By Craig BroussardMany parents, friends, and other family members of ADHD sufferers often wonder what ADHD feels like – what is it that their loved one is experiencing? Since ADHD often begins in children who are unable to recognize it in themselves or are not yet old enough to properly verbalize their experiences, people are often left in the dark about what the disorder is really about.
This disorder – which is equally called ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – is often compared to driving at high speeds in the rain without windshield wipers. Consider the analogy. Everything is moving very fast, but it is all blurry. It is frustrating not to be able to see.
Sufferers of ADHD find themselves to be extremely energized all of the time. As soon as they think of something, they will act on it, and before they are finished with the first idea, a second will have appeared, and the ADHD sufferer will begin on acting on that idea as well. Soon enough, there will be a third idea, and a fourth, all inundating the ADHD patient and calling him or her to action. This makes ADHD sufferers seem impulsive and disorganized. Instead, it is actually that they are being pulled and pushed in many directions by different ideas and activities, making it feel impossible to stick to one task.
Furthermore, ADHD sufferers usually have more energy than they know what to do with. They’re always fidgeting, stretching, scratching, looking about, whistling, humming, doodling, tapping feet, drumming fingers, and doing anything else that allows for small and constant movement or activity. Though it may seem as though an ADHD sufferer is not paying attention or is uninterested in what you have to say, they may actually be listening, but they simply can’t “sit still” while they do it.
Having ADHD feels as though everything is happening at once, instead of at separate times. ADHD sufferers don’t experience the division that “normal” people can sense as time passes. Instead, time has no meaning, and everything feels as though it’s happening all at once. This makes organization, perspective, and prioritizing extremely challenging. There is a sensation of being overwhelmed, anxious, panicked, and in constant chaos. The sufferer constantly feels as though he/she is working to keep up with it all.
Simple, everyday events such as waiting in lines are miserable experiences for those with ADHD. Standing still and simply waiting one’s turn often feels utterly impossible. It brings about the inclination to simply blurt things out – whatever happens to pop into their minds at the time. This activity takes a great deal of practice and adapting to master.
What is important to remember is that ADHD sufferers are not necessarily lazy, disruptive, stubborn, impossible, stupid, or bad. They simply have a disorder that makes it very difficult to focus, sit still, and start (and continue with) long-term projects. A little bit of understanding goes a long way.
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