I too, used to get annoyed with people who are flip with the diagnosis of ADHD. My coach is quick to point out without ADHD there would be no electricity, theory of relativity and on and on. I embrace myself today, all of me. The ones who say it is not real simply have not lived the experience.

Thank you for your article

La Belette Rouge, Yes, Lillies are the best! And we all have enough things going on without intimately understanding every human condition… so of course I don’t hate you – I actually admire you for having an open mind and being a good friend to this person in your life who was diagnosed. I love westies! I grew up with a cairn terrier (a Toto) – they are somewhat similar.

Fiona, thank you so much for reading! xxx ooo

Lilu, yes, there is a lot about it out there these days. It’s another one of those little reminders life’s always firing at me, to not be judgy – we never know what’s going on inside another person – and even though we, as people, are much alike, we’re all different

blueviolet, I definitely feel as if this brain business, which is being so talked about lately, is the tip of the iceberg. I just hope that doesn’t make me the Titanic

I do think that it has become a much too large umbrella and people use it as an easy label.

I also want to thank you for your very lovely comment on my blog and tell you that my Lily the Westie sends love to your Lily the Laberdoodle. Aren’t Lilies the best?;-)

I don’t know a ton about ADHD even though I should. I’ve encountered plenty of people with the condition & it is most definitely real.

I know that for lots of us without the condition the symptoms are nearly mimicked by the multitasking lifestyle of today. Especially by spending a lot of time on the computer. I wonder if multitasking and spending a lot of time on the computer can help ADHD sufferers of make things worse for them? Like with Ritalin where most people would feel a speed effect, while those with ADHD would be made to feel calmer.

phd yogurtry, the quiet in my head was stunning to me. I still often wake up in the morning with my eyes closed and just enjoy the blackness – I’d never known that before.

Vic, true, there is always someone out there, I call them constitutional type A’s, who can’t comprehend the concept of ADHD. I have several of them in my life whom I love very much, but just between you and me (I’ll whisper) – I think they feel admitting the existence of ADHD would take away their claim on the moral high ground.

Jane, you are so welcome. I’ve been building up to talking more about this for a while, and appreciate your reading and open mindedness!

therapydoc, oh my, I could talk your head off right now. If meds were the only treatment we were using, I can see where that would be terribly concerning. It feels strange enough to be this enthusiastic about a controlled substance. Habituating? I hope I can see that before it happens!

Jessica, that’s a big part of the reason, I knew sooner or later I’d have to start writing more directly about it here. If you think you have it, you should absolutely read more and get recommendations for professionals who specialize in ADHD. T Even if it turns out you just kinda have some of the symptoms, it’s incredibly helpful to know what’s up. The book everybody seemed to tell me to start with was Driven to Distraction.And I do think there is something about many who have it that’s related to being creative, funny and able to look at things differently

Heather, I went through a years of this with allergies and asthma, as far as people who couldn’t relate, thinking it was “all in my head.” It turns out they may have been right to some degree – my asthma and allergies have improved dramatically since the ADHD diagnosis. But it’s not like we have any control over this. I spent almost all my energy trying anyway until diagnosis. Who except a sadist would choose this? And normal people – whatever that is – are boring as all get out.