ADHD: down the rabbit hole we go
The things I love about my neurodivergent brain and the things that drive me mad
I was eight years old when I first realised my brain worked differently from others. When my reading test results came back higher than students four years ahead of me, my second-grade teacher had me tutor my classmates to save her time. By age ten I was placed in the advanced academic class, and despite missing large parts of Year 12 due to health issues, I graduated high school with marks in the top 10% of the state. As long as a subject genuinely captivates my interest, my brain eagerly absorbs new information.
There’s a meme circulating social media right now that says, “If you were in the 'Gifted and Talented' program at your school in the 90s, how’s your ADHD, high-functioning anxiety, and perfectionist-based procrastination going? Bonus if you’re also the eldest daughter and now fully immersed in your own spiritual journey.”
Um, hello, hi — it’s me?
ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and according to ADHD UK1, people with ADHD ‘show a persistent pattern of inattention and / or hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with day-to-day functioning or development.’ It lives under the neurodivergence umbrella, along with Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette Syndrome, and others.
A naturopath first sparked my exploration of neurodivergence in November 2022. As she reviewed my health history, she noted from a hormone test that my dopamine levels were low and inquired about the ADHD and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) diagnoses within my immediate family.
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