it’s better I just focus on “editorial cartooning” instead of writing features and news because I have trouble submitting my articles on time. My dyscalculia until now is the same. I took up “Bachelor of Computer Science”, and you could call it a miracle, but I did manage to graduate. During exams, I always leave the room last, as I have to recheck my answers again and again before I submit them. Same with writing emails at work. And when I have to read a book, I oftentimes find myself stuck on one page over and over again. I’d be reading the same lines, but my mind just flies off, so I have to either stop, or restart reading until I could concentrate. The distraction can be caused by my own thoughts, or because I’m distracted by my surroundings. It’s really hard to focus, and I think Morfydd is amazing for being able to remember her lines especially when she’s doing onstage plays.
🗨️ MORFYDD SAID:
I feel that acting really suits me because sometimes I struggle with a whole day rehearsal in a play, but film is very short moments of intense concentration. Then you can snap out of it. Also, the stakes are high. If I was going to have to do something boring like writing an essay, I can only do it under huge amounts of pressure and adrenaline. Being on set you have short bursts with pressure and it’s fun. In terms of learning lines, I will just wander around my flat or town saying them. There is no structure. I struggle when there is a structure enforced on me, that I can’t do. Within film, I am allowed to be fluid and structured within this world. I thought about that a lot with Maud. Because I thought, “Would I have been bullied a lot if I had been in an office, because I would just be annoying? Would I be fired a lot for being late?”
(via ContentMode)
The good thing about ADHD, is you have this superpower to “Hyperfocus”. This is when you would zone in on a task, happens when you have so much interest in a certain activity. Just like what Morfydd said, when she read “Saint Maud” for the first time, that she was able to finish it in one go. In that state, nothing can distract you, and I mean nothing! I would often forget the time, or my surroundings when I hyperfocus. I don’t even notice people when they call me. I’m sure it’s the same for Morfydd when it comes to acting. 😎
If you have ADHD, and you aim to meet expectations (such as graduating from school or university, being in a relationship, running a business, or keeping your job), your brain really needs to work extra hard to compensate for your lack of focus and distractibility. In short an ADHD brain tends to be a lot more fatigued, and stressed than others. It can get easier by taking your prescribed medication for ADHD, managing your time, and not forgetting to setup your reminders. Finding ways to cope with the help of recent studies are quite helpful. Support from your friends and family is very important, too!
🗨️ MORFYDD SAID:
People with ADHD find it really hard to put effort into things that they don’t find interesting. So, it’s about finding the thing that your child or person with ADHD is passionate about and finding a way to make that part of your world.”
(via ContentMode)
It’s weird to have a diagnosis from seven. It makes you feel different or other, which feeds a fascination with brains and why people are the way they are. I’m kind to myself about stuff I find difficult, because I understand why.
(via NZHerald)
There are many people, especially girls and women who struggle with this neurodevelopmental disorder and not know they actually have it. So, I do have a lot of love, respect and appreciation for Miv, especially that she talks about this publicly, and reminding others that, ‘it’s okay’. With that, I have been reminded to be kinder to myself. I was never okay with having ADHD, but when people like her talk about it, I feel not so alone anymore. 🥀
youtube
Thanks to:
ContentMode, NZHerald, The Observer, The Upcoming, BFI, Harper's Bazaar UK, Carl Marsh, BAFTA Guru, WalesOnline, ADDITUDE
Since apparently it’s ADHD Awareness Month, I thought I’d share something I wrote recently: my reaction to discovering the musical adaptation of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
I read The Lightning Thief as a young teen, though not the rest of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I’m now revisiting the series because this summer, I came across the musical soundtrack on Spotify, and then found recordings of productions on YouTube.
With music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki and a book by Joe Tracz, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is impressively faithful to the source material. Even with some changes from page to stage, the storytelling quality is fantastic (much better than the movies!). But what really surprised and impressed me was how much it resonated with me as someone who has ADD. Altogether, the musical feels like an allegory for the neurodivergent experience.
In the book, there are scattered references to ADHD and the kinds of symptoms it manifests—impulsiveness, procrastination, time blindness (demonstrated quite literally by the lotus-eaters). But the show delves much deeper into the emotional life of a person who has a learning disability or mental disorder: alienation, anger, resentment, self-blame, low self-esteem. The music matches these emotions, often angsty and sometimes harsh. The overall tone of the show is chaotic, which is how our brains and our lives can feel. The lyrics of some songs may sound like a lot of whining, but imagine the kind of real-life thought spiral that that represents. (Then imagine being frustrated with yourself after realizing how much time you just wasted on that worrying.)
What’s cool is that in the story, conditions like ADHD and dyslexia are explained to be characteristics of the demigods, because their minds are hardwired for ancient Greek, and their bodies have instincts and reflexes that would keep them alive in battle. In a very real way, the things that make them different—the things that Percy initially thinks are causing his problems and holding him back in life—turn out to be their greatest assets. That’s an empowering idea, and expressing it through music makes it even more powerful!
It's also good to see that the characters with ADHD are not stereotyped. The same condition can look different in different people, due to a variety of factors--how they are wired, the individual’s response to having it, and the kind of environment they are in. Contrast Percy, who is put through tough schools and labeled as a delinquent, and Annabeth, who trains at a camp for kids like her and is a complete perfectionist. We have different personalities, we develop different kinds of coping mechanisms, and we go on different journeys of learning to function in a world that was not designed for minds like ours.
Honestly, it feels like Percy and the other half-bloods could be speaking for all neurodivergent people. The encouragement of “Strong,” the anger and despondency of “Good Kid,” the longing for recognition and approval in “My Grand Plan,” the acceptance and conviction in “Son of Poseidon,” and the determination of “Bring on the Monsters” all ring true. Finding people with experiences like yours can feel like finding a new family and home. And Percy’s indecision in “Last Day of Summer” describes the kind of dilemma I've faced at different points in my life: whether to stay in an environment that is easier to function in, or venture into the world where we’ll have to face challenges.
You can find the soundtrack on YouTube or on Spotify. I strongly recommend seeing or listening to the musical if you or anyone you care about has AD(H)D, dyslexia, or other mental disorders or disabilities (or whatever the medically/socially acceptable terminology is now).
Even as an adult, the idea that qualities we consider weaknesses and deficits can actually be strengths is really encouraging and inspiring.
I think it’s really important to start teaching people that Attention Deficit Disorders don’t always have hyperactivity as a symptom. I’m not hyperactive at all - my lack of focus manifests more as mental restlessness for me - so I had ADHD written off as ‘definitely not’. Then I got tested for it when I was 20 and when my results came back the first thing the nurse said was “yeah it’s so severe that it’s probably a minor miracle you graduated from high school.” In most places it’s a lot easier to get tested for attention deficit disorders than autism (if only because of bureaucratic nonsense and lack of funding) so yeah if you’ve been saying to yourself “I’d say I was ADHD if it weren’t for the fact that I’m not hyperactive” go get yourself tested.
i'm an aspiring anthropologist looking to conduct research on the way adhd/add is perceived by you and the people around you!
important: you do not need to have adhd/add to participate!
also important: you have to be 18+
the goal here is to get as much data as possible from as many types of people as possible, so reblog if you can for reach, and have family members & friends fill it out too if you want
it shouldn't take too long, but the information will be important, so if you can, give it a shot :-)
Well holy hell I finally got my next prescription filled!
Took long enough! Gah-dam!
The doctor has me on a new formulation--25 mg, half immediate release, half extended release.
I will be very curious to see how this goes--because I'm not stupid enough to try it right now. It's 7pm. I have no intention of staying awake all night.
But finally, at long last, the power to focus is mine once again!
God feared me because he knew I would be too powerful if I could focus. So he nerfed me.
He was right to fear me, and he should again, because I now have CHEAT CODES!!
AND I AM GOING TO IDENTIFY AS A FUCKING PROBLEM FOR HIM!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
While I'm uncertain that this only relates to ADHD, I am certain that having ADHD intensifies the feeling. Regardless, I'm pretty sure it's the RSD acting up.
I have been having a fairly rough weekend due to migraines, and today, all I wanted was some sort of reaction to me not being active in places I usually am - but deep down I also know that what I really wanted, was for a specific person to show interest in me, and that regardless of who else did, if that person didn't, I'd end up feeling lonely and like nobody likes me.
How whacked, and completely illogical is that??!
I am so lucky to have several amazing groups of people who would all immediately give me all the support and kind words I could ever need, but because this one person apparently didn't notice that I haven't been there, none of that matters? That's not fair, my dear brain, not at all. And it's such an intense feeling too - I can feel myself begin to spiral immediately if I think about how this person didn't reach out to me.
In the end, I ended up writing this person, and they responded in reasonable time with their usual enthusiasm - but it's still just not what I wanted, is it? So now I still feel slightly hurt as I'm writing this, as illogical as it is.
Anyway, I'm also pretty certain I'm hyperfocusing on this person, and that definitely doesn't help.
(especially for gender minorities, people of colour, and lgbtq+ community!) in no particular order:
adhdinos (ryan keats): just compassion and wholesome vibes.
the mini adhd coach by alice: incredible resource that highlights diverse experiences, presentations, and comorbidities of adhd outside the stereotypes.
adhd nutritionist (becca king): if you have trouble eating because of adhd, she’s going to save your life every day with compassionate advice that actually works.
how to adhd (jessica mccabe): her ted talk was one of the things that made me realise i may have adhd. her content covers a lot of breadth and is very resourceful.
adhd couple by ingri: the perfect resource when your partner (or friends!) also have adhd.
adhd superwoman (ingrid heyerdahl): more of the inspirational type, often featuring accounts of women with adhd.
izzie and adhd by izzie: incredible candid and heartwarming blog of her own experiences, with both celebratory and difficult moments.
authentically adhd by jak: here for the adhd positivity, staying for the gorgeous queer energy.
adhd alien (pina varnel): an incredible individual and artist who needs no introduction, they were the first adhd creator the majority of us stumbled across. <3
female adhd: great resource to learn about how adhd works in afab bodies, how symptoms interact with hormones, and the distinct impact of adhd on women's experiences in our society.
elyse myers: need i say more? her #theadhdway posts remind me of the untethered joy that can come with being neurodivergent. laughter is medicine and that’s what elyse is here to remind us.
this is a working list, so come back for more. <3 I am an instagram girlie so all of these link to instagram, but most (if not all!) of these creators are on twitter, tiktok, and tumblr (!!) as well! as someone with little to no access to mental health support for adhd, they have been imperative to my survival. I hope you find some comfort in them too!
(I was gonna make a post about why I might be neurodivergent but I figured it'd be going a bit too personal. Also this is just easier)
(ADHD is much more nuanced and complex than I may make it appear in this post. A lot of ADHD people don't have a lot of these traits or have traits not mentioned here. For example there are three types of ADHD (inattentive, hyperactive and combined) and most inattentive adhders are not going to be hyperactive lol)
Warning: badly worded (I'm stupid that's my excuse). also I'll go on personal rants as to how some of these may apply to me (whilst I can reasonate with each point listed here I won't go on a rat on all of these)
Physical hyperactivity (inability to sit/stand still (I used to think this meant that people with ADHD were incapable of. Sitting down (while constantly fidgeting or not) for one whole class)(I was an idiot)(I still am)). (Just overall constant , movement (I might have it idk I'm ALWAYS
Excessive talking
Stimming, fidgeting, general and overall repetitive movements (such as flapping hands, pacing, clasping hands together, etc)
Low attention span regarding things that don't garner much interest to you
More likely to be autistic, have anxiety or depression (or generally have other diagnostic conditions)
Ability to Hyperfocus on specific things, at times out of their control
More likely to have a lower Performance in school that most people
Proneness to addiction
Rejection sensitive dysphoria/RSD (really sensitive and afraid to rejection or criticism or disapproval or stuff like that. I'm questioning if I have it and I'm pretty sure I do bc i would have a whole breakdown bc i accidentally had a bad unintentional thought about this cool person I didn't want to hate me)(it's complicated)
Emotional disregulation (easily irritable, excited, stressed, stronger emotions, more likely to lash out, etc)(people with this are usually described to be much more emotional)
restless leg syndrome (except it's permanent lol)
Lower memory spans regarding most things
Forgetting to fulfill basic needs (such as eating, drinking, showering, etc)
Women/AFAB people are more likely to be diagnosed with inattentive ADHD (this of course does not rucking mean afab people can't b hyperactive my god)
Mental hyperactivity (racing/constant/overlapping/repetitive thoughts or stuff like that)
Impulsivity (doing stuff without thinking them fully though or not knowing why)
Sensory issues (sensitivity to sensory output such as noise, brightness, etc)
Easily bored/underwhelmed/understimulated - more likely to want to seek constant dopamine (due to l
Easily overwhelmed (whether itd be due to aforementioned sensory issues, emotional disregulation, rsd or stuff like that)
More likely to be perceived as "childish" (from what I've heard obviously this and many other things listed here don't apply to everyone)
Executive dysfunction (can't do shit at all)(ok it's more complicated than that just Google it up or something)
Having Hyperfixations (things you're DEEPLY invested in for a period of time, it can be a few days, weeks, months, sometimes more than a year, depends rly)(I'm still questioning if I'm neurodivergent but like I'm pretty sure I was in a DEEP hyperfixation mode when it came to sonic for like. A YEAR. like I literally it was literally the only thing on my brain the only thing in my life. and I would get realllytyy excited about learning obscure information about it or infodumping and I would flap my hands bc of how excited and passionate I was Abt it)(man I miss the times when I was so passionate about stuff I liked it was so fun :(( )
Higher/lower levels of empathy (I've seen this moreso been brought up with discussions regarding autism but I've also seen it brought up with ADHD itself too)
Lower levels of dopamine
Impatience
More likely to be a maladaptive daydreamer
Its cause is usually heavily genetic (meaning if your family or a family member has ADHD, you are more likely to have ADHD yourself)
More likely to have insomniac/have general problems with sleep (I'm questioning ADHD. I'm writing this like... Five hours before I'm supposed to wake up for school. Great.)
There is also a higher relevance between ADHD and PTSD
If I missed something important let me know!! Also if you don't know some of he
This post is not meant to be used as a substitute for self nor professional diagnosis, though if you feel like you might have ADHD because of this post I recommend further research and conversations with trusted advisors such as parental figures or therapists/doctors (not me not listening to my own advice)(<- that was me regarding my latter advice)(I'm too scared to tell my parents about it man)(idk why)
Things to note:
ADHD is not just about little elementary school hyperactive white boys !!
There's a lot of things I mightve missed
Not everyone with ADHD has all these traits (obviously)
Some of these traits may be common due to the commonness of ADHD + autism overlap (idk though)
Apparently it's one of the most diagnosed forms of neurodivergence in kids (about 7-10% of kids in the USA are diagnosed with ADHD)(APPARENTLY idk)
The TRUTH About ADHD in Adults | The Mel Robbins Podcast
More and more adults are being diagnosed with #ADHD, so today, we are unpacking the 6 surprising signs of ADHD. I also tell you why so many women, in particular, go undiagnosed.
In this episode, we go deep into what ADHD is: a neurological disorder that affects the #brain structurally and chemically. I explain the signs and the #science behind what is going on in your brain to help you live a better life.
If you ever wondered if you have ADHD, if you feel like menopause is making it worse, or if you struggle with #anxiety, an eating disorder, or low self-esteem, you have to listen. All these might be symptoms of ADHD. This episode goes way beyond an inability to focus, because ADHD is so much more. This is an education in how your brain works, how focus works, and how to help yourself or someone in your life who may have ADHD.
Today you’ll learn: - Why women have been profoundly underdiagnosed - Four key differences between genders with ADHD - Why my diagnosis was both a blessing and a curse - The surprising way most women find out - Six symptoms of ADHD that most people don’t catch - The connection between anxiety and depression and ADHD - Resources and hacks to help you take charge over your symptoms
In addition to:
5:20: The surprising backdoor way I was diagnosed with ADHD.
8:34: What I learned about the “lost generation” that has blown me away.
10:41: A terrifyingly important statistic that led to this podcast episode.
11:45: The definition of ADHD that may make you feel better about yours.
13:51: Why are women underdiagnosed?The differences in symptoms.
23:25: This is how ADHD impacts your brain.
25:51: A really clear metaphor to explain how your brain silences noise, or doesn’t.
36:52: How is it I have ADHD, yet I can hyper-focus?
42:42: More surprising symptoms of ADHD that might make your relationships hard.
43:55: This one hack helps me get birthday gifts for others on time.
45:14 The jobs I loved because they worked well with ADHD.
49:06: Now here’s the good news!
53:06: A predictive statistic about children that you’re going to want to hear.