this article by @triplejHack resonates deeply with me. I'll explain in the following thread why. #livingwithADHD #ADHDAwarenessMonth #ADHDwomen https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/adhd-survey-stigma-diagnosis/12823934?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf239398389&utm_campaign=abc_australia&utm_source=m.facebook.com&sf239398389=1&fbclid=IwAR0Mb_mh5ScOFxIl7VpOyeMvSLINsbEFE17s848pYS2plViUIb9YjSOf4DE

I have ADHD, inattentive type. I regularly get told "but you're not hyperactive or crazy, and you're smart! How do you even have ADHD?"
Honestly, it shits me to no end. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 6. And it's not something that just disappears as an adult.

ADHD is much more complex than just being hyperactive. Our brains are wired differently. However, I also don't like being labelled as a disorder or abnormal - as the article says 1 million Australians have it - we just think a bit differently than "normal" (but what IS normal?)

ADHD can be a spectrum, some traits are stronger than others, which may also be entwined with other neuro-diverse conditions. Just because someone has ADHD doesn't automatically mean they are emotional/hyperactive/socially awkward/immature/impulsive etc.

They MAY carry some of these traits, they may not. Some traits may be stronger than others. No one's ADHD is the same.
And something that especially pisses me off about the stigma surrounding ADHD is that it means you're dumb and will never amount to anything. I. HATE. THAT.

Yes the road to "success" may be more rocky for those with ADHD, but it is not impossible. Since people with ADHD are wired a bit differently, its a matter of working out how to "work with what you've got".

For some people it's medication, for others (like myself) occupational therapy is key. For others it's a combination. Early intervention is key. Personally, I'm a firm believer that developing skills to "tap into your ADHD brain" & how to "work with" your traits are essential.

Living with ADHD can be rough, but it doesn't have to be. A few people very close to me really struggle with it, and it breaks my heart. Ridding the stigma around ADHD will go a long way in making the ADHD life that much easier.

There is an 80-90% chance my girls will have ADHD. I don't want them to fear it. I want them to be empowered to embrace it.
#ADHDAwarenessMonth

thanks, @triplejHack, for publishing this article. Over recent years I've not actively hid having #ADHD, but I'm not sure I've fully embraced it, either. Thanks for helping to get rid of the stigma #ADHDAwarenessMonth #ADHDwomen