We don’t always hyperfocus on work, or even things that can be honestly described as “activities.” I’ve hyperfocused on listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s “so american” over and over while shredding a Goldfish bag to bits with my fingernails. I’ve hyperfocused on doodling during a midterm review because I could not make my brain write the date. Once, I hyperfocused on taxonomizing an ex-friend’s social media when I had a scene to perform in three hours in front of my entire grade. Those are just the examples off the top of my head.

Source: attention (!) deficit (!) hyperactivity (!) disorder (!)

This, every morning for your entire childhood, tends to produce an antagonistic relationship with one’s own brain. Sometimes, it feels like in order to make any mark on the world at all, you have to voluntarily scrape your nails down a big long chalkboard.

Other people call this “writing,” and debate types of chalk.

Source: attention (!) deficit (!) hyperactivity (!) disorder (!)

If you have attention problems and suspect they are ADHD, I would ask you to suspend judgment until (if, I know) you can see a professional. Whatever you do, hold other possibilities alive in your mind until that moment.

Source: attention (!) deficit (!) hyperactivity (!) disorder (!)

My ADHD has hurt people. Full stop. It has also inconvenienced people, annoyed people, and made it hard for me to live with myself. If I could immediately cure my ADHD, and all it would take was a pill that changed the fundamental profile of what I like, I would hesitate and agonize, sure.

But I would take the pill.

Source: attention (!) deficit (!) hyperactivity (!) disorder (!)

This was an emotional read, for various reasons I cannot get into in public. If you or a dear one suffers from ADHD, I cannot recommend this read enough. <3