RSD makes everyday, non-threatening social encounters incredibly stressful. Because of RSD, I’ve missed one too many social activities to avoid dealing with the emotional fallout of potential rejection. Horrified that I would say or do something wrong, I would decline invitations from friends or skip optional work activities. My friendships and intimate relationships suffered as a result.

A change of plans, even if rational, would send me into a panic. My mind raced with catastrophic worst-case scenarios – beyond “this person doesn’t like me.” I scanned facial expressions for the slightest hint of negativity to confirm my irrational thoughts. At work, I second-guessed every decision and comment from coworkers, constantly fearing I’d be fired. As someone highly sensitive to feedback due to ADHD, perceived rejection or even constructive criticism felt unbearable and left deep emotional wounds.

Overcoming Rejection Sensitivity with Mindfulness

It took realizing that I was experiencing RSD in the first place for things to improvement to begin. Awareness of the biological roots of my intense reactions helped reduce my shame over what felt like a personal failing. But knowledge alone doesn’t always curb anxious thoughts in the moment. That’s where mindfulness steps in.

Mindfulness teaches you to observe your thoughts and feelings in the present moment without judgment. The idea is this: Pausing to observe calms intense emotions and provides space to avoid getting carried away by them. Below, I share a few mindfulness practices that have helped me cope with RSD.

[Get This Free Download: Understanding Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria]

1. Get Moving

At first, I struggled to literally sit still with racing RSD-fueled thoughts for more than a few minutes. I learned that it’s easier to enter a state of mindfulness while I walk. As I walk, I notice physical sensations to anchor my attention to, like my every inhale and exhale and the contact my feet make against the ground. Tracking small details is such an effective distraction from worrying narratives. Over time, I was able to sustain non-reactive awareness for longer periods.

2. Thoughtfully Question

Mindfulness also helps me recognize the cognitive distortions behind RSD. I learned to question whether my perceptions line up with facts. Was someone really angry at me just because their voice sounded off? Why assume the worst with little evidence? Approaching each situation with the willingness to question my reactions, again and again, eventually grew easier.

3. Write It Out

What is writing, if not a pure exercise in mindfulness? The process of channeling thoughts onto paper forces me to slow down, name what I’m feeling, and eventually look for a balanced perspective rather than stew in emotion.

4. Kind Self-Talk

Whether you’re walking or writing, kind self-talk is part of mindfulness. The trick is breaking patterns of harsh criticism after setbacks and replacing those with a thought or two about what went well. Learning to notice and appreciating small social wins boosted my confidence and made future interactions easier.

[Read: The Power of Positive Self-Talk — Increase Productivity and Happiness]

Today, RSD still comes, but I’m armed with coping skills. When anxiety rises, I breathe deeply and shift focus outward rather than spiraling inward. I try my best to pause before I react and stretch the space between desire and action. I accept uncertainty instead of constantly seeking reassurance that only prolongs distress. I don’t always get it right, and RSD sometimes gets the best of me, but regularly practicing mindfulness has undoubtedly upped my emotional resilience. Most importantly, I’m learning to be gentle with myself.

Overcoming Rejection Sensitivity with ADHD: Next Steps

• Get This Free Download: Emotional Regulation & Anger Management Scripts
• Read: “I Can’t Handle Rejection. Will I Ever Change?”
• Read: How Fear of Failure & Rejection Keep Us from Trying New Things

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Stimulant medication may normalize certain brain regions impacted by ADHD in children, according to a cross-sectional neuroimaging study of 7,126 children aged 9 to 10 recently published in Neuropsychopharmacology.¹

Study participants were divided into three groups. The “no-med ADHD” group included 1,002 children with severe ADHD symptoms who were not taking stimulant medication. The “stim low-ADHD” group included 273 children whose ADHD symptoms were mild and well-managed with stimulant medication. The “TDC” group included 5,378 typically developing controls.

ADHD symptoms experienced by the no-med ADHD group were associated with brain structure abnormalities not seen in the TDC or stim low-ADHD group, including:

• lower cortical thickness in the insula (INS), a brain area associated with saliency detection or the ability to prioritize information
• less grey matter volume in the nuclear accumbens (NAc), a brain area associated with reward processing and motivation

Children in the stim low-ADHD group showed no significant differences in these brain areas compared to controls. This contrast in structural MRIs suggests that stimulant medication may work to normalize some (but not all) brain regions and improve symptoms in children with ADHD.

Stimulant medication was not associated with improvement in all brain regions. Among those not impacted were the following:

• the caudate (CAU), a brain area responsible for motor control
• the amygdala (AMY), a brain area responsible for emotions

“This result is consistent with previous studies,” the researchers wrote. “Reduced volume in children with ADHD in the CAU is one of the most replicated findings in sMRI studies. No effect of stimulant medications was found in the CAU in the participants with ADHD in several cross-sectional studies. Along the same lines, longitudinal studies on children pointed to the improvement of volumes in the CAU associated with age but not stimulant medications… and two previous studies also pointed out there was no effect of stimulant medications on the AMY.”

Non-stimulant medication did not significantly impact brain structure.

A separate validation analysis included 273 participants with high ADHD symptoms who were taking stimulant medication; the results were consistent with the main study and still suggested that stimulant medication had a positive and noticeable effect on the brain structure of children in this group compared to the no-med ADHD group, even though both groups had high symptom severity at the time of the study.

“These findings are important for the treatment of children with ADHD using stimulant medication,” the researchers wrote.

Stimulant Medication & the ADHD Brain

Stimulants are the first-line treatment for ADHD in children aged 6 and older, teens, and adults. However, some people with ADHD discontinue medication due to side effects. The most common side effects reported by caregivers in ADDitude’s 2023 treatment survey were appetite suppression, irritability or moodiness, and sleep problems.

“Our current medication treatments for ADHD work quite well, but unfortunately, many children stop the treatment or stop taking medication,” said Jonathan Posner, M.D., in his 2020 ADDitude webinar, “Secrets of the ADHD Brain: How Brain Imaging Helps Us Understand and Treat Attention Deficit.” “In fact, the majority of teenagers with ADHD will stop treatment within two years.”

Understanding the parts of the brain that are impacted by stimulant medication can help refine treatment and determine “which of those changes are responsible for symptom improvement versus side effects,” Posner said.

“One of the things that brain imaging has shown is that the development of the brain in children with ADHD seems to be somewhat delayed,” Posner said. “But the overall course of development in children with ADHD versus without ADHD is very similar. It’s almost as if the ADHD brain is a couple of years behind. The very optimistic part of this is that it ultimately does catch up for most children with ADHD.”

For the majority of patients, ADHD symptoms do continue into adulthood, and the prevalence of ADHD in adults is rising. ^{2, 3} However, the present study confirmed Posner’s observations and found that children with even severe ADHD caught up developmentally for the region of the brain responsible for prioritizing information.

MRI scans showed greater cortical thickness in the INS region for the stim-low ADHD group and TDC group compared to the no-med ADHD group. However, data from a two-year follow-up analysis showed these differences were no longer present. Development of the INS is complicated, the researchers noted, but they suggested that “the No-Med group has delayed INS development at baseline, which eventually catches up to the other children.” Researchers theorize that stimulant medication may speed up this process and will continue to follow up with children over the next few years.

Limitations & Future Research

Participant data was obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, an ongoing study since 2019 that will follow children over 10 years. Data was obtained via structural MRIs and symptom questionnaires and analyzed using linear mixed-effects models (LMM). The study included measures of cortical thickness, cortical area, cortical and subcortical volumes, and total intracranial volume.

The ABCD study lacked diagnostic information for ADHD; therefore, researchers grouped participants using latent class analysis (LCA) and 18 ADHD symptoms from the K-SADS — a moderately reliable test of affective disorders and schizophrenia. Children with bipolar disorders and anxiety disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and conduct disorders were excluded from the study.

Results indicate that stimulant medication may enhance brain structure and alleviate ADHD symptoms; however, this study was cross-sectional and did not establish clear causation. Information on the mean dose and duration of participants’ stimulant medication use was missing from the study. Additionally, researchers warned that the study did not fully capture the association between brain structure and ADHD severity. The stim-low ADHD group was much smaller than the other two groups, which may have hindered the study’s results. The two-year follow-up (in line with ABCD study release 4.0) included fewer participants (3,992 after exclusion criteria). Results should be interpreted with caution.

Future research should further incorporate supplemental data on stimulant use, study stimulant use by patients with severe ADHD, and include more longitudinal data.

Sources

¹Wu, F., Zhang, W., Ji, W. et al. (2024). Stimulant medications in children with ADHD normalize the structure of brain regions associated with attention and reward. Neuropsychopharmacol, 49, 1330–1340. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-024-01831-4

²U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, October 4). ADHD in adults: an overview.
https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/articles/adhd-across-the-lifetime.html

³American Psychiatric Association. (2019, November 15). ADHD increasing among adults.
https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/adhd-increasing-among-adults

Running late again? Missing appointments and deadlines? Losing focus and motivation for tasks? And where did you put those car keys? It’s no secret that people with ADHD often bear the burden of living with these and other functional impairments caused by executive function (EF) weaknesses.

Executive function is a set of skills that allow people to plan for short- and long-term goals, make adjustments to meet those goals, manage time effectively, remember what they’ve heard and read, and exhibit self-control. In many people with ADHD, executive function doesn’t work as it should because the parts of the brain that control these skills are impacted by ADHD. And that affects everyday actions like making decisions, meeting financial responsibilities, adapting behavior in response to a changing environment, and navigating relationship dynamics. But there are strategies you can employ to improve these skills for better results.

In this webinar, you will learn:

• About the cognitive skills that define executive function
• About the brain-based mechanisms that cause many people with ADHD to have weak executive function skills
• How working memory difficulties can manifest in workplace settings, social interactions, and personal organization, leading to common struggles such as forgetfulness, procrastination, and difficulty in planning
• Whether these challenges evolve with age and how adults with ADHD can adapt to or mitigate these changes over time
• About practical strategies and interventions to develop skills that enhance executive function and working memory

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Executive Functioning in Adults: More Resources

• Self-Test: Do You Have a Working Memory Deficit?
• Read: 7 Executive Function Deficits Tied to ADHD
• Read: How Adults with ADHD Think
• eBook: The Adult’s Guide to Stronger Executive Functions

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on December 5, 2024, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »

Meet the Expert Speaker

Peg Dawson, Ed.D., NCSP, received her doctorate in school/child clinical psychology from the University of Virginia. She worked as a school psychologist in Maine and New Hampshire, and recently retired after 30 years at the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she specialized in the assessment of children and adults with learning and attention disorders. Along with her colleague, Dr. Richard Guare, she has authored many books on the topic of executive skills, including The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success, a self-help book for adults who want to strengthen their executive skills.

#CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Webinar Sponsor

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Struggling to keep track of tasks or organize your thoughts? You’re not alone. For adults with ADHD, working memory and executive function challenges can make daily life feel overwhelming. That’s where Inflow comes in. Our science-backed app offers targeted insights and brain hacks to strengthen your mental juggling skills and boost your ability to plan, prioritize, and follow through. Ready to unlock your brain’s full potential? Take our free quiz today and start your journey to better cognitive control.

ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.

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Boredom causes a heightened stress response in impulsive people, as evidenced by the elevated cortisol levels documented in new research published in Physiology & Behavior.¹ The research deepens the scientific community’s understanding of the interplay between impulsivity and boredom, suggesting that this relationship may be mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

“This research suggests that the lived experience of boredom feels more intense and aversive for people who are highly impulsive, transforming into an overwhelming need to escape that boredom,” explained Matt Parker, Ph.D., the study’s senior author and a neuroscientist at the University of Surrey.

The research comprised two studies. ​​The first, in which participants completed a dull task and self-reported levels of boredom, confirmed previous findings that individuals who identify as impulsive are more prone to boredom than are others. ^{2, 3,4,5}

In the second study, researchers tested the levels of salivary cortisol in a portion of these participants, both before and after they completed the boring task. They found that cortisol levels were higher in those who had trait impulsivity, indicating activation of the HPA axis.

These studies help researchers more fully understand the feedback loop that can occur between impulsivity, stress, and boredom. Not only are highly impulsive people more prone to boredom, but boredom often leads to impulsivity ⁶ and to a stress response.⁷ Stress, in turn, increases impulsivity, keeping the cycle in motion.

“These findings offer promise for personalized interventions, designed for high-impulsivity individuals, to alleviate the negative impacts of boredom and potentially break the identified feedback loop,” explained the study’s authors.

Risks of Chronic Stress Response

The study’s authors write that boredom remains understudied in psychiatric research despite having “significant implications for mental health, and cognitive functioning.” In highly impulsive people, Parker explains, the intense drive to avoid boredom leads to maladaptive coping strategies including risk-taking behaviors and substance use, which sometimes alleviate boredom and reduce stress in the short term, but rarely in the long term.

This, combined with the evidence of a heightened stress response associated with boredom in impulsive people, underlines the importance of discovering effective interventions. “If people undergo chronic stress over a long period of time, and there is prolonged activation of that HPA axis, there is increased risk for cardiovascular disease, weakened immune function, and mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression,” Parker said. “The best interventions may focus on stress-management techniques, things that are designed to reduce stress axis response.”

The new studies offer insight into an experience described by ADDitude readers who call ADHD boredom intensely aversive and acutely stressful.

“I experience boredom as a profound inner restlessness,” said Jenn, an ADDitude reader in Missouri. “It isn’t just like I want to do something else; it’s like I must do something else. It’s like the restlessness is crawling under my skin.”

“Boredom feels like there is this engine running inside of me telling me to push on the gas pedal but the brakes are on, so there is smoke coming from my car,” said another ADDitude reader, Marta, from the United Kingdom.

Natalie, a reader in Pennsylvania, said: “Boredom translates to agitation, physical discomfort in my own skin, anxiety, and feeling lost — panicked, trapped-in-a-horror-movie-and-can’t-find-the-exit lost.”

Sources

¹J.M.Clay,  J.I. Badariotti, N. Kozhushko, M.O. Parker, HPA activity mediates the link between trait impulsivity and boredom, Physiology & Behavior, 284 (2024), 114637, ISSN 0031-9384, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114637.

²C.J. Gerritsen, M.E. Toplak, J. Sciaraffa, J. Eastwood. I can’t get no satisfaction: Potential causes of boredom. Conscious Cogn, 27 (2014), pp. 27-41, 10.1016/j.concog.2013.10.001

³J. Isacescu, A.A. Struk, J. Danckert. Cognitive and affective predictors of boredom proneness. Cogn Emot, 31 (2017), pp. 1741-1748, 10.1080/02699931.2016.1259995

⁴A.A. Struk, A.A. Scholer, J. Danckert. A self-regulatory approach to understanding boredom proneness. Cogn Emot, 30 (2016), pp. 1388-1401, 10.1080/02699931.2015.1064363

⁵J.D. Watt, S.J. Vodanovich.Relationship between boredom proneness and impulsivity. Psychol Rep, 70 (1992), pp. 688-690, 10.2466/pr0.1992.70.3.688

⁶A.B. Moynihan, E.R. Igou, W.A.P. van Tilburg. Boredom increases impulsiveness: A meaning-regulation perspective. Soc Psychol, 48 (2017), pp. 293-309, 10.1027/1864-9335/a000317

⁷A.A. Moustafa, R. Tindle, D. Frydecka, B. Misiak. Impulsivity and its relationship with anxiety, depression and stress. Compr Psychiatry, 74 (2017), pp. 173-179, 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.01.013

Strong self-advocacy skills — i.e., the ability to ask for and secure support when it matters — is a strong indicator of success for people with ADHD. Everything from executive dysfunction to the emotional impact of ADHD and its comorbidities are made more manageable with the right kind of help. But the same ADHD characteristics that make assistance so important also make asking for it really tough.

So we asked ADDitude readers to share their experiences with self-advocacy and offer any tips, hacks, or hints that have helped them get helpful help. Here’s what they told us:

Why We Ask for Help

“I see requests for help as opportunities to build relationships and connections.” —Catherine, Washington

“When I ask for help, it makes me feel like a failure. But I remind myself that I need to set an example for my kids, so I will ask my husband for help by explaining that I need to prioritize something else so can he please cook dinner?” —Kate, Australia

[Read: The Fear of Failure Is Real — and Profound]

“I’m midlife and the gig of doing it all by myself is up: I have crashed and have to ask for help now. The trick is choosing relationships in every area of life with people who have high standards of relations, reciprocity, and compassion. I choose now, rather than hoping others will get me. It changes everything!” —An ADDitude Reader

“I think having a background in addiction recovery is an asset to ADHD coping. I am already aware that in some areas, I need support outside of myself. Therefore, I am already practiced in asking for support. I know that if I try to cope on my own, it may lead to unhealthy behaviors.” —Krysta, Canada

“I have a 15-minute rule. If I am stuck for more than 15 minutes, I ask for help. I instill this in my employees as well. Asking for help tells me that they are comfortable with communication, and humble.” —John, Florida

“If I notice my RSD is preventing me from asking for support, that often indicates that I’m not getting what I need from that relationship to feel safe.” —AJ, Utah

[Read: How ADHD Ignites RSD – Meaning & Medication Solutions]

How We Ask for Help

“I prefer typing out a text or email rather than orally asking for help, but if text/email is not an option, writing a script can help me prepare for a face-to-face request.” —Chandler, Pennsylvania

“Ask for something super tiny to get practice at asking for help.” —Katrina, Australia

“I have set up keywords with my husband, so when I say those words he knows I am feeling lonely and I need help.” —April, Oklahoma

“My ADHD can make me quite impatient, so I need to give people time to process my request, or take the action I’ve asked for. It helps to remember this isn’t rejection, and they don’t have to drop everything then and there in order to be willing to help.” —Trish

“To address loneliness, I have learned to say ‘I need a hug.’ Often it opens the door for me to share more about what is going on.” —Claire, Pennsylvania

“I identify a person with complementary skills, and I spontaneously contribute to our shared objective by doing the tasks they find laborious. The reciprocal task division follows naturally. Nobody has to ask, no gift debt is engendered. We are actively helping each other.” —Dettie

“I imagine that I’m giving someone good news when I’m about to ask for something I feel nervous about.” —Kelsie, Mississippi

“I have to just accept that asking feels awkward, and it probably always will.” —Sarah, Georgia

“I always express gratitude to any person who is willing to body double with me and I describe how it was helpful. For example, ‘You read your book while I was doing bills and I got sooo much more done. Thank you. Let me know when you are reading your next book.’” —An ADDitude Reader

“I offer help, often. That makes me feel better about asking for help. In my mind, I’ve kind of already paid for the help that I need by helping others, and now I’m cashing out.” —Helen, Maryland

“I practice a lot of ‘I statements,’ like, ‘I feel so overwhelmed by the number of tasks I have to do and I need extra hands.’ It’s not easy, but if you start with positive ‘I need’ statements, and practice, it’ll start feeling like second nature.” —Vanessa, Texas

“I try to set up check-ins with team members at work so it’s easier to ask for help while working on a specific project.” —Christina, Louisiana

“Give yourself 10 seconds of bravery. Start counting backwards from 10 and, before you hit one, say what you need to say to the person.” —Charlie, Australia

“Before asking for help at work, I always make sure to have a list made up of things I need help with. It shows my boss and team members that I have come prepared, with a plan.” —Melissa, Minnesota

“I have realized that I need to be very concise and direct when asking for help, instead of talking about how much I need help and giving reasons.” —An ADDitude Reader

“I use an app such as Goblin Tools to break down tasks, then I ask for specific help. I find that if I say I need help in a non-specific way, people are less ready to help, but if I say, ‘Can you declutter this one drawer please?’ then I’ll get help. The act of breaking the task down helps reduce my overwhelm, too.” —Laura, New Zealand

“One thing that helps is to talk to friends about what is going on, just to gauge what their capacity is for listening or coming up with solutions I am blind to. More eyes and brains on a problem are a good thing.” —Sarah, Germany

“With my teenager, it is mostly a choice-based, task-related ask: ‘Would you be willing to help me with Option A or Option B and at what time?’” —Kristen, Michigan

“At work, I have a personal checklist of resources to exhaust. If I can’t find the answers after doing due diligence, I reach out to an appropriate team member. Having researched on my end allows me to reach out with a more informed and confident ask for help.” —Sharon, Ohio

ADHD Self Advocacy: Next Steps

• Quiz: Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Symptom Test
• Quiz: How Severe Is Your Loneliness?
• Download: The Emotions of ADHD

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Share your stories of ADHD resilience in the comments section.

“I lost my three-year-old daughter to a rare form of cancer. I remember wanting to die, too. A voice in my head said, ‘You have three other kids who need you to find a way to go on. Because if life hits them the way it’s hit you, they will know they can overcome.’” — Tracy, Canada

“I struggled with depression and anxiety in my first semester of college because of major imposter syndrome and ended up having to go home on medical leave for suicidal ideation. No one expected me (maybe not even myself) to get up the next morning and apply for a job. Hitting what seemed like rock bottom helped me find a hidden, gritty, scrappy fighter within me. I knew I needed time and experience outside of the academic arena to show me that there is more to life and that I have value and talent beyond what any classroom grade might assign me.” — Rebecca, Connecticut

“I failed out of college. Then, I took a semester off, went to community college, eventually enrolled in a four-year program, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting.” — Erin, Missouri

“Being diagnosed late in life, raising three kiddos with ADHD, surviving a high-conflict divorce, running a school, and navigating a teen through trauma and treatment — ADHD resilience, it’s a real thing.” — Katie, Arizona

[Get This Free Download: Secrets of the ADHD Brain]

“Having ADHD and dealing with setbacks has made my teenager resilient and allowed him to build strong boundaries. When he realized he was being mistreated by ‘friends,’ he recognized that their negativity was contagious and dangerous to his mental health because he was emotionally sensitive. Recognizing his sensitivity to unpleasant behavior gave him the motivation to end old relationships and seek out new ones that are positive and more rewarding. This is a life skill that more teenagers need to live happier lives.” — Jane, Tennessee

“I was told I might not be able to walk again. Yes, I suffered from depression, but I had small goals and kept going. I worked hard. I pushed myself (with my high expectations), and now I can walk with a walking stick. It was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever had to do. It has taken me years to get to where I am today. But I did it because I’m resilient and strong. I’m grateful. I’m proud. Thank you, ADHD.” — Sam, U.K.

“A childhood full of bullying, misunderstanding, and criticism drove me to seek out therapy. That self-exploration gave me an early advantage in self-acceptance and how to deal with others, especially in the decades when I went undiagnosed. I’m a veteran human being now.” — Dee, Canada

“I have fallen on my face so many times over the years, but each time, I climb back up and get a little more success — money, lifestyle, health, etc. I have endurance tattooed on my back (I should add resilience).” — Angie, Virginia

[Join the ADDitude Support Group for Adults with ADHD]

“I try to be resilient by giving myself grace when I forget things and try to complete multi-step tasks. I tell myself it’s ‘OK if I don’t get it right the first time.’ Allowing myself to try again took a long time to accept because I like to get things perfect the first time.” — An ADDitude Reader

“I taught a class of 16-year-olds who hated my guts. Going to work was like entering a war zone. My work colleagues could not believe how I kept going. At home, I also took care of my husband, who suffered from a work injury. I refused to give up. Former bosses still talk to me, and some former students smile and publicly say, ‘Hello.’ My marriage and career continue to thrive.” — Louise, Australia

“I have big emotional reactions to setbacks and rejection, especially involving others. Since learning more about RSD and ADHD, I try to allow myself to feel my feelings so I can build resiliency and move forward. I remind myself that, while people may not understand me, I know who I am.” — Ellen, Massachusetts

“My 10-year-old son faced significant challenges when he developed arthritis and severe asthma following a post-COVID infection. This condition made physical activities like running and playing soccer and basketball difficult, often leaving him in pain and short of breath. Despite his efforts, some teammates were unkind, telling him he was hopeless and suggesting he should quit. When he shared his feelings with me, he showed determination, leaving me in awe. He said, ‘I’ve heard what they’ve said, but I want to finish the season because I made a commitment. I’ll keep doing my best, stay positive, and not let their comments get to me. After the season, I’ll find an activity that better suits my abilities.’ True to his word, he persevered through the season and eventually discovered jiu-jitsu and ninja training, activities that he loves and excels at.” — Jo, Australia

“I have learned that my value is not determined by what I do or have not done or how much I weigh or what others say about me. I have learned to forgive myself and move on. I’m also not afraid of admitting and taking ownership of my mistakes. I try to teach my son this, too.” — Glenda, California

“I don’t know how I survived the five years of my life when I was pregnant, had two young sons, and worked in an industry where an 80-hour workweek was expected. As an ambitious advertising executive and new mother, I flew more than 100,000 miles a year, breast-pumped on the road, and stayed up until 3 a.m. working on new business pitches. I had no clue that I even had ADHD until this year!” — Tyra, Arizona

“I continue to write despite never finishing a single project. I have three unfinished novels, an overflowing drawer of unpublished poetry, and ideas for more. Despite the unsuccessful struggle to complete or publish any of this, I am actively working on a non-fiction book, mostly because I can’t not do it.” — David, Oregon

“I can think of several times in my adulthood where I was resilient: Going to nursing school at age 27, finishing at the top of the class, completing college at age 43, becoming licensed in the state and nationally as a nursing home director, and becoming a director of a bankrupt facility. Despite wanting to drown many times, my mind would rebound, and I kept swimming.” — Enola, Oklahoma

“I had five different majors in college. I spent my 20s jumping from job to job, unsure of what I was good at or wanted. I returned to school and got my Ph.D. at age 39. Ten years later, I am tenured and an associate dean at a major university. I work with people who know that they benefit from my ADHD superpowers and accommodate my less super ADHD symptoms. I regularly get to use my position to help neurodivergent students.” — Ted, California

“I co-founded a charter school 22 years ago. Keeping it on track through many challenges required a lot of perseverance.” — Morgan, California

Perseverance & Resilience: Next Steps

• Read: Building Resilience Begins Here – 6 Motivation Strategies for ADHD Families
• Download: How Well Are You Handling Stress?
• Read: “I Am What I Choose to Become!”

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Unsurprisingly, neurodivergent brains tend to be aces at divergent thinking. Folks with ADHD tend to think fast, dream big, and innovate solutions that are totally unexpected and brilliant, making them perfect people to turn to when there’s a problem that stumps everyone else.

From software snafus to construction conundrums, tough problems are no match for ADHD brains. Here, ADDitude readers share their problem-solving success stories.

“When I was buying a new mattress, the sales person told me I needed to rotate it top to bottom, once a month. I’m a single mum and having to handle a double mattress on my own didn’t sound fun. I thought for a second and said, ‘Can’t I just rotate my body instead of the mattress?’ The person looked at me for a second and said “Wow, actually yeah. No one has ever suggested that before.” —Emma, Scotland

“I came up with this crazy idea to design costumes for my colleagues and I to wear to a presentation for the higher-ups that really made this project idea hit home. It was fun and effective.” —Jen, Ontario

[Read: 17 Things to Love About Your ADHD!]

“Door handle fell off. Fixed it with a shoelace and two pencils.” —Miriam, Ireland

“An ability to see patterns allowed me to devise a flow chart that simplified an admissions process in a mental health facility. It also allowed me to ‘see’ an element that might be missing during an intake interview. This led to better diagnosis and care.” —Rinda

“I am often coming up with suggestions that are totally logical to me and not to others. Yesterday, I helped a friend and her daughter hang something in the stairwell. I suggested using one ladder as a base to support for the other ladder, which made the job easy.” —Lisa, Washington

[Read: What I Would Never Trade Away]

“I fix all temporary problems in my house with painter’s tape. It makes a great seal, picture hanger, cable organizer, label. The only thing it can’t do is my taxes!” —Yvette, Canada

“As a nurse practitioner working in a student health clinic, I unleashed my creativity and developed an on-line reference for students that was wildly popular! —An ADDitude Reader

“I can make the simplest dish for lunch even when my fridge is almost empty.” —Boon, Malaysia

“ADHD has allowed me to find workarounds within proprietary software at work faster and more frequently than others. Sharing workarounds when something is broken helps stop productivity loss until a permanent fix is made.” —An ADDitude Reader

“I saved a deadline once with my ADHD thinking. Pre-internet, my East Coast publishing company discovered that we forgot to fact check an important detail with a federal government bureau that had closed for the day. While my bosses pondered disaster, I realized that all we had to do was call other branches on Pacific Time that were still open, to get the info. We made our deadline!” —Dee

“At my first real job I was given a task that regularly took people three days to do. I found a different way of doing it that got the same results but took one day.” —Erin, Missouri

“At work, colleagues were attempting to reorganize a room so that a light fixture was not accessible when you stood on the bed. They were discussing moving wardrobes when I came in and said, ‘Why not cut the legs off the bed?’ So, we did, much easier!” —Lisa, Wales

ADHD & Problem Solving: Next Steps

• Free Download: Your Free Guide to All the Best Parts of ADHD
• Read: Who Says One Kind of Thinking Is Better Than Another?
• Quiz: ADHD Myth or ADHD Reality? Check Your Knowledge
• Read: How My ADHD Makes Me a More Dynamic, Resourceful, Passionate Leader”

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

“My ADHD curiosity sends me down rabbit holes that cost me on occasion but, wow, the things I learn.” — John, Florida

The ADHD mind is not satisfied with ‘what’ and ‘where.’ As one reader told us, “I am a solution detective, always driven by the ‘why’ and the ‘how.’” And that natural intellectual curiosity regularly unlocks innovation.

Here’s how ADDitude readers answered our question, “How has your (or your child’s) curious ADHD brain fueled innovation, exploration, and/or opportunity?”

Share your own stories of where ADHD curiosity has taken you in the comments section!

Intellectual Curiosity: ADHD and the Desire to Know

“My child’s curiosity has fueled her soccer progression. She wants to know the ‘how’ and ‘why’ for every play, making her the best strategist on the field.” — An ADDitude Reader

“I saw a queue of people with instruments in Glasgow, Scotland. I couldn’t not ask what was going on! Turns out it was open auditions for a TV show, which I joined and went on to win. Completely serendipitous, but that seems to happen to me a lot. I question if it is serendipity or my curious ADHD mind pushing me toward these things my whole life.” — Emma, Scotland

“My child, who has ADHD, once wondered what was the best-tasting sugar substitute, or if they even liked sugar alternatives. Within the hour, they had set up a taste test for the entire family.” — Sara, New Hampshire

[Get This Free Download: Secrets of the ADHD Brain]

“I have always wanted to know how, what, where, and why things work. Over the course of my life, I have learned how to restore and play old violins, sing, lead a choir, write music and poetry, sculpt, draw, paint, collect and categorize insects, ride and train horses, raise peafowl and chickens, grow a garden, grow trees, and the list goes on and on. I follow maintenance and engineers around at work asking endless questions on how and why something does what it does. Everything is fascinating! I want to know EVERYTHING!” — Kathleen, Arizona

“A curiosity about what lies beneath the permafrost has given my son a silver lining to climate change. His passion is for dinosaurs and other beasts of another time.” — Tara, Canada

“In my job, I help people with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities find long-term employment. As an evaluator, I am the ‘digger’ — I really get to know each person I work with on a deep level. I use a variety of assessments to determine a client’s interests, skills, and aptitudes. My ADHD curiosity also allows me to morph into the appropriate mental and emotional state to meet the client where they are and develop trust, which is what I need to be successful at my job.” — SolLuna, Nebraska

“I have cataloged more than 150,000 articles in my 12-terabyte drive of ‘Dirk’s Knowledge.’ It’s more than an obsession, it’s a severe case of e-hoarding. I know many things about just about everything, but not enough to be specialized in anything.” — Dirk, Australia

[Read: On the Awesomeness of ADHD Creativity]

“I always fact-checked everything before I even knew what fact-checking was. It turns out that collecting facts isn’t just for fun! It can also help you get into a fancy school.” — Ted, California

“In my retreat business, curiosity plays a crucial role in shaping unique and transformative experiences. My ADHD brain constantly asks questions like, ‘How can we make this experience different?’ and, ‘Why do people respond to certain activities in certain ways?’ This drive to understand and explore leads to the creation of retreats that are not only distinctive but deeply impactful.” — Jo, Australia

“My curious ADHD brain has me constantly questioning ‘why,’ ‘how, and, crucially, ‘what if,’ which helped me to better understand the subjects I learned in college. My line of questioning made me a bit of a leader amongst my peers, since I asked questions that hadn’t occurred to others, which helped us all learn. My ADHD also helps me see patterns and meaning in things that others often miss, which helps give more meaning and understanding in my life.” — Rebecca, Connecticut   

“It helps that I grew up reading Agatha Christie books. It taught me to look for creative ways to fix problems and solve mysteries. I have had pretty good luck using psychology to understand what someone was thinking, which helps with problem solving. (Mostly in the form of helping to find lost things at work.)” — Cecil, Minnesota

“My ADHD gave me a hunger to learn before I even entered preschool. Today, it’s a fantastic asset in my editing career. I bring to the job not just hyperfocused attention to detail but also the curiosity and healthy dose of skepticism needed to ask, ‘Is that right? Let me check that’ or, ‘I wonder what other style guides say. I want to do a deeper dive into this.’” — Heather, Alabama

“As a writer and comedian, I don’t just want to know how something is done, but why it’s done. I want to know who benefits from it being done that way, what its history is, the people who make it happen, and what choices were made to get there. My thought process can be distracting, but my curiosity makes me feel more connected to the people and things around me. When I get my questions answered, I’m left with a huge filing cabinet of info to rummage through when I have a problem to solve.” — Nicole, Ohio

ADHD Curiosity: Next Steps

• Get This Free Download: ADHD Empowerment Month Calendar
• Read: The Tower of Bottles in My Kitchen — and More Proof of Creative ADHD Problem-Solving
• Read: 17 Things to Love About Your ADHD!

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

A few years ago, I was sitting in an office at Velcro International. They needed a creative ad that would persuade their customers to stop calling their product Velcro.

Yes, you read that right.

I learned the product they sell is actually called Hook and Loop, not Velcro. If people kept calling their product Velcro, they could potentially lose their trademark. So they needed to reach millions of people with this habit-breaking message.

After dropping this bombshell, the executives talked for another 15 minutes about legal ramifications, but I was ZONED out. I know that’s a bad thing most of the time, but for my ADHD brain, it was amazing. My wandering went something like this.

Wait, how funny would it be to write an ad that begs people not to call Velcro “Velcro?”

This is a multi-billion-dollar company. We can’t have its lawyers in a stuffy office doing this ad.

This seems like a pretty ridiculous problem. What if we acted like it was a serious problem?

Oh my gosh, remember “We Are the World?” Everyone was so serious, you know, because it was about starvation in Africa. But what if we did an ad with that vibe, but about something that is clearly a first-world problem?

These lawyers could be making fun of themselves. They could be aware that this is, in fact, a ridiculous thing to ask people!

Ooooh, we could use real lawyers!

Oh boy, here come the lyrics….

It was like a brainstorm session inside my own head.

I am very lucky to have co-workers who have seen this happen to me. They explained to the nice lawyers that I had something cooking, so it didn’t seem rude.

Before I got back to my office, the song was already written in my head. Here’s the final product. (Parental alert: There are some bleeped-out potty words so watch before showing your kids!)

It went viral and got tens of millions of views worldwide.

Still, I know you are probably thinking, “C’mon, Penn. Are you telling me that SPACING OUT sparked the flame of this very good thing?”

Yes, I am. Allow me to explain.

My favorite ADHD doctors are the ones who use creative metaphors to teach me more about my brain. It helps me truly “see” my ADHD. It’s also a fantastic way to explain ADHD to kids.

The Velvet Rope Metaphor

One of my favorite metaphors comes from Dr. Marcy Caldwell of ADDept.org. She was helping me understand how my brain works compared to the neurotypical brain. According to Dr. Caldwell, the neurotypical brain is like a VIP Club with a velvet rope and a bouncer. The bouncer does a great job making sure only elites gain access to the club, while carefully keeping out “less important” partygoers who don’t have a pass. The inside of the club is orderly, a little quieter, and much less cluttered.

The ADHD brain? Well, that is more like Coachella, and everyone gets in! There are countless different sights and noises. Laser lights and fog machines. You can feel the wind and the weather. Sometimes it rains. There are conversations all over the place. You can see, hear, and feel it all; your attention is pulled in countless directions.

[Get This Free Download: Unraveling the Mysteries of Your ADHD Brain]

Our ADHD brains can eventually learn to put up a velvet rope and a bouncer, but it’s not our default mode; it takes real work.

VIP Club vs Outdoor Festival

When it comes to trying to make breakfast, complete a job, or get through school, the VIP club sounds much better, right? That’s the battle we ADHDers fight every day; we try to get our brains out of the open air and into a room with more order.

But…. and it is a pretty big but… (it’s okay if you just laughed reading “pretty big but”) that Outdoor Festival is the perfect breeding ground for one of the most important qualities a human being can ever have: CREATIVITY.

When your brain feels, sees, and smells everything, it is more likely than the neurotypical brain to notice something no one has ever noticed before. It is more likely to go down a rabbit hole and discover a new path. It’s more likely to see something in a way no one has ever seen it.

Biographers speculated that Thomas Edison, one of the greatest creators of all time, had ADHD. Possibilities came to his Open-Air Brain and he was able to harness them by giving us light (yes, literally invented the lightbulb), sound (invented the phonograph), and sight (yep, the camera too!) He struggled just like we do.

According to thomasedison.com; At age seven – after spending 12 weeks in a noisy one-room schoolhouse with 38 other students of all ages – Tom’s overworked and short-tempered teacher finally lost his patience with the child’s persistent questioning and seemingly self-centered behavior. 

Sound familiar? Yeah, schools are mostly VIP Clubs, not Outdoor Festivals or Open-Air Concerts. You may not be Thomas Edison yet, but that same creativity lives within you.

My Open-Air Brain

My Open-Air Brain finds creativity through music. I studied music theory at a very early age, to the point that it became a second language for me.

I stopped learning after two years because my Open-Air Brain was much less interested in being Rachmaninoff and more interested in the brand-new notes, chords, and lyrics popping up in my head. I wasn’t writing Shakespeare; just lines documenting the countless things going on in my world, and in my family. Now just about everything I experience plays like a song in my head.

In the case of the Velcro ad, that Open-Air Brain quickly gave me access to a catalog of every melodramatic music video I’ve ever heard, every lawyer stereotype I’ve ever had, and every funny meme about first-world problems I’ve ever shared. All those ideas were welcome to the party.

Of course, there are times that this is frustrating – it can be hard listening to someone if the story they are telling is turning into a song. I’ve had to do some really hard work to find a VIP bouncer when what a person is saying is important, and I care about that person and their feelings.

But when there’s nothing else going on, no work to do, and no conversations to have, my mind wanders back to that Open-Air Concert. It happens on walks, at night before bed, in the shower, and sometimes in the middle of the day when I have a minute to just sit and let it happen.

Your Open-Air Concert isn’t just a distraction; it could be the key to your success. Now, we don’t have an excuse to get lost in thought all the time; we need to be respectful of our parents, friends, and teachers, and do the best we can to hear what they have to say. But don’t ever discount those wonderfully bizarrely random thoughts coming into your head. Those thoughts are yours and yours alone, they are enormously creative, and believe it or not, they could change the world one day.

The Creative ADHD Brain: Next Steps

• Get the Book! ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD
• Get This Free Download: ADHD Empowerment Month Calendar
• Read: “We Light Up the Room with Our Sparkles”
• Read: ADHD Self-Empowerment Begins With Finding Your “Right Difficult”

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

“ADHD creativity is natural in a brain that works uniquely,” says Kathleen, an ADDitude reader from Arizona who has had a prolific career creating model horses produced in resin for companies such as Breyer/Reeves International, Hartland Collectables, and Safari.

Michelle, an ADDitude reader from Mississippi, uses creative thinking daily as a professional writer, photographer, and graphic designer. “ADHD allows me to see the world differently, offer a fresh perspective, and connect ideas others miss,” she says.

“We light up the room with our sparkles,” says Sam, an ADDitude reader from the U.K. “I believe my ADHD helps me see the world in a kaleidoscope of color. I have a vivid imagination, which enables me to be creative. I can give the most amazing descriptions of things so other people can almost see, touch, and taste them. I love writing, drawing, creating music, dancing, and singing.”

[Download: Need Help Finding Your Passion? Use This ADHD “Brain Blueprint”

ADHD Traits That Foster Creativity

Some ADDitude readers credit the ADHD trait of hyperfocus with nurturing their creativity professionally and personally.

“Developing the skill of hyper-concentration makes it so I can practice and then play the piano longer and better,” says Anastasia from Nevada.

Hyperfocus enabled Mia, from New York, to excel as a student journalist “despite the strange and long hours required.”

Others say their creativity stems from insatiable curiosity, distinct viewpoints, and the ability to see obscure connections and solutions.

“ADHD has been a driving force behind my creating unique, fun, and inspiring wellness events,” says Jo from Australia. “I attribute much of the success of these retreats to the creative energy and problem-solving abilities that come with ADHD. It’s not just about being different; it’s about harnessing that difference to make something truly special. ADHD helps me see opportunities where others might see obstacles and turn them into unique and transformative experiences.”

Read on to learn about the creative successes that ADDitude readers ascribe to their (or their child’s) ADHD brain, and how they encourage their creative thinking to blossom.

[Self-Test: ADHD Test for Adults]

ADHD Creativity Is… Expressive

“I attribute my son’s writing ability and creativity to ADHD. He was able to complete two books and have them published by age 12!” — Carin, Ohio

“I wrote a newspaper column for 15 years about different aspects of my life that I thought were interesting or funny.” — Jen, Canada

“In the middle of COVID, I switched careers to become a writer. My ADHD gave me the creativity, the courage, and the tools to do it. Since then, I’ve published two children’s chapter books, which are loosely based on my life from childhood growing up with undiagnosed ADHD.” — Heidi, Washington

“I’ve written books, flash fiction, and poetry. I definitely attribute my ability to easily come up with imaginary stories or find new ways to describe things to my ADHD.” — Felicia

“When my daughter was in kindergarten, her teacher explained that it was hard for her to focus on her work because she was always paying attention to what the other kids were doing. Years later, she became an amazing writer. One of the things that makes her writing so compelling is her ability to describe characters and stories in detail. I think this ability comes from a lifetime of constantly observing people and details around her.” — Katie, Maryland

ADHD Creativity Is… Making Unexpected Connections

“At age 12, I learned how to play chess. When I was 14, I won my first of several tournaments. I didn’t understand why I saw upcoming sequences that others could not — I assumed they weren’t trying. It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that a college president explained there was something about me that allowed me to see things others didn’t.” — John, Illinois

“In the engineering world, I can find creative solutions quickly by making uncommon connections in my head and working them out on the whiteboard with my employees.” — Celtic, Florida

“I am an engineer with ADHD, and I have invented several novel environmental technologies and have the patents to show for it.” — Victor, Mississippi

“As a psychotherapist, I see connections between things in my patients’ lives and internal narratives. I can articulate these insights, often in visual metaphors, in ways that immediately put my patients at ease. I credit my ADHD with giving me this expansive access to my mind and heart and the ability to connect powerfully with my patients in ways that help them let go of their suffering.” — Jennifer, Massachusetts

ADHD Creativity Is… Clarifying

“My son has a unique eye for street life. His ADHD has enabled him to capture people uniquely through his photography.” — Sara, New Hampshire

“When I take photos, I can see the picture in my mind. I often take close-up shots of nature with people saying, ‘What is that? It’s really beautiful or interesting, but I can’t tell what it is.’ Then, they are amazed to discover it’s just water photographed differently.” — Gina, Kentucky 

“My son takes the most amazing photographs. We can be looking at the same things, but he sees it in a different light and can capture that moment on film.” — Robin, Colorado

ADHD Creativity Is… Melodic

“My daughter always tapped and jiggled her legs and had to move all the time. I had her bang on pan lids and wooden spoons as a toddler. This evolved into her becoming a drummer. People with ADHD can make awesome drummers. The rhythm soothes mental restlessness, and the physical energy needed to play calms hyperactivity.” — Andrea, U.K.

“I could never read music because of my dyslexia, but I discovered I have an ear for it. My ADHD gave me the hyperfocus to teach myself how to play piano, drums, and guitar when music lessons failed me.” — Kerry, New Jersey

“I was a professional musician for 23 years and produced and released a CD/album of original music.” — Julia, Oregon

“My ADHD allows me to write and create music that emotionally resonates with others. I would not be as good a musician without it.” — Emma, Scotland

“I arrange and write music, and I intrinsically understand the mathematical aspects of it but could never explain it.” — Jennifer, Utah

“I’m currently finishing my 6th album, ‘Neurodivergent.’ Not only did I explore new musical territories, but I experimented with A.I. videos to build narratives around the songs. This track is very ADHD to me.” — Jon, Surrey, U.K.

ADHD Creativity Is… Well Designed

“I taught myself how to use multiple graphic design programs because I was determined to fix tiny photo errors, make my blog perfect, and have the best syllabus for a class I was teaching.” — Ted, California

“I make handmade birthday cards. It’s a great creative outlet, and I actually use the craft supplies I’ve hoarded over many years.” — Yvette, Canada

“I love design — making flyers with digital art or rearranging my living room 1,000 times to find the perfect Feng shui. I believe  my ability to hyperfocus makes me love those tasks.” — Oceann, Colorado

ADHD Creativity Is… In the Spotlight

“I’m a writer and performer. My talent derives from my unique way of conceptualizing and interpreting the world, plus my constant curiosity. That’s an ADHD brain specialty.” — Dee, Canada

“During COVID, my young adult daughter chose stand-up comedy to help her cope. She works a regular job and continues to perform on weekends, including hosting shows.” — Pat, Canada

“As a humor writer and comedian, it’s important to have an interesting P.O.V. ADHD allows me to focus on details others have missed and makes my writing more interesting and robust. Additionally, being very observant helps me gather information about my audiences very quickly and relate to them.” — Nicole, Ohio

ADHD Creativity Is… Hands On

“I renovated my bathroom and kitchen with zero experience — and they both look professionally done.” — Gretchen, Minnesota

“I refinish furniture to make extra money. It is fun and creative.” — Glenda, Alberta, Canada

“Our daughter fully renovated her home, only calling in plumbers and electricians for vital compliance tickets. She also completed the renovation of a friend’s caravan and is working her way through their home, all while completing a college degree in science communication.” — Anna, Australia

ADHD Creativity Is… Inventive

“I think of wonderful inventions to re-purpose everything I’ve purchased over the years. I’m designing and making self-watering raised flower beds and working on an idea for hidden drawers that can slide in and out from under my bed frame.” — Ruth, New York

“My 8-year-old son is amazing. He puts together LEGO kits by himself. Then, a few days later, he’ll take them apart and create something new with the pieces. He created an excavator from a Star Wars set, Godzilla, and several others.” — Meagan, Alabama

“I build websites. When I let my ADHD loose, I can devise incredibly creative ways to accomplish the tasks my clients want. If they want ‘x,’ I can sometimes deliver ‘x,’ and ‘y,’ and ‘z.’ It’s all a matter of using that ADHD focus.” — Andrew, New York

“When my son was 12, he created fidget objects from LEGOS and sold them to friends. My little entrepreneur.” — Tracy, Canada

ADHD Creativity Is… Illuminating

“I teach university students using rare books and archives. ADHD allows me to connect our collections and subject areas, which wouldn’t normally happen. I also love coming up with new lesson ideas others don’t consider.” — Jo, U.K.

“I’m a dynamic, fun, hardworking teacher. I’m the teacher I always needed. I’m always trying new things!” — Marla, New Jersey

“As an educator, I used my ADHD mind to create novel situations. I sponsored a banana-eating contest to help students understand how the economic system works for a social studies class. The kids had to find a banana sponsor, get contestants, decide the admission price, make advertisements, sell tickets, and determine the profit margin. We held the contest in the school auditorium. It was a blast!” — Jane, California

ADHD Creative Thinking: Next Steps

• Download: A Free Calendar for ADHD Empowerment Month
• Read: Inspiring Celebrities Who Harness Creative Thinking
• Read: ADHD Self-Empowerment Begins With Finding Your “Right Difficult”

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

When a member of ADDitude’s ADHD Support Group on Facebook recently appealed to other members for help lifting the spirits of her discouraged son, she was inundated with responses enumerating the benefits of ADHD. Here are 18 of our favorites.

“A little more than 18 years ago, I gave birth to a super hero. His super power was electricity.” Read this beautiful blog post.

“Hitting rock bottom helped me find the hidden, gritty, scrappy fighter within me.” ADDitude readers share how ADHD resilience and perseverance keep them moving forward with resolve.

A professor analyzes the essays of French writer Michel de Montaigne, and finds his brilliance may be one upside of a distracted ADHD brain. Read more.

Simone Biles, Greta Gerwig, Mark Ruffalo, Emma Watson, Trevor Noah, and other inspiring celebrities and famous people with ADHD.

In your standard-issue “How to Be a Parent” manual, you might find job requirements such as consistency and firmness. Those are all fine and good, but parents of children with ADHD know that more is required of us. Here are the Top 10 essential qualities our kids require every day.

To shed light on a complex and often dismissed part of the ADHD experience, we asked ADDitude readers to tell us: What does boredom feel like to you? Here’s what they said.

ADDitude readers share the (sometimes uncomfortable) truths about attention deficit disorder that they most wish the neurotypical world would understand and respect here.

“I am spirited — even frantic sometimes. I strike gold in the 11th hour. I jump off the highest cliffs. And all of these qualities make me a better leader to my teammates at work. They also expose some serious ADHD weaknesses, which is where my teammates get my back.” — Rich Atkinson

Most people are neurologically equipped to determine what’s important and get motivated to do it, even when it doesn’t interest them. Then there are the rest of us, who have attention deficit — ADHD or ADD — and the brain that goes along with it.

Here, ADDitude readers share more stories of when they reaped the rewards of spontaneity. Read more.

“If you can tune into your voice and communicate your story, that’s when you’re going to create something nobody’s ever seen before.” — Hayley Wall

“I would not change my son or husband for anything. We’ll bundle up all the positives and challenges, stick them into our family jetpack, and navigate the steps, bounces, stumbles, and freefalls of this shared diagnosis together.” Read more.

“My creativity has blessed me at every stage of my life. My grandkids and I write songs or make videos, and I do sing-a-longs at my mom’s nursing home. Being ADHD is a rollercoaster ride, but I love the thrills along the way!” Read more.

Imaginative, resourceful, and fast-thinking ADHD brains can often solve problems that stump everyone else. Here, readers share their stories of seeing the solution everyone else missed.

Star of the stand-up comedy special “Big Guy,” Rachel Feinstein talks about her ADHD journey, from adrenaline highs to rejection lows (and how she’s always losing her passport). Meet Rachel

“When I get to engage in an adrenaline-filled experience, like jumping off a 40-foot cliff, I take it.” Learn more about the risky, sensation-seeking activities that ADDitude readers crave.

“I sometimes feel frustrated that the things that seem so simple (turning in homework, putting on BOTH shoes, turning off the stove) can be so hard for the ADHD brain. But the things my son’s brain creates leave me in awe.” _ Kim Holderness

Here’s how ADDitude readers answered our question, “How has your (or your child’s) curious ADHD brain fueled innovation, exploration, and/or opportunity?”

“The more I talk to colleagues about my fresh diagnosis (ADHD, inattentive type), the more I see that others grapple daily with different demons. And some of the things that frighten or frustrate them about teaching come as naturally to me as breathing.” Read this blog post.

“You can’t see my constant struggles to stay on top of employment, housework, and personal affairs; you can’t hear my every thought scream for my total attention as I fail to hold onto a single one; you certainly can’t feel the smaller effects of ADHD pile on top of each other to create a web of executive dysfunction.” Read this blog post.

25 positive affirmations to lift up ADHD brains

Rebecca Makkai is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than 20 languages. She is a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award finalist. She teaches graduate fiction writing at Northwestern University, among other places, and she has ADHD.

“When your brain feels, sees, and smells everything, it is more likely than the neurotypical brain to notice something no one has ever noticed before. It is more likely to go down a rabbit hole and discover a new path. It’s more likely to see something in a way no one has ever seen it.”

How to live better with ADHD, according to the experts.

ADDitude readers describe the undeniable signs, symptoms, and strengths of ADHD that may be invisible to others. Read more.

“These mottos have helped me practice self-compassion and affirm my own neurodiversity.” Read more.

From the pragmatic to the profound, readers offer up hard-won wisdom that they’ve found transformative, in the hopes you might benefit from it, too. Read more.

“What if my intense drive is because of — not in spite of — my ADHD?” asks Tracy Otsuka, JD

If you could pay a visit to your childhood self, what words of affirmation, advice, or messages of self-love would you impart? ADDitude readers respond here.

These insights on living and (mostly) thriving with ADHD from the Holderness Family will make you laugh, nod in agreement, and feel a little more understood.

Disorder. Condition. Impairment. These are the words commonly used to describe ADHD. Their accuracy is debatable. What’s for certain: they’re insufficient on their own.

What does ADHD mean to you? Adventure. Gift. Advantage. Creative engine. Superpower and kryptonite, all rolled into one. According to ADDitude readers, this is the essence of ADHD.

This October, we move beyond awareness and acceptance. As we step into ADHD empowerment, ADDitude will amplify the myriad voices comprising our community and share their powerful, telling stories.

What is ADHD? It’s whatever you say it is.

ADHD Is . . .

“. . . a kaleidoscope. I see, hear and think in stereo. The beauty of ADHD is how my mind endlessly sees and hears things others around me can’t.” — Jon, United Kingdom

. . .a different gameplay mode, enabled on some brains.” — Mia, New York

“. . . eye-opening.” — Zak, Florida

“. . . like a powerful wild horse — beautiful and strong but untamed. Imagine what it’s like to ride on its back and be taken where it wants to go. You just need to train your horse, and to develop your strength and agility and learn to hold on.” — Giedre, United Kingdom

“. . . complicated.” — Ava, Canada

[Read: Holderness Family Values – 9 ADHD Truths (with a Side of Laughter)]

“. . . an adventure. ADHD is curious. ADHD is playful. ADHD is a roller coaster.” — Emma, Scotland

“. . . exhilarating. There is always something new to learn.” — Erin, Missouri

“. . .wonderfully maddening. Wonderful because of the ability to focus intently on things that interest you and maddening because you’ll need to develop ways to complete tasks that don’t interest you. You have awareness, perspectives and abilities that are likely different from your peers and those skills make you exceptional.” —Becky, Indiana

[Read: 17 Things to Love About Your ADHD!]

ADHD Is . . .

“. . . hopeful. People with ADHD can help create a future that has justice, empathy, curiosity, and creativity as the guiding principles.” — Sara, Canada

“. . . liberating.” — Noreen, Oregon

“. . .an uphill and downhill battle.” —An ADDitude Reader

“. . .a horse without blinders. Someone with ADHD can see so many things at once.” —John, Illinois

“. . .both a superpower and kryptonite.” — Tyra, Arizona

“. . . a channel to dream big dreams.” — Tara, Canada

“. . . is the key that unlocks universes. Wanting to know more about topics I’m interested in is a gift.” — Nicole, Ohio

“. . . a hurdle — one that makes you more resilient.”  — An ADDitude Reader

ADHD Is . . .

“. . .being upside down in a neuro-normative world which is ‘right way up.’” — Rachel, United Kingdom

“. . . a new day every day, sometimes every hour.” — Jana, Tennessee

“. . . differently powerful.” — Betsy, New York

“. . . hyper-focusing.” — An ADDitude Reader

“. . . magical.” — Sam, United Kingdom

“. . . misunderstood.” — Jamie, Tennessee

“. . . multi-faceted and pervasive, affecting all aspects of one’s life.” — Kathryn, Michigan

“. . . something that gives you the energy to accomplish great things. It may be hard to sit in a class, but you are one of the greatest builders of society.” — An ADDitude Reader

ADHD Is . . .

“. . .a mixed bag. At times it really does feel like a superpower, like when I’m writing for fun; the metaphors and creativity flow like water. At other times, it really does feel like a curse, like when I lose what feels like the 50th pair of prescription sunglasses. My biggest asset is simultaneously my biggest struggle.” — David, Oregon

“. . . determination, focus, tenacity, and courage.” — Heather, Alabama

“. . . balance.” — Maggie, Michigan

“. . . a beautiful brain in a challenging environment.” — Dee, Canada

“. . . overwhelming — and empowering.” — Ariel, Wisconsin

“. . . something that can both control you, and be controlled.” — Andrew, New York

“. . . not good and not bad. It just is.”  — An ADDitude Reader

What Does ADHD Mean?: Next Steps

• Read: “ADHD Is Hard, But…” Crowdsourced Advice for the Newly Diagnosed
• Watch: “ADHD is Awesome: The Holderness Family Guide to Thriving with ADHD”
• Read: “The ADHD Characteristics I’m Most Thankful for Are…”

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