❤️ ADHD Part 2

I wanted to explain a little to you all about my disability ADHD.

The reason behind this is primarily i want to raise awareness of my disability. Secondly, I have a lot of symptoms you may not be aware are symptoms. You may believe I am being rude or inappropriate. This is never my intention and although I have worked on the symptoms of my condition which cause this, I still cannot control these symptoms.

You may notice I fidget and move a lot. Unless I am holding the meeting, and therefore doing most of the communicating, I will struggle to sit down for more than 45 minutes.

I have never attended a course, meeting, seminar, conference nor sat an exam without getting up to go to the toilet. I don’t necessarily need the toilet. But I need to get up and move. If I neglect to do this, my fidgeting only gets worse and I will begin to distract others. I have a lot of internal conflict on whether it’s acceptable to get up to go to the toilet yet again!

Getting up and having a short break enables me to remain more calm whilst having to sit and be quiet.

I tend to bounce my leg, twist my hair, swivel from left to right on my desk chair or move my hands. I try to do the latter the least, as I’m aware my jewellery will make noise and distract others even more.

I need frequent breaks, so will try to leave my desk once an hour, maybe for a little chat, or to make a drink or have a cigarette. 

I don’t generally take an hour for lunch. I tend to buy food, return to my desk and eat and work Simultaneously. I do this so I am able to have these regular breaks.

Without regular breaks I end up zoning out, I am unable to concentrate, my already poor short term memory gets worst and I’ll be completely unproductive.

I also interrupt people when they haven’t finished talking. Again, when I first interrupt I do realise this and I’ll
Stop. But I cannot stop interrupting. My brain works faster than Lewis Hamilton drives at the grande prix, so before I can think about it, I’ve already spoken.

You may notice me pinching my lips. I do this to prevent myself from interrupting you and further.

My short term memory isn’t the best. The most effective way to cope with this at work is to email me any requests of what you require me to do. You could catch me as I am walking to my desk and ask me to do something. 30 seconds later my mind is filled with cats, pink, glitter and unicorns and your request has long gone. 

If you email me,’it will remain in my inbox until I’ve actioned it, and will not be forgot.

I also sometimes don’t think about how I phrase what I’m trying to say. I just blurt out what’s in my head. To be honest, you’ll be thinking the same thing, you just have the ability to think about this and phrase it in a more diplomatic way.

Sometimes I’ve been called up for saying things I could have worded more diplomatically. Again, my brain and mouth function before I think about what I am trying to get across. This is another reason I prefer written communication as i am able to read through this before sending, preventing this symptom.

If I do stop fidgeting and appear to be paying   Attention, do not be fooled. I am not paying attention. I’ve zoned out and I am away with the fairies. Give me a nudge to go take my meds! I’ll perk up within half an hour of doing so.