The Stigma of ADHD

A Poem The Stigma of ADHD by Cynthia Guillory

Stop Don’t do that Uh Uh …No Leave that alone we have to go That’s what he hears…that’s what they say That’s what he hears each and every day And they always got an opinion they always got something to say They think they know how we should live and they think it’s their way And you don’t know my kid You don’t know me You don’t know us You don’t know we So we don’t want to hear what you think we got going on We don’t want to hear what you think we’re doing wrong Because this is our life…this…by the way is HIS And he’s just doing the very best he can do cause Yeah he’s a kid And his brain is doing things he can’t control and his brain is doing things He doesn’t know …HOW to handle it and by the way…neither do I …so sometimes You’ll see BOTH of us cry And that doesn’t mean that we just …don’t try …it just means that Hey sometimes you need to cry So I want you to stop and think I want you to do more than just blink when you see my kid and he can’t be still when you see my kid and something spills and he’s just a kid And his brain is overloaded and he’s just a kid and he just can’t control it …and your brain has a door that opens and closes but with his brain its always open and there’s always movement and noises And you don’t know my kid You don’t know me You don’t know us You don’t know we So mind your business when did you get an M.D. All of a sudden everyone knows him but than me Don’t ask if he took his meds or what’s going on in his head

He’s trying and believe me trying makes it harder Instead of getting closer to his goal he actually gets farther So don’t worry about the next balloon that he pops Don’t you worry about the next thing that he drops All you need to do is STOP And see who he is… instead of who he’s not and see who he is …and not just the things he does He full of dreams …and he’s full of love He wants to have friends and be on the team He wants to go to parties…not make a huge scene His emotions are on a thousand…have you ever felt like that Now multiply that by a million yeah that’s where he’s at His brain is amazing… but its too much all the time And he’s sensory overloaded not an excuse to whine He can’t get over it he can’t let it go he can’t focus on something else believe me I know. But he is my sunshine my reason to be and I feel blessed to be his mother even if you can’t see his wonderful uniqueness but just the ADHD He’s so much more …He’s funny and smart, he’s loyal and has a smile that will melt your heart. He picks himself up when he falls and tries again and again. He’s empathetic, loves his dog and really loves his friends. He lives in self-doubt with fear often near …so your whispers of judgment he need not hear. He wears his heart on his sleeve and needs lots of support. It’s a disorder not a decision that’s supported by the courts. It affects all parts of his life not just work or school. And just like every other kid he just wants to be cool. And you don’t know my kid You don’t know me You don’t know us You don’t know we And by the way you don’t know SHIT about ADHD!!!