Before I knew I had ADHD I thought the way my brain functioned was typical. I thought everyone would forget what they were saying halfway through their sentence. I thought everyone else made every impulse decision And I thought everyone experienced time-blindness in the way I do. Turns out — not everyone does.
Once I did know, everything started to make sense. It was as though I suddenly could understand why each day seemed to bring chaos into my life. The sudden rush of energy followed by debilitating mental and physical exhaustion that I would experience made sense.
The more research I did, the more clarity I had, but I also realised that something had to change. Determination kicked in and I decided that I was going to gain control over my own life back.
So I transformed my ADHD from a problem to a power, a superpower.
ADHD has a huge list of symptoms. Everyone also has a different experience and presentation. Some symptoms are of course negative. My time blindness was a problem that so far I am still struggling to manage. It felt as though no matter how early I would start to get ready, I would never be on time — unless I was 2 hours early.
Whilst I would like to say my disorganisation is a blessing — it’s not. My house is as messy as my brain is but we do our best.
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Harnessing my hyper-focusing abilities
Whilst ADHD is known to cause an inability to focus, one lesser-known symptom is hyperfocus. You know when you get really invested in a project or a task and once you look up or break the focus you realise that 4 hours have passed and your task is near complete, that’s hyperfocus. It isn’t exactly easy to trigger but when it does come, my productivity soars and often I find the ability to write multiple stories/articles within a relatively short amount of time.
Having the ability to deep-dive into my work allows me to explore ideas thoroughly and develop complex narratives which all aids me in producing high-quality content
Embracing the chaos
When I first started writing I found it increasingly difficult at times to write one story at a time. Whilst I was writing, new ideas would pop into my head and by the time I was finished writing the first piece, the idea would be gone.
Now, I embrace the chaos, often my first drafts are messy, filled with half-formed ideas, tangential thoughts and paragraphs that are entirely out-of-order. But instead of viewing this as a flaw, I now see it as a crucial part of my creative process.
The key is not to judge myself too harshly during these early stages. I allow myself the freedom to write imperfectly, knowing that I can always revise and refine later. This approach keeps me from getting stuck in the pursuit of perfection and allows me to maintain momentum in my writing. The messiness is just the raw material from which I can shape something great and formulate new ideas further along in the process.
Creativity is key
ADHD often has my brain refusing to follow a linear path, it sounds like a disadvantage and often it can be. When writing, it instead transfers into an asset. With my mind leaping from one idea to another, making connections that at first glance may not seem obvious. This provides me with the opportunity to approach topics from a unique angle that others may overlook.
Writing allows me to voice the many thoughts that zoom through my brain daily. It gives me the freedom to untangle these thoughts and express myself in ways that aren’t always possible in conversation.
Writing with Passion
ADHD often brings along something which is known as “hyperfixation”. This is where we become deeply invested in specific interests or hobbies. When one of my hyperfixations aligns with my writing, it becomes a powerful driving force. My passion for the subject matter fuels my work, making my writing more engaging and compelling.
This intensity allows me to write with authenticity and enthusiasm, which translates to a stronger connection with my readers. They can sense when I’m truly passionate about what I’m writing, and that passion can make my work more persuasive, entertaining, and impactful.
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In my writing journey, I have learned to use the symptoms of my ADHD as a skillset rather than a roadblock. I’ve found that by leaning into myself rather than ‘masking’ or shying away from it, I have become a better writer.
As I stated earlier, it’s not all roses and sunshine and for some people, there may be no benefits to their lives with ADHD. Each day I try to find ways to overcome my symptoms and ease the chaos in my life, but in my writing, I’ve found I can embrace it.
By doing so, I’ve noticed my writing improve and my enjoyment of writing. So If you too have ADHD and a passion for writing just know that sometimes your symptoms can be your skillset, you may just find that instead of hindering you, it can help you.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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From The Good Men Project on Medium
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Photo credit: Nick Morrison on Unsplash
