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ADHD in the Black community needs to be discussed WAAAAAY more.
There are so many that are undiagnosed right now, going through life confused as to why they feel crazy, why their mind won't ever settle, why they can't sit still, why making lists never really helps, why they struggle w/ focus, why they feel more strongly than everyone else....
The fact that I found out I had ADHD at 22 goes to show how underdiagnosed Black women are.
The topic was brought up when I was younger and shoo'd away by parents who didn't believe in ADHD. I truly recall my mother saying "By the grace of God, nothing is wrong with my baby."
The topic was brought up when I was younger and shoo'd away by parents who didn't believe in ADHD. I truly recall my mother saying "By the grace of God, nothing is wrong with my baby."
Here's the thing... having ADHD doesn't mean "something is wrong".
It means something is DIFFERENT. Our brains are wired completely different than the average neurotypical person. We think uniquely. We solve problems differently. This is why ADHD is a superpower.
It means something is DIFFERENT. Our brains are wired completely different than the average neurotypical person. We think uniquely. We solve problems differently. This is why ADHD is a superpower.
Back to the topic at hand, ADHD symptoms in black children are often assumed to be perceived discipline or hometraining problems.
Me struggling to make eye contact with a teacher is assumed that my parents didn't teach me respect, when really I can't concentrate on your words.
Me struggling to make eye contact with a teacher is assumed that my parents didn't teach me respect, when really I can't concentrate on your words.
Everything happens for a reason, but I really wish that I would have learned about ADHD in myself years ago.
So much frustration & sadness could have been avoided.
I often think about school and how my performance in subjects like math/cs suffered. Could medicine have helped?
So much frustration & sadness could have been avoided.
I often think about school and how my performance in subjects like math/cs suffered. Could medicine have helped?
All in all, I'm happy that I know now and I encourage everyone to do research if you think you might have it. Talk to a professional.
Knowledge is better than ignorance.
It's better to know than not.
Learning about ADHD has taught me soooo much about myself.
Knowledge is better than ignorance.
It's better to know than not.
Learning about ADHD has taught me soooo much about myself.
Senior year at Spelman, I really knew that I had ADHD. I've always been the person that takes 12947272 years to start and complete an assignment. I would sit down to complete something but I just couldn't, no matter how hard I tried. I always thought it was laziness...
I really thought senioritis was just doing its thing. It was time for finals and I still hadn't wrote a 10 page paper the night before it was due.
During midterms and finals, adderall is EVERYWHERE. I had never used it before but I was terrified that I would not finish.
During midterms and finals, adderall is EVERYWHERE. I had never used it before but I was terrified that I would not finish.
I had several friends warn me about the effects of Adderall.
"Prepare to be wired"
"Prepare to be up ALL NIGHT"
"Brace yourself for the crash after the medicine wears off."
"Prepare to be wired"
"Prepare to be up ALL NIGHT"
"Brace yourself for the crash after the medicine wears off."
I took it and felt a tiny inner push to be productive.
Meanwhile, my friends were like this:
Meanwhile, my friends were like this:
Imagine me taking the same pill and being like:
Me to my friends: I must have ADHD for real LMAOOO this shit ain't working
I finished the assignment.
I didn't feel wired awake ... AT ALL. In fact, I went back to my dorm and slept like a baby.
I woke up the next day waiting for the "adderall hangover" to happen.... it didn't. I felt 100% fine.
Me:
I didn't feel wired awake ... AT ALL. In fact, I went back to my dorm and slept like a baby.
I woke up the next day waiting for the "adderall hangover" to happen.... it didn't. I felt 100% fine.
Me:
My intuition is never wrong. I knew then that I had ADHD.
I went online and took a few different tests and quizzes and every single one ended with me ranking high for ADHD. (keep in mind tests doesn't = diagnosis)
I went online and took a few different tests and quizzes and every single one ended with me ranking high for ADHD. (keep in mind tests doesn't = diagnosis)
I went to a counselor at Spelman to talk about wanting to get tested officially for ADHD & the response turned me off completely.
I was told "Curiosity killed the cat. What would your employer think if they knew. Sometimes it's better to just let it be."
I was told "Curiosity killed the cat. What would your employer think if they knew. Sometimes it's better to just let it be."
This really fucked me up. I felt crazy because I wanted to know officially but I waaaas about to start my first big girl job and I didn't want to ruin anything. So I swallowed it & finished senior year without getting tested.
Fast forward, I graduate from Spelman and start my full time role. It was three months in and I was finding that I still couldn't concentrate on finishing basic tasks. I was getting super overwhelmed hearing all of the office chatter while trying to focus on my own screen.
Like undergrad, I was taking super long to complete basic tasks. I got to sessions early so I could snag a front seat during trainings because I couldn't pay attention when seated in the back. I was freaking out because I fought so hard for the job & i felt like I was fumbling.
I'd accidentally get los t reading an email thread for an hour without realizing it. After realizing I'd wasted an hour, I'd make it up later even if it meant me working more than 8 hours. As a result, I felt myself burning out three months into the role.
At this point I knew it wasn't laziness.
It wasn't senioritis. There had to be something else at play.
Once again, I knew that I coudn't continue to ignore my gut feeling about ADHD. I joined my company's Disability employee group & tuned into the ADHD channel
LIFE CHANGING OK
It wasn't senioritis. There had to be something else at play.
Once again, I knew that I coudn't continue to ignore my gut feeling about ADHD. I joined my company's Disability employee group & tuned into the ADHD channel
LIFE CHANGING OK
In this group chat, I saw people sharing their stories about dealing with ADHD at work. I related to EVERYTHING.
The group had lots of resources and tips for learning more information, getting tested, staying productive. I wrote a post about what I'd been struggling with+
The group had lots of resources and tips for learning more information, getting tested, staying productive. I wrote a post about what I'd been struggling with+
and SO many people commented, messaged me on the side with advice and tips and kindness. I cried my ass off. I truly felt like I had finally found a community to identify with. I was in a group filled with people who get it.
I decided to go get professional help.
- I've been in talk-therapy since December. I didn't want medication shoved at me without me understanding by a psychiatrist.
- My therapist is a Black woman, LMHP here in Charlotte and AMAZING. http://fullscopecounseling.com/services.html
- I've been in talk-therapy since December. I didn't want medication shoved at me without me understanding by a psychiatrist.
- My therapist is a Black woman, LMHP here in Charlotte and AMAZING. http://fullscopecounseling.com/services.html
I called her and told her that I had done research & was 99% sure that I had ADHD. We set up a session or two.
One session in and she was like..... yeah girl, you DEFINITELY have ADHD.
One session in and she was like..... yeah girl, you DEFINITELY have ADHD.
With her assistance, I learned more about ADHD but more importantly I've been learning to accept how to be OKAY + how to create systems of structures so that I am able to function without being paralyzed by overwhelm.
I disclosed my disability to my employer. I'm so happy I ignored that shitty counselor's advice.
Why? My employer hooked me up with an ADHD Coach, a professional who helps you come up with ways to handle the responsibilities & activities made harder by your ADHD symptoms.
Why? My employer hooked me up with an ADHD Coach, a professional who helps you come up with ways to handle the responsibilities & activities made harder by your ADHD symptoms.
Through my employer, I got 12 weeks of coaching for my ADHD set up and paid for THROUGH THEM.
I worked with a coach to come up with strategies and tricks for organization and dealing with stress in the workplace. I'm still a work in progress, but I can sincerely say IT HELPS.
I worked with a coach to come up with strategies and tricks for organization and dealing with stress in the workplace. I'm still a work in progress, but I can sincerely say IT HELPS.
http://coachforfreedom.com/ ---> Here's the coach I worked with! 10/10 truly.
I finished my last session two weeks ago and was so sad :(
Coach Pete was truly godsent and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work with him. He taught me to stop speaking super negatively about myself & to instead use more empowering language.
Coach Pete was truly godsent and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work with him. He taught me to stop speaking super negatively about myself & to instead use more empowering language.
Not only was Coach Pete super understanding, but he was also sensitive to my intersectionality. He always made sure to ask how current events were impacting my thoughts + ability to do work as Black woman & we'd come up with a way to approach it. http://coachforfreedom.com/
Through months of therapy & weeks of coaching, I can truly say that I have not felt the paralyzing sense of overwhelm that left me depressed Fall-Winter 2019.
I'm still a work in progress. I'm working on my attentiveness. I'm working on teaching my family and friends about this and how it impacts relationships. I'll be talking with a psychiatrist soon about medication.
If you resonated with anything in this thread, know I'm here!!
If you resonated with anything in this thread, know I'm here!!
Some social resources I've found:
- @blkgirllostkeys -> black woman ran adhd blog + tips/tricks
- @ADHD_Alien -> ADHD comics, I LOVE. These comics have helped me when showing my family and friends my experience.
- @HowtoADHD -> Youtuber with LOTS of content on "how to" ADHD
- @blkgirllostkeys -> black woman ran adhd blog + tips/tricks
- @ADHD_Alien -> ADHD comics, I LOVE. These comics have helped me when showing my family and friends my experience.
- @HowtoADHD -> Youtuber with LOTS of content on "how to" ADHD
More resources:
- Get headphones that truly noise cancel like Microsoft Surface headphones.
- Listen to ADHD/ADD Relief Music when trying to study or focus on completing a task.
Here is my favorite one:
- Get headphones that truly noise cancel like Microsoft Surface headphones.
- Listen to ADHD/ADD Relief Music when trying to study or focus on completing a task.
Here is my favorite one:
These tracks by @MindAmend are AMAZING. I truly am able to sit still and work when I listen to these!!!!!! (listen in headphones)
