THE MISUNDERSTANDING CALLED 'ADHD' Sophie Hunka, Year 13, Gellhorn ADHD is one of those disorders that are really
oversharing. So dear teachers and friends, I
poorly named. ‘Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
promise I didn’t intend to be rude when I did
Disorder’, also known as “can’t sit still disease”.
these things, they’re simply in my nature. Plus,
Having ADHD myself, I don’t feel as if this label is
these things aren’t necessarily a ‘disadvantage’.
entirely accurate, in fact, my attention deficit and
Many popular actors and YouTubers have ADHD
hyperactive tendencies aren’t even the worst part
including Emma Chamberlain, Dream and Paris
of my disorder. It is only the part of my disorder
Hilton. Part of their appeal is their eccentric
that
people—particularly
personalities, demonstrating how some people
neurotypical people—either through being overly
can turn their apparent ‘disadvantage’ into an
chatty, jumping from subject to subject, or even
asset.
affects
other
just bouncing my leg. My own disorder is named on how other people perceive it. Most people
Something I wish someone gave me a heads up
probably know the key hallmarks of ADHD: a lack
that with my ADHD diagnosis, along came
of focus, daydreaming, slow at work, impulsive,
‘Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria’. This is a very
etc., but there are so many other aspects that the
extreme response to a perceived or real-life
people around me aren’t even aware of and are
rejection that one has experienced. This may
simply brushed off. It is also worth noting that a
express
lot of the symptoms or features I am discussing in
angry outbursts, low self-esteem and anxiety. This
this article are not exclusive to ADHD and may
occurs in about 99% of teens and adults who have
overlap with other disorders such as bipolar
ADHD and doctors speculate it often occurs
disorder, depression, autism and more. These are
because of an overactive brain.
itself
in
disappointment,
frustration,
just my experiences. The brain of someone with ADHD is extremely ADHD is a neurodivergent disorder that develops
overactive and hypersensitive in an attempt to
throughout childhood and is quite similar to
increase their dopamine. Any type of rejection or
autism, also being a neurodivergent. Autism and
perceived negative emotions can trigger a stress
ADHD are largely linked biologically and how
response and cause an emotional ‘overreaction’
their symptoms can overlap. A key example of
considered inappropriate for the situation. This
this is the difficulty in understanding social cues.
feature has led me to a number of uncomfortable
People with ADHD or Autism may have difficulty
situations with teachers and friends wondering
with eye contact, getting into other people's space,
why I was left hurt over a situation that they
reading when it is appropriate to speak and
considered to be normal.
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