Living with adult ADHD can be encapsulated in a single thought: pursuing a life filled with excitement while steering clear of anything remotely dull. With October being ADHD awareness month, it's an opportune moment to share how ADHD influences my daily experiences through the medium of comics, as visuals often capture attention more effectively than text alone.

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is commonly thought to pertain solely to hyperactive children. However, it can affect individuals of all ages, and not everyone exhibits hyperactivity. The term "hyperactive" can also refer to a brain that struggles with focus and attention, leading to a preference for stimulating activities that hold our interest.

These stimulating activities are not necessarily physically demanding; they're often more about personal engagement. For instance, I find writing this piece engaging, but I may lose interest if it stretches on too long. To prevent forgetting about it, I've set a reminder to ensure it's published in October.

Here are five lesser-known facets of adult ADHD. If any resonate with you, consider following me for more insights and remember to consult an ADHD specialist if you're facing daily challenges. Even if you don't have ADHD, you might relate to some of these experiences, especially in our distraction-filled world of 2022.

What Leads to ADHD? A Brief Scientific Interlude The prevailing theory about the origins of ADHD suggests that individuals may have insufficient dopamine levels—a neurotransmitter crucial for motivation and pleasure. Dopamine essentially acts as a motivator, encouraging us to engage in tasks. Its importance is underscored by its roles in executive function, motor control, and reward systems.

When dopamine is scarce, individuals may seek stimulating activities that naturally release dopamine, creating a struggle between the desire to engage in pleasurable tasks versus the necessity of mundane daily responsibilities.

1. Everyday Tasks Can Be Overwhelming Routine tasks, especially household chores, are particularly challenging. The monotony of repeating tasks can drain energy and motivation. When faced with a chore we dread, the effort required to push through can feel monumental, often leading to exhaustion simply from the act of living. Conversely, engaging in exciting activities can feel invigorating.

2. Impatience with Boredom Individuals with ADHD often exhibit a marked impatience when faced with anything less stimulating than anticipated. At the first hint of boredom, the desire to seek out more engaging alternatives is overwhelming.

3. Generating Ideas vs. Executing Them People with ADHD can generate a plethora of new ideas but struggle to bring them to fruition. A recent comic I created reflects this challenge. To combat it, I've adopted a strategy of simplifying my creative process, which eases the pressure to achieve perfection and allows me to complete projects.

4. Forgetfulness is Common A guiding principle in my life is this: what I can see is what I remember. Once something is out of sight, it's often out of mind, leading to frequent forgetfulness.

5. Social Norms Can Feel Restrictive Individuals with ADHD may often feel out of sync with societal expectations. This disconnection can affect self-identity and confidence. Many people with ADHD exhibit fidgety behavior and struggle to conform to traditional gender roles. As someone who has often been told how to behave, I've come to embrace my ADHD traits, which may not align with conventional feminine ideals.

In conclusion, the aspects of ADHD I've shared are just a glimpse into my experience. I have many more insights to share, so stay tuned for future articles on mental health and ADHD.

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Also, feel free to explore my other articles about ADHD: - Can't Catch a Ball? ADHD Confessions In Comics: Explaining poor motor skills and perception. - Dealing With Adult ADHD Through Humor: Insights from my Medium Day talk. - Being Neurodivergent Explained in Four Comics: An exploration of unique behaviors. - How Comics Help With My ADHD: The therapeutic benefits of comic creation. - Owning ADHD and Coping With It: In Comics: Personal reflections on living with ADHD. - Living With Adult ADHD Is Spooky: Explained in Comics: Fun and frightening aspects of ADHD. - Why Everything Takes Longer When You Have ADHD (In Comics): The challenges of time management. - ADHD Heart Is the Best Decision Maker: How I Always Know What I Want (In Comics): Embracing desires. - ADHD Xmas In Comics: Embracing ADHD during the holiday season. - A Guide to Being a Happy Pessimist In 2023: New Year’s tips illustrated. - I Spy, I Draw: How Art Makes You More Mindful: A mindfulness technique for racing thoughts.