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How to ADHDAn Insider’s Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It) By Jessica McCabe
Another Insider's Book Review, Summary, and insights Chapter 2
Chapter 2 starts with ADD becoming ADHD. She explains that the term Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder felt weird to her. She did not fit the image of a boy bouncing off the walls stereotypical image. She was a daydreamer. She learned about the types of ADHD, inattentive, hyperactive, and combined. She began researching and found out about executive function dysfunction and motivation deficit being part of ADHD. That was when she realized the struggles he had throughout life were real. This was not just a focus issue, it is a brain impairment that affects more than just the ability to focus. She had been seeing a doctor regularly to get the refills on her focus medication but had never been told any of this. “How was this possible?” she thought.
She began covering an aspect of ADHD each week on her YouTube channel. She was happy to learn yet it grieved her to know that she had been living without this knowledge for years. She writes about tears streaming down her face mourning for herself going through life feeling like she was doing everything wrong. This gave her the passion to let people learn from her experience so that others do not have to feel this pain.
What Jessica Learned
Research takes a long time to be published and make it to those who need it. Sometimes so long that the information is outdated before it is properly circulated.
People do not take ADHD seriously. It is not covered well in medical training. It is a joke to many.
Misinformation is everywhere. The truth is complicated.
The Truth
ADHD is not a deficit of attention. It is a lack of control of the intensity of focus and what is focused on.
You don’t have to look hyperactive. ADHD presents as both mental and physical hyperactivity.
ADHD is a NEUROLOGICAL issue NOT a BEHAVIORAL. The nervous system, which includes the brain, develops and functions differently. This causes some differences in behavior.
ADHD has a serious impact! It is not just a cute quirk. People with ADHD have a shorter life expectancy by 12 years. It affects multiple aspects of our lives daily.
There is no “one” solution. ADHD is not curable. It is treatable with the combination of treatment options unique to the individual. These treatments may include, medication, education, skill training, therapy, coaching, and support.
The Stigma (misunderstandings and misconceptions) cause people to not get diagnosis or proper treatment such as medication.
People with ADHD are held to the same standards as neurotypicals and punished when we don’t. We mask, force ourselves, self medicate to try to meet the standards and pay the price later.
Our struggle is not recognized, even by ourselves, because “everyone struggles sometimes” is true. However the extent of the struggle and the negative consequences go unnoticed.
With support people with ADHD can become very successful. Without support our lives can be a nightmare.
The Toolbox
Take ADHD seriously! Recognize the challenges, be honest with yourself and others.
Connect with others. Meeting and talking with others with ADHD, in person or virtually, has a normalizing effect.
Work with your brain, not against it. Don’t try harder, try something different.
Keep going. Do not let the challenge stop you from living your best life.
This insider’s insights from Chapter 2
ADHD is a serious neurological condition that can be debilitating if left untreated and not taken seriously. The toll on our minds and bodies takes years off our lives. The treatment takes commitment and support. It’s not a joke, it is actually disheartening when thinking of how many people are living a life trying desperately just to appear “normal” while feeling like a complete and total failure. The fact that we are expected to meet life’s expectations as if nothing is different and then punished because there is something different is a hard way to live life. That’s probably why we make it a joke sometimes.
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