Fast Minds, Fast Feeds

Something so intriguing to me is how media affects our views on ADHD. Almost anything you could see online about ADHD ranges from "I forgot my morning coffee" to "My car is so messy". While these people could have ADHD, and their executive function skills could be lacking in that moment, it adds to the stereotype, that ADHD is just being messy. Aswell as that, it portrays ADHD as something negative, but it's not. As people keep using ADHD as excuses, or highlighting all the negatives it brings on shame to anyone who has ADHD.

I'm a teen, who is heavily online. My screentime often is over 7 hours a day, I KNOW! It is bad. But anyways, I have always hid having ADHD, mostly because of how negatively it’s portrayed in media. I hide my needs of extra time, or needing someone to read aloud the question, afraid of what my peers may think, and on my phone it's the same. And I get why people form quick opinions about the “ADHD character” and how it's usually written as either chaotic and disruptive, or careless and incapable but it truly isn't that simple. ADHD isn’t a punchline. And it shouldn't be something people should use to make assumptions about someone’s intelligence or potential.

Hiding it, shouldn’t be something we whisper about like it’s shameful. Right now, I really believe ADHD awareness needs to be highlighted in more than one light, because ADHD looks different in different people, and it exists on so many “scales” (for lack of a better word). Someone could have ADHD and never even realize it. Speaking of never realizing it, my best friend has struggled so much in school over the past 2 years. Only in the recent months has she been diagnosed. When you think about that, it's kind of sad. There are so many kids, or adults who feel just dumb, and stupid.

I want you to know, you are not stupid or dumb, you are incredibly capable.

ADHD can be hard. It can be exhausting. It can make everyday tasks feel weirdly impossible. So, while, the example of someone forgetting to drink their morning coffee can be valid, it still dismisses ADHD. Reading this, you may be wondering, how can you bring attention to ADHD and the struggles, and attempt to be relatable online? Well for starters, reflect on if it's really ADHD or is it just a mistake, and think truly is this something other people with this disorder go through. Now, I know, I have left my coffee at home multiple times, but I'm a forgetful person to start with. One thing I do know, is I forget my medication all the time. The CDC states, 53.7% of 12–17-year-olds, are reported as being medicated... So, that's relatable. Aswell, check your bias. If you do not have ADHD, or are not neurodivergent, don't click post on something, which you blame your actions on ADHD.

The conversation on ADHD needs to be louder, and more present. But it is important it is done right.

Using social media with ADHD can be a mental battlefield, especially for women. Even without ADHD, social media can be very damaging. Instagram and TikTok can quietly (or not-so-quietly) chip away at self-image and self-esteem, and it’s so easy to fall down a rabbit hole and suddenly feel insecure about your nose, your hairline, your body, your personality, anything. And for someone with ADHD, that pull can feel even stronger. Filters are pushed onto photos, makeup is advertised, and hate comments are inevitable.

Did I mention I'm a teenage girl?

Know your beautiful, and worth so much. You do not need the newest Ozempic dupe, you do not need to alter your face, and you do not need change. You are insanely beautiful inside and out. And I know, I KNOW, all of that is easier said than done. Try this. Look in a mirror, for a minute, look at yourself, and only say nice things, and every time you say something negative, restart.

Confidence is the best makeup.

Also, be aware of how one of ADHDs most overlooked parts is that many people with ADHD don’t just “get distracted”, they also hyperfocus. As I'm writing these blogs, I am beyond hyper focused, forgetting I am actually in math class, but oh well! For a lot of us, hyper focusing can become normal, almost automatic, and social media is basically designed to reward that. One more video becomes ten. Ten becomes an hour. And suddenly you’re not just scrolling, you’re stuck. Make sure your setting timers and being aware of your fixation.

Thanks for reading - Love Rebecca

Here are some of my favorite books, specialized for people with ADHD trying to understand all of these pathways, and differences!

• Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg, challenges the traditional, male-centered view of neurological differences like ADHD and autism, and how women are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed due to societal biases and a lack of research.

• ADHD 2.0 by Edward M. Hallowell, this book discusses new understandings of ADHD, including how it presents differently in girls and women. It offers tools for thriving and challenges outdated diagnostic norms.

• A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers by Sari Solden and Michelle Frank, tailored to women, this guide explores the emotional and social toll of living undiagnosed or misunderstood with ADHD. It encourages self-acceptance and reframing ADHD as a strength rather than a flaw.

• Dirty Laundry: Why Adults with ADHD Are So Ashamed and What We Can Do to Help by Richard Pink & Roxanne Emery, this book uses real-life stories to explore the emotional impact of undiagnosed ADHD, especially in women. It touches on how societal expectations and media representation contribute to shame and silence.