For sufferers from ADHD like me, the focus is a real obstacle. I’m not saying we’re not capable of it, but it takes us longer to complete a task or even be able to listen when someone talks longer than 5 minutes. We know that distraction for ADHD patients doesn’t always mean you can get back to where you left off; sometimes, you have to start all over again.
We often failed at school and had no power over it. this lowered our self-esteem. We took this to adulthood, leaving us as just some shy adults flicking pens on the corner.
Although we have lots of thoughts inside to get busy with, a simple trigger like a car honk, a notification on our phones, or the clock ticking can stop us back to focus again. Long term, it can be frustrating and energy-taking, risking our professional and personal relations.
If I want to help picture it, inside an ADHD brain is like a messy room that you keep making messier by bringing new items in that you leave there. this cognitive tidy-up sounds almost impossible and disappointing, but there is nothing without a solution.
I discovered that I had ADHD at the age of 10 when I had sudden comprehension issues in mathematics. I have realized that a lack of order in my daily life makes my brain speed up the symptoms.
A simple malfunction like missing my bus can make me extremely irritated. This moment is the peak of my ADHD, and only by solving the problem can bring me back to normal. When there’s a lot of mess inside, a new one outside is never welcomed.
However, like everyone dealing with this issue, I have built coping mechanisms to keep the symptoms under control. My first attempt was practicing visual art. As a child, I was challenged in many ways to stay focused; I loved coloring books; the task kept me focused. However, as I grew up, other tasks required my focus, and that’s when I came by a new solution — Music.
I have noticed listening to music can help me organize my thoughts and recognize what has to be done in each next step to accomplish a task or solve a problem. It increases my productivity and positive attitude. As my ADHD started as a response to family trauma, music — particularly the pop genre — allowed me to hear positive words and messages and know that there are other gentle, soothing voices than the harsh ones I hear at home.
Music also helps me block other noises that cause irritation and distraction. It’s scientifically proven, too, that music is responsible for triggering Serotonin and Dopamine hormones that create a rewarding feeling which is one of the recommended methods of managing ADHD.
Emotionally, I feel like I can find my missing structure in the sequence of musical rhythms. For this reason, listening to heavy metal or techno music takes my concentration and calmness away, but most other genres tidy up the messy yarn of my thoughts. with the help of proper music, I can push the limits away and lower the risk of developing other mental problems that have common symptoms with ADHD.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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