Thinking about all those undiagnosed ADHDers who are teenagers now.
It's one of the hardest times of our lives. It's often dismissed as "a normal teen phase" and our suffering goes unnoticed, so we think it's normal to feel wrecked by minor rejections. And it's not. 🧵
It's one of the hardest times of our lives. It's often dismissed as "a normal teen phase" and our suffering goes unnoticed, so we think it's normal to feel wrecked by minor rejections. And it's not. 🧵
During that time, low tolerance to frustration reaches new levels. It's something present in both teenagers and ADHD, so it's explosive. Irritability and anger can also be common. They're almost impossible to control, and we keep being blamed for it, worsening everything.
Feelings are the biggest issue. Hormonal changes heigthen feelings in teenagers. Adding that to the intense, overwhelming feelings many ADHDers feel, every little thing feels like the end of the world. It's wrecking, it's not pretty.
"But that's normal in teenagers!"
Not like this. An undiagnosed teen with ADHD might feel endless suffering because a friend didn't wave back. Any little rejection, even imaginary, can cause overwhelming negative emotions that are almost impossible to control and rationalize.
Not like this. An undiagnosed teen with ADHD might feel endless suffering because a friend didn't wave back. Any little rejection, even imaginary, can cause overwhelming negative emotions that are almost impossible to control and rationalize.
CW: drug abuse
This makes teenagers with ADHD very succeptible to anxiety and depression, and often even dissociation to be able to cope with those overwhelming feelings. They might start using drugs to self medicate, gambling, or start having eating disorders.
This makes teenagers with ADHD very succeptible to anxiety and depression, and often even dissociation to be able to cope with those overwhelming feelings. They might start using drugs to self medicate, gambling, or start having eating disorders.
The potential consequences are no joke. These issues might become unhealthy coping mechanisms in adulthood. That's why it's important to diagnose ADHD in childhood.
Even in those diagnosed in childhood, these issues are often dismissed and ignored. Sometimes they stop having support and meds because they should "grow out of it", during the time when they most need it. It says a lot about the poor understanding of ADHD society has.
As a society, we should know better. We should do better. People with ADHD deserve support and understanding in every phase of our lives, not dismissal and lectures.
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