When I received my ADHD diagnosis, I was surprised to be diagnosed with combined ADHD as I thought I was only inattentive.
As I did more research into ADHD, I found out that hyperactivity can present subtly.
Here are seven ways I experience ‘quiet’ hyperactive ADHD
1. I am always fiddling! – I constantly need to fiddle with objects from blue tac to bits of paper. If I don’t fidget, I cannot concentrate. I don’t know why; it’s just the way my nervous system works.
2. Doodling- If I have a piece of paper and pen, chances are I’ll be doodling to help with my concentration instead fiddling with a random object. I did it in school all the time! But I had to be careful of staff seeing me doodling in case they thought I was “Not concentrating!”
Short term this was successful for me, and I was in control as a young child. However, it didn't stay like this.
Social demands grow with age, the pressure to mask increases significantly. If I didn't mask, then I was exposing myself to harm and risking my safety.