Thread by @GadiNBC

ADHD, a thread (1)
If you have #ADHD & are struggling please know you’re not alone. This week on 
@Overview, we're talking about living w/ ADHD & anxiety during the pandemic & the many stigmas & misconceptions that make things worse. 
peacocktv.com/watch/playback……

I was diagnosed w/ ADHD when I was 7. And in many ways it’s been a blessing. I love my energy, the hyper-focus, the calm I feel in chaos, the ability to feel emotions so intensely. It’s allowed me to to see the world differently & live in a constant state of wonder. (2)

But realizing all that has been a long, difficult journey, so I figured I’d share some of my own struggles and resources from @HowtoADHD because Jessica McCabe’s channel is my go-to when I get overwhelmed. (3) 

First, #ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a dumb description. It implies a deficit in attention & always hyper people. ADHD is a spectrum, & what we all have in common isn’t that we can’t pay attention. It’s that we have trouble controlling our attention. (4)

There are amazing analogies out there, like trying to watch 6 TV’s at once when someone else controls the remote. Or like driving a race car on city streets & spinning out whenever you try to turn. (5)

My favorite is from my little brother who says, it’s like being in a forest full of distractions where you keep losing the trail… & when you finally find it, you’ll lock on so hard, you’ll follow it off a cliff. (6)

It gets confusing because it looks like a contradiction. Someone bouncing off the walls distracted & fidgeting. Then, they'll focus so hard for hours & forget about food, sleep & their loved ones? I THOUGHT THEY COULDN’T PAY ATTENTION? (7)

Turns out, both extreme states are the results of our problem with neurotransmitters like DOPAMINE & norepinephrine. If dopamine sounds familiar, it’s because it’s overhyped as the “pleasure chemical.” In reality, it also helps us learn through reward & motivation. (8)

Bottom line… because #ADHD brains have chronically low levels of dopamine… we have to overload ourselves just to feel its effects. Here is a really good Valentines Day description from @HowtoADHD (9)

Now, way back in our nomadic days, that kind of high-twitch brain wiring might have been a benefit for an entire tribe with an ADHDer leading others in hunts or defending against invaders. But in the modern world, it can be a constant struggle.(10)

Here is a quick list of negatives: We're more likely to lose things, make rash decisions, speed more, die in car crashes, get divorced, get fired, have trouble w/ finances, organization & we're more susceptible to substance abuse, depression & suicide. (11)healthunlocked.com/adult-ADHD

A lot of those problems stem from our dopamine starved brains seeking stuff out that will allow us to feel, think & learn closer to the way others take for granted. Dopamine isn’t just some pleasure thing. It’s allows you to regulate emotional responses. (12)

Then there is the ADHD superpower HYPER-FOCUS.
Like, right now, I’m furiously locked into this thread, & breaking away is super disconcerting & almost painful. When honed & controlled it can supercharge your productivity. But when unchecked it can feel like this. (13)

There are a lot of really effective ways to thrive with #ADHD. Cognitive therapy, exercise, post-it notes everywhere! New experiences, crazy deadlines, the right profession, gamification, Jessica’s million tips on @HowtoADHD . Check out her TedTalk! (14)

But really, you can’t have a conversation about #ADHD without at least talking about medication.
Quick warning, my choices & perspective don’t reflect a “right” or “wrong” way to do things. I believe everyone should do what works for best for them. (15)

My earliest #ADHD memories are painful ones from elementary school & these mortifying moments when class would be interrupted by a message over the intercom loudly broadcasting “Gadi please come to the nurses office… You forgot to take your medication.” (16)

I’m still not sure if it was an attempt to try to shame me into remembering, or just the way they did things back then... But at recess when other kids would laugh & call me weird & take turns asking me if I remembered to take my medicine, I’d just want to curl up and die. (17)

I wish, I could have understood that I wasn’t alone. That up to 16+ million Americans have #ADHD. That it's ok to have a different operating system & it didn’t mean I was dumb. I’m pretty sure my mom tried to explain it. But all I remember was being embarrassed & frustrated.(18)

And when the medication worked & allowed me to have control over what I would chose to focus on, I was even more angry that I needed it. (19)

I also started to realize there were times I didn’t need it. I’d do fine if under intense deadlines, caught in a crisis or doing something I loved which often made me question whether all of my struggles came from just not trying hard enough. (20)

We hear those words all our lives... “JUST TRY HARDER! WHY CAN’T YOU DO THAT? IT SHOULDN’T BE THAT HARD. TRY HARDER.”(21)

Imagine hearing those words again & again while trying as hard as you can, then going home & obsessing over how dumb u feel to the point that u forget everything else only to be jolted back into reality by someone asking you why you left the keys in the door. (22)

What people who don’t have #ADHD need to understand is that THIS ISN’T ABOUT WILL POWER. There is a genetic difference in the way we create dopamine. (23)
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

Long story short, I’ve taken different medications on & off throughout my life. Each had its pros & cons & finding the right dosage & treatment takes time & a doctor who cares. And when I have, I’ve been able to control my mind & focus in a straight, linear way. (24)

However, over the last decade, I’ve also found myself in a profession that regularly activates my hyper-focus with intense deadline pressure, chaos & crisis & the ability to constantly explore new environments. For now, I've been able to navigate life without it. (25)

That’s not to say “don’t take medication…” or “eventually you won’t need it.” That’s not how it works. It’s a deeply personal & constantly evolving choice & people should do what works best for them. (26)

But in talking with Jessica for @Overview, I realized how a lot of my anger has closed me off to acknowledging some of the many tools that have allowed me to succeed. & a lot of that baggage plays into the stigma she’s working to undo. (27)
peacocktv.com/watch/playback…

So here is a list of things that have helped me live with #ADHD. Mindfulness, cognitive therapy, medication, exercise, constantly keeping lists & setting visual cues. Choosing a profession that plays to your strengths! (28)

Career choices are HUGE! For a long time I had the worst imposter syndrome in journalism that came with this ridiculous fear that my diagnosis would be found out & everything I did would be judged as, “yeah, but he has ADHD.” (29)

Then I saw a couple of the most productive & talented journos I know talk openly #ADHD. I still remember seeing @yashar's thread & it brought me to tears. Still does. Please take a moment to read it. Thank you Yashar, it meant more than I can say. 🙏 (30)

https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1100254079089930240?s=20

And @feministabulous! Liz, I have no idea how you are so productive, but your unbridled creativity, humor & passion are infectious & your fearlessness in confronting neurotypical norms inspires me everyday. Thank you 🙏

Turns out, Journalism can be amazing for #ADHD. The intense deadline pressures help trigger my hyper-focus & for those who struggle with repetitive routines, reporting can bring something different & unexpected everyday. (32) peacocktv.com/watch/asset/ne…

In fact, there is a long list of jobs that can be perfect for #ADHD: Teaching, emergency care, writing, music, being a stylist, computer coder, graphic designer, a photographer, mechanic, entrepreneur… feel free to help! What other jobs have been a perfect fit? (33)

Finally, this is just one part of our look at mental health for @Overview on @peacockTV. My dear friend @WatchSavannah also takes a look at anxiety & the pandemic & I’m so grateful for the amazing insights & resources she's shared. Pls watch. (34) peacocktv.com/watch/playback…