Smart, female, severely ADHD
Smart, female, severely ADHD - wait what? Someone like me can't have ADHD. Right? Well, recently diagnosed, I decided to use #adhdawarenessmonth to shed some light on a condition that everyone seems to have an opinion on without knowing much about it. If, like me, you can't read long articles, just read sub-headlines & scroll down to the video.
ADHD is much more serious than you think:
In Europe, ADHD is under-, not over-diagnosed, esp. in females
Yes, there are also milder cases, but given the dangers of severe ADHD, it's imperative to improve diagnostic rates in Europe. While science estimates that ca. 5% of the population have ADHD, in Germany, only 1.8% are diagnosed. A lot of people suffer without knowing why. This is especially true for girls. Since they tend to have more internalized symptoms and feel more pressure to mask them, they often don't fit the hyperactive stereotype. Also, gifted kids don't always fit the struggling student stereotype and only fall apart in (early) adulthood, when they face less structure and higher demands.
There are other symptoms besides being loud & fidgety i.a.:
Everyone struggles with some of the above issues sometimes but that doesn't mean everyone has ADHD or that ADHD isn't real in the same way that everyone gets sad sometimes but not everyone has depression (yet depression is still a real thing). A diagnosis looks at frequency, magnitude & impact of symptoms. While diagnoses differentiate between primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive-/impulsive & combined types, the concrete presentations of ADHD will look differently in everyone and can change over time.
My personal highlights (lowlights?)
I could go on forever. The only thing that was more exhausting than having so many impairments was keeping up a facade about not having them. I tragically lost out on many experiences and friendships because I didn't want people to get close enough to realize the struggle. I did eventually graduate top of my class but the question was never whether I'd get an A or B but whether I'd hand in anything or nothing.
ADHD is a well-researched neurobiological divergence
Throughout my life, many people referred to me as the "smart, driven one". Yet, before the diagnosis, I called myself an idiot at least 50 times a day. In reality, ADHD doesn't affect intelligence. Some things are just harder. And that's not due to a lack of discipline, either:
ADHD can also be an asset to employers
Why the hell would I put all of the above on LinkedIn? Am I actively trying to become unemployable? The fact is, many people would tell me to shut the hell up about such a condition. There's a reason, I'm publishing this on the last possible day of the month (oh, the irony). But that intense fear of being written off is precisely why I've decided to publish after all. Writing off ADHD individuals would be stupid. The accommodations for more productivity of ADHD employees are often a minor inconvenience - flexible hours, the option to go for a walk during lunch, clear instructions & prioritizations, interim deadlines & permission to turn off notifications during certain times of the day go a long way. Also, firms can reap huge benefits from certain gifts that often accompany ADHD such as:
I didn't want to include bragging, but feel it serves a purpose here: While I spent a lot of time procrastinating, I not only eventually left uni with top grades, I had also used the time I put off studying to found an MUN society, joined several student boards, won debate awards, competed in 2 cheerleading competitions, and several half marathons. I got my first consulting gig because I was the only case study competitor that convincingly argued for a different solution than the one the firm had had in mind. I got into a Big 4 and all my performance reviews are top notch, plus I started many initiatives beyond my job description. Those make my work-life more interesting, sure, but also benefit my colleagues. Having ADHD doesn't mean someone doesn't have potential or shouldn't get a job.
Conclusion: The stigma needs to go
In order to live up to their potential long-term, however, ADHD individuals should be diagnosed. Good news: while serious, ADHD is seriously treatable. Bad news: there are very few specialists and 'normal' doctors usually know nothing of ADHD, esp. regarding how it presents in women, leading to many misdiagnoses. Education needs to be improved and waiting times (usually many months for just the 1st appointment) need to be reduced.
More importantly, though, the stigma that prevents individuals from seeing the few existing specialists needs to go. Let me be clear: Those who aren't struggling with neurobiological issues aren't stronger - they just got lucky. It's ridiculous that many Germans still judge psychiatry more harshly than prostitution. Anyone seeking a diagnosis should walk into their appointment with their head high (not feeling as though they're entering a brothel, like I did). And if it does turn out to be ADHD, they should feel free to share this information without fears of ruining their professional reputation and career.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. If you suspect you might have ADHD, I would take one of the quizzes/checklists and then decide if it's worth it to see a specialist.
The best video: Never felt more seen than by the one saying "ADHD is like being the smartest, stupidest, most motivated, laziest person in the room - all at the same time"
References:
It's all about results | Making retail processes work
2 年Thanks for sharing!
Political Communications and Campaigns @ Cosmonauts & Kings | PR #30u30
2 年Thank you for your courage!
+7 years in Web3 ????
2 年??
Solution Engineer at Tableau, a Salesforce company
2 年Thank you for being so open and vulnerable Christina! And also for summarizing everything so comprehensively. I am certain this will help a lot of people. Especially in being more empathetic with their fellow human beings. ??